Etara, named after the ancient denomination of the Jantra River - Etur, is an ethnographic museum in the open. It is located in the quarter of the same name in the town of Gabrovo on the bank of the Siveck River on the north flanks of the Stara Planina Mountains and it covers an area of 60 decares at an altitude of 400 meters. This open air museum is situated 8 kilometers north of Gabrovo and there you can see displayed traditional Bulgaria architecture, ethnography, folklore, the ancient handicrafts, traditional dishes, interior decoration and design and the traditional clothing of the Bulgarian Renaissance during the 18th and the 19th centuries.

To be honest we can say that The Etara represents a small variant of old Gabrovo. In 1835 at this place was opened the first secular New Bulgarian School. The changes, that happened in the Ottoman Empire, helped Gabrovo to became an important economic, educational and trade centre. At the wide territory of the complex, you can see presented 22 crafts and if someone wants, he can take part in a course where he will learn the traditional for Gabrovo handcrafts.

 

Etar-Architectural

 

You can see "Talpena kyshta" - house, which first floor is made of stones and a workshop is situated there; the second floor is made of whittled plank. There is also a "Craftsman market" where the traders sell their goods. You will see numerous workshops from where you can buy some traditional products. Rugs prepared from goat hair are one of the most popular items here.

The goats hair articles craft was one of the most developed in the past. It was connected with goat-breeding. In Etara is situated the only collection of water-driven machinery in Bulgaria. It includes 10 objects and they are all working at the same way as they do in the old times. Water has been used in the braid-making and more specifically in the braid knitting. After whole day walking along the charming cobblestone streets you can relax in the restaurant where you can taste the delicious dishes from Bulgarian cuisine.

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