The city of Etara

Trip Start Sep 22, 2008
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Trip End Nov 06, 2008


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Flag of Bulgaria  ,
Saturday, October 25, 2008

The Etar Architectural-Ethnographic Complex (Bulgarian: Архитектурно-етнографски комплекс "Етър", usually referred to as Етъра, Etara) is an open-air museum 8 km south of Gabrovo in northern Bulgaria that presents the Bulgarian customs, culture and craftsmanship. It spans over an area of 7 ha and contains a total of 50 objects, including water installations and houses with craftsmen's workshops attached. As a whole, the complex's goal is to illustrate the architecture, way of life and economy of Gabrovo and the region during the Bulgarian National Revival.
The museum's construction started in 1963 under the direction and project of Lazar Donkov. The pre-existing Karadzheyka water-mill, built around 1780, was thoroughly reconstructed, with the other objects being constructed later. The complex was opened on 7 September 1964 and proclaimed a national park in 1967, as well as a monument of culture in 1971.
The park features typical Bulgarian revival houses with two floors, bay windows, a clock tower, and a beautifully decorated house by Saakov featuring 21 windows. Using original instruments and following the old traditions, locals represent around 20 characteristics of the regional crafts such as wood-carving, pottery, coppersmith crafts, furriery, cutlery making, needlework etc. There are shops for souvenirs, tourists can enjoy the luxury of a local three star hotel with a bar and a restaurant. There are numerous restaurants in the park where tourist could enjoy the delicacies of local Bulgarian cuisine. There are visitors to the park, from all over the world, all the year round, especially during the annual Christian festivals celebrated in the park, namely, Palm Sunday and Easter. A tourist can become a first-hand witness of these festivals, and observe local traditional rituals.

Spent the morning wandering through the old village. It was the only day sofar that we had come across rain. The drive up over the mountains was a slow and steady one, passing many vehicles that had slid off the road into the ditches. Even one tourist bus had slid into a ditch, blocking the road for an hour or so. Was quite relieved when we got to the other side of the mountain range and back to sunlight again.
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