Between 1906 and 1908 the followers of the most important Russian writer Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy author of ‘War and Peace; and ‘Anna Karenina’ came to a small South Eastern Bulgarian Village called Alan Kajrak (meaning place in the sun) to spread the doctrine of passive resistance. The 6 followers from Bulgaria, writers, translators and publishers, settled in a house in the village, and spent the Summer Months around a lake 1km from the village. Nearby, in the shadow of an ancient forest is the small church of St. Konstantin and Elena. Next to it is a natural spring reputed to have healing powers.
Many years later in 1934 in honour of those first followers the name of the village was changed to Yasna Polyana after Tolstoy’s home in Russia. It has been said that Tolstoy was heading South to Bulgaria when he died at an isolated train station in Southern Russia.
The distant family of his, now come regularly to the village for various events, centred around the Tolstoy Museum in the village square, which houses the story of Leo Tolstoy and his connection to the area.
Yasna Polyana located in the Strandzha Mountains is very beautiful and surrounded by natural and very ancient Oak forests, features you will notice in abundance on this Geocache.
Park in the Free Car Park in the centre of the village of Yasna Polyana opposite the shops.