Bulgaria Travel Notes» Bulgarian mountains

A Cheap Holiday in the Sun – or Snow – Bulgaria

editor — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 03:30:59 +0000

Well, Bulgaria is certainly a place you may have heard of recently.

Some of you may think: unknown, Eastern Europe, poverty stricken, and Dracula… (actually, that’s Romania).

Well, you couldn’t be more wrong. Those images are a thing of the past in the new modernized tourism destination of the Balkans.

Bulgaria has been a member of the EU already for 2 years, and thanks to the current credit crunch, it is looking far more interesting as a holiday destination.

Boasting some fantastic skiing conditions, and pretty warm beaches in summer, Bulgaria is far developing a reputation for budget holidays.

Incredible Balkan mountain tops with plenty of thick snow is a skiers delight. Powder-like flakes fall thick and fast in the ski areas, and to ski Bulgaria has a somewhat raw and earthy feel about it. You will find all the modern ski equipment available, and perfectly safe ski slopes for all ages.

A week in the snow will set you back less than half of the price of a holiday in Western Europe. In fact, the snow is just as good St. Moritz and the French alps and the atmosphere is somewhat less pretentious.

The ski instructors are good, patient and whats more – fun. There are all types of packages for all types of

holiday-makers, from young party-goers who would rather spend their time in the bars than the slopes, ranging through to family holiday chalets and ski resorts.

If it’s sun you are looking for – you’re in luck. Bulgarias’ economy has been booming over the last 5 years on the Black Sea Coast. Numerous resorts have been built to cope with the high demand so most of the complexes are brand new.

Varna, Sunny beach, Golden Sands and Nessebar are just a few seaside towns popular with Brits and Germans alike.

The legend of a £1 beer is still alive in Bulgaria, which also does nothing to hurt its “bargain holiday” reputation.

But don’t be fooled by the price, Bulgaria also has some fantastic off-the-beaten-track tours and hotspots for the non-mainstream holidaymakers.

Rila monestry, Veliko Tarnavo and Plovdiv have ancient tracian history and have some very large and beautiful lakes nearby. The forests are large, stunning and a little scary (I wouldn’t recommend staying overnight there!).

A cheap holiday in Bulgaria is now easy to book with major airline carriers such as Wizz Air and Easyjet going twice a week from the UK.

All in all, you won’t be disappointed in price or in terms of adventure on your visit to Bulgaria.
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Bulgaria – Summer Sun and Winter Ski – And Plenty in Between!

editor — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:30:40 +0000

By Penny Church

There’s no secret why Bulgaria has come to prominence over the last few years – it’s the best value beach holiday destination in Europe. Here are ten tips on what Bulgaria offers the holidaymaker, year round.

Beaches: You might not expect to find places with English names like Sunny Beach and Golden Sands, but these 1960s resorts have been brought right up to date while living up to their names. Sunny Beach is big and brash – Golden Sands is better for a more relaxed holiday.

Beaches plus: You don’t have to stay in a purpose-built resort to enjoy the beach. Nessebar, just a few miles from Sunny Beach, is a “living museum” town of cobbled streets and historic buildings reached by causeway from its beach hotels. Sozopol is another old town with a busy modern quarter.

Spa and wellness: Many of the new hotels that have sprung up in beach resorts offer beauty treatments and therapies. Aromatherapy and thalassotherapy, using sea water, are among the options.

Skiing: The resorts of Pamporovo and Borovets are especially good for beginners and a lot of money has been spent to improve accommodation standards, ski schools and ski lifts. The resort of Bansko is also good for intermediate and expert grades too, and is the most extensive with 40 miles of marked pistes.

Mountain activities: Bansko is a year-round resort with lots going on in the summer too. Try kayaking, mountain biking, rafting or trekking to the peak of Mount Vihren, at nearly 3,000 metres above sea level.

Cruising: Embark at the port of Varna to discover the Black Sea, stopping at places including Sozopol and Nessebar. Longer cruises visit Romania and Turkey.

History:A tour of the interior opens your eyes to a land of medieval towns and Orthodox monasteries. Don’t miss ancient Plovdiv (Bulgaria’s second city), the former capital of Veliko Tarnovo, and Rila monastery.

Wine: Many vineyards welcome visitors, where you can sample little-known and under-rated vintages such as Lyaskovets and Haskovo.

