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Etar is the oldest open air museum in Bulgaria, founded in 1964, and it is located 5 miles south from the town of Gabrovo. The museum preserves and cherishes the Bulgarian historical heritage and reveals to visitors a more comprehensible image of the past. There are about 50 sites in the museum- craftsman’s workshops, public buildings, and water technical equipment. The purpose of the museum is to exhibit Old Gabrovo’s economy, architecture, and lifestyle from Renaissance between 18th and 19th century. Three methods were used in the construction of the museum- restoration of already existing objects, transportation of original equipment and reconstruction of buildings from pre-made shootings.

The craftsman’s bazaar represents 16 examples of Balkan architecture revealing the renaissance architects’ natural talent. Just like in the old days, in Etara craftsmen manufacture and sell their own work directly to customers. Tourists can observe old manufacturing techniques, talk to artificers and have a look at their authentic tools and even buy a hand-made item made of leather, metal, wool, wood, clay, or fur.

One of Etara’s landmarks is the water-propelled equipment used for various purposes. This extraordinary set of devices shows the Bulgarian man’s rational and technical ingenuity. This is why Etara’s symbol is its famous water mill.

There are about 22 types of handicrafts, and tourists can take part in various workshops such as:

• Knitting with maize leaves / maize leaves /
• Dyeing with natural dyes
• Icon-painting
• Furriery
• Wood-carving
• Making folk musical instruments
• Weaving