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The building of the Historical Museum in Kardzhali, whose exposition was opened for visits in 1987, is a monument of culture. Built between 1922-1930, with funds of the local municipality, it was intended for religious school, but never performed this function.

The museum focuses mainly on the historical landmarks that were found near Kardzhali and the region from ancient times until today. The Museum is divided into three separate exposures, "Archaeology", "Nature" and "Ethnography".

Department "Archaeology" stretches over 600 square meters and has nine rooms. The earliest finds exposed there are dated from the Stone Age.

Trying to list the exhibits in the museum’s fund is not easy because they now exceed 45,000. the Regional Museum in Kardzhali keeps stone and bone tools, nephritic swastika, vessels and cult objects of pottery, iron and bronze, two-edged axe (labrys) more than 3500 years old, a rich numismatic collection, fine jewelry, artifacts from the time of the Thracians and Romans and numerous stone inscriptions of their era.

Also, the museum store gold funerary wreath, exquisite candlesticks dated to the I century BC., agricultural tools, objects of the Christian cult, lead seals, stone pulpit from Perperikon and more.

The departments "Natural" and "Ethnography" are also interesting. The first presents interesting examples of animate and inanimate nature in the region, rare species of plants, fossils, minerals and gems. Situated on the second floor, it spreads over six rooms with a total area of 300 square meters. In the natural department you can learn more about some of the most remarkable natural formations in the region, like "Stone Wedding", "Stone Mushrooms" and "the Petrified Forest".

The Ethnographic wing is located on the third floor of the museum and has a total area of 600 sq.m. In nine rooms is shown the life and culture of Eastern Rhodopes from the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century.There also can be seen models of authentical crafting tools. The collection of folk costumes and decorations is particularly rich.

Few people know that near the building is located the Art Gallery "Stanka Dimitrova", which is also part of the exposure of the Regional Museum. It is housed in a former Turkish police station. The gallery was founded in 1961 exposing a rich collection of icons made by Thracian and Rhodope craftsmen and works of some of the most famous Bulgarian artists as Vladimir Dimitrov - the Master, Stoyan Venev, Cyril Tsonev, Constantine Shtarkelov, Dechko Uzunov, Svetlin Rusev and other.

The entrance to the museum costs 2 leva. Guided tour costs 10 leva. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday throughout the year.