Pateva's house is part of the Ethnographic Complex Starinno Karlovo - an architectural reserve that unites emblematic buildings for the city of Karlovo - cultural monuments of inestimable historical and aesthetic value.
Dear friends of "Photo Moments", get ready because I will take you to a world of charm and grace, of beauty and love; in a world of lushly landscaped royal courtyards and ancient fountains; a world that has sheltered and preserved that inimitable urban renaissance atmosphere that is still alive here, and which will deeply touch you, captivate you and hold you for a long time.
Here it is!
I find it on the former city megdan.
It was built way back in 1848 by the famous Karlovian craftsman Patyo Dulgerina.
The owner of the house was the butcher Patyo Hadjimichev - a wealthy merchant of goods, owner of a butter mill and a tepavika for the processing and production of pigtails, but also a patriotic patriot who allocated funds for education and was an enabler of the secret revolutionary committee created in Karlovo .
On the left is the building of the Pateva maaza - built by the son of Patyo Hadjimichev - Vasil Patev.
I have not yet entered the doors and I am already intoxicated and bewitched by the huge green rose bushes, rich in color and fragrance, adorning the huge wrought iron gate in an incomparable way.
I walk on the stone slabs with which the wide courtyard is paved, and azure is turning blue above me, the same way it turned blue during the Bulgarian Renaissance, when the house was boiling with life.
On the left - a huge fig tree adorns the wide yard, on the right - the old fountain reminds me of a favorite song.
🎵 ...may you be well wherever you go... 🎵
The stone fountain, from which flows cold Balkan water for thirsty throats, is a specific and characteristic element for every royal court of that time.
Pretty, orderly, landscaped, colorful, even patterned!
I salute the team for taking such loving care of this charming and impressive place!
A sweet and thick scent of roses wafts through the air, slightly moved by the breeze coming down from the old Balkans, which proudly floats before me.
A monotonous hum of bees echoes the silence.
Now to the left, now to the right - a bird's song adds a note to the perfect mood.
The sun bathes the whole yard with its caressing rays and every color laughs at me.
I'm coming in.
Each room is thematically divided and carries its own unique message.
I am surprised! That's how it's arranged! It's so patterned!
Light emanates from the windows – rays of happiness enter every room, filling it with hope!
Every visitor has the opportunity to learn interesting and curious facts and details about rose production and the healing properties of the herbs, collected with zest and skill from the sun-drenched green slopes of the Central Balkan National Park. That is why the Duck House is also known as the House of Karlovian Flowers and Herbs.
Gulpana
In one of the rooms, I was greeted by the gyulpana.
Gulpans are authentic copper vessels for processing roses and extracting the rose oil, called liquid gold at the time, in other words, it is a traditional cauldron for rose brewing.
Gulpans are made next to running water, usually near a river. If the river bank is higher, water wheels are used to raise the water to the required height.
It happens that the gyulpans are carried away by the raging waters of the incoming river.
The Gulpan cauldron consists of a cauldron with a lid. The cauldron has the shape of a truncated cone, in which the lid is placed. The caps of the gulpans in Bulgaria are larger compared to those used in France and India, which allows for better collection of water vapor. They are led to the cooling landing at a slope of 45°.
In 1860, 1,271 cauldrons were used in Kazanlushko alone, and the average production from each of them was about 135 muskalas of rose oil.
The muscle is a unit of weight borrowed from the Arabs, equal to 4.9844 grams.
Up to 300,000 muskales, or about 1,500 kilograms of rose oil, were produced on Bulgarian lands until the Crimean War.
After the Liberation, the production of rose oil increased and reached 848,000 musalas, or 4,240 kilograms.
Until 1905, the largest areas with roses and the most said for the distillation of rose color were in Kazanlushko, after which it was quickly caught up and overtaken by Karlovsko.
Here, the queen is the royal oil rose!
The house has a dedicated distillation room where the methods of extracting different essential oils are demonstrated.
If desired, you can be given a demonstration of the preparation of cosmetics and medicinal ointments.
Or maybe you want to make your own aromatic oils or taste herbal brandy, rose tea and other herbs?
No problems!
All this is completely possible here - in the Pateva House!
Fragrant herbal tea or the scent of rose perfume or perhaps the chambers of the queen of roses beckon with atmosphere and spirit.
Everyone can be a part of this magic, take home the unique taste of Balkan tea or herbal brandy, their moment with the Queen of Roses and a recipe for making cosmetics.
Everyone can learn more about the healing properties of herbs and learn about the traditions of rose production and cosmetics with essential oils.
