The captivating village of Zheravna impresses the visitor with its authentic buildings. 172 of the houses are declared cultural monuments. 150 sites have been given a new life after their restoration. Because of its architectural merit the village is declared to be a reserve. The little Revival houses are beautifully decorated; many of them are adorned with exquisite woodcarving. The narrow cobbled streets, the numerous fountains and the mountain greenery contribute to the unique look of this place. We also add history to the mix – this region has been inhabited since antiquity. A few centuries ago the village was an important centre of crafts and culture. The great Bulgarian writer Yordan Yovkov (1880 – 1937) was born here. Nowadays his home is turned into a museum and is among the must-see places in the village. The restored church of St. Nicholas, built in 1834, houses an exhibition of icons, stone plastic art and church paraphernalia. The school, built in 1867, houses a picture gallery. The Sava Filaretov house museum and the house of Rusi chorbadzhi are also worth visiting. They house the exhibitions “History of Zheravna” and “Zheravna’s Customs and Culture During the Revival (18-19 Century)”.

The charming village of Zheravna is situated in the Eastern Balkan Mountains. Not far from it a small picturesque valley gives home to another oasis of mountain freshness and historical charm – the little town of Kotel. Having preserved some of the best examples of Revival architecture, it takes a worthy place in Bulgaria’s historical past. The region is no less rich in evidence of ancient life – here are the Roman fortress of Kaleto, Kipilovsko kale (Kipilovsko Fortress), the historical locality of Vida and others. The region’s natural attributes look as if they came out under the hand of a really talented artist – dozens of caves, rock formations and centuries-old forests. This richness is united in the Zlosten Karst Complex – a natural sight which encompasses a number of protected territories. It is located on the land of Kotel and the villages of Medven and Yablanovo. It helps conserving the earthly forms, caves, centuries-old beech forests and historical localities characteristic for the region. Here are the caves Lednika, Su batta, Maglivata peshtera (The Misty Cave), Rakovski and many others. Water also plays part in the multicoloured landscape of the Kotel region with the waterfalls Siniya vir (The Blue Pool), Skokovete (The Cascades) and Medvenskite izvori (The Medven Springs).

Beautiful rock caves, marvelous waterfalls and authentic Revival look await the visitors of the small village of Medven, 13 kilometres away from Kotel and 14 kilometres away from Zheravna. Here, among the preserved houses is Zahary Stoyanov’s home, today turned into a museum. The nature is spectacular and the human handcraft, preserved through the centuries, uniquely contributes to this charming picture.