A taste of Banat Bulgaria: tradition and cuisine in Gostilya

published on 9/29/25 2:46 PM

The story of Gostilya is a journey back in time, showing how the tiny Catholic community there has managed to preserve its identity and faith despite the ups and downs of history. Located in north-western Bulgaria, the village is one of the last strongholds of the Banat Bulgarians. These are descendants of Catholics who left their homeland in the 17th and 18th centuries after being driven out by Ottoman forces, settling in Austria-Hungary. At the end of the 19th century, they returned and made their home in Gostilya.

Today, the village feels like somewhere where time has slowed down. The streets are quiet, and the houses are neat and humble. Dominating the landscape is the old Catholic church, the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which serves as the village's spiritual centre. Gostilya was once home to dozens of families and bustled with life and joyful celebrations.

Today, the village is steadily losing its population, but its few remaining residents continue to keep its traditions alive, we are told by the mayor, Milena Bancheva — herself a descendant of Banat Bulgarians and chair of the local community centre.

“In our village, we are Catholic. What sets us apart is our tradition and way of life. It has evolved over the years, with many Bulgarian customs becoming part of our daily routine. But we still have our own language, Palken, which is an old Bulgarian dialect that our ancestors preserved while they were in Banat. You can still hear it spoken by older people, but less and less often as they pass away. Today, Gostilya has only 90–100 inhabitants.”

The lesser-known community of Banat Bulgarians living in Bulgaria

In the parish house next to the church, the locals have set up a small Banat room, essentially a miniature ethnographic museum. You can see everyday objects there, as well as hand-woven tablecloths and lace. There is also a typical Banat bed and a beautiful wooden chest, in which families once kept their most valuable possessions. But that’s not all:

“We have a traditional costume that is very different from the Bulgarian folk costume. We wear sukno, a pleated silk skirt, and a dresche, a type of garment, on top. You can also see our traditional lupka, a cast-iron pan. In the old days, this was what we used to cook with. My grandmother made delicious pancakes in the lupka,” says Bancheva.

One of the most remarkable characteristics of the Banat Bulgarians, however, is their irresistibly delicious food, which differs from traditional Bulgarian cuisine.

“We have preserved our traditional cuisine,” says Milena Bancheva. “As chair of the community centre, I strive to pass it on to young people, just as my grandmother taught me, because I can see it disappearing. We have mekitsa or treskitcheta. Pancakes called barkan pitcheta. We have some specific dishes. We call the slaughtering of the pig obivanie. We make paprikash with marbled neck meat, adding lots of onions and potatoes to absorb the fat, as well as the kidneys. It tastes delicious! When we slaughter a pig, we also make kulbas, our traditional sausages.”

Recently, Gostilya, along with other Banat villages, has begun to establish itself as a culinary destination. The village now welcomes gourmet tourists who come specifically to taste the local delicacies and learn some Banat recipes. The women from the G.S. Rakovski community centre act as their hosts.

“We welcome them with bread and sharena sol (a spiced salt blend). Of course, soup is a must — it’s our speciality. Banat Bulgarians love soup and it is always on the menu,” says Milena Bancheva. “In winter, when we make sausages, we welcome guests with maiushka. During the pig slaughter, the thick intestines are stuffed with bones and boiled with meat, spices and garlic. When tourists come, they can also visit the Catholic church.”

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The roof of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, built in 1904, is currently being renovated. Since this spring, the church has once again had a priest, who celebrates Mass every Sunday. Even so, its doors are always open to visitors and tourists. Every year at the end of June, the village celebrates its holiday, when locals and visitors gather to preserve the traditions of the small Catholic community.