Zheravna   (Bulgarian: Жеравна, from жерав, zherav, "crane") is a village in central eastern Bulgaria, part of Kotel municipality, Sliven Province. The village, set in a small valley at the southern foot of the eastern Balkan Mountains, is an architectural reserve of national importance consisting of more than 200 wooden houses from the Bulgarian National Revival period (18th and 19th century), and a quickly developing tourist destination.
The village emerged between the 12th and 14th century and grew to become a cultural and handicraft centre in the 18th century. As the local population came to wealth, the architectural appearance of the village was shaped by one- or two-storey wooden houses surrounded by stone walls and cobblestone alleys.
Popular sights in the village include the museum house of the merchant Rusi Chorbadzhi from the early 18th century, the Church of St Nicholas inaugurated in 1834 and housing icons from the 18th and early 19th century, the museum house of the noted writer Yordan Yovkov born in 1880, the art gallery occupying the old class school and the museum house of the educator Sava Filaterov.
As of September 2005 the village has a population of 460 ^GRBulgaria and the mayor is Lachezar Germanov. Zheravna lies at 42°50′N 26°28′E, at 579 m above sea level.
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Town of Kotel - Ethnography Museum        

Elena   (Елена) is a Bulgarian town in the central Stara Planina mountains, 42 km southeast of Veliko Tarnovo in Veliko Tarnovo Province. The area is a popular mountain resort also known for the typical local cuisine. The population of the town alone is 7,200. It forms a terminal for the Gorna Oryahovitsa-Elena railway line.

Elena is an old settlement founded in the 15th century. During the 18th and 19th century it established itself as a centre of crafts, trade and education. There are several architectural ensembles preserved dating back to the Bulgarian National Revival and comprising about 130 old houses. Wall-to-wall construction forms interesting street silhouettes. The houses have stone basements with white-washed or wooden walls of the upper floor with protruding bays above.

Full article and more pictures you can find here...      
Source:   Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
More pictures here:   Nikola Gruev's Photo Album - Elena

Zlatograd  is a town in Bulgaria, 60 km from Smolyan, its name literally translates to Gold town. It is located in a valley between the eastern and central massif of the Rhodope mountains. The Greek border lies just 5 km away from the town.
Administrative location: Zlatograd municipality is spread on a territory of 175.8 km². It has common borders with the municipalities of Kirkovo and Dzhebel (to the east), Nedelino (to the north), Madan and Rudozem (to the west) and with the Republic of Greece (to the south) - on the borderline between Bulgaria and Greece)
Relief: mountainous;
Climate: The municipality is included in the transient-Mediterranean climate region.
Mineral resources: lead-zinc ore;
Water resources:: The territory of the municipality is crossed by Varbitza river which is 98.1 km long and its catchment basin is 1202.8 km. Nedelinska and Kushlenska rivers are tributaries of Varbitza.
Full article here ... Source:   Wikipedia
More pictures here:   Nikola Gruev's Photo Album - Zlatograd

Shiroka Laka   (Bulgarian: Широка лъка, "wide meander") is a village in the very south of Bulgaria, located in Smolyan municipality, Smolyan Province. It is a proclaimed architectural and folklore reserve and lies in the central Rhodope Mountains, 23 northwest of Smolyan, 16 km from Pamporovo and 22 southeast of Devin.
The dominant and traditional religion in the village is Eastern Orthodox Christianity and the population is 573 (as of September 2005). Shiroka Laka lies at 1,206 m above sea level, at 41°41′N 24°35′E. The mayor is Aleksandar Kavroshilov. The village exists at this place since the 17th century and was founded by Bulgarians fleeing from the forcible Islamization conducted by the Ottoman authorities of the time in the Rhodopes.

Shiroka Laka is famous for its authentic Rhodopean houses set in tiers on both banks of the local river. The old houses were designed in the characteristic architectural style of the Rhodopes by the noted local building masters.

