Karlovo
Accommodation in Karlovo
Karlovo combines historic houses and museums with natural attractions such as Suchurum Waterfall. The municipality also includes the spa town of Banya and cultural sites in Kalofer—different focal points to consider when planning your trip.
Karlovo at a glance
Karlovo’s main attractions include the history of Vasil Levski, ethnographic collections and churches. Suchurum Waterfall, 15 metres high, lies north of the town centre. Banya is known for its spa resort and hyperthermal mineral water; Kalofer adds a national museum, traditional crafts and a men’s monastery.
Which cultural sites can you visit in Karlovo?
The “Starinno Karlovo” ethnographic complex comprises five restored and adapted historic buildings. Each house offers attractions and demonstrations that visitors can take part in. The complex thus combines historic architecture with hands-on experiences. Those interested in everyday culture and traditional demonstrations will find a different focus here than in the city’s museums.
The Vasil Levski National Museum is located in the centre of Karlovo. It comprises Levski’s birthplace, the “Vsyah Svetih Bolgarskih” Memorial Chapel (All Bulgarian Saints), the Chardaklieva House, a museum exhibition and the monument to Gina Kuncheva, Levski’s mother. Guided tours are available in Bulgarian and English. Admission is charged, and the museum is open year-round.
The churches also offer distinct historical perspectives. The Church of “Sveta Bogoroditsa” was built in 1851; one of its murals depicts the ordination of Deacon Ignatius as a hierodeacon. St Nicholas Church is a listed monument of Bulgarian National Revival architecture. In Kalofer, the “Hristo Botev” National Museum comprises a memorial house museum, an exhibition hall and monuments to Hristo Botev and his mother, Ivanka Boteva.
What do the waterfall and spa resort offer?
Suchurum is located one kilometre north of Karlovo’s centre. A walk along “Vodopad” Street leads to the waterfall. Its 15-metre height gives the nature experience a clear destination; visitors who want to combine nature and culture can make it a separate focal point alongside the museums and historic buildings.
Banya is a spa resort in Karlovo Municipality, located in the fertile Karlovo Basin. The mineral water there is hyperthermal, with a temperature of 42 °C. This gives Banya a different focus from Karlovo’s museums and churches. When choosing a hotel in Karlovo, it is worth first considering whether the focus of your trip will be culture in Karlovo, the Banya spa resort or the sights in Kalofer.
What experiences does Kalofer offer?
The “Hristo Botev” National Museum is complemented by the Daskal Botev Schoolhouse. Museum staff look after the schoolhouse, which has the same opening hours as the National Museum. Patriotic lessons are offered in the mutual schoolroom upon prior request. This option therefore requires advance notice.
Regional crafts include visits to workshops for the famous Kalofer lace and for weaving traditional rural rugs and woollen carpets. Another cultural site is the Kalofer men’s monastery, “Holy Nativity of the Mother of God.” It lies about seven kilometres north of Kalofer in a valley surrounded by Balkan Mountain hills, on the banks of the Byala River. About 200 metres beyond the monastery are the entrance to Central Balkan National Park and the “Byala Reka” complex; the “Byala Reka” eco-trail is also nearby.
Which traditions are part of the Rose Festival?
The Rose Festival in Karlovo begins with a rose-picking ritual featuring folklore groups. It includes bagpipe music, traditional costumes, ceremonial breads, roses and Kukeri dances. The festival also features a demonstration of rose distillation and the serving of rose products to guests. These elements give the festival a distinctly cultural and artisanal character.
The places on this page include Banya, Karnare, Karlovo, Moskovets and Klissura. You can find more destinations under Asenovgrad, Maritsa and Rhodopi Municipality.
FAQ
What is part of the “Starinno Karlovo” ethnographic complex?
The complex comprises five restored and adapted historic buildings. Each house offers attractions and demonstrations that visitors can take part in.
How do you get to Suchurum Waterfall?
The 15-metre-high waterfall lies one kilometre north of Karlovo’s centre. A walk along “Vodopad” Street leads there.
What is distinctive about the mineral water in Banya?
Banya is a spa resort in Karlovo Municipality. Its hyperthermal mineral water has a temperature of 42 °C.
For the main travel overview: Plovdiv Province.
