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Ahtopol
Agatopolis ("The town of love") - that's how the greeks in the Middle Ages called this exotic place.
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is the most southern Bulgarian town on the Black Sea coast. It is
situated both on the Black Sea coast and at the foot of Middle Strandza
mountain. The cooler Mediterranean climate is strongly felt here and
that attracts a lot of tourists into the town not only during the
summer months, but all over the year.
The
archaeological excavations in the region of Achtopol show life traces
from different periods - the Antiquity, the Middle Ages and the
Renaissance.
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The picturesque river of Veleka is running only 4 km south of Ahtopol.
The
river comes from the very heart of Strandza Mountain. The combination
of sea side and river coast, the cpeciffic fauna and flora of the
region are really impressive and can satisfy all the tourists eager for
adventures into desolated places among the virgin nature.. |
Apriltsi
The town of Apriltsi (200 km north-east of Sofia, 500-600 m above
sea- level, above 5 000 people) is situated in a lovely valley
commanding an enchanting view.
The valley is bounded
by the Severen Dzhendem Reserve, the peaks Triglav, Botev (the highest
peak of the Balkan Mountains, 2376 m) and Maragidik, famous for its
unique form and beauty. At the foot of these mountain peaks the
landscape changes from dense forest slopes into picturesque hills and
lush meadows, cut by the twisting flow of the rivers Ostreshka,
Vidimska and Zla reka. The natural environment ensures a favourable
climate to the area - cool summer nights, mild and sunny winters, pure
mountain air.
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The
first people to settle in Apriltsi came from the Turnovo region. They
were descendants of rebellious boyar (noble) families, or refugees from
the invasion of the Ottoman Turks. Judging from the remains of a
Thracian stronghold at the entrance of the Russaliyski Pass, these
lands were inhabited many centuries earlier.
A
monastery school was established in this place in 1812, and the first
modern secular school opened in 1850. In 1872 the famous Bulgarian
revolutionary Vasil Levski founded a secret revolutionary committee in
the town.
The heroism of the freedom-loving people of
this part of the Balkan Mountain is well-known in Bulgarian history.
Many of them met their tragic death after the April uprising of 1876
was severely crushed by the Turks.
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In 1976, a century
after the April uprising, as an act of gratitude to their predecessors,
our contemporaries founded the town of Apriltsi by uniting 4
neighbouring villages (Novo selo, Ostrets, Vidima and Zla reka).
Apriltsi
has recently developed into an attractive mountain resort with its
renovated recreation facilities, new private hotels and restaurants,
modern night clubs and cafes, swimming pools.
Apriltsi
offers its visitors opportunities for fishing, mountaineering,
horse-riding, cycling, tennis, skiing, numerous hiking routes, a
luxurious hunting centre, fascinating picnic sites and bathing by the
river banks.
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Arbanassi
Austere houses that resemble minor fortresses on the outside. with
high, solid walls and heavy gates, iron, rids and secret hiding-places,
but which are spacious and comfortable, richly decorated and furnished
on the inside. The oldest of Arbanassi?s five churches is The Birth of
Christ ( 1637 - 1649). dug into the ground without a belfry and with
hidden cupola, but hiding a genuine art gallery with over 3.500
stunningly realistic figures and Biblical scenes, painted by unknown
artists throughout the ages.
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Asenovgrad
Asenovgrad is a town on Chepelarska River, 19 km south-east of
Plovdiv. Population of 53000. Terminal station on the
Kroumovo-Asenovgrad detour along the railway line Sofia-Svilengrad.
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The probable time of appearance is the 11th C. under the name
of Stanimaka. Later named Asenovgrad in honour of Tsar Ivan Asen II.
Preserved to the present day: the medieval Church of St. John the
Divine (13th-14th centuries, one-nave, with a decorative facade), the
Churche of the Holy Virgin and St. George Church (1848, three-dome,
with rich outer design), in which one can also find traces of medieval
architecture.
Asen fortress. The ruins of this
fortress (built in the 11th-12th centuries) are to be found 2,5 km
south of Asenovgrad. It is a seat of the Bulgarian boyar Ivanko and a
refuge (1205-1206) of a group of Latin knights led by Renie de Tri,
ruler of Plovdiv duchy. Reconstructed and enlarged by Tsar Ivan Asen
II. The two-storey one-nave Church of the Holy Virgin of Petrich is
best preserved. The rectangular tower to the west is used as a belfry.
Very few of the mural paintings have been preserved.
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Arapovo Monastery St. Nedelya,
built in 1856, is to be found 12 km east of Asenovgrad. One can see a
living tower, one of the few preserved in the Bulgarian lands. Mural
paintings in the monastery church (Bulgarian saints and martyrs). |
Balchik
The exceptional view of the town Balchik from the sea impressed
the great Ovid who exclaimed: "O white stone town, I salute thee for
thy inimitable beauty!". The Milesian colonists believed that the
goddess of beauty, Aphrodite, was born there out of the sea foam. The
spouting karst springs gave the town its first name Krunoi (meaning
spring or source in Old Greek). The next name was Dionysopolis. During
the Middle Ages the town was named after the local feudal lord, Balik.
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first destination is the Quiet Nest Palace, the former summer residence
of Queen Marie of Romania, and its famous gardens of more than 35ha.
The gardens are the "residence" of 3000 or so plant species of which
cacti alone are over 250, and thus Europe's second most important
collection. The palace park is an imitation of the famous Cretan
labyrinth. Each stone for the church therefore was brought from the
island of Crete. The Garden of Allah is the prettiest. The Silver Well
and the alleys paved with mill stones are also very interesting. The
earthen jars were brought from Morocco. |
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Bankya
Bankya is world-wide known health resort. It is situated in the
beautiful valley on the slopes of the Lyulin mountain, 17 km far from
Sofia.
Bankya balneotreatment resort, near
Sofia is a resort of international importance. During the archeological
excavations in the region many years ago remains of churches, ceramics
and coins dating from the Roman times have been found.
Bankya
developed as resort for rehabilitation of cardio-vascular conditions
with highly specialized functional diagnostics ( many for
post-infraction conditions and heart operations, arterial hypertonia).
It is suitable for treathment of cardio-vascular diseases, nervous
system disturbances, metabolic disturbances.
An
operating complex for recuperation, prophylactics and fitness of
rheutism of children was found. The specialists are satisfied with the
established durable positive results and favourable curative effect of
the tratment of cerebral palsy of children, neurois, thyreotoxicosis of
adults, etc. Good effect is achieved on functional disease of the
nervous system.
Annualy over 140 000 natives and
foreigners visit Bankya. There is a specialized clinic for
cardiovascular diseases and collagenosis of maturing at the Medical
Academy- Sofia. Successfully are applied pre- and post- operative
rehabilitation of children suffering from congenital heart diseases.
The
balneomedical building is one of the most impressive buildings in the
resort. This is due to its unique architecture and partly to the modern
medical equipment of the dozens of diagnostical and remedial cabinets,
serving thousands of people every day.
Most
attractive is the remedial basin. The first physio-prophylactical
ground in the country is here. Specialized physicians and
methodologists in curative physical training help dozens of ill people
to revive their shaken health. |
Bansko
The newest Bulgarian winer resort, recently discovered by the
foreign tourists, Bansko provides an interesting combination between
the virgin nature of Pirin Mountain and the atmosphere of the ancient
Bulgarian town.
The
town of Bansko is situated in Southwestern Bulgaria, at the foothills
of one of the most beautiful Bulgarian mountains - Pirin, which is a
national preserve, included in the WORLD NATURAL HERITAGE list.
Ski-resort of national significance, much visited also in summer as a
starting point for excursions in the mountain.
