National Museum Vasil Levski

The Vasil Levski National Museum in Karlovo is one of the most sacred sites of Bulgarian historical memory, entirely dedicated to the life and revolutionary legacy of the Apostle of Freedom. Attracting over 35,000 visitors annually, the museum complex is a prominent destination listed under number 44 of the 100 National Tourist Sites. For decades, the institution has carefully collected and preserved priceless personal belongings, documents, photographs, and historical research related to the national hero, his family, and his associates from all over the country. The complex comprises several key sites that take visitors on a journey back to the National Revival era. The heart of the complex is the birthplace of Vasil Levski. The house is a modest single-story building featuring a semi-underground room, a cellar, a pantry with traditional flour chests, and a hidden hideout, along with two additional rooms on the ground level. Next to it sit a semi-open dye house and a workshop for braiding woolen cords (gaitan), showcasing the traditional crafts of old Karlovo. Although the building collapsed in the years around the Liberation, it was completely reconstructed in 1933 by a local public committee with the help of citizens and soldiers. The authentic interior arrangement was meticulously recreated thanks to the vivid memories of the daughters of Levski’s sister, Yana. Right next to it stands the Chardakliev House, once home to the family of Levski’s maternal aunt, which today serves as the main entrance to the complex and features a small hall for temporary exhibitions. The complex also features a modern exhibition hall and a unique memorial chapel. Built in 1965, the exhibition hall houses iconic artifacts, including the statute of the Bulgarian Revolutionary Central Committee, an authentic uniform from the First Bulgarian Legion, and the banner of the Karlovo Revolutionary Committee, founded by the Apostle in 1869. In the year 2000, the complex was enriched with the "All Bulgarian Saints" Memorial Chapel. In this peaceful, spiritual atmosphere, visitors can hear the angelic voices of the Joan Kukuzel Choir singing "Dostoyno Est" (one of Levski's favorite chants) while viewing one of Bulgaria's most sacred relics — a lock of Vasil Levski’s actual hair.