National Museum of Education: A Journey Through Bulgarian Schooling

The National Museum of Education in Gabrovo offers a unique glimpse into the history of Bulgarian schooling. Established in 1974, the museum is located within the Aprilov National High School building, the first modern Bulgarian school. The exhibits trace the development of education in Bulgaria from the creation of the Slavic alphabet to the modern era. The museum's collection includes over 175,000 documents, photographs, and artifacts related to Bulgarian education. The exhibits are spread across five halls. The first hall covers the period from the 9th century to 1835, showcasing old Bulgarian letters and early forms of schooling. The second hall focuses on the Bulgarian National Revival period (1835-1878), highlighting the rapid development of the education system. Halls three and four cover the period from 1878 to the end of the 20th century, illustrating the integration of traditional methods with modern practices. The fifth hall features a reconstruction of a classroom from the past. Visitors can view original documents from Pliska and Preslav, a collection of schoolbooks from the Revival period, and physics equipment. The museum also has a specialized library with over 30,000 volumes.