WHERE IN BULGARIA ARE YOU?

WHERE IN BULGARIA ARE YOU?

Thu, 01/01/2009 - 13:05

If it weren't for the gigantic mosaic and the ticket booth, this Revival Period town stretching along the banks of Sivek River would look untouched by the last two centuries.

where in bulgaria are you 28-29.jpg
© Anthony Georgieff

In the stores lining the town square, craftsmen weave carpets, forge cowbells, carve exquisite wooden chairs and make candies from thick sugary syrup. Every so often the clock tower marks out the time, and when the river is not frozen over from the winter cold, it drives flour and textile mills.

But don't be fooled by this retro-romantic atmosphere. This "Revival Period" town didn't exist until 1964, when one cultural activist from Gabrovo decided to create an open-air museum, representing a miniature version of the town itself during the Revival Period. In just a few years, exact copies of various cultural landmarks from all around the region were reconstructed along Sivek River, and others were literally picked up and moved to the riverbank.

Where in Bulgaria are you?

Issue 28-29

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