Surrounded
by the Pirin, Rila and Rhodopi mountains, Bansko is a climatic mountain
resort with a short hot summer and long mild winter. The average
temperature during January, the coldest month, is - 1.9ÀC. Snow falls
are abundant, providing a constant winter snow cover up to 2 m thick.
The skiing season along the Pirin slopes starts in the middle of
December and ends in mid-April.
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Batak
The town of Batak has a rich history. It is situated in the North
of Rodopi Mountain at an altitude of 1036m. 32 km south of Pazardzhik.
The town has population of 4 600 and is a municipality centre.
In
the Late Middle Ages it is a big flourishing settlement. Burned to the
ground at the time of the kurdjalii invasions in the 18th and the
beginning of the 19th C. During the April Uprising of 1876 the whole
population takes up arms. Regular Turkish army and bashi-bazouk crushes
the heroic resistance of the people, the town is burned down and the
major part of local population is massacred. In St. Nedelya Church
(built in 1813) the Turks slaughter about 3000 people (among them
women, children and old people), who sought refuge behind the thick
stone walls. Here one can see the bone-vault of the victims. A
historical museum.
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Belogradchik
The city of Belogradchik is located in the northwestern part of
Bulgaria. It is picturesquely spread over the western part of the Stara
Planina Mountain, in the southwestern foot of the Belogradchik garland,
at 545m above sea level.
For
the initial centuries, since the emergence of Belogradchik, written
documents and sources are absent. Archeological studies permit it to bi
addressed to the III-IV centuries of the new era.
Well
laid out, and welcoming, Belogradchik is one of the most attractive
national tourism sites of Bulgaria. The unique nature and rich history
inheritance are defined as one of the most interesting and wanted
tourism attractions.
Belogradchik is 55 kilometers
away from Vidin, and 70 kilometers from Montana. Through the railway
station of Oreshets, the city originates a connection with the railway
station network in Bulgaria.
The most attractive landamrks in belogadchik district are Belogradchik Rocks and The Belogradchik Fortress.
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Berkovitsa
Berkovitsa is situated on the northern slope of the Berkovska
Stara Planina Mountain along the valley of the Berkovitsa River, which
is a tributary to the Barzia River, at an altitude above sea level 405
m. The town was mentioned for the first time in Ottoman documents of
1491. It is the successor of an old fortified settlement on the way
from Sofia to Lom. The remains of a fortress and a church were
discovered at the Kaleto elevation west of the town. The settlement was
known as early as the reign of King Kaloyan, and was mentioned as a
border settlement in the period of the Vidin Kingdom.
The
territory of the Berkovitsa municipality is situated in the mountain
and hilly part of Northwest Bulgaria. The soils are mostly grey and
light grey, and along the valleys of the rivers Barzia and Zlatitsa -
alluvial meadow soils.
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The
largest part of the area is a hilly mountain terrain, very often cut
through by ravines. The lowest point above sea level is in the village
of Borovtsi - 250 metres, and the highest point is the Kom Peak - 2016
metres.
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Bistrilitza
The village of Bistrilitza is situated within 20 km to the north
of Berkovitza and within 20 km to the west of the regional center
Montana, in a picturesque district in the skirts of Stara Planina.
Near
Bistrilitza (some 3 km) is one of the largest water reservoirs in
Bulgaria ?Montana? with facilities for rowing and a swimming pool.
There are also some rivers - Zlatitza, Barziya, Ogosta. The small
artificial lakes ?Balova shuma? and ?Gaganitza? are also within 3 km
from the village. Those are places suitable for fishing, water sports
and hiking.
To the west of Bistrilitza, in old beech
woods, is situated the Lopushna Monastery, famous for its architecture
and stone plastics. The church, dedicated to St Ioan Precursor has a
wooden carved filigreed iconostasis in the best traditions of the
Samokov school (1856) and icons painted by Nikolay and Stanislav
Dospevski (1863).
In the skirts of Todorini Kukli
peak, near Varshets spa is situated the Klisura Monastery. Its church
?St St Kiril and Methodi? was sanctified in 1900. The Monastery was
ruined several times during the Turkish invasion. Now it presents the
best traditions of Bulgarian Renaissance.
The famous
carpet making center Chiprovtzi and the Chiprovtszi Monastery are
within 35 km from Bistrilitza. The picturesque mountain villages
Kotenovtzi, Chereshovitza, Beli Mel, Govezhda, Kopilovtzi are also near
Bistrilitza. Up in the mountain, above the village of Dalgi Del, in
virgin woods, are the springs of the river Ogosta. The famous
Belogradchik rocks are within 60 km from Bistrilitza.
By
the village of Bistrilitza is situated a hill called ?Yudino?. The old
people remember that their grand parents have entered the galleries and
the central cave in the hill and have seen ?the golden lion?. These
legends are confirmed by historical evidence that the Romans processed
gold and cut coins here. The Ogosta and Zlatitsa rivers are
gold-bearing. Nowadays small amounts of gold are still yielded by
washing golden river sand.
The town of Berkovitza
presents the house of one of the greatest Bulgarian poets - Ivan Vazov.
He lived in Berkovitza when being a regional judge. He has written lots
of poems and stories featuring the nature and people living in the
region. An asphalt road connects Berkovitza with one of the most
beautiful peaks of Stara Planina - Kom (2016 m).
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Blagoevgrad
The municipality of Blagoevgrad is located in the southwestern
corner of Bulgaria and covers an area of approximately 628 km2, on
which Blagoevgrad itself and 25 adjacent villages are situated. The
region of Blagoevgrad includes parts of three of the biggest Bulgarian
mountains - Rila, Pirin and the Rhodopes and is well known under the
name of Pirin region. The city of Blagoevgrad is the major city in the
region and one the most important economic and cultural centers in
Southwest Bulgaria. The main international routes connecting Bulgaria
with Greece and Bulgaria with the Republic of Macedonia pass through
it. Blagoevgrad also allows easy access to the Bulgarian capital of
Sofia (approximately 100 kilometers to the north) and to all towns in
the region.
The
region around Blagoevgrad has abundant natural resources. The
Blagoevgrad area is part of the region, known as "Pirin" which is
characterized by its unique geographic location, physical beauty of the
surrounding mountains, and rich flora and fauna. Three majestic
mountain ranges grace the plain -- the Rila, Pirin and Rhodopes.
Picturesque lakes and roaring rivers provide the region with pure,
fresh spring water. The names of the local rivers Bistritsa, Glazene,
Struma and Mesta echo in the songs and the folklore of the region. The
Blagoevgrad municipality has an ample supply of pure mineral water,
river systems and lush mountain forests. The landscape is varied and
beautiful. The physical characteristics combine to make Blagoevgrad the
largest and most important town in southwestern Bulgaria. It is an
important cultural, administrative, and industrial center for the
entire southwestern part of the country.
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Botevgrad
Botevgrad is situated at a 47-km-distance from Sofia - the capital of Republic of Bulgaria
Botevgrad and its hinterland are located in a picturesque elliptic valley with a total area of 506.6 sq. km.
The
municipality covers parts of the Western Stara Planina mountain -
Razhana, Mourgash, Billo and Golyama Planina and some parts of the
Northern Balkan.
Prohoda Vitinya or Vitinya Pass
connecting Northern Bulgaria with Southern Bulgaria and the proximity
of the capital contribute to its strategic location.
Botevgrad
municipality borders the following municipalities: Pravets, Etropoleh,
Gorna Malina, Elin Pelin, Svogeh, Mezdra and Roman.
The
region of Botevgrad municipality is quite rich in natural resources.
The relief is remarkable for its outstanding variety. The municipality
covers the following geographic parts: a part of Botevgradska Kotlovina
(the valley of Botevgrad), some parts of Botevgradski Predbalkan
mountain and four of the Balkan shoulders - Razhana, Golyama Planina,
Mourgash and Billo. Kotlovinata Zhleba - Fillet Hollow is situated
between the main Balkan Range and the Northern Balkan.
