The idea of creating an ethnographic museum dates back to the end of 1891. After a quarter of a century, at the suggestion of Stoyu Shishkov – a teacher, researcher, journalist and publisher – the local administration decided to create a District Museum. Its main purpose is the collection of materials related to the past and present of the Plovdiv region in historical, economic, artistic and everyday terms.
The beginning was made on January 22, 1917, when a meeting was convened in the District Palace (now Plovdiv Municipality), at which it was decided “to establish a District Museum under the Permanent Commission”. The rules of the museum were approved on July 20 of this year. and according to it, the museum started working with a director – Yordan p. Georgiev and secretary – Stoyu N. Shishkov.
This is followed by a period of collection work, photo shooting, promotion activity. By 1930, the museum’s valuables were over 500. In 1931-32, despite Stoyu Shishkov’s reasoned opposition, for reasons of economy, the administration transferred this modest property to the National Library and Museum – Plovdiv. In 1938, on the initiative of the mayor of the city, Bozhidar Zdravkov, the second beginning of the modern museum was established: the most representative house of the Renaissance Plovdiv – Kuyumdzhieva, was designated as the Municipal House-Museum.
On October 14, 1943, the museum’s new home was opened to the public. In 1949, the Municipal House-Museum was renamed the National Ethnographic Museum.
In 1952, a permanent exhibition was opened, completely renovated in 1962. Today, over 40,000 exhibits are divided into six funds: Agriculture, Crafts, Textiles and Clothing, Furniture and Interior, Musical Instruments and Ritual Props, Works of Fine Art art. A Photo library, a Scientific archive and a Library have been established.
Work time:
Summer opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 9:00-18:00 without a break
Day off: Monday
Winter working hours:
Tuesday to Sunday: 9:00-17:00 without a break Day
off: Monday
Entrance fees:
Entrance ticket for tourists – 6.00 BGN.
Individual visit of pupils and students – 2.00 BGN.
For organized groups of pupils and students with tuition – BGN 1.00.
Family ticket for a family with children from 7 to 16 years old – BGN 10.00.
Talk in Bulgarian – BGN 10.00.
Talk in English – BGN 20.00.
Thematic lectures, video projections – BGN 20.00.
Free entry for:
– children up to 7 years old;
– guides and companions of organized groups of over 10 people;
– members of ICOM, ICOMOS, professional organizations and associations, and journalists – after identification;
– donors and members of the Friends of the Museum Club; – official delegations and guests of the Municipality of Plovdiv.
Contacts:
Regional Ethnographic Museum – Plovdiv
4000 Plovdiv, St. Dr. St. Chomakov” No. 2
Fax: 032/ 62 63 28
