konstantsalieva house

While in the village of Arbanasi, we were taken to this museum. The look around that we had was quite quick but our guide was very good and explained the life of the villagers well. It would not fill a whole half day but combined with a trip to the church in the village it provided a relaxed and interesting afternoon.

The Konstantsalieva House is a very big and beautiful residence in Arnanasi. Of course it is a building of an extremely rich family 200 years ago. Now here is a small but attractive ethnographic museum. Arbanasi is a very interesting and strange village: many churches (with a very curious architecture), hotels, villas, restaurants, shops, splendid houses (probable renovated or new) made from stones and wood.It is a quiet place and an important attraction in Bulgaria. If you get there I strongly recommend to visit also Veliko Tarnovo (at approx. 5 km), with the Bulgarian medieval fortress Tsarevets and other museums important for the Bulgarian history.

As a foreigner who has no clue how houses from the Ottoman period look like this might be interesting. However, for me as a Bulgarian this was one of many many houses from this period that have been preserved and did not impress me much. I think a fee of 6 leva is too much for the 3 rooms to see in this house.

If you happen to find yourself in this corner of Bulgaria, this museum is an interesting little glimpse into how wealthy people lived a couple hundred years ago. From the construction of the building to the items in the various rooms, this little museum has a lot of interesting stories to tell (or rather the tour guide we had shared some interesting stories, as the museum itself doesn't have a lot of information on display).

We enjoyed touring this museum while in Arbanassi as it shows the Turkish influences on the life of the rich merchants in this area. Our tour guide gave lots of information, but the signs in the room were just as informative. I would definitely recommend it if you are in the area.

The houses in the village of Arbanasi are charming and this house is the best of the lot. Built in the 17th century, you can explore various rooms (bedrooms, kitchen, birthing room, bathrooms!) to catch a glimpse of how wealthy people lived in this remote part of the world. If you travel to Arbanasi on your trip to Bulgaria (which you definitely should), be sure to pay this historic house museum a visit.

The interiors of this property reminded me of similar sites I have visited in Turkey. Unfortunately the property was quite crowded when we visited and we were rushed through so I didn't have enough time to have a good look around.It is a valuable place to visit to get an understanding of Bulgarian life in the 17th Century for a middle class family.If you are in Arbanassi to visit the Nativity Church then it is worth stopping by this property.

We were impressed by the presentation and the information available on this residence. It looked authentic and you could imagine the family living there as we walked through the house. It is a must to see if you want to appreciate how life was in the Bulgarian 17th century.

Neat insight into how Bulgarians were living during the Ottoman occupation. It is furnished inside, and had a small shop in the basement. The wood used to prevent earthquake damage is interesting.

This is a 17th century house which is preserved in the authentic style of the region at that time. The Turkish influence is evident and the attention to detail is great. It is now essentially a museum depicting the daily life and culture of people in that time.Note: It is a 2 story house, but the stairs are easy to climb. There is a pretty yard with a bench in front, and of course, a souvenier shop as well.

it's just an old house, at the second floor of a beautiful and well restored building (recalling me Alps houses), with furnitures and a kind of scenery, but without any interest if you don't have explanations (signs are in bulgarian...). Visited in 10 minutes, for an entrance fee of 3 euros.

This two story 16 century merchant house is a reflection of the Ottoman days. Simple rooms with large seating areas with many pillows. Really interesting things to see: the locking system on the trunks, door looking mechanisms, and the security systems. Large heavy doors with three 'dead bolt' system on each door. Squeaky, steep stairs ...to detect intruders and create defensive advantage. Bars on the windows and enclosed yard. Safety and protection was definitely a priority....interesting place to visit.

The house reflects the wealth of the owners and also the attention to detail and the quality craftsmanship of that time. The two storey house is set in a large yard surrounded by a high stone wall. The lower floor is constructed of stone, the upper floor and living quarters are timber construction. Stairs are internal as an extra security precaution. The winter rooms were heated by large built in stoves which were fed and cleaned from a separate service access. On the ground floor where the store rooms and living quarters for the servants would have been, there is a large souvenir shop.

Well maintained and with lots of information in each room. I've been to quite a lot of houses of this type, but this one was special for another reason too - funny or not, because of the well-preserved in-house toilets - one for females and one for males. As far as I know in the past most of the toilets were made outside, even perhaps at homes of the rich. So this makes this one very special. :-) I know it's a stupid thing and doesn't sound like the biggest attraction of the place, but anywy...decided to share :-)By the way, there's a big souvenir shop on the ground floor of the house.

The house gives a very good insight into the live of a relatively prosperous family in the 16th/17th century. Well laid out. Access however is via a fairly steep set of steps so not suitable for those with mobility difficulties.