The
bottom of the hollow is the aculumative river terrace of Bebresh river
and its tributaries. The low oval hills inside the hollow contribute to
the countryside variety. Mount Mourgash - 1687 m tall is the highest
point of the highest mountain range to the south and south-west. Many
rivulets run down the slopes of the heights. Prohoda Vitinya or Vitinya
Pass connecting South Bulgaria with North Bulgaria is located on the
territory of Botevgrad municipality.
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Bourgas
Bourgas is the fourth largest city in Bulgaria, situated in the south-eastern
part of the country. The climate here is temperately continental with a
distinct impact from the Black Sea. One of the biggest industrial
plants on the Balkan peninsula, Neftochim-EAD, is located in the
vicinity of the city. The Port of Bourgas
is the biggest sea port in the country. A Duty Free Zone was
established in 1989 with the objective to create most attractive
conditions for foreign investors. The favourable geographical location
and advanced transport infrastructure of Bourgas are good prerequisites for development of tourism and trade.
Bourgas is not only an important industrial centre in the country, it has also
considerable resources for tourism. What attracts people here mostly is
undoubtedly the sea. The city is a starting point for visiting the
seaside resorts in the area - The Slantchev Bryag resort (Sunny Beach)
and The Elenite holiday village to the north and The Duni holiday
village, renowned for its unique architectural compostition, to the
south. Art and culture, together with propagation of cultural values is
fostered by 7 state-owned and 11 municipal institutes. On the territory
of Bourgas municipality there are 2 universities and 4 colleges comprising more than 6200 Bulgarian and foreign students. |
Bozhentsi
Bozhentsi architectural and historic reserve
An
idyllic village nestling in the folds of the Balkan Range, 16 km from
the town of Gabrovo, which time seems to have lulled to sleep centuries
ago. The shutters of the workshops have been closed, the blacksmiths
have stopped hammering, the hearths have gone out. The well in the
square. the wax workshop and the St. Elija Church are almost 200 years
old. Until the end of the 19-th century Bojenci has been an economic,
administrative, educational and spiritual center for the surrounding
villages. Today, there are 100 houses left, built 100 - 250 years ago. |
Bugutevo
The village of Bugutevo is situated in The Middle Rhodopes, in the
upper stream of Chaia river and administratively is part of the town of
Chepelare, the district of Smolian. Bugutevo is 5km. north from
Chepelare and 15km. north from Pamporovo (famous ski resort) and 27km
north from the town of Smolian.
The close proximity
with the town of Chepelare, with the ski slopes ?Mechi Chal? in
Chepelare and those in Pamporovo, is a premise for winter tourism in
this village. The fair climatic conditions, the splendid variety of
flora and fauna there, the closeness of many cultural and historical
sightseeing?s are a prerequisite for the development of summer,
pedestrian and rural (village) tourism.
The
area of the village has typical mountain character with sheer and
curved rocks, with moderate-continental climate influenced by
Mediterranean. The average amount of the sunny days there is over 270
days and it?s covered under a rich blanket of snow during the winter.
Bugutevo is 1km. away from the main road. It?s one of the oldest
villages in the region. There is also good connection of cell phones,
transport.
From the very close entrance/beginning of the
village Bugutevo you can see cows, sheep grazing carelessly on the
meadows. If you are interested in it villagers can show you haw they
feed the animals and you can help them with their work! I suppose you
might be interested in some of the Bugutevo?s handicrafts and some
women can show you how they sew their folklore dresses, costumes and
even blankets! |
Chepelare
This beautiful town lies at 1150 m of altitude, at 75 km to the
South of Plovdiv and 10 km to the North of the resor Pamporovo.
This is the perfect place for a family vacation at reasonable prices.
Here
there is a chain of small family hotels, which offer a boarding holiday
with all the facilities and the home comfort, so much desired by the
holiday-makers.Sitting by the sparkling fire with a glass of the finest
wine, you will enjoy the human contact with your hospitable hosts.
Chepelare is a wonderful resort for the ski sport - it has the longest
ski run in the region (5200 m) with a double seat chair-lift, a ski
school and snowboard. Each family hotel offers a ski-room, and a
children?s ski club "Snowman" has specially been opened.
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Chernomorets
Chernomorets is a budget vacation alternative to nearby Sozopol or
Dyuni. Not a resort per se, the village itself is not much to speak of;
still, a flurry of recent construction has resulted in a buyer's market
of attractive and well-built small and medium-sized pensions and
hotels. One admirable local trait much in evidence is the presence of
shrubbery and flower-filled garden courtyards attached to most
pensions, restaurants and cafes. Chernomorets sits on a long promontory
with the town proper separated from the sea by an expansive high grassy
bluff replete with grazing livestock. Though there is no real beach to
speak of, the rocky shoreline is pockmarked with shallow inlets
providing secluded spots for swimming, sun bathing and fishing.
Chernomorets' location between Bourgas
and Sozopol affords convenient access to either town for entertainment
and nightlife; local offerings are mainly limited to cafe hopping. One
of the finest beaches in the region is just south of town at the
Gradina campground. It's an easy walk or a quick taxi ride along the
pothole-filled access road.
Private vans depart at regular intervals from Bourgas (24 km; 30 mins,) and stop at Chernomorets enroute to Sozopol.
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Chiprovtsi
 | The town is situated in the northern slopes of Chiprovtsi Mountain
of the Western Balkan Range, 35 km west of Montana. Population 3100. In
Roman times it stands out as a major mining centre extracting iron,
silver, gold and copper. Chiprovtzi
is a small town nowadays. It is assumed that towards the 13th century,
when Saxon ore-miners settled here, Chiprovtzi was granted special
privileges. As time went by, the Germans were Bulgarized, but the
positions of Catholicism in the town were continuously strengthened
owing to the intensive activities of the Franciscan monks. For a long
period of time Chiprovtzi was the seat of the Bulgarian Catholic
custody, which comprised towns and villages now situated on the
territories of Hungary and Roumania. It was one of the centres of
Catholic propaganda in the Balkans and in Eastern Europe. |
There
are traditions in the crafts, however, are still vital. Chiprovtzi is
famous for its rug industry. There is no evidence so far of
carpet-weaving before the 17th century, but the perfection of the
design, composition and colour schemes of the oldest rugs is indicative
of an earlier tradition. From Chiprovtzi the carpet industry spread to
the near by villages, where women have been engaged in rug-weaving for
centuries ever since. It is typical of the rug industry in these
quarters that, more or less, production has always been
market-oriented. This contributed to the fame of the Chiprovtzi rugs -
both in Bulgaria, and on the Asian and Central European markets. |  |
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Devin
Devin is a renowned spa and holiday resort. It is situated amid
scenic hills in the heart of the Rhodopes at an altitude of 710 - 780
m. In early antiquity the place was inhabited by the Thracian tribe of
the Bessi, and later by the Romans.
Devin has several
mineral water springs with a temperature between 37 and 44C. The water
is clear, colourless, palatable, odourless, hyper- and homeo-thermal,
mildly mineralized, and contains hydrocarbonates of sodium and small
quantities of fluorine. It has a strong alkaline reaction (pH 9.4). The
total usable flow is 1,800 l/min. The curative properties of Devin's
mineral waters are due to their considerable mineralization, the
relatively high content of metasilicic acid and fluorine, mild acidity
and high temperature.
The climate of the spa is
transitionally continental, considerably tempered by the southern
influence. The average annual temperature is 10.5C. The winter is mild;
the summer, warm and fresh thanks to the local mountain breezes. The
autumn is warm and long. The average January temperature is -1.5C. The
average annual duration of sunshine is about 1,100 hours. Devin has a
new modern hydrotherapy clinic with a resort polyclinic and a pool;
juniper, carbonic acid and oxygen baths; facilities for hydrotherapy,
modern light and electrotherapy, diagnosis, remedial gymnastics and
massage rooms.
