Iglika, the scenic village near Gabrovo, is transforming its streets and yards into an enormous open-air exhibition plaza. From 1 to 3 August, Iglika Carpet Fest is showing an impressive collection of almost 900 18th, 19th and 20th century hand-woven carpets. Another 1,000 are on display surrounded by the stone houses and inside the village courtyards. 
Curator of the project is Jaap van Beelen, researcher and guardian of Bulgaria’s intangible cultural heritage, who has been living in Bulgaria since 2007. In Iglika, he is showing 900 carpets which are part of his personal collection – the result of long years of efforts and a token of his deep bond with Bulgaria’s cultural heritage.
“The past is not just something that sits in a museum, it is still part of the life of Bulgarians,” Jaap van Beelen said a while ago in an interview with Radio Bulgaria, as he explained why he decided to live in this country and collect old Bulgarian carpets:
Visitors to Iglika Carpet Fest will be able to see rare and typical examples of all carpet making schools in the country. The choice of Iglika as the location for this festival is by no means a coincidence. Because of its Revival-time architecture and beautiful mountain surroundings, the village has come to be known as the “Rock Nest”, so the colourful old carpets blend in quite naturally into one organic cultural experience.
The festival programme includes hiking tours, dyeing workshops using natural materials, carpet weaving techniques, a programme for children, a photo contest and folklore fusion concerts.
The event is part of the initiatives in support of Gabrovo’s bid for European Capital of Culture in 2032.
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Compiled by Veneta Nikolova
Translated and posted by Milena Daynova
Photos: Facebook /Toma Belev, gabrovo.bg, Facebook /Jaap van Beelen
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