Tabahana-Leather processing workshop Sevlievo city

Overview

Among the buildings with the greatest value as an immovable cultural value in Sevlievo is the Tabahanata. It is one of dozens located in the northern part of the city. There, Rositsa River made a picturesque turn and formed a neighborhood that was almost entirely built up with tanneries. The building is known to the people of Sevlievo as "Petyu Vankov's Tabahanata" after its last owner. It is interesting that the so-called building inscription of the building. "August 20, 1873" is written on a specially designated board with engraved numbers and letters. This unique exhibit is part of the exhibition "Tabashki craft in Sevlievo" on the ground floor.

Leather processing skills were transferred by Turks from Asia Minor. Gradually, during the long and difficult years of slavery, enterprising Bulgarians mastered the craft and began to open their own workshops.

By the middle of the 19th century in Sevlievo the tobacco craft passed almost entirely into the hands of Bulgarian masters. Over time, they specialized in the processing of small cattle skins. This fine production was perfected and by the end of the 19th century the Sevlievo skins were not inferior in quality to the European ones. They were sold mostly in Vienna, but they also had a good market in Leipzig, Paris, Dubrovnik, St. Petersburg, Constantinople, and Genoa.

The first exhibition "Tabashki craft" was opened in the early 70's. It has recently been renovated and presents the stages in the processing of raw hides. After repeated procedures in which a skin passed through the hands of the tobacco dozens of times, they were packaged and sent to the markets. It is believed that almost one third of the population of Sevlievo was fed by practicing the tobacco craft before the Liberation. The Tabakovi family is known, and so far there is Tabashka Street. The exposition presents quite comprehensively the development of the tobacco craft so important for Sevlievo and the region, for the visitors it is a pleasant experience to walk in the yard of the beautiful Revival building. A visit to the restored tabahana in Sevlievo will give you satisfaction that you have taken another small step to preserve the tradition and the memory of the real Bulgarians - hardworking, enterprising and patriotic.