Devin is suitable for the spa and
climatic treatment of a wide range of diseases: of the locomotor
system, cardiovascular diseases and nervous disorders. The
internationally famous year-round resort Pamporovo is situated 35 km
away from Devin.
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Dimitrovgrad
The municipality of Dimitrovgard is situated on an area of 564 000
decares in the Thracian lowland along the valley of the river Maritsa.
Geographical position of the town of Dimitrovgrad defines its place of an important transport crossing in south Bulgaria.
The
town of Dimitrovgard is at a distance of 45 km from the town of Stara
Zagora, 78 km from the town of Plovdiv, 215 km from the town of Burgas,
275 km from the town of Russe. The distance to the capital city is 220
km.
Distance to the nearest frontier posts:
Kapitan Andreevo 100 km Burgas 215 km
Railway lines pass through the municipality in the following directions:
A transport terminal control unit which works in the direction Europe - the Near East is situated in the town of Dimitrovgrad.
The
town of Dimitrovgrad has an unique destiny. The beginning was set on
10th May 1947 by 40 youths who came to build their dream town. They
were followed by thousands. By that time at that place there were 3
villages ? Rakovski, Marijno and Ghernokoniovo. They were united by the
Council of Ministers.
The town was built by 50 000
members of brigades who came from 963 Bulgarian towns and villages. A
part of them became inhabitants of the new town. From 1948 to 1950 they
worked in an independent brigade called Mlada Gvardia (Young Guards).
Their motto was: We are building a town ? the town is building us!
Brigades
built dozens of homes, Chemical Works, Vulkan factory, Nitrogen
fertilizer works, the road network of today's Municipality of
Dimitrovgad, the road through Hainboaz passage, the railway lines:
Lovech - Troyan, Pernik ? Voluyak, Samuil ? Silistra, the artificial
lakes Alexander Stamboliiski, Georgi Dimitrov and others. The first in
Bulgaria Mechanical Bakery was opened there. In parallel with its
building the town began its own cultural, social and political life.
Dimitrovgrad
is one of the most planted with trees and shrubs towns in Bulgaria.
1900 decares of parks and gardens and 2750 decares of forests were
planted there.
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Djulino
Djulino is situated in the eastern part of the country, just
between the two biggest seatowns in Bulgaria - Varna and Bourgas. The
region is famous as "Djulinski prohod".
This
village attracts visitors with the unique combination of the Balkan
mountain, Dvojnitsa river and the Black Sea (only 15 minutes by car).
Spending your vacation in Djulino you can enjoy the quietness and
tranquility of the mountain climate and the freshness of the Black Sea.
There
are opportunities for fishing in Dvojnitsa river, horse-riding,
sunbathing at the coast of Black Sea, organising picnics in the forest,
trips to famous places around the village, cultural and cooking nights.
There is a group of local singers, who sing national folk-songs and
perform bulgarian habits- Babinden, Lazaruvane, etc. They are very
famous in the region and are invited frequently to cultural events
around Bulgaria. On 5 km far from the village is situated a monastery,
which is famous with its magical water healing diseases.
Staying in Djulino you can also go fishing at the river Dvojnitsa.
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Dobrich
It is situated almost in the center of the Dobrudzha plateau, 50km to
the north of Varna. It occurred in the 15th century under the name of
Hadjioglu Pazardjik. In 1882 it was called Dobrich after the name of
Dobtotich, a former ruler in Dobrudzha in the past. Some of the sights
in Dobrich are the museum of Yordan Yovkov, the ruins of a Middle Ages
settlement, the ancient necropolis, and a big number of monuments. |
Dobrinishte
Dobrinishte village (Pirin mountain) is only 6 km south of Bansko
is the village of Dobrinishte (final station on the narrow gauge line
from the town of Septemvri).
 | It is one of the largest villages in the country with a population of over 3000 inhabitants.
There are 17 mineral springs with water temperature between 30 and 43?C, as well as a big mineral public bath.
There are a number of private hotels in the village as well as a House of Tourism.
The town is a point of departure to the chalets called Gotze Delchev, Mocharata, Bezbog and the ski-center called Bezbog.
There
is a bus line to Sofia, Blagoevgrad, Razlog, Bansko, Gotze Delchev,
etc. The bus station is near the railway station, about 1 km east of
Dobrinishte.
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Dorkovo
A small village in the heart of the western Rodopes mountains, 14 km. from the famous mineral bath's and spa town of Velingrad.
Dorkovo is situated 992m. above sea level, close to the famous town and lake of Batak.
Dorkovo
is known in Bulgaria and Europe due to the International Folk and Music
Festival, held every year at the first week of August. |
Dospat
The Dospat municipality is in the south-eastern Rhodopes, on the
border between 2 administrative districts and the frontier with Greece.
Its land area is 313 000 hectars, of which 180 000 hectars of forests.
The population numbers 11 000, in 8 villages. Dospat alone has a
population of 3 000.
Dospat is a turning point, where
you can either head north along the desolate route to Batak, or
continue westwards past the turn-offs for Dolen and Kovachevitsa,
towards Gotse Delchev in the Mesta Valley and the Pirin Mountains
beyond. This route passes through some of the loveliest countryside in
Bulgaria, with an ever-changing panorama of gorges, forests and meadows
dotted with a succession of highland villages, where tobacco farming is
the main source of income, which amply compensates for the awfulness of
the road.
The
lanscape is mountainous and hilly, spring comes late, summer is cool,
and the autumn - warm. Winter, due to the influence of the Aegean along
the Dospat river, is mild, snow lasts quite long.
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Dryanovo
The town of Dryanovo (8700 inhabitants, 270 m. altitude) is
situated in the northern side of Fore-Balkan Mountains.
amphitheatrically along the two banks of the Dryanovo River, a
tributary to the Yantra River. The town is a centre of a municipality,
which is composed by 62 villages, hamlets and huts picturesquely spread
out of the mountain folds. The population of the town is 9 707
inhabitants. Dryanovo has a favourable geographical position, it is
situated 20 km away from Gabrovo, 24 km from Veliko Tarnovo, 17 km from
Tryavna and about 30 km away from Sevlievo. The town lies on
Russe-Veliko Tarnovo-Gabrovo - Shipka - Kazanlak - Stara Zagora highway
and it is a station of the main railway thoroughfare, which links north
and south part of Bulgaria.
This is the birthplace of Bulgarian construction genius Nikola Fichev - Master Kolyo Ficheto, 1800-1881.
Byzantine
chronicles mention the settlement first in 1186, at the end of the
Byzantium rule as a castle on the Strazhata plateau. At that time the
Assen brothers dynasty lead the Bulgarians for a revolt (1185-1187).
The name of today's town comes from the cornel tree /dryan in
Bulgarian/ - as sturdy as the mountaineers themselves. In 1430, it is
written in some Turkish registries as Diranav.
Like
all Balkan settlements, Dryanovo reaches its bloom at the time of the
Renaissance. In 1883 it is announced a town. Masons and woodcarvers
spread the fame of the town throughout Bulgaria and far away in the
Turkish Empire.
In Dryanovo region were discovered
the oldest traces of life on Balkan Peninsula- proofs for human
presence from paleolithic epoch were descovered in Bacho Kiro cave,
near Dryanovo monastery, situated in Andaka river valley. There were
found numerous relics of ancient villages, fortresses, pillars with
inscriptions and ornaments from Thracian and Roman times (Boruna and
Diskoduratera fortresses).
People call Dryanovo "A town of centenarians" for the healthy climatic conditions prolong people's life.
