The historical museum in Smolyan

The historical museum in Smolyan is the oldest and the biggest in the Middle Rhodopes. It was founded in 1935 and its aim is to explore, study, preserve and popularise the uniqueness of its artistic value and its historical important heritage of the people, inhabiting the central part of the Rhodopes.
A specially designed buildings house of the museum overlooking both - the old and the new town of Smolyan. It has a panoramic view to the peaks - Karlak, Perelik and Sokolitza, praised in many songs, dedicated to the Rhodope mountain. The exhibition halls present the permanent attractive arranged exhibition "Cultural Heritage of the Rhodopes from Antiquity till Nowadays". They together with vast lobbies for temporary exhibitions occupy an area nearly 2000 m2, at 4 levels.
For many years the museum has gathered a lot of various collections of museum exponents - many of them are unique of character. The collection of archeological finds from the Age of Middle Paleolithic and the Stone Age, exhibits illustrating the long-lasting presence of Thracians from the Late Bronze Age till Late Antiquity, materials, related with the Slavonic population of the mountain are very important because of their variety and artistic value. A polichromeous cult vessel from the cave of Yagodina from the Stone Age, a Thracians bronze helmet from 4th-3rd c..B.C., a late ancient "roe-lamp" from the town of Hvoyna present special interest to visitors.

In the halls of the museum you will be touched and fascinated for ever by the wealth and magic of the colours of the mountain, by the skill of Rhodopean craftsmen, by the love they had put into the skillfully made decorating, textile, everyday objects made of wood, copper, iron etc. The enchanting ringing of the 100 bells, fascinate everybody with their unique sounding. Any visitor of the museum has the rare chance to expertise an exciting meeting with one of the typical ancient traditions in the mountain - the Koukeri. If the visitor are interested, the museum staff is ready to demonstrate an old custom, a ritual and the traditional skills of the Rhodopean people.
The vast entrance halls have been designed for temporary exhibitions, which present various collections in the historical museum of Smolyan, including visiting exhibitions. From 1.March 2002 you can see a presentable exposition - a donation by the colonel of reserve Raicho Harbaliev to his native town Smolyan, including medals and badges of the Bulgarian awarding system -tzar, regent's and republic emissions.
A visit to the historical museum is the way to get to know the thousand years old history of the Middle Rhodopes, preserved throughout the Ages and onto the future. If you are interested in history, if you love it, but you are on a business trip, skiing or on holiday, spare some time and visit the history museum of Smolyan.
It takes only 30 minutes to feel the spirit of Rhodope mountain.

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Tourist Information Centers
Smolyan: +359 301/ 6 25 30
Regional Tourist Information Center: +359 301/6 38 85
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Momtchilovtsi: +359 87 256 407
Shiroka Luka: +359 3030/ 233
Chepelare: +359 3051/ 21 10
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