History of the museum
Etar Museum keeps the spirit of Bulgaria! It opened doors in 1964 as an Ethnographic Museum Park. Over the years it has emerged as Bulgaria's single open-air museum of the Skansen type. The institution operates as a center for research of the traditional culture of Balkandzhi (the Balkan Range people) since the pre-industrial era to our day.
Etar Museum—a living picture of a bygone era
The idea for creating Etar Museum came from Gabrovian Lazar Donkov. It is his dream crafted into stone and wood.
Construction of the architectural complex of buildings began in 1963 with restoration of existing structures along the River Sivek (a tributary of River Yantra), notably, a karadzheyka primitive water-mill, valyavitsa mill and tepavitsa (fulling mill). To diversify the complex, a cutlery workshop and a dolapkinya water-mill were transferred from neighboring villages.
The museum officially opened doors on the 7th of September 1964. In the years that followed new sites were created—these are architectural samples of houses, artisan workshops, buildings and facilities revealing old techniques, the occupations, way of life and spiritual culture of the population in the central parts of the Balkan Range from the end-18th till the early 20th centuries. This population called Balkandzhi (Balkan Range highlanders) is one of the seven ethnographic groups in Bulgaria.
Construction of the architectural complex of buildings began in 1963 with restoration of existing structures along the River Sivek (a tributary of River Yantra), notably, a karadzheyka primitive water-mill, valyavitsa mill and tepavitsa (fulling mill). To diversify the complex, a cutlery workshop and a dolapkinya water-mill were transferred from neighboring villages.
The museum officially opened doors on the 7th of September 1964. In the years that followed new sites were created—these are architectural samples of houses, artisan workshops, buildings and facilities revealing old techniques, the occupations, way of life and spiritual culture of the population in the central parts of the Balkan Range from the end-18th till the early 20th centuries. This population called Balkandzhi (Balkan Range highlanders) is one of the seven ethnographic groups in Bulgaria.
The only collection of operational water facilities in Bulgaria is found on the grounds of Etar Museum.
Etar is in fact the ancient name of Yantra—the river that flows across the City of Gabrovo. It was chosen to name the museum and thus suggest the connection between water and the development of crafts in the region.
Regional Ethnographic Open-Air Museum Etar owns Bulgaria's single collection of technical facilities using hydropower. The collection was created gradually and features facilities operational today which were put to use by the Balkan Range highlanders for livelihood: two water-mills, a tepavitsa fulling mill, two valyavitsa mills, a saw-mill, a braid-making workshop, two lathes: for wooden gavanka bowls and for wooden flasks, as well as a grindstone.
Thanks to the mill-race system that existed in the past and was later corrected and shaped, water sets in motion mechanisms which wash, grind knives, mill grain, thrash woolen fabrics, turn wooden vessels and knit woolen cords.
Regional Ethnographic Open-Air Museum Etar owns Bulgaria's single collection of technical facilities using hydropower. The collection was created gradually and features facilities operational today which were put to use by the Balkan Range highlanders for livelihood: two water-mills, a tepavitsa fulling mill, two valyavitsa mills, a saw-mill, a braid-making workshop, two lathes: for wooden gavanka bowls and for wooden flasks, as well as a grindstone.
Thanks to the mill-race system that existed in the past and was later corrected and shaped, water sets in motion mechanisms which wash, grind knives, mill grain, thrash woolen fabrics, turn wooden vessels and knit woolen cords.
Today the Craftsman Street is bustling with life, the way it was during the Bulgarian National Revival Era.
The Craftsman Street architectural complex represents a main urban street with buildings from the 19th century featuring active artisan workshops, commercial outlets, a coffee shop and houses of craftsmen and merchants. The complex of houses includes replicas of original architectural samples that existed in Gabrovo and its vicinity.