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Doupnitsa
The municipality of Doupnitsa is located in Southwest Bulgaria, at
the foot of the Rila mountain, at the crossroads of the roads from
Sofia to Salonika and from Plovdiv to Skopje.
The
settlements of the Doupnitsa municipality are situated in the Doupnitsa
Hollow, formed by the west slopes of the Rila mountain and the south
slopes of the Verila mountain.
The hollow is open eastwards and southwards of the valley of the Jerman river.
The
region possesses a wide scope of natural, anthropogenic and
recreational resources. A lot of cultural monuments are registered in
it. Only 14 kilometers away from the town, in Sapareva Banya, is the
hottest mineral spring in Europe - with water temperature 103.8iN. The
resort Panichishte (altitude1300 m above sea level) is at 25 km's
distance. It gives a wonderful opportunity for winter and summer
tourism and skiing. The resort is attractive with its beautiful and
comfortable chalets, hotels and holiday homes. Marked tourist tracks
reach from Panichishte to the chalets Skakavitsa, Lozan and Vada and to
the Seven Lakes of Rila. Following the Bistritsa river, the adherents
of mountain tourism can pass from Panichishte to the chalets Bial
Kladenets and Ivan Vazov. Doupnitsa
is a starting point for interesting tourist objects in South-West
Bulgaria and also in the whole Rila mountain. That is a wonderful
prerequisite for encompassing and directioning the large stream of
tourists passing through the town, whish is not used efficiently at
present.
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One of the routes is to the Rila Monastery, with
which the town has been connected for ages. A convenient and
well-maintained asphalt road leads there which passes along the Rilska
Reka river valley by majestic mountain landscapes. The monastery is the
largest in Bulgaria and dates from the c. 10. The monastery museums,
Hrelyo's Tower and the church are of great interest to the tourists.
Good conditions for rest are offered.
The tourist
infrastructure is not developed well enough, the variety of the tourist
services on offer is insufficient, the resorts bases are not
well-provided with utilities, the mountain routes are not well-marked,
the advertising and information system for tourist services does not
function well. A general improvement of the economic base and the
technical infrastructure could turn tourism into a priority branch in
the municipality.
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Elena
Elena - a town in the Middle Balkan Range, 42 km south-east of
Veliko Turnovo; a mountain resort at an altitude of 280 m. Population
of 7200. Terminal station on the railway line Gorna Oryahovitsa - Elena.
Elena
is an old settlement founded in the 15th C. In the 18th-19th centuries
it is established as a crafts, trade and educational centre. There have
been preserved several architectural ensembles dating back to the
Bulgarian National Revival and comprising about 130 old houses.
Wall-to-wall construction forms interesting street silhouettes. The
houses have stone basements with white-washed or wooden walls of the
upper floor with protruding bays above.
There
have been preserved the first class school, founded in 1848 and named
Daskalolivnitsa where future teachers have been educated (nowadays a
museum exhibition is arranged), St. Nicholas Church (16th C., with
valuable mural paintings, icons) and the three-naved Church of the
Assumption, built entirely of stone (1837). On the highest elevation
the town clock-tower (1812) raises with an antique clock mechanism.
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Elhovo
 | The
town of Elhovo existed in the time of the Thracians under the name
Orouditsa. The Romans fortified it and called it Orudica ad Burgum, and
the Slavs called it Yoanitsa and Yanitsa. During the Ottoman rule, it
consecutively bore the names Yanidashli, Ernie Kazalgach and Azalea and
was a farming, crafts, market and administrative centre. As a
consequence of the Russian-Turkish Wars and of epidemics the settlement
became depopulated. The attacks of the kurjali (field brigands) also
contributed to its decline. A considerable part of the population moved
to Dobrouja or immigrated to Russia. In1878, there were only 100 houses
with about 900 inhabitants. Soon after the National Liberation the town
was restored as a province centre. Two oil-factories for processing of
sunflower seeds, five carding machines, and two sausage workshops
started working. After World War I, a motor mill and a ceramics factory
were built. The Elhovo
municipality is situated in the southeast part of the Republic of
Bulgaria and is included in the administrative unit of the District of
Yambol.
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It borders the Topolovgrad municipality,
District of Haskovo, to the southwest, the Bolyarovo municipality to
the east, the Republic of Turkey to the southeast, and the Tounja
municipality to the north.
The total territory of the Elhovo municipality is 708 sq. km and encompasses 22 settlements.
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Etropole
Etropole has an over 2 500- year-old history. It was founded in c.
7-6 BS. Its first settlers were Thracians. The settlement was situated
at important crossroads connecting the Danube with Macedonia and
Thrace, near two important passes in the Balkan Mountain. The troops of
Philip II of Macedon(339 BS), Alexander the Great (335 BS), the Celtic
tribes and the Roman legions passed through the hollow.
The
Etropole municipality occupies an area of 375 in the District of Sofia.
It is situated upon the north slopes of the Balkan. Its centre - the
town of Etropole - (northern latitude 42°49'52", eastern longitude
21°39'30") is situated in the beautiful hollow of the Malki Iskar
River, at the foot of the Baba summit, about 80 km away from Sofia.
A
temperately continental climate with cool summers and cold winters is
typical of the fore-mountain region in which the Etropole municipality
s situated. The average annual temperature is 13-15 degrees Centigrade.
The
Etropole region offers excellent conditions for recreation - majestic
and beautiful nature, interesting tourist routes, ancient monuments and
wonderful conditions for skiing, village and ecological tourism.
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Gabrovo
The town of Gabrovo is situated in Northern Bulgaria, along the
River Yantra, in the north Sredna Stara Planina mountain spur, 392 m
above sea-level. Gabrovo is 220 km north-east from the city of Sofia.
In the immediate vicinity of Gabrovo is the geographical centre of
Bulgaria. Because of its locality the town is a busy road junction.
There are a lot of roads leading from Gabrovo to the other towns and
municipalities in Northern and Southern Bulgaria.
The nearest airport is in the town of Gorna Oryahovitsa (60 km).
The nearest river port is in the town of Rousse (160 km).
The nearest sea port is in the town of Bourgas (230 km).
GabrovoDuring
the Middle Ages some tradesmen and craftsmen set up their business
there. Some people were occupied with wood, metal, wool, and
leather-working and the tradition was handed down until nowadays. At
the end of the last century a lot of factories were built and
stock-joint companies of European kind were set up there. At present
the town of Gabrovo is an important industrial centre. There are a lot
of leading machine-building, electronic, and tool-making plants.
Textile industry, furniture manufacturing, plastics manufacturing,
food, wine and tobacco industries are also of great importance.
A
few state and municipal companies and a lot of private wholesale and
retail trade companies are in the trade and public services of the
town. The private companies have more than 60% of the business in
Gabrovo. A lot of world-famous companies from other countries have
representative offices in Gabrovo.
Due to its clean
mountain air, historical and ethnographical complexes Gabrovo has
become an attractive tourist centre. Municipality and the surrounding
area is considered to be one of the most ecologically clean regions in
Bulgaria. The rich flora and fauna come to prove that. Some of the best
hunting trophies such as bear, red deer and mouflon can be found in the
game reserves.
There are some places of interest, which are of national and international importance.
Such
place is The House of Humour and Satire. There you can see different
art and ethnographical exhibitions and collections of African ritual
and carnival masks and accessories. Thousands of world famous
humourists from more than 150 countries have visited The House of
Humour and Satire during the Festivals of Humour and Satire.
The most picturesque place in Gabrovo is the architectural and ethnographical complex Etur - a unique open-air museum.
Near
Gabrovo is the 600-year-old village Bozhentsi - an architectural and
historical reserve. Bozhentsi is located in a pretty valley, and all
its authentic houses date back to The Renaissance period. Bozhentsi is
an excellent place for individual and family tourism.
