History

Vasil Levski’s museum in his hometown Karlovo exists for more than 80 years. Levski’s house of birth was reconstructed in 1933 and it started to function as a museum in 1937. Initially the social committee of Karlovo reconstructed it and the community centre was taking care of the house. There worked only a guard who welcomed the visitors. The first curator of the museum was Nikola Slavchev.

In 1954 Vasil Levski’s house became part of the national museum system. In 1955 next to it was constructed an exhibition hall for documents. When it appeared to be too small in 1965 next to it was built a new building and the old one was transformed into a cinema hall. From 1968 to 1992 Vasil Levski’s house has been part of the Historical museum in Karlovo. It has been an independent museum since 1993. On 21 July 2000 it turned into a state cultural institute with national importance under the name Vasil Levski Museum – Karlovo. Thereby it became a significant national memorial museum dedicated to one of the most distinguished Bulgarians.

From 1994 to 2011 in Karlovo was carried out a project of the National Institute for Monuments of Culture with author architect Maria Karazlateva for restoration of the surroundings of the Apostle’s house of birth which were damaged a lot in the fifties and the sixties of XX century. The project includes expansion of the museum facilities by reconstructing old Bulgarian houses from the time of the National Revival and construction of new ones. Chardaklieva house, “All Bulgarian Saints” memorial chapel and Onbashieva House have already been built. The museum is a member of ICOM and of Association “Bulgarian Museums”.

Interesting facts

For more than 75 years the museum has collected and kept a number of belongings, documents, photographs related to the life and deed of Vasil Levski, of his companions from Karlovo and other parts of the country. Here you can find almost all scientific biographic researches and literature works dedicated to the Apostle, pieces of fine arts, a lot of documents and photographs showing the activity of social organizations devoted to perpetuate Apostle’s deed. A considerable part of these materials are donated to the museum.
Vasil Levski Museum is one of the most visited memorial museums in Bulgaria during the past and nowadays. In the last few years it is visited by 50 thousand people annually.

History

Interesting facts

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