Gorna Oryahovitsa is the largest non-district town in Northern Bulgaria. It is located near Bulgaria’s old capital, Veliko Tarnovo, and is an important railway junction. To mark the 155th anniversary of its declaration as a town, the local History Museum has organised an exhibition presenting the “sweet” history of Gorna Oryahovitsa, the “sugar capital” of Bulgaria. At the beginning of the 20th century, sugar was not only not seen as harmful to health but, on the contrary, was advertised as beneficial.

The museum halls showcase the history of sugar and sweet treats in Gorna Oryahovitsa, which goes far beyond the fact that Bulgaria’s oldest sugar factory has been operating there since 1912.

‘The exhibition features exhibits related to other producers in Gorna Oryahovitsa. You will learn that chocolate was also made in Gorna Oryahovitsa. Part of the exhibition is dedicated to beverages that often accompany sweet treats – tea and coffee. There are many accessories on display that represent the culture of their consumption in the first half of the 20th century,’ reads the Facebook page of the Historical Museum in Gorna Oryahovitsa.

The exhibition includes over 300 exhibits – sugar boxes, chocolate and sweet wrappers, coffee grinders and trays.

During the summer months, the museum is open to visitors on Saturdays, and the “sweet” exhibition can be viewed until the end of July.