Ouzana
is a mountain locality near Gabrovo. The geographical centre of
Bulgaria is found here. Ouzana is a suitable place for your winter and
summer holiday. Here you can do some skiing, horse-riding,
mountain-climbing, etc.
The distance from Lyulyatsite
Resort (The Lilac Shrubs) to Gabrovo is 15 km. The resort is famous for
its favourable effects on some cases of allergy, hypertonia and chronic
diseases of respiratory system.
A lot of theatrical,
musical and folklore professional groups, puppet-show, pantomime
theatre, Gabrovo Chamber Orchestra, "Gabrovo" - Swing Dixie Band and a
lot of others contribute to the cultural life in Gabrovo.
The
visitors can see the unique expositions of the History Museum, Art
Gallery and National Museum of Education. National Museum of Education
is located in the building of Aprilov Grammar School - the first
non-clerical secondary school in Bulgaria.
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Gorna Oriahovitsa
The name of Gorna Oriahovitsa originates from the III - IV century
a.d. Fortress "Ryahovetz". Around this fortress a settlement formed
which was later named Gorna Oriahovitsa in 1870.
Geographical location
The
town is located in North-Eastern Bulgaria (near the town of Veliko
Turnovo) in the outskirts of Arbanashka mountain along the river Yantra
and is located on 25'42" to the East of Greenwich. The average height
ot the settlement is 218 meters above the sea-level.
Climate
The
climate is temperate-continental with average annual temperatures of
12.5 ' C, which are measured at the international airport in Gorna
Oriahovitsa.
 | Soil and waters
The
soil around the city has an alluvial meadow-like characteristic and is
suitable for intenzive agricultural production and development. The
town and the municipality whose center is in Gorna Oriahovitsa is
located along the river valley between the rivers Yantra and Rossitza.
The depth of the underground water sources for industrial needs runs
from 6 to 12 meters below ground. In most of the villages in the region
there is an established system for irrigation watering from the river
Rossitsa. The town of Gorna Oriahovitsa end the rest of the 12
settlements in the region have a central water supply for drinking and
other needs.
Transport
Gorna
Oriahovitsa is one of the four major railway divisions for cargo
transportation in Bulgaria. Gorna has four different types of railway
stations: One for passengers, one for loading, one for distributing and
one container terminal station.
The Gorna railway station, as a central railway hub, can direct traffic in five different directions.
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Gorna
Oriahovitsa has an International Airport from which all types of
aircraft can land and depart 24 hours a day under all weather
conditions. All the necessary airport services are available. |
Gotse Delchev
The Gotse Delchev municipality encompasses an area of 315.8 sq, km
in the southwest part of Bulgaria. It borders the municipalities of
Hajidimovo, Garmen, Bansko and Sandanski.
The town of
Gotse Delchev is situated in the Gotse Delchev Hollow, at the southwest
foot of the Middle Pirin Mountain, along both banks of the Nevrokopska
(Gradska) River - a tributary to the Mesta River, which flows 3 km west
of the town.
The Goce Delchev Hollow and the
low-mountain hilly places were inhabited even as early as the
prehistoric age because of their favourable climate. There are numerous
remains of the material culture of the prehistoric man from the Stone
and the Stone-Copper Age; of the Thracians - from the first millennium
BC; of the period of the Roman rule and late antiquity; and of the
Slavonic tribe Smolyani. The region was annexed to the Bulgarian
kingdom in 837 AD. During the Ottoman rule, especially in c. 16 and 17,
as a result of the assimilation policy of the conquerors, part of the
local Christian population was forcibly converted to the Islam, but
preserved its national consciousness and traditions.
The
total population of the eleven settlements in the municipality numbers
37 138 people, 23 573 of whom live in the town of Gotse Delchev.
There
were 2 235 registered unemployed in the municipality by the beginning
of 2000. That number constitutes 13.96 per cent of the municipality's
economically active population.
The Gotse Delchev
municipality offers all kinds of places for the lovers of nature. The
natural sight Chinarbey (a 500-year-old plane-tree with a height of 24
m) is near the bank of the Delchevska River. The age-old chestnut-trees
Bliznatsite (the Twins) grow 1.5 km away from the town of Gotse
Delchev. The fishpond by the Mesta River (3km along a highway and 2 km
along a dirt road northeastwards) offers tourist attractions and a
specialized fish restaurant.
The picturesque
25-km-long defile of the Mesta River called Momina Klisoura is situated
on the municipality's territory. It connects the Razlog Hollow with the
Gotse Delchev Hollow and separates the Pirin Mountain from the Western
Rhodopes. A very beautiful part of the Pirin National Park - the
Kornitsa, Breznitsa and Kamenitsa cirques - occupies 1487.2 hectares of
the municipality's area. The Orelyak reserve (758.1 hectares - 751.5
hectares of forest areas and 6.6 hectares of pasture areas), known for
its primeval beech forests, is also situated here. The Popovi Livadi
area (a climatic mountain resort at an altitude1 430 m above sea level)
is a convenient starting point for the Orelyak (2.30 h northwards along
a marked track) and the crest of the Debeli Rid elevation, surrounding
the three cirques. The International Tourist Route E4 (the Pyrenees -
Peloponnese) also passes here.
Tours to the famous
national and international tourist centre Bansko (32 km) can be
undertaken from the town of Gotse Delchev. Picturesque mountain roads
lead from the Popovi Livadi area to the interesting village of Pirin
(44 km), the Pirin Chalet (61 km), the famous Rozhen Monastery (79 km)
and the cultural and historical reserve Melnik (80 km).
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Harmanli
Harmanli municipality is in the centre of Haskovo region. Its
territory spreads over some parts of the Upper Thracian lowlands
between the oblique south slopes of the Sredna Gora and precipitous
north slopes of the Rhodope Mountains. The current of the Maritsa River
flows near along the whole extent of this boundary, dividing the
municipality into two almost equal parts. The tributaries of the
Maritsa River, Harmanli and Biser rivers flow through it as well.
The
total area is 694 563 daa, which is 12.6% of the territory of Haskovo
region. Farming lands occupy about 60%, and forests - 28.53%. This
gives grounds for development of farming and forestry.
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Haskovo
Haskovo municipality is located in the central part of Southern
Bulgaria and occupies the most western part of Haskovo county. It is
located on a territory of 737 square meters, which is 13% of the
territory of Haskovo county. Its geographic location is extremely
favourable and important.
Haskovo municipality includes the town of
Haskovo and 35 villages. It is a transport cross road between Europe,
the Near East and the Middle East, which is a good prerequisite for an
international commercial and cultural exchange. The basic bus and
railway connections between the entrance and the exit boundary points
in Bulgaria, which determine to a great extent the successful trade
with Republic of Greece and Republic of Turkey, are located in it.
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Haskovo municipality disposes of a well developed tourist base, as well as of base for sport, business and cultural events.
Places of interest:
The Middle Ages fortress Hisaria - Haskovo
Asenova krepost /fortress/ - the village of Klokotnitza
The Paskalevs' house, turned into an ethnographic museum
The Shishmans' house, in which there is an exposition of the local crafts
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The
visitors of Haskovo, who come here on a business trip or attracted by
the pleasant atmosphere of the region and by the healing Haskovo
mineral springs, seldom miss to visit the picturesque place Kenane - a
splendid oak forest with a spacious park, restaurants, tennis grounds,
houses for recreation.
Here are the complexes
?Romantika? and ?Klokotnitza?, located in ?Kenana? park. Hotel "Oazis"
and complex "Haskovo" function in the town. They offer good services in
the hotel part, the restaurant, the night bar and Vienna pastry shop.
Industry:
The city has one of Bulgaria's largest cigarette factories. Other industries include textiles and metalworking.
