Legend of the Village

Pepelina is a small village that remains aside from the hustle and bustle of modern life.

Although not very far from “civilization,” this little corner stays hidden among the twists of the rocky landscape. Perhaps this is the reason why Pepelina has its own unique atmosphere of peace and purity.

There are different versions about the origin of the name Pepelina. Some are more romantic, while others are downright prosaic.

Years ago, when I first came upon the village, I heard the story of the maiden Pepelina. She was the daughter of the local boyar, and her beauty was legendary. When the Turks invaded these lands, her father became concerned for the beautiful Pepelina. He decided that under no circumstances would he allow her to be taken. So he ordered a cave to be carved high in the rocks, reachable by narrow steps cut into the stone cliff. In this refuge, Pepelina was hidden, far from the bloodthirsty conquerors. Unfortunately for the boyar, a natural disaster buried the entrance to the cave, and thus Pepelina remained forever in her hiding place, far from anyone’s sight.

Today, the old people in the village say that their grandmothers told them that when they were children, the steps to the cave still existed, and the cave entrance—a square opening carved into the middle of the tall cliff—still reminds us of the beautiful Pepelina.