Reserve of Bozhentsi and Etar

Architectural and Ethnographic Complex Etar
As we enjoy a scenic journey to Architectural And Ethnographic Complex Ear, your expert guide for the day will provide you with an overview of the history of the city and its most famous sights.
The Complex is situated on the outskirts of the town of Gabrovo established in 1964. It is an open air museum. The purpose of which is to present the architecture and the style of life in Gabrovo and the region during the second half of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century.
The museum contains a total of 50 sites – houses with craft workshops, water installations and other buildings. The only collection in Bulgaria of technical installations driven by water – filling mills, water mills, grindstones, etc., are situated there, 16 houses can be seen on the crafts bazaar (the central commercial street) in the Etar, which are exact copies of buildings existing in the past in Gabrovo and the region. On the crafts street the visitors can watch in real time the work of the craftsmen.

Bozhentsi
The village of Bozhentsi is  UNESCO protected World Heritage Site since 1964 was proclaimed an architectural and historical reserve.The National Revival architecture has been preserved in Bozhentsi due to this, and there is a ban on the construction of any buildings that do not fit with the village’s style.
The noble’s sons engaged in trade and the village gradually grew to become an important trade junction during the National Revival towards the middle of the 18th century. The main production consisted of leather, wool, beeswax and honey.
Various thematic stores, coffee shops and restaurant, well-preserved Bulgarian National Revival architecture style and history, and is thus a well-known tourist destination in the area.

According to an ancient legend, the village was founded by a noblewoman from Tarnovo, called Bozhana, who settled in the town after her husband died during the conquering of the capital Turnovo by the Ottoman Turks. Thence came the name of the village.