Kotel: Revival Architecture, Carpet Art and Mountain Nature

Kotel between the Basin Landscape and the Mountains

Kotel lies in a small basin in the eastern Stara Planina at 527 metres above sea level. The area around the town is hilly and characterised by foothills and basin landscapes; elevations range from about 300 to 1,128 metres. Razboyna is the highest peak. For orientation, these figures describe different scales: the town’s location and the area’s range of elevations.

The Natural History Museum in Kotel presents the region’s biodiversity, with more than 30,000 species. Endangered species on display include vultures, black storks, golden eagles, otters and brown bears. The museum adds a view of the region’s wildlife to the picture of its landscape.

Revival Houses, Carpets and Kotel’s History

Kotel is an architectural and historical reserve with more than 110 preserved Bulgarian Revival houses. The Kyorpeeva House in Galata is a Bulgarian National Revival building dating from 1872. Its interior depicts an authentic 19th-century domestic setting.

The Galatansko School houses an exhibition on the development of Kotel carpet weaving. It traces the craft from runners and classic carpets to modern woven tapestries, and includes original carpets from the 17th to 19th centuries. Traditional weaving and later forms of textile design are thus presented together.

The Kotel Awakening exhibition is devoted to the literary and educational work of figures from Kotel’s Revival period, including educators and revolutionaries. Carved woodwork in the churches of Sveta Troitsa and Saints Peter and Paul is also among the town’s cultural highlights. Kotel is also home to the first secondary school for folk singing and instrumental music.

In Medven, a museum exhibition explores the village’s history and presents Zahari Stoyanov in the context of Bulgarian history and culture. This distinct focus complements the exhibitions in Kotel with another location and another historical perspective.

Nature Reserves and Trails

The Orlitsata Reserve covers 559.4 hectares across the territory of Kotel and the village of Medven. It protects ancient beech forests, habitats for rare birds of prey, and a karst complex of caves, chasms and springs. Forest and tourist eco-trails lead from the Chukarite area towards Razboyna, Zheravna, Neykovo and the Karandila area in the Sliven Mountains.

The Sinia-Vir waterfall is a designated natural monument, 7 metres high and covering 1.1 hectares. A tourist route east of Kotel reaches the area after about 3.5 hours on foot. Near Medven, the Skoka waterfall lies on the Medven River; the path there passes through old, relatively unspoilt forests on the southern slopes of the Stara Planina.

Events and Practical Information

The Kotel Carpet and Ethnicities Festival uses Izvorite Park as a setting for traditions, music, crafts and cultural diversity. Depending on the event, the municipality’s festival programme also includes local recipes, as well as the customs and dances of ethnic groups living in Obshtina Kotel. Dates and programme details vary from one edition to another.

The visitor information centre in Kotel provides up-to-date information about accommodation, dining and entertainment. It also offers information about municipal museums and cultural heritage, natural monuments and tourist guides for eco-trails. When planning your stay, you can find guidance on both cultural attractions and nature and hiking opportunities.

Discover more destinations: Zheravna, Medven, Kipilovo, Sliven, Nova Zagora.

See the regional travel overview: Sliven Province.