Ethnographic Complex "Samovodska Charshiya"

The Samovodska Charshia ethnographic complex is the famous craftsmen's street of Veliko Tarnovo, a restored part of the old town that recreates the atmosphere of a 19th-century Bulgarian Revival marketplace. The name comes from the women of the village of Samovodene, who used to come here to trade, and the place gradually grew into a lively centre of guilds and merchants.

What you'll see Along the narrow, cobbled lanes stand traditional houses, workshops and shops that keep old crafts alive: pottery, coppersmithing, blacksmithing, weaving, icon painting, confectionery and other traditional trades. Many workshops are still active, so you can watch artisans at work and buy handmade pieces. The architecture of the timber-fronted houses, with their slightly cantilevered upper storeys, is itself part of the spectacle.

Practical The street lies in the historic centre of Veliko Tarnovo and is easily explored on foot. It is best visited during the day, when the workshops are open. Combine the visit with the nearby Monument to the Asen Dynasty and the Tsarevets Fortress to cover the town's main sights in a single day.