Most people in Bulgaria and abroad associate the town of Kotel with the wonderful Kotel carpets. The original rugs with intertwined geometrical figures are made using old techniques only here, in the Balkan Range eastern slopes. Those in the know contend that Kotel carpets are worthwhile competition to Persian ones and can even be better in quality and endurance. It is not accidental that to this day Kotel carpets are handmade and enjoy healthy demand at international markets. Walking around Kotel’s lovely streets, you can see woolen rugs displayed everywhere – shining in bright red, green, yellow and other sparkly colors.
In the summer Kotel is a lively and busy place to be in. During that part of the year the 7000-strong town is virtually swelling with tourists. Svetla Radeva from the local Museum of History says that since the beginning of the year 40,000 tourists have visited Kotel, including many foreign guests. A few hotels and guesthouses provide decent accommodation to them. Local sights include the Kiorpeev House, where the collection of the Ethnography Museum is displayed. It offers authentic folk costumes and many household objects that mirror traditional habits and ways. Visitors are keen on watching the attractive reconstruction of local rites and customs such as Christmas rituals, Easter, a Kotel Wedding and others. By the way Kotel is also known for its generous folk traditions, handed over from generation to generation. The town houses the Philip Koutev National High School of Folklore, one of the best nationwide. Pandore, rebec, bagpipe, shepherd’s flute, folklore vocal art and music instruments making are among the most popular subjects there. The so-called Galata School displays a unique collection tracing the development of carpet-weaving in the region – from the simple rug to the classic Kotel carpet. Carpets on display have preserved their bright colors. A separate hall demonstrates ways to use the straight loom in carpet weaving.
"Kotel rugs are among the most renowned in the world apart from Persian ones, explains Svetla Radeva, Director of the Museum of History in the town of Kotel. They are unique for their colors and color combinations – red, blue, green, yellow etc. To this day rugs are made using natural dyes, just like in 18 and 19 c. Their patterns include geometrical figures – most often the triangle in its various modifications. All these carpets are handmade. Our weavers are confident enough to be able to improvise and enrich the local carpet-weaving tradition. In this way every single rug is unique and inimitable," concludes Svetla Radeva.