Wooden houses perched on dusty alleys, a babbling brook and oak and beech forests in the surroundings – the village of Medven is like a picture from a children's fairy tale. And while the nearby towns of Kotel and Zheravna attract crowds of tourists, Medven remains off the beaten track – a quiet place, with an atmosphere no less authentic than that during the Bulgarian National Revival. Founded in the 16th century, the village located in the Balkan Mountain tells the story of the locals who in the past produced textiles for the Ottoman army, as well as wooden looms and casks. In the church of St. Marina, built in 1882, an icon of the saint is preserved. It miraculously survived the burning of the previous church by the Ottomans.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Smilena Smilkova, chairwoman of the community center "Izvor 1882", told us more:

"I have had the opportunity to spend time here all these years. My personal feeling about this village is that I am in paradise because of the beauty of nature, peace and quiet. At the beginning of the 20th century, the population of Medven was about a thousand people. There were at least 20 pubs and probably more shops. Life was very active. However, over time, people began to leave it and at the beginning of the 21st century, the population according to the electoral list was 98 people. There are also people who have relatives here and have houses. Especially in the summer, the village comes alive and there are about 150-200 people."

In Medven, every house is built on a stone plinth with horizontally arranged wooden planks. The wooden shutters on the inside of the windows create an atmosphere of cosiness and security. The most impressive is the inner room, entirely made of wood, with built-in cupboards and the obligatory iconostasis on the eastern wall. The hearth is also located here, as well as the wide plank bed. Guests were welcomed during the day on it and at night it was converted into a bedroom for the family. Even today, in some of these old homes, rings can be seen hanging from the ceiling, on which baby cradles were hung.

"I live in such a house, which is probably over 150 years old. Many houses in the village are authentic or have preserved their authentic appearance. And every time I look at them, I admire the talent and genius of the Bulgarian craftsmen and builders. During the National Revival, when they were built, material from the nearby deciduous and coniferous forests was used. An interesting thing is that the houses have two entrances or two exits. This is probably related to the context of the time in which the houses were built and gave people the opportunity to easily escape."

Nowadays, some of the houses in Medven are deserted and are gradually falling apart, others have been restored and serve as villas for their owners, while some have been converted into guest houses. The village also has a museum:

"In 1850, Zahariy Stoyanov was born in Medven - a Bulgarian revolutionary, politician, journalist and writer. Subsequently, a museum dedicated to him was created in the village. Although this was not the original house where he lived, there are always visitors. There is also a place called ‘Siniya vir’ 20-30 minutes walk away from the village with a magnificent waterfall. The pond there is about 8 meters deep. This is the so-called Medven beach. Every summer there are many people there who swim and show heroism, jumping from the high rocks into the water. It is an attractive place and part of the beauty of nature in Medven," Assoc. Prof. Dr. Smilena Smilkova says.

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Author: Veneta Nikolova
Publication in English: Alexander Markov
Photos: Veneta Nikolova