Location: 8 km (6 mi) South of Gabrovo Map
Etar Architectural Ethnographic Museum is situated just
8 km (6 mi) South of Gabrovo along a road that is leading to
Sokolski monastery.
Etar Architectural Ethnographic Museum was constructed in 1964 as a traditional
Bulgarian village. Etar Open Air Museum was planned and build to demonstrate the
ancient way of life and preserve it for future generations. Etar was designed as
an open air museum with 50 structures in a traditional architecture.
Here you can see ancient masters create pottery, wooden carvings, metal works,
different kinds of foods, carpets and other items right before your eyes. Price
for the products made here is fairly low. Artisans who work in here use the
power of water from the mountains for their purposes. Additionally a hotel was
erected here for those who want to stay longer to explore Etar and surrounding
woods. Many hiking trails are laid in the area around Etar.
It is a reconstruction of the Bulgarian way of
life, culture and crafts. It is the first museum of its kind in
Bulgaria. It was opened on September 7, 1964. The museum is located
8 km south of the main part of Gabrovo.
Etar is the only
collection of folk water equipment in Bulgaria. It contains 10
exhibits and is one of the rich and well-organized technical
collections among European open-air museums. This is the reason why
the water wheel has become an emblem of Ether. The most important
feature of the collection is that all objects are in action, as in
the past. Crafts Bazaar presents 16 examples of Balkan architecture,
revealing the original talent of the Revival builders.
It is
part of the Hundred National Tourist Sites.
History of the
museum
Its construction began in 1963 under the direction and
design of Lazar Donkov. Initially, the existing mill was restored,
and later other sites were built. The construction of the museum is
carried out through three main methods: restoration of objects found
on the ground; transfer of original equipment and reproduction of
buildings according to previously made photographs. It was
officially opened on September 7, 1964. In 1967 it was declared a
national ethnographic park. In 1971 it was declared a cultural
monument.