Lesicharka – History and Craftsmanship
Accommodation in Lesicharka
Lesicharka brings together a specific local history with themes of nature, culture and traditional craftsmanship. The Church of St. Petka Bulgarian in Lesicharka was consecrated in 1834. A house from the village is also part of a cultural presentation: the Etar Open-Air Museum displays a twin house from Lesicharka dating to the 19th century. When planning your trip, you can distinguish between history in the village and regional cultural attractions.
Nature and trails
Lesicharka is part of the land area of the protected Natura 2000 site BG0000214 “Dryanovo Monastery”. Another natural attraction in the region is Bacho Kiro Cave, designated a natural monument since 1962. A 700-metre section has been developed for visitors. Its designation as a natural monument and the developed visitor section are two distinct points of reference: the first classifies the cave as a natural site, while the second describes the section developed for visitors.
Several routes have their own focus. The Dryanovo cultural trail includes a hike along the Dryanovska Eco Trail to the remains of Boruna Fortress. A guided cultural route combines the exhibition at the Dryanovo History Museum in Dryanovo Monastery with a guided visit to Bacho Kiro Cave. If you are choosing routes by type, this distinction offers a practical guide: one focuses on a hike to fortress remains, the other on a combination of a museum exhibition and a guided cave visit.
The Bozhentsi–Dryanovo Monastery route connects two historical and cultural centres in Gabrovo Province. The route runs above Subotkovtsi and continues from there to Boruna Fortress, Bacho Kiro Cave and Dryanovo Monastery. No special equipment is required for this route.
A house from Lesicharka at the Etar Museum
The Etar Open-Air Museum displays a twin house from Lesicharka, built around the middle of the 19th century. Reconstruction of the house at Etar began in 1969, using sketches and drawings by Lazar Donkov. The house’s second floor contains an icon-painting workshop. The construction, reconstruction and present-day display tell different parts of its story: from the original house, through its reconstruction, to the use of the upper floor as a workshop.
Traditional crafts
At the Etar leather workshop, visitors can view and buy traditional products made from calf and lamb leather. Another workshop, the Mutafchiya, demonstrates traditional production using original tools. The Mutafchiya craft associated with the Lesicharka house turns animal hair into carpets, bags, saddlebags, coarse blankets and sacks. These examples give a tangible sense of the craft’s range; the two workshops also differ in their focus: the leather workshop offers leather goods to view and buy, while the Mutafchiya focuses on traditional production.
For the broader travel overview: Gabrovo.
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