It is difficult to imagine a more suitable place to get acquainted with the culture and life of the Bulgarian people than the Plovdiv Ethnographic Museum. This museum is not only considered the second-largest ethnographic museum in Bulgaria but also regularly takes part in annual folklore festivals. Besides, the museum building itself can be called a tourist attraction.

The magnificent old purple mansion was designed by the talented architect Hadzhi Georgi for the famous merchant Argir Kuyumdzhioglu in the 19th century. Richly decorated with floral patterns, the merchant's house has a very long history. It had housed a boarding school for girls, a hat factory, and a flour warehouse until it was handed over to the department of the city ethnographic museum.

The grand opening took place 5 years after the museum moved to the new building. The permanent exhibition was presented to the public only in the 1950s. Today, the collection of the Plovdiv Ethnographic Museum comprises more than 40 thousand exhibits. In total, the museum has six permanent exhibitions, each in its own hall.

The museum displays traditional Bulgarian costumes and precious jewelry, unique musical instruments, and items of ancient crafts, such as weaving and metalworking. Exhibits related to winemaking and beekeeping have a special place. Where else can tourists find ancient grape presses and distillation equipment of the rose essential oil? However, the most striking exhibits are the thoroughly restored interiors of the 19th-century merchant house with paintings, old photographs, rare books and manuscripts in luxurious antique bookcases, as well as massive wooden ceilings decorated with fine carvings.

Be sure to walk in the garden in front of the museum, admire the wrought-iron bars and snow-white sculptures, sheltered from the scorching sun by the branches of flowering trees.