Etar Park
restaurant at Etar Architectural-Ethnographic Complex
The Etar Architectural-Ethnographic Complex (Bulgarian: Архитектурно-етнографски комплекс „Етър“, usually referred to as Етъра, Etara) is an open-air museum and a neighbourhood of Gabrovo (8 km south of its center) in northern Bulgaria. It is located on the northern edge of the Bulgarka Nature Park, between the park and the city of Gabrovo.
freshly baked bread with soup
It 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.
grilling the sausage
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.
Text from Wikipedia
dough for the bread
the oven
into the oven
finished bread
water course
mill wheel
grinding the grain
sharpening stone
reproduction from
Church of the Nativity
oil press
heated kettle
church of the Holy Epiphany
lighting a candle
Saw-Mill
