Samokov

Exhibitions include ancient and medieval artefacts, Samokov's past as metalworking and artisan centre (incl. glassmaking), early 20th century military history, an ethnographic collection of folk costumes and 19th century city clothing, and the Samokov Art School. It also has another, less-touristy website, but it's in Bulgarian. There's a statue of Zahari Zograf in front of the museum. The other sites managed by the museum are the Bayrakli Mosque, the town's Art Gallery, and the Petar Esov House (modern art gallery/atelier in an old house).

Built in the 1860s for a wealthy Jewish family, now it's an ethnographic house-museum about town life in the 19th century ("saraf" is the Persian/Arabic/Ottoman Turkish for "money changer"). The abandoned building in front of it is a synagogue.

Mostly works by modern artists born in or somehow connected to Samokov. Labels and explanations in both Bulgarian and English.

The last surviving mosque in the city, now a listed monument of culture and an exhibition hall of the History Museum. It was built in the mid-19th century, and the pretty floral decorations on the inside are another example of the Samokov Art School - the Ottoman authorities commissioned local artists to paint them, the same Bulgarians who also painted Orthodox Christian icons. As of early 2024, the hosted exhibition is about the development of Samokov as chronicled in old photographs (late 19th-early 20th century).

A functioning Orthodox church, that was built in 1712 under Ottoman rule, expanded in the 1780-90s and again in the 1830s, while the bell tower and the colonnade at the entrance were added after the Liberation. Includes icons by Zahari Zograf and other painters of the Samokov School. The name refers to Mary's death ("falling asleep") in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, followed by her resurrection and bodily ascension into Heaven.

A full-scale, operational reconstruction of a 19th century samokov or madan forge, with a small museum inside and a glass wall.

The ruins of a late-Roman/Byzantine fortress (built in the 360s, razed in the 570s), with wonderful views of the surrounding mountains. The site was "discovered" by treasure seekers in the 2000s, emergency archaeological excavations started in 2007, afterwards it was partially reconstructed as a tourist site in 2012-2013. The towers that flank the gate have been restored to their full height, as well as the Church of the Ascension (built in the 15th century on top of the ruins). There's an archaeological exhibition with finds from the fortress, a playground with a rope bridge, etc. West of the parking lot, there's also a small ethnographic museum about the village of Belchin itself and 19th century village life. A small "funicular" leads from the parking lot to the fortress (as of early 2024, it's out of order). Alternatively, there are two gravel paths, the steeper one starts by the St. Petka Church west of the parking lot, the other one starts on the east side.

Decorated with an abstract human figure. There are benches and a playground.