Zheravna

Zheravna ( _bg. Жеравна, from жерав, "zherav", "crane") is a village in central eastern Bulgaria, part of Kotel municipality, Sliven Province. The village, set in a small valley at the southern foot of the eastern Balkan Mountains, is an architectural reserve of national importance consisting of more than 200 wooden houses from the Bulgarian National Revival period (18th and 19th century), and a quickly developing tourist destination.

The village emerged between the 12th and 14th century and grew to become a cultural and handicraft centre in the 18th century. As the local population came to wealth, the architectural appearance of the village was shaped by one- or two-storey wooden houses surrounded by stone walls and cobblestone alleys.

Popular sights in the village include the museum house of the merchant Rusi Chorbadzhi from the early 18th century, the Church of St Nicholas inaugurated in 1834 and housing icons from the 18th and early 19th century, the museum house of the noted writer Yordan Yovkov born in 1880, the art gallery occupying the old class school and the museum house of the educator Sava Filaterov.

As of September 2005 the village has a population of 460 and the mayor is Lachezar Germanov. Zheravna is at 579 m above sea level.

Honour

Zheravna Glacier on Greenwich Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named after Zheravna.

References

External links

* [http://www.jeravna.com/ Jeravna.com]
* [http://www.bgglobe.net/index.php?l=0&mi=1&c=5&s=-237 Zheravna at BGGlobe.net]
* [http://www.visit.bg/staedte/index.php?kurid=62&ort=jeravna_zheravna_jerawna Zheravna at Visit.bg]