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Hissarya
The health resort of Hissar is situated in the centre of Bulgaria,
in the southern folds of Sredna Gora Mountain, 42 km north of Plovdiv
(the second biggest town in the country) and 160 km east of Sofia (the
capital of Bulgaria).
Natural features
Curative mineral water.
There are 22 mineral springs with a total debit of 4000 l\min. and a
temperature of 37-52 C. The mineral water is light, clear, colourless,
flavourless and tasty. It is slightly mineralized, hypo- and
hyper-thermal, with a predominance of hydrocarbonic, sodium, sulphate
and fluorine ions, as well as substantial amounts of radio radioactive
gas. The radioactive emanation is 10-165 Em, pH - 7,6 - 9,02 and over
20 microelements. Acid content - 200 - 270 mg\l. The Augusta hotel is
the only hotel with a full medical program in Bulgaria.
Climate:
The climate is moderate continental with mild and warm winter. The
average annual snowcover is 12 days. Spring comes early, summer is
temperately hot with an average month temperature of 22 C. Autumn is
warm and longlasting. Cloud coverage is low. The average annual
humidity is moderate (70 %). Foggy weather is an exeption. The wettest
months are June and November.
The maximum air humidity is 65-70 %.
Sunny days - 280 per year.
The town is ecologically clear. There are no industrial plants or factories in the region. It is rich in parks and green areas.
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Kalofer
The town of Kalofer (3991 inhabitants, 600 meters above sea-level)
is situated along both banks of Tundja River, between the Balkan and
the Sredna Gora Mountains. Above it stands the highest peak in the
Balkan range ? Botev peak.
The town is located 158 km east of Sofia and 75 km north of Plovdiv.
It is the birthplace of the great Bulgarian poet and revolutionary Hristo Botev.
On
this place there were once thick, impassable woods. To the west was the
old town Zvanigrad. Due to the strong resistance, the Turks wiped out
the town, but the proud defenders remained unconquered. A band of 40
heroes, led by Kalifer voivode, roamed for long throughout the area.
The Turks were powerless to deal with the band and so the Sultan gave
the voivode permission to settle in the woods. The haidouks kidnapped
maids from Sopot, which was famous for its beauties, which is how
Kalofer originated.
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Kardjali
 | Eastern
Rhodopes Region occupies the central southern part of the country; To
the West- the Plovdiv and Smolian Region; to the North- the Haskovo and
St.Zagora region and to the South- Turkey and Greece.The location of
the town of Kardjali is in the heart of the region.
The area
is divided into 8 territories (communities) with 7 towns and 522
villages and settlements. The biggest town is Kardjali with a
population of 50 thousand people.
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The
transport is mainly automobile way. The international road E-85 leads
through the town of Kardjali (European Transport Highway No.9 - from
Rousse to Komotiny, Greece).There is transportation routes providing
easy access to Sofia in the west (288 km); to Bourgas
and Varna in the east (Black sea); to Rouse at the Romanian Border in
the north by railway; and the Greek Port, Alexandrupolis, in the south
(120 km).
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Karlovo
 | The
town of Karlovo (population: 27 992 inhabitants) is situated 520 m.
above the sea level in the valley of the same name, which is part of
the famous Rose Valley. The town is located at the distance of 141 km.
east from Sofia, 58 km. north of Plovdiv, 55 km. west of Kazanlak and
66 km. south of Troyan. Karlovo is the birthplace of the eminent
Bulgarian ? the Apostle of Liberty Vasil Levski. Karlovo?s
remote past is not well explored. There are not stories or legends that
have been preserved. Today?s town is a relatively new one. It
originated on the banks of Stara reka right after the Ottoman invasion
in Bulgaria, as an administrative center of the local Turkish Feudal
lords. The village was named Karlovo after the local Turkish feudal
lord.
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The beginning of the 19 th century for Karlovo was a time of
rapid economic boom, cultural uplift and revolutionary ardour. Hundreds
of clockworks and watermills were working near to the Stara Reka River.
Rich merchants bought the production of the skilful master
coppersmiths, goldsmiths, tailors and leather ? workers and traded with
Egypt, Albania, Romania, Vienna. Karlovo became a big and bustling
village with a formed center, town clock and pleasant houses. The
Russian ? Turkish War of Liberation put end to the wealthy life in the
town. In 1877 Karlovo was plundered and set on fire. 814 people were
slaughtered, and most of the survivors ran away in the Balkan Mountain.
The town is a birthplace of the teacher Botyo Petkov, father of Hristo
Botev, the brothers Evlogy and Hristo Georgievi, Hristo Popvasilev.
Also a native of Karlovo is the famous Bulgarian mountaineer Hristo
Prodanov - the first Bulgarian who set foot on Mount Everest.
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Karnobat
Karnobat municipality is located in the south-eastern part of the
Republic of Bulgaria and it is included in the administrative
territorial boundaries of Bourgas region (60 km west of Bourgas
on the way to Sofia). Rishki passage connects the municipality with
North Bulgaria. A part of Karnobat-Aitos Balkan is located in the
northern part of the territory.. Hisar hills raise to the south of the
town of Karnobat.
The first information for Karnobat
was written in 1153 and included in The Geography by Al Idrisi - an
Arabian traveller and scientist. The historical sources show that since
the 19th century up to present days the town has always been an
administrative, economic and commercial centre with a traditional
yearly fair.
The town of Karnobat was mentioned under
different names in the documents from the Turkish registers and travel
notes: Karinovassa. Karinabad, Karnovo?
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Kavarna
Kavarna is a small port town which has a broad outlet on the Black
Sea to the Eastern and Southern sides. The coast is varied and there
are cliffs combined with beaches and abrasive formations such as caves,
fissures, etc. The area lacks surface running water and irrigation is
most valuable. There is a steep cape called Kaliakra near the town,
famous for the romantic legend about forty ?maidens? committing suicide
in the name of Christianity. It is also famous for the caves - once the
habitat of the extremely rare Black Sea monk seal.
Kavarna
is one of the ancient towns on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. First it
was situated nearer to the sea but after an eartquake in I c. B.C. the
old town Byzone has been partly drawned into the sea and later, in
Roman times, it was rebuilt at a new place, 3 km inland. During the
times of the First and Second Bulgarian Kingdom it was the
administrative centre of Dobrudja.
There
are mechanical engineering, electrical, food and other industrial
enterprises, but agriculture has the leasing position in the local
economy thanks to the rich resources of fertile, arable land. The
structural specialization is mainly in grain, animal fodder and
technical crops.
The main tourist centres in the nearby area are Roussalka, Kavarna and Karvuna.
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Places
of special interest to environmentalists are the reserve areas of
Yailata, Chirakman historic site and Kalyakra itself. They are famous
for steppe and endemic vegetation, birds and animals. |
Kazanlak
It is called "the town of roses". The air here bears the fragrance of
flowers. The vicinity of the town has been turned into wonderful rich
gardens where the world famous roses for extractng rose oil are grown.
At a distance of 5km from the town there are mineral springs. Not far
away is situated the Kazanlak tomb wich is included in the list UNESCO. |
Kiten
 | The
holiday village Kiten bears proudly its name. Each newcomer to this
lovely village is charmed by its mild climate, intact nature and sea
and hospitable native people. The village was founded in 1931
by fugitives from Greece and immigrants from the surrounding villages.
After 1970, Kiten has been developing as a attractive center for many
tourists.
Nowadays Kiten is
a prosperous modern tourist village. In its little and cosy private
hotel, houses,syndicate stations,camping sites and motel each week come
more than 70 000 tourists.
The numberless restaurants,snack - bars,discos, amusement park, water slides offer numerous attractions.
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As
a little gem, Kiten has spread itself along the Black Sea Coast between
two municipal centres - Tzarevo 10 km away and Primorsko - 5 km away.
The north beach, that bears the name "Atliman" is a very beautiful and always calm bay.
