Renaissance

Balabanov’s House

57, Konstantin Stoilov Str.

tel.: 032 627 082

Working hours:9.00a.m.–17.00p.m. – daily

Day for a free-of-charge visit: Thursday – students; Sunday: residents of Plovdiv and visitors

The house was built in the early nineteenth century and is located between the 4^th January, Dr. K. Stoilov and Antranik streets. The oblong vestibule with a high ceiling presents the historical charm of the house, around which industrial and household premises were located. The upper floor can be reached by an internal staircase, which introduces into a large glazed hall /hayet/ around which are situated four rooms. Currently, the house is used as a multifunctional cultural center.

Hindliyan House

4, Artin Gidikov Str.

tel.: 032/628 998

Working hours:9.00a.m.–17.00p.m. – daily

Day for a free-of-charge visit: Thursday – students; Sunday: residents of Plovdiv and visitors

The house was built by an unknown master-builder in 1835-1840 according to the taste of the rich merchant and entrepreneur Stepan Hindliyan. It is the most richly ornamented of all preserved houses in the Old Town. All rooms are covered in drawings from the inside and outside. The ceilings are painted in an oriental pattern with great taste. Together with the unique alafrangs and beautiful naïvistic landscapes of Constantinople, Venice, Alexandria, St. Petersburg, Stockholm, they give a unique personality to each room. An Enoteca was found in the basement – a promotional center of fine wines from all over Bulgaria.

Nedkovich House

3, Tsanko Lavrenov Str.

tel.: 032/626 216

Working hours:9.00a.m.–17.00p.m.

Closed: Saturday and Sunday

Day for a free-of-charge visit: Thursday – students

Built in 1863 in the spirit of European classicism, the house of Plovdiv’s merchant and public person Nicola Nedkovich, respects viewers with a richly decorated facade and a four-column solemn portico. The rooms on the first floor are located symmetrically on both sides of a wide lounge /hayet/. The exhibition in the house presents the inner order of the wealthy Plovdiv houses of 19^th century and includes furniture and belongings of the Nedkovich family.

Zlatyu Boyadzhiev Art Gallery

18, Saborna Str.

tel.: 032/635 308

Working hours:9.00a.m.–17.00p.m. – daily

Day for a free-of-charge visit: Thursday – students; Sunday: residents of Plovdiv and visitors

The house of Dr. Stoyan Chomakov, one of the most prominent fighters for independent Bulgarian church, was built in 1862-1865. From an architectural point of view it belongs to the very popular at that time neoclassicism. After the Liberation, the heirs let the house for King Ferdinand’s residence. Since 1984, the largest collection of paintings of the famous Bulgarian artist Zlatyu Boyadzhiev /1903-1976/ has been exhibited in the building.   

Dimitar Kirov Exhibition

15, Kiril Nektariev Str.

Working hours:9.00a.m.–17.00p.m.

Closed: Saturday and Sunday

Day for a free-of-charge visit: Thursday – students

Veren Stambolyan’s house, built in the second half of 19^th century, is a large two-storey symmetrical building, located on the eastern slope of Dzhambaz Tepe. For many years it was used as a creative center of the Union of Bulgarian Artists and the Society of Plovdiv Artists. Since May 2010, a permanent exhibition dedicated to the work of the famous Plovdiv’s artist Dimitar Kirov /1935-2008/ has been arranged in the house. The artist belonged to the generation of Plovdiv artists, which in the 1960s modernized the image of Bulgarian art.

Lamartin House

19 Knyaz Tsertelev Str.

tel.: 032/631 776

George Mavridi’s house (known today as House Lamartine) was built in 1829 and is one of the largest and most beautiful symmetrical houses in the Old Town. When the great French poet and politician Alphonse de Lamartine passed through Bulgaria in 1833, he stayed at the house only three days, but was fascinated by the kind hosts. Today the house is used as a creative center of Bulgarian Writers. In one of the rooms on the first floor is arranged a small museum exhibition dedicated to Lamartine.

Georgi Bozhilov Exhibition– The Elephant

1, Knyaz Tsertelev Str.

Skobeleva House was built in 1860 by Kostadin Kaftandzhiyata. General Mikhail Skobelev’s mother, Olga Skobeleva (1823-1880), known for her charity work, lived here after the Liberation, until her death. Since 1997 the house shelters the Future for Bulgaria Foundation and in 2003 here was arranged a permanent exhibition dedicated to the work of renowned Plovdiv’s artist Georgi Bojilov – The Elephant (1935-2001), belonging to the generation of Plovdiv artists, which in the 1960s modernized the image of Bulgarian art.