House Museum Yordan Yovkov – Zheravna

The house where the famous Bulgarian writer Yordan Yovkov (1880 – 1937) was born is located in Golyamo bardo Square (Big Hill Square). Yovkov lived there until he turned 13 when his entire family moved to Dobrudzha. In 1957 the house was transformed into a museum that recreated the atmosphere in which the writer grew up. It was declared a monument of architecture and construction by virtue of publication in State Gazette, issue No 53 of 1978. The exhibition comprises documents, manuscripts and pictures of Yordan Yovkov that provide information about his life and work. The house is a simple one-storey building consisting of two rooms and a small anteroom. One of the chambers preserves the atmosphere of the typical room of the region with the furniture, the vessels, and the sleeping spot of the family. The other room keeps a collection of works by Yordan Yovkov. Central place in the exhibition is given to the pen which Yovkov used to write Legends of Stara Planina. This collection of short stories was inspired precisely by the birthplace of the author. A monument is erected in the all-green yard of the house that depicts Yovkov sitting on a chair and dwelling on something. Yordan Yovkov wrote both for children and adults. His books have been translated in more than 20 languages. His most famous works are Legends of Stara Planina, Evenings in the Antim’s Inn, If They Could Speak, the two dramatic plays Albena and Boryana, etc.