The
South beach borders river Kiten whici is rich in grey mullet, carp and
barbel. There is also a sea base for sea sports and yachting. The
interesting combination of sea and mountain turns Kiten into an
attractive and preferred holiday place by thousand of tourists.
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Koprivshtitsa
One of the most charming small Bulgarian towns, still preserving
the atmosphere of the National Re- vival period, is huddled in the
mountain folds 111 km east of Sofia. The town is a unique combina- tion
of a legendary history and fascinating present. No other Bulga- rian
museum town boasts such a large number of houses and mo- numents - 383
in all, most of which have been restored to their original appearance.
A unique col- lection of ethnographical treasu- res, old weapons,
National Revival works of art, fine fretwork, house- hold weaves and
embroidery, na- tional costumes and typical Bulgarian jewelry has also
been pre- served. It was here that the first bullet of the April
Uprising against the Ottoman oppressors was fired in 1876.
Koprivshtitsa
White stone walls, overgrown with ivy and wild geranium, fence in
gardens full of flowers. Vaulted stone bridges run across the bubbly
Topolnitsa river. Heavy, iron-studded gates hide blue, yellow and red
houses with verandas, bay windows and eaves, and the spacious rooms are
lit up by brightly coloured rugs and cushions, carved ceilings and
cupboards, copper vessels and ceramics.
Specialists say
that every house in Koprivshtitsa is a work of art. The Oslekov,
Kableshkov and Lyutov houses are fine examples of this.
The houses
dated to the second half of the 19th century have exqusite painted
facades and sunny ve- randahs, with carved ceilings and stylish
European furnishings.
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Kotel
Kotel is a town which is a legend and
a history! It is situated amidst the picturesque natural scenery of the
Eastern Balkan Range and is not only a place with majestic nature,
fresh air and pure mountain water, an important cultural and historical
centre.
Kotel has beautiful architectural models from the Late Revival and one of the most important centers of the weaving art.
The
name of the town is mentioned for the first time in a Turkish document
in1486. In the second half of the Eighteenth and the Nineteenth
Centuties more than 450 000 heads of sheep were said to have been
raised by the Kotel shepherds up there, far to the north east, in the
rolling planes of Dobroudzha where from endless oxteam caravans of
shorn wool kept coming back to Kotel to be turned into homespun abas
and hoddens. Long term contracts for cloth deliveries to the Ottoman
Army had provided the population with considerable privileges and had
given them self - confidence and a spirit of freedom loving and
independence. The Kotel people are known to be industrious,
enterprising and studious
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. They used to keep up on donations of their
own the 5 secular schools, to build clapboard houses with woodcut
doors, carved ceiling soffits. Women had added homespun broadloom
carpets, fluffy rugs and cushions to the beauty and warmth of their
homes. Kotel is turned into one of the richest, most beautiful,
patriotic settlements - a national center of the Bulgarian Revival.
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Kozlodui
Forty kilometres east of Lom, Kozlodui, the next place of any
size, has a monument near the small harbour commemorating the "landing
of 1876". On hearing of a rebellion against the Turks deep in the
Balkan Mountains (in what subsequently became known as the April
Rising), Hristo Botev assembled two hundred volunteers from the
Bulgarian emigre community in Romania who boarded the Austrian steamer
Radetzky disguised as market-gardeners hijacked the vessel and
disembarked at Kozlodui under the banner "Liberty or Death". But by
this time the Turks had already crushed the uprising, and on learning
of Botev`s partisans, harried them through the mountains until their
death near Vratsa.
More recently Kozlodui has become
notorious as the site of Bulgaria`s first and only nuclear power
station, built with Soviet help in the 1970s. Throughout 1991
international observers became increasingly worried about the plant`s
safety, not least because the Soviet technicians who used to run it
were being replaced by insufficiently qualified Bulgarian staff.
Western companies, funded by the European Union, have been involved in
overhauling the plant, but it is still considered one of the most
dangerous installations in the former Eastern bloc. It`s due to be
decommissioned in 2020: in the meantime, beset by energy problems
brought about by the sudden curtailment of cheap electricity supplies
from the former Soviet Union, the Bulgarians have little choice but to
keep Kozlodui going as best they can.
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Kovachevitza
The village was founded at the end of the 17th century AD. The
first cell school was built in 1830, and its church St. Nikolas ? in
1848, turning Kovachevitza into the cultural center of the entire
region. The quaint architectural style of building has not been changed
since the founding of the village. The only building materials used are
stone and wood. The magnificent architectural solutions used in ancient
times are still applied unaltered today. Kovachevitza has repeatedly
served as the natural historical stage for the shooting of numerous
films. In 1977 the village was declared a national architectural and
historical reservation.
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Kovachevitza you can feast your eyes on a variety of Nature?s gifts
gathered in one place ? picturesque canyons, a crystal-clear river,
thick forests, incredibly fresh and cool, towering peaks offering
breath-taking views. All this will transport you to the long-forgotten
days of the past. The village of Kovachevitza is tucked away between
the ridges in the remotest south-western corner of the Rhodopes. Its
dwellers number 50 people. The settlement is about 1050m above sea
level. Its climate is moderate, with a mild winter (as the breath of
the Aegean is felt coming from the south) and a cool summer, provided
by the freshness of the surrounding coniferous forests. Nearby winds
the Kanina River, renown for its three deep ponds, the abundance of
mountain trout and its magnificent waterfalls, cascading like
glittering silver from dizzy heights. Its charming, narrow,
cobble-stone streets and the unadorned beauty of its proud, tall
white-facade houses with stone-slab roofs and huddled whispering eaves,
are a unique example of the Bulgarian architectural genius. |
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Kranevo
Kranevo is a small village north from Varna near the Albena
resort. It is known as a resort for small kids, where they go for their
vacation - many school camps you can find here. Also, this place would
be suitable for those on a budget.The vast beach, clean sea, gently
sloping sea bottom and curative mineral water have propelled the swift
growth of the village into a competitive tourist destination.
Kranevo
has succeeded an ancient Roman stronghold, known as 'Ekrene' or the
harbour 'Kraneia'. Traces of the Roman fortress, which was exploited
during the Middle Ages as well, have been found on the southern
plateaus above the village.
Places of Interest:
Relatively close to Kranevo is the famous Aladzha rock monastery. On
the opposite direction are located the town of Balchik with its
beautiful palace and Botanic Garden.
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Krapets
Krapets is a small seaside village, located 10 km north of Shabla,
about 90 km from the nearest airport of Varna at the end of an access
road that hugs the Black Sea coast. It is a quiet place known for its
dunes and bird life. The village is perched on the beach, surrounded by
vast wheat fields and wild nature reserves. The area of Krapec is a low
plateau, slightly elevated and inclined towards the sea. The Black sea
coast is low, combination of ochre cliff sections and beach strips with
sand dunes.
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area can boast for its rich history. To start with, the Kibela Temple,
which is the oldest prehistoric necropolis in continental Europe for
its remarkable age of 2500 years, was discovered during excavations in
the nearby island in the Dourankulak Lake. Besides, the stone
settlement found by archeologists near the temple is believed to be no
less than 8,000 years of age. The Eneolithic settlement is considered
by its discoverer, Dr Dimov, to have existed from 5400 to 4100 BC.
Excavations have also come across other remains of historical value
dating back to various periods, which are exhibited in the Historical
Museum of Dobrich. |  |
Places
of Interest: Besides the Dourankulak Lake with its historical and
natural sites, a can visit two more lakes with rich wild life - the
Shabla lake and the Ezerets lake ? both of which lie to the south of
the village. These lakes are populated by various bird species,
including ibises, herons and grebes. Between Krapets and the Shabla
cape naturelovers can bask in the sun on deserted beaches, enjoy the
view of steep cliffs all around.
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