Full article and more pictures you can find here ... Source:   Wikipedia
More pictures here:   Nikola Gruev's Photo Album - Shiroka Luka

Koprivshtitsa  (Bulgarian: Копривщица; [ku.'priv.ʃti.ʦə], from the Bulgarian word коприва, kopriva, meaning "nettle") is a historic town in Sofia Province, central Bulgaria, lying on the Topolnitsa River among the Sredna Gora mountains. It was one of the centres of the April Uprising in 1876 and is known for its authentic Bulgarian architecture and for its folk music festivals, making it a very popular tourist destination.
Koprivshtitsa is one of the characteristic Bulgarian towns, still preserving the atmosphere of the Bulgarian National Revival period of the 19th century.

Sunshine colours and romance are what characterize the typical 19th century atmosphere preserved and lingering in Koprivshtitsa. Every single house here is part of Bulgaria's history. It was here that the first shot of the April Uprising against Ottoman rule rang out in 1876. Although drenched in blood, the uprising resounded in all of Europe. As of September 2005, the town has a population of 2,683^GRBulgaria and the mayor is Nikola Kamenarov. Koprivshtitsa is located at 1,030 m above sea level, at 42°38′N 24°21′E. 

Full article here ...  Source:   Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia

The Etar Architectural-Ethnographic Complex (Bulgarian: Архитектурно-етнографски комплекс „Етър“, usually referred to as Етъра, Etara) is an open-air museum 8 km south of Gabrovo in northern Bulgaria that presents the Bulgarian customs, culture and craftsmanship. It spans over an area of 7 ha and contains a total of 50 objects, including water installations and houses with craftsmen's workshops attached. As a whole, the complex's goal is to illustrate the architecture, way of life and economy of Gabrovo and the region during the Bulgarian National Revival.
The museum's construction started in 1963 under the direction and project of Lazar Donkov. The pre-existing Karadzheyka water-mill, built around 1780, was thoroughly reconstructed, with the other objects being constructed later. The complex was opened on 7 September 1964 and proclaimed a national park in 1967, as well as a monument of culture in 1971.
The park features typical Bulgarian revival houses with two floors, bay windows, a clock tower, and a beautifully decorated house by Saakov featuring 21 windows. Using original instruments and following the old traditions, locals represent around 20 characteristics of the regional crafts such as wood-carving, pottery, coppersmith crafts, furriery, cutlery making, needlework etc. There are shops for souvenirs, tourists can enjoy the luxury of a local three star hotel with a bar and a restaurant. There are numerous restaurants in the park where tourist could enjoy the delicacies of local Bulgarian cuisine ... Full article here...  Source:   Wikipedia

Melnik (Мелник) is the smallest settlement classified as a town in the Republic of Bulgaria and is located in Blagoevgrad Province (sometimes referred to as Pirin Macedonia), in the southwestern Pirin Mountains, about 440 m above sea level. The town is an architectural reserve and 96 of its buildings are cultural monuments.

According to archaeological evidence, the first to settle in the area were the Thracians. Centuries later, the presence of the Romans left the town one of its landmarks - the Ancient Roman bridge, which is still preserved. The Slavs who later came in these parts named the settlement Melnik after the sand formations surrounding it on all sides (the Slavonic word "mel" means "white clay, chalk"). Melnik became a part of the Bulgarian state under the rule of Khan Presian (836-852) and prospered greatly in the period. Melnik became the capital of an independent feudal principality ruled by Despot Slav, a descendant of the Asen dynasty, in 1209, and passed through an economic and cultural upsurge during his reign. The town continued to flourish under Tsar Ivan Asen II because of the duty-free trade with Venetian-ruled Dubrovnik.

Full article and more pictures you can find here...     Source:   Wikipedia
More pictures here:   Nikola Gruev's Photo Album - Melnik

          View of Veliko Tarnovo               

          Full article and more pictures you can find here...   Source:   Wikipedia
          More pictures here:   Nikola Gruev's Photo Album - Veliko Tarnovo

     
                                 

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