Sakov House impresses with its many windows on the second floor, because such buildings from the Bulgarian National Revival Era are not common. In the workshops, watched by visitors, artisans make and sell their articles as was the case in the past, while viewers benefit from watching ancient techniques for working metal, animal skins, wood, clay, wool, goat's hair and other natural raw materials. They can view original craft tools, enjoy the skills of the craftsmen and take home some of their articles.
Visiting the Craftsman Street, one can try simid bread, banitsa cheese pie and sesame rings, relish damson cheese, white candy in water, halva, homemade bonbons and other dainties, or drink coffee brewed on sand.
Sakov House impresses with its many windows on the second floor, because such buildings from the Bulgarian National Revival Era are not common. In the workshops, watched by visitors, artisans make and sell their articles as was the case in the past, while viewers benefit from watching ancient techniques for working metal, animal skins, wood, clay, wool, goat's hair and other natural raw materials. They can view original craft tools, enjoy the skills of the craftsmen and take home some of their articles.
Visiting the Craftsman Street, one can try simid bread, banitsa cheese pie and sesame rings, relish damson cheese, white candy in water, halva, homemade bonbons and other dainties, or drink coffee brewed on sand.
Over the years, Etar Museum has emerged as Bulgaria's only open-air museum of the Skansen type.
Etar Museum opened officially on the 7th of September 1964 as an Ethnographic Museum Park. On the 16th of October founder Lazar Donkov enrolled as curator and manager of the museum. On the next year the team grew by one more specialist – Ganka Ribarova.
In 1966, the museum evolved into an institution of its own merit after Lazar Donkov was appointed its first director. Along with artisans and other staff, the first guides enrolled in 1967. The museum's team gradually grew with new members.
The museum's organizational structure was complemented with new specialized departments. They were assigned with research, recording and preservation of the material and spiritual culture of the population in the region of the Central Balkan Range. An Archives Department, a Photography Studio, a Library and many auxiliary units were formed.
In 1989, the museum received the Order of the Saints Cyril and Methodius—First Class. Etar's contribution into the preservation and promotion of the Bulgarian cultural and historical heritage was duly recognized.
In our day the mission of Regional Ethnographic Open Air Museum Etar is carried out by an ambitious team of close to seventy staff members who specialize in different fields—research, work with publics, technical support. The museum is open for visitors throughout the year, and during the summer period the work of young volunteers is quite important.
As director of the institution Lazar Donkov was succeeded by Stancho Stanchev (1977–1988), Ivan Nikolov (1988–1992), Gancho Hristov (1992–1993), Karamfila Grudova (1994–2001), Valentin Tinchev (2001–2005), Penka Koleva (2005–2008), Assoc. Prof. Angel Goev, PhD (2008–2014), and the incumbent director is Prof. Svetla Dimitrova, PhD (since 2014).
In 1966, the museum evolved into an institution of its own merit after Lazar Donkov was appointed its first director. Along with artisans and other staff, the first guides enrolled in 1967. The museum's team gradually grew with new members.
The museum's organizational structure was complemented with new specialized departments. They were assigned with research, recording and preservation of the material and spiritual culture of the population in the region of the Central Balkan Range. An Archives Department, a Photography Studio, a Library and many auxiliary units were formed.
In 1989, the museum received the Order of the Saints Cyril and Methodius—First Class. Etar's contribution into the preservation and promotion of the Bulgarian cultural and historical heritage was duly recognized.
In our day the mission of Regional Ethnographic Open Air Museum Etar is carried out by an ambitious team of close to seventy staff members who specialize in different fields—research, work with publics, technical support. The museum is open for visitors throughout the year, and during the summer period the work of young volunteers is quite important.
As director of the institution Lazar Donkov was succeeded by Stancho Stanchev (1977–1988), Ivan Nikolov (1988–1992), Gancho Hristov (1992–1993), Karamfila Grudova (1994–2001), Valentin Tinchev (2001–2005), Penka Koleva (2005–2008), Assoc. Prof. Angel Goev, PhD (2008–2014), and the incumbent director is Prof. Svetla Dimitrova, PhD (since 2014).
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