Ethno Tourism
Crafts
The Bulgarian village is the keeper of the spirit and traditions of the people, of its centuries-old traditions, colorful folklore and wisdom. Only in the village regions you can taste traditional authentic Bulgarian meals, enjoy beautiful folklore songs or hear regional legends and fairy tales. Many Bulgarian villages have preserved their authentic image since centuries ago and allow the visitors and guests to learn more about the local customs and traditions.
Weaving
One of the most distinctive Bulgarian crafts is weaving, known and improved since the time of the ancient Thracians. The traditions have been passed on from one generation to another. The young girls were learning the skills from their mothers and grandmothers. Every craftsman added a little something from themselves to the products, making them unique. The towns Chiprovtsi and Kotel are famous with their skilled weavers and the beautiful colors of their carpets.
Pottery
The beautiful hand-painted plates, pitchers and pots are another part of the image of Bulgaria. Pottery is a skill, which has been practiced since ancient times. Almost every Bulgarian town and village has had its own pottery craftsmen, who have created beautiful and unique products. The decorations are diverse and form an important feature of the Bulgarian folklore traditions, which differ in every region of the country.
Wood-carving
Wood-carving is a traditional Bulgarian craft. Carved wood was a compulsory element in the old Bulgarian houses, it was used to decorate furniture and ceilings. A compulsory element in every Orthodox church is the carved iconostasis.
Cutlery
Cutlery has been one of the most popular crafts in the Gabrovo, Sliven, Vidin, Panagyurishte and Sopot regions. The experienced craftsmen created different types of knives and swords with engraved handles made from wood, metal or bone. The decoration has been very sophisticated and took a long time to apply. Some of the products have numismatic value as precious stones and metal were used. This craft still lives in modern day and many collectors and connoisseurs worldwide
highly value the products of the Bulgarian cutlers, as of their fine make and unique decoration.
Goldsmiths
Goldsmith’s trade has been practiced for centuries in Bulgaria. The oldest golden cultivated gold in Europe has been discovered in Varna’s necropolis – it dates from the end of V or the beginning of IV century BC. The Bulgarian women during the Middle Ages and the Bulgarian Revival were no less vain than the ladies in Western Europe and the Orient. Their beautiful jewelry was of different kinds – head jewelry, belts and buckles, dress jewelry and accessories. The Bulgarian goldsmiths created fine and unique jewelry. The buckles and accessories made for the traditional costumes are immensely impressive.
