Karlovo

Buhaloviyat Han

Бухаловият хан

The name of this handicraft museum translates to Buhalov's Inn, as the building first was built as an inn. There are for instance wool toys, lace, and woodcarvings on display. Also, the decorated building with the second floor coming out of the building a bit is indeed an attraction in itself (it includes a café with nice views of the mountains). The staff of the souvenir shop act as guides and most speak English.

Winter: Tue-Sat 09:00-17:00; summer: daily 09:00-18:00

Daskal Botev's house

Даскал Ботевата къща

Hristo Botev, born in the nearby town of Kalofer (where the main memorials to him can be found), was another revolutionary figure just like Levski. His home in Karlovo is also a museum, though not that impressive. The house built around 1800 was named after the nickname of his father, Botyo Petkov (Daskal Botyo, "teacher Botyo").

Visit at request, ask at the historical museum

Dormition of the Theotokos Church

Успение Богородично

A small stone church from 1851, with a blue and white bell tower added in 1897, and a mural of Levski on the northern wall.

Historical museum

Presents Karlovo during Ottoman rule, as well as the independence struggle in the 19th century. The building is a former school from 1871, whose architecture combines national style, baroque and classicist elements.

Daily 09:00-12:00, 13:00-17:00·3 лв

July 20th square

Площад 20 юли

The town square of Karlovo, named in memory of the massacre of 800 Bulgarians by Turks in the town on 20 July 1877, during the Russo-Turkish war. There's a memorial to the massacre as well. Buildings surrounding the square include an eclectic bank building, a library built during the People's Republic of Bulgaria, a city hall with a mural symbolizing space exploration and peaceful use of nuclear power.

Kurshum mosque

Куршум джамия

Built by the Turkish in 1485, the mosque is the oldest building in town. Nationalized during Communism, it was returned to the Islamic community in 2014, nevertheless it remains closed.

Mazakov's house

Мазаковата къща

The ethnographic part of the city museum is in this red house. Showcasing traditional crafts and local life in the late 19th and early 20th century, this is probably the best museum for people who are less interested in Levski and the independence struggle.

Mon-Fri 09:00-12:00, 13:00-17:00

Monument of Vasil Levski

Finished in 1903, the memorial of the national hero is one of the main sights in Karlovo. It looks a bit strange as Levski is pointing his revolver directly at the onlookers. The roaring lion next to him refers both to the translation of Levski's name ("lion-like") and lions being the heraldic animal of Bulgaria.

Old wool factory

фабрика за вълнени издълия

Industrial heritage is not so common in Bulgaria. This former wool factory from 1891 was built by Evlogi Georgiev. His villa on the factory grounds looks like it's about to collapse. The factory is in a better shape, but it is likewise abandoned.

Patev's house

Патевата къща

A wooden house painted brown, making it an unusual sight in Karlovo. It was named after Vasil Patev, the first owner of the house.

Raino Popovich's house

Къща "Райно Попович"

The home of teacher Raino Popovich who in 1826 opened the first school in Karlovo where lessons were taught in Bulgarian. All the local revolutionaries studied here. Visitors can try printing something on the old printing press in the house.

St. Nicholas church

Свети Никола

A church in what can be described as "experimental" style (like the nearby historical museum), finished in 1847. It has unusually large windows for its time and a set of columns giving it an Italian appearance.

Starinno Karlovo museum

Старинно Карлово

This museum is a set of traditional houses with restored interiors. Most require a little effort to visit, there are signs outside each of them with a description of what's displayed on the inside and contact information of the caretaker. To see the indoors, you need to contact them to come and open the house and pay a fee of a couple of leva.

The "white yard" house

Къща "Белият двор"

An art school where visitors can see art being created and buy finished works by students.

Vasil Levski Museum

Национален музей "Васил Левски"

Vasil Levski was born in a building from the 18th century at this place, but the current building is a replica from 1933. The house can be admired from the outside and the interior through the windows. There's more to see in the adjacent exhibition hall; documents, objects, paintings and holograms. There's also a memorial chapel with a strand of Levski's hair and a statue of his mother.

Daily 08:30-13:00, 14:00-17:00·3 лв