Zheravna (population 520 inhabitants) is a little village located in the middle of the eastern part of the Stara Planina, at an altitude of 640 m above the sea level. It is situated 14 km south of Kotel, 110 km northwest of Bourgas, 190 km southwest of Varna, and 330 km east of Sofia. The climate is transitional with mild winter and pleasant summer. The region of Zheravna is very picturesque - high peaks, fantastic rocks, and wide green glades. The very good geographic location and the mountainous relief offer wonderful opportunities for tourism. Excursions, picnics, fishing, Eco-path excursions and many more are the possibilities there. In Zheravna you will find great holiday conditions, pure beauty, coziness, and intimacy.
     Zhravna is a part of the world cultural heritage. It is an architectural ethnographic reserve with at least 200 houses. Its wooden houses, candle-works, a monastery school, nunnery, church, 8 fountains, inns and little shops date as far back as the Bulgarian Renaissance. The village was founded between the 12th and the 14th centuries. During the 17th and 18th centuries the village became rich thanks to the development of handicrafts, stock-breeding and trade. At that particular time the houses assumed their typical appearance - the older houses are single storeyed and made entirely out of wood. Later houses, with two stories, have their ground floor built of stone. The facades have clearly horizontal lines, emphasised by the protruding second floor and the strongly jutting out eaves. The exterior of the houses does not always give a clear idea of what the interior design is like. And it is abundant in wood-carvings and paintings upon the walls of the rooms, upon doors, windows and furniture. Various buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries, such as schools and churches, have been preserved and turned into museums.
     St. Nikolai" church is built and sanctified in 1834. It is built near an old temple burned down at the beginning of the thirties of XIX century. The icon-painters Yordan Mihailovitch from Elena, Georgi and Gencho from Tryavna painted the church. The painting began on 6.05.1833 and ended on 20.12.1840. During the Ottoman rule the church was à stronghold of the orthodox Christian faith, as well as one of the biggest storehouses church books in the region. In 1950 "St. Nikolai" suffered a devastating fire. It devoured most of the old books and manuscripts. But books, published in the second half of the XVIII century survived. Nowadays "St. Nikolai" church is a working temple. There is unique exhibit of icons, stone plastic arts, and church plate.
     The Art gallery of the picturesque village of Zheravna is situated in the building of the ancient school. The old center of Bulgarian education and enlightenment, nowadays is a place, where famous Bulgarian artists exhibit their works of art. It is the only gallery in Bulgaria, situated in a village. The National Revival architecture (XIX c.) of the building has been preserved. The yard is large, decorated with lots of greenery and flower beds, and covered with cobblestone pavement. The moment you enter the house, you will feel the active spirit of the great Bulgarian enlighteners and educators.
     Yordan Yovkov one of the greatest Bulgarian writers was born in Zheravna in 1880. The birthplace of the eminent Bulgarian writer lies in the Golyamo Burdo square in the village of Zheravna. It is a single storey house, surrounded by stone walls. In the yard decorated with a lot of greenery, you can see the sculpture of the writer, seated in a small chair absorbed in his magic world. The furnishing and the atmosphere from the past have been preserved in the house. There is also an exposition of documents and manuscripts of the great writer.
     The house-museum "Russi Chorbadji" is an architectural reserve. It had belonged to one of the richest men in the village - Russi Chorbadji. He was the proprietor of 30 000 heads of cattle (sheep, horses, goats), several little stores, and the most beautiful house in the whole Sliven region. It was built in XVIII century. It is a two-storey house. The first floor was a big store for provisions, but nowadays the exhibit of the ethnographic museum is situated there. The house was made with a simple exterior because of the Turkish government prohibition. But the interior is very attractive and interesting. The house is rich in woodcarvings. Every one of the chambers is specially designed - guestroom, living room, stall, bedroom. All of them illustrate the way of life of the people from that region in XVIII - XIX century.
     The House-museum of Sava Filaretov illustrates the way of life of the prominent Bulgarian enlightener. He was one of the most eminent Bulgarians of the XVIII century. Sava Filaretov was a great teacher and educator. He died too young at the age of 38. The two storey house-museum is completely the same as it was 200 years ago. It is the biggest and most luxuriantly decorated house in the village (18th C.) It has an original design of the vestibule, almost square in form, and the dome-shaped ceiling, woodcarvings on cupboards and doors. The yard is very beautiful with lots of greenery and flowers, covered with typical for the National Revival cobblestone pavement.
     There are numerous chalets and tourist routes in the region of Zheravna. The most preferable are the eco paths to the Oresha complex, to the town of Kotel and to the Vida peak. Zheravna Dam offers good opportunities for fishing. 45 km southwest of the village is the town of Sliven. In the region of Sliven there are situated the natural park "Sinite kamani", and the beautiful place of Karandila.
     The village of Neikovo is 13 km to the south and the village of Medven is 15 km from Zheravna.