The duck house awaits its guests because it has something to share with them, because it can turn each visit into a kind of bridge through time and leave its fragrant memory in every heart.
Of interest to the little princesses is the specially designated room of the Rose Queen, which houses her throne, crown and dresses.
36 queens smile from the wall - 6 of them from black and white photo moments and every year their number grows and the tradition continues.
Come to be proud!
Ethnographic complex "Old Karlovo" was opened in 2014.
It includes five houses - monuments of culture with remarkable cultural value. These are:
Each of the houses gives rise to its own unique message, which directs the guest in different directions, provokes desires and memories in him, makes him dream.
The integrity of the architectural ensemble is unique and inimitable, and every visitor could feel that great revival spirit that still roams the narrow cobbled streets of "Old Karlovo".
Ethnographic complex "Old Karlovo" is site number 44b of the 100 national tourist sites.
How do you get to the city of Karlovo?
Karlovo is a city located at the southern foot of Stara planina - in the Plovdiv region.
It is located in South Central Bulgaria near the Sub-Balkan Road*.
*Republican road I-6, better known as the Sub-Balkan road, is a first-class road from the Republic road network of Bulgaria with a direction from west to east, crossing the territory of nine districts: Kyustendilska, Pernishka, Sofia region, Sofiaska, Plovdivska, Starozagorska, Sliven, Yambol and Burgas.
Its total length is 508.5 km, which makes it the longest national road in Bulgaria.
The closest city to Karlovo is the city of Sopot - located 5 kilometers (about 5 minutes by car) to the west.
Karlovo is the third largest city in the Plovdiv region after the regional city and Asenovgrad.
Karlovo is the administrative center of Karlovo municipality.
Karlovo stands at:
139 kilometers (about 2 hours and 11 minutes by car) from the capital
60 kilometers (about an hour by car) from the city of Plovdiv
356 kilometers (about 4 hours and 30 minutes by car) from the city of Varna
244 kilometers (about 2 hours and 44 minutes by car) from the city of Burgas
17 kilometers (about 17 minutes by car) from the town of Kalofer
How do you get to Pateva House in the city of Karlovo?
Patevata house in the city of Karlovo is located on "Vasil Levski" street, opposite Patevata maaza and near "Vasil Levski" square, located between "St. Nicholas" and "Uspenie Bogorodichno" churches.
What can be visited nearby?
In Karlovo, I recommend taking a walk to the beautiful Suchurum waterfall.
Only 5 kilometers west of the town of Karlovo (about 6 minutes by car) is the town of Sopot.
In Sopot, you must visit the "Ivan Vazov" house-museum.
In the city of Sopot, you can visit the charming Sopot waterfalls.
Only 11 kilometers from the city of Karlovo (about 12 minutes by car) you will find the city of Banya - a source of health and beauty.
In the city of Banya, you can visit the Royal Palace.
And also to enjoy a charming bath walk while thousands of red roses bloom around.
12 kilometers east of Banya (about 18 minutes by car) is the charming Domlyan Reservoir, which is a great idea for a walk.
Uniquely beautiful rose bushes bloom in the village of Domlyan, which you can explore.
Only 25 kilometers south of the town of Karlovo (about 26 minutes by car) you will find the green and peaceful Hisarya.
Hisarya offers its guests diverse and impressive attractions, which I have summarized in the following great itinerary ideas that everyone can benefit from:
33 kilometers west of the town of Karlovo (about 34 minutes by car) you will find the historic town of Klisura.
40 kilometers east of the town of Karlovo (about 40 minutes by car) is the town of Pavel Banya - hot mineral springs and the aroma of roses.
3 kilometers east of the city of Pavel Banya (about 40 minutes by car) you will find
the village of Viden.
The proud ruins of the wonderful church "St. Anastasius" still stand near the village.
Only 55 kilometers from the city of Karlovo (about 53 minutes by car) is the city of Kazanlak.
In Kazanlak, you can visit the rose museum.
After viewing the museum's rich exposition, I suggest you take a relaxing walk through the wonderful alleys of Rosarium Park in the city of Kazanlak.
In the city of Kazanlak, I suggest you also visit the church "Saint Ilia", also known as the Kulenska church.
Only 5 kilometers south of the town of Kazanlak (about 8 minutes by car) is the village of Buzovgrad, from where the wonderful eco-trail adventure "Path through the Ages" begins.
You shouldn't miss it for anything in the world!
Come to be proud!
And as a finale, my dear friends,
you shouldn't miss a look
the special album with photo moments –
discovered, experienced, captured and shared with you!