Bulgaria – Ethnographic Museum, Varna
Mary Carter

Down a little side street close to the city centre you will find a quaint National Revival Period Mansion that was originally built for a Varna merchant (c. 1860) and which is now the home of Varna’s Ethnographic Museum.

It did take a little finding (we walked by it three times) as the entrance is through a small wooden doorway from the street which leads you into a courtyard that could easily be mistaken for a private house.

The interesting and varied displays are set over three floors and reflect the rich material and cultural heritage of the local population during the second half of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century.

The ground floor is dedicated to traditional means of livelihood – agriculture, wine making, weaving, iron smelting and fishing.

The first floor has an impressive range of costumes and jewelry and the four rooms on the second floor are laid out with the sort of furniture that you would have found in a house of this period.

Not all of the displays have explanations in English but you can buy a small booklet written in various languages at the ticket desk.

It’s not a huge museum, you can have a leisurely walk around it in an hour but it’s definitely worth a visit.

The museum can be found at: ul Panagyurishte 22, Tel: (052) 630 588