Museum Center (Krastnikkolchov Inn)

Since its creation, the interior of the building has not been conceived as an exhibition corresponding to the layout of the 19^th-century Krastnikkolchov Inn located in Gabrovo. It was the inn that was used as a model for the house at the museum built and adapted during the period 1974 – 1977 with the purpose of accommodating workplaces for some of the staff and also of serving as a repository of the museum’s archives. The ground floor was originally used as a canteen, and at a later stage, temporary exhibitions were arranged here. Until recently, visitors could get an idea of this building, which is in fact the largest at the Etar Museum, only from the outside.

For a long time, the museum’s team has been looking for opportunities to open the Krastnikkolchov Inn to visitors, but serious obstacles have stood in the way such as the layout of its premises, the lack of an internal connection between the separate floors, as well as accumulating moisture in certain parts of the house.

Thanks to the project Etar REOM – a Museum for Creative Cultural Tourism, the building has been converted into a Museum Center and is now accessible to visitors. In its well-adapted areas, large exhibitions and various creative workshops can now take place. At the first level there is a cinema hall, and at the third one – a conference room with an interactive board for seminars and presentations. For persons with reduced mobility an internal elevator operates to reach each of the existing three levels. There are also internal stairs to connect the floors. Restrooms are already in operation in the building, including for persons with disabilities.

This exhibition features part of the private collection of Rumyana Mehandova who, for more than 40 years, has collected and preserved items from Bulgaria’s impressive tangible cultural heritage. It presents authentic women's folk costumes from the three main types of traditional apparel according to the outer garments: the two-apron, tunic and sayа types. Their elements and cuts display various specifics: region of origin, age to wear, marital status, social status and individual approach to tradition. Lovely jewellery enhances the impact of costumes.

The rich colour scheme of embroidered and woven geometric, vegetal and animal motifs on aprons, cushions and festive mesals (long cloths for bread making) captivates the senses and reveals the flair, dexterity and imagination of Bulgarian women.

The exhibition also presents clay pots and wooden flasks that come as a surprise with appealing shapes and exquisite decoration. They are suggestive of the skills and ingenuity of master artisans. The ethnographic world of Rumyana Mehandova has its place in the Bulgarian cultural treasury. Colourful and diverse, collected with skill and love, this collection is a powerful memory of times gone by.

This exhibition with objects and documents presents the project Historical Stone Bridges in the Rhodope Mountains – Modern Methods of Presentation and Conservation. The project is the work of Meshtra Association – Traditional Knowledge and Crafts, in partnership with the Municipality of Ardino, Museum of History Ardino and the Regional Museum of History Kardzhali, and has been implemented with the financial support of the National Culture Fund. Field photography is by Rosina Pencheva. Stone bridges have existed since antiquity and their constructive principles have massively improved over centuries. Prior to the era of the industrial revolution, they were the best means of crossing challenging terrains and rivers.

Although the principles of construction are similar, different cultures and different natural givens have resulted in the emergence of unique local building traditions. The study explores examples confined to the periods of the Late Middle Ages (Ottoman period) and the National Revival era in the Bulgarian lands.