Sava Filaretov is one of the greatest personalities of the Bulgarian Revival. A teacher, he was one of the founders of modern Bulgarian academia.
His thirst for knowledge led him from Bulgaria to Istanbul, and then to Odessa to complete his education at the University of Moscow. He was nicknamed Filaret – lover of virtue. After his return to Bulgaria, he performed miracles with the education system of Bulgaria. He quickly became an inconvenience for Turkish authorities and fled to Russia. Soon thereafter he contracted tuberculosis and died in Cairo in 1863. He was 37 years old.
Today, his birthplace, which is more than 200 years old, is open to visitors. His house is full of richly decorated wood carvings and is one of the best preserved houses in the village. The rooms in the house vary according to their purpose, which is characteristic of the Renaissance houses.
The house, now a museum, depicts the life of Sava Filaretov and his family, and their everyday life. The exhibition provides rich and detailed information about life in Zheravna during the Renaissance.