Bratska Češiteva kăšta with three projections, in the Rajkovo quarter
Smolyan, Bulgaria
The Češitev brothers Georgi and Todor, wealthy weavers, shared this symmetrical house built for them in the late 19th century in the Češitska neighborhood. As is typical in the Rhodopes, each family unit (of multiple generations) had its own living space with hearth opening off a large central hall called a poton. On the top floor a projecting sitting area (kiosk or peĨka), with curved (yoke-shaped) roof, is supported on wooden braces. Its arched windows give a view of the town and the small courtyard below. (photo 2000)