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Gabrovo

Near park | Gabrovo

The municipality of Gabrovo and the surrounding area is considered one of the most ecologically clean regions in Bulgaria. The rich flora and fauna go to prove that.

In the immediate vicinity of Gabrovo is the geographical centre of Bulgaria
The most picturesque place in Gabrovo is the architectural and ethnographical complex Etur - a unique open-air museum. Near Gabrovo is the 600-year-old village Bozhentsi - an architectural and historical reserve. An excellent place for individual and family tourism.

Open air ethnographic museum "Etar"    


The open air ethnographic museum Etara was built in the middle of 20-th century in the vicinity of the town of Gabrovo- an old industrial center of Bulgaria. It was created to preserve for the coming generations the outlook and the spirit of the old time Bulgarian mountain villages and the manufacture traditions of the region. The museum is built on the two sides of a small river and all buildings and sites have their authentic outlook – same as they had during the XIX-th century. The buildings are differentiated in three groups – workshops using simple machines moved by the running water of the river, most of them are unique and unknown in Europe. The second group of buildings forms the trade and manufacture street (charshia). These are 15 samples of houses, where on the first floor are situated manufacture workshops and small shops, on the second floor are situated the museum items. The third group of buildings has public functions – a clock tower, bridges, stone water fountain, gravestones. 
Reconstructed buildings and workshops  

A house built with wood planks /a plank house/ had been reconstructed here, as well as a workshop for manufacturing of knives, a copper kitchen utility for sharpening of knives and cutting tolls, an instrument for mechanical processing of woolen cloth, a mill, lathes, a bakery oven for bread and pastures, instruments for manufacturing of skin garments, for painting of icons and wood-carvings, for production of pastries,for manufacturing of pottery, a smithy, cloth weaving by a traditional technology, and a typical Balkan cofee-shop. 26 local handycrafts are recreated ñn the workshops of the Etara. During the XIX-th century in this manner had been manufactured different goods, which were merchandised on the markets from Istanbul through Vienna reaching to London. All buildings, sites and manufactured goods shown in the museum are true copies of originals, which really existed and were manufactured in this region of Bulgaria at that time.
Popular folk feasts and traditions     

An important position in the Etara is occupied by the popular folk feasts and traditions. In this way they are not only saved for the following generations, but also allow every visitor to feel and be a part of the life of the people from the past, to feel the true Bulgarian spirit from that time. Two are the biggest holidays which create a true folk atmosphere - St. George’s day and Eniov’s day. On St George’s day the museum awakens covered with beach leaves, many rituals and customs are recreated, connected to the coming of the spring and awakening of nature. Everybody can sway on a swing, measure his weight on a scale, and walk through the morning dew in order to be healthy during the whole year and to prevent from sickness and evil. 
    
On this day everyone can taste fresh cheese and milk, to feel the taste of the sacrificial lamb, to listen to the festive songs and to join in the ring dance /horo/. During the summer, on Eniov’s day many folk groups gather here from all over the country and show the specific character of their regional songs, rituals and dances. During the whole day the museum is filled with the aroma of herbs and flowers, you can meet with folk healers and people collecting healing herbs and take part in a conference about the folk medicine. In the autumn, on the Petkov’s day, here gather craftsmen from the whole country. They compete to show their skills, making different items, characteristic for the different parts of Bulgaria. Here are exchanged production secrets and skills. In this way the national traditions find their students and have a chance to be preserved in the time of high technologies and give pleasure to the visitors of the Ether museum. Tosho Spiridonov Doctor of historical sciences Ivailo Ivanov Photographer