The Bulgarian Revival Houses

Architectural and ethnographic complex “Etar”

The Architectural and ethnographic complex “Etar” is a one of a kind museum in Bulgaria. It was officially open to visitors on 7 September 1964. The museum is located only 8 km south of the town of Gabrovo. The idea about the museum was initiated by Lazar Donkov. The museum takes up a total area of 7 hectares and includes 50 sites of interest – technical water installations, houses with craft workshops, buildings of public importance. The main purpose of this museum exposition is to reveal the architecture, life style and economic past of Gabrovo and the entire Gabrovo area during the Bulgarian Revival period, or the second half of the XVIII century and the beginning of the XIX century. This was the time when more than 26 crafts were developed in town. The manufactured products were marketed in Bucharest, Vienna, Marseille and Anadola. The first non-clerical Bulgarian school was established here in 1835.

Architectural and museum reserve “Tzarevets”

Located in the picturesque town of Veliko Tarnovo, Tzarevets captivates its visitors with its magnificent architecture. In the years of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1185 – 1393) this used to be the main fortress and most massive Bulgarian stronghold. During this period of time Bulgaria managed to both restore its previous glory and glamor since the best years of the First Bulgarian Kingdom as well to re-gain its outlet to three seas, thus becoming the most powerful state in Southeastern Europe.

Dryanovo Monastery

The historical Holy Archangel Mihail Dryanovo Monastery is located approximately 4 km away from the town of Dryanovo, in the picturesque gorge of the Dryanovska River, whose tall limestone cliffs encompass the defile like inaccessible fortress walls. During the XIV century the Holy cloister served as one of the main centers of isichasm and provided shelter to a great number of monks. In the beginning of the XV century the monastery was demolished by the Ottoman invaders. Later it was restored in a different location, in a place today known as the Great St. Archangel. Alas, the fate of this monastery was similar to that of the older one. At the end of the XVII century the monastery was built for a third time, this time for good, in its present location. The old monastery church was a one-nave, half-built into the ground construction that was situated in immediate proximity to the present one. Within the monastery there has been a second temple.

Architectural and historic complex “Arbanassi”

The ancient village of Arbanassi is located on a high plateau with a view to the Tzarevets and Trapezitsa hills, just 4 km away from the town of Veliko Tarnovo. It is quite remarkable for its monumental houses and churches with opulent inside decorations, as well as carvings and frescoes, painted during the XVI-XVII centuries. Arbanassi has rich history. Today the names of many of the residents of Arbanassi are recorded in the heroic chronicle of the village. The well preserved 144 houses, offering an exceptional variety of internal decorations, as well as the 5 churches and 2 monasteries, which characterize that period of time, still impress us with their beauty, style and mastery.