To the north and southeast of Golyamo Dryanovo village, a mixed broadleaf-coniferous forest sprawls, a verdant testament to nature’s unchecked artistry. In days yore, until the year 1973, ancient elms thrived here, their longevity curtailed by the merciless Dutch elm disease, leading to their ultimate felling. Notably, Bulgaria‘s oldest walnut – a venerable 500-year sentinel – stood proudly on the southwestern fringe of the village until 1993.
The area is dotted with age-worn walnuts and cornelian cherries, their presence whispering tales of bygone eras. Expansive walnut orchards, sprawling across 300 hectares, grace the southern and western boundaries of the village, a lush tribute to agricultural heritage.
To the north, a chorus of about ten streams serenades the landscape, while merely 200 meters to the east, the Leshnitsa River carves its path. It begins its journey 20 kilometers to the north beneath the peak of Korita in the Stara Planina mountain range, flowing gracefully to meet the Koprinka Reservoir just 4 kilometers south.
In a nod to its ancient past, Thracian burial mounds dot the northern outskirts of the village. Until 1879, the settlement was entirely Turkish, known by the name Bicherlii.
Following the departure of the Turks in 1879, around 1885, woodcrafters from Gabrovo began to settle in the area. By 1906, the village was renamed to Golyamo Dryanovo, marking a new chapter in its storied existence.
