Attractions — Old Town & Architecture

Old Town & Architecture

Plovdiv's Old Town has been continuously inhabited from prehistoric times to the present day. The area combines architecture from Antiquity, the Middle Ages and the Bulgarian National Revival and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list since 2004.

Blue Revival-era house with ornate façade in Plovdiv Old Town — The Blue House — a classic example of National Revival architecture.

Red Revival-era house with large bay windows — Red House — striking bay windows overlooking the cobbled street.

Orange Revival-era house on a cobbled street in Old Plovdiv — Revival houses — colourful façades along cobbled lanes.

Old Plovdiv Houses & Revival Architecture

The history of Old Plovdiv's houses is a blend of ancient, Roman and Bulgarian Revival architecture, reflecting the city's long past as one of Europe's oldest settlements. Ancient influences remain in ruins such as the Roman Theatre, while the most iconic homes are from the Bulgarian National Revival period.

Early examples like the Klianti House, dating to the mid-18th century, show the distinctive asymmetrical "Plovdiv house" style. These colourful mansions, many preserved within the Old Plovdiv Architectural and Historical Reserve, display carved woodwork, painted façades and overhanging upper floors that lean out above the cobbled streets.

Plovdiv Regional Ethnographic Museum

The Plovdiv Regional Ethnographic Museum was established in 1912 and is housed in the Kuyumdzhioglu House, a National Revival-era building constructed in the 1840s. The museum was officially opened to the public in 1924 and has since become the second-largest museum of its kind in Bulgaria.

It preserves and displays objects related to Bulgarian ethnography and plays a crucial role in presenting the cultural heritage of the region.

Opening times: Tuesday–Sunday: 10:00–18:00 Includes a one-hour lunch break Closed: Monday (Hours may vary on holidays.)

Hisar Kapia Gate

Hisar Kapia is a medieval gate in Plovdiv, built between the 11th and 13th centuries on the foundations of a Roman-era gate from the 2nd century AD. The current structure showcases the craftsmanship of the Second Bulgarian Empire and is one of the main entrances to Plovdiv's Old Town.

Standing over the remains of the ancient fortress walls, Hisar Kapia symbolises the city's long history, which stretches from Roman times through the medieval and Ottoman periods.