Country pleasures: Villages have come back to life after the collectivisation policy of the Communists. Farmhouse accommodation is starting to develop – and the food is delicious.

Culture capital: Sofia is a surprisingly diverse city, with ancient mosques and synagogues among its Orthodox cathedral and churches. It is close to Mount Vitosha, for a day or half-day glimpse of nature.

Bulgaria is not just a great choice for sun and sand but a place of history and culture, where people have re-discovered their traditions after the dismal years of Communism.

With availability of low cost flights to Bulgaria from all over Europe, holidays in Bulgaria remain affordable and a great alternative to the more traditional European holiday centres.

Penny Church in collaboration with travel writer Jimi St. Pierre, writes for several UK travel companies and recommends Travelwhere, the map-based holiday brochure finder and destination information resource for the UK traveller. With Travelwhere, you can find cheap flights to Bulgaria along with a wealth of additional information – including the package holiday brochures of specialist tour operators to Bulgaria.

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Nature reserves of the Rhodope Mountain

editor — Wed, 13 May 2009 03:30:37 +0000

The Soskovcheto Reserve was declared a reserve in 1968. Its buffer zone was established in 1986. Currently a procedure has been opened, for the recategorisation of the buffer zone into a protected zone. The reserve covers an area of 177.5 ha and its buffer zone – 104.4 ha.
This protected area offers exceptional landscapes – a dense and full-bodied river network, deep river beds, rapids and waterfalls, rock formations. Centuries-old Scots pine and spruce forests are being preserved here.

There are also rare plants, threatened by extinction, such as the Balkan endemic species of lady’s mantle (Alchemilla bulgarica), the Bulgarian endemic Rhodope rock dill (Seseli rhodopaeum), saxifraga (Saxifraga ferdinandi-coburgi) – a Balkan endemic and glacial relic. The reserve also gives home to animal species such as the alpine newt, the black woodpecker and the brown bear.
The Ministry of the environment and waters is financing the building of the eco-track “The Waterfall’s Canyon” in the reserve. The natural water cascade is over 100 metres high. The company STC Perelik will make a donation of 20 ha of land to increase the reserve’s area.

The Kazanite Reserve is located on the land of the village of Mugla and covers an area of 161 ha. The reserve was declared in 1968 with the aim to preserve the unique natural characteristics of this beautiful area in the Rhodope Mountains as well as to preserve the centuries-old mixed forests of beech, fir, spruce, Scots pine and other trees. Some of the species included in the Red Book which can be seen here are the lady’s mantle (Alchemilla bulgarica), the Rhodope rock dill (Seseli rhodopaeum) as well as the bearberry (Arctostaphyllos uva-ursi). Typical representatives of the local fauna are the honey buzzard, the black woodpecker and the brown bear.

The Momchilovski Dol Managed Reserve is located on the land of the village of Momchilovtsi and covers an area of 31.1 ha. It was declared a reserve in 1968 and in 1999 was recategorised into a managed reserve. A natural centuries-old black pine forest has been put under protection.

Author: Sports & Tourist Center Perelik www.perelikbg.com

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Archaeology of the Rhodope Mountain

editor — Mon, 11 May 2009 03:30:45 +0000

Archaeological explorations in the Perelik Ridge of Rhodope Mountain indicate that it was inhabited still in the Paleolithic epoch. A part of one of the branches of the central trans- Rhodope road is localized at the foot of Perelik (2191m) and it connects Marichina valley and Mediterranean Thrakia still in the late bronze era (ХVІ-ХІІ) This road is one of the main tourist attractions in the region. It makes possible to the guests of STC Perelik to visit some of the villages, fortresses, sanctuaries, temples and necropolis, found by the archaeologists.

Before it reaches the resort of Pamporovo the Central trans-Rhodope road goes westwards through the village lines Stoikite- Stikal, Solishta- Gela. The archaeologists found in the area the settlements of the ancient Thracians that are of the so called „scattered” kind. There are already registered and partly explored materials from it which are to be seen on the slant slopes, flanked in the north by the Golyamata river (feeder of the river Vucha) and in the south by the Perelik ridge.
The earliest time when the foots of Perelik have been inhabited refers back to the late Bronze epoch (ХVІ-ХІІ b.c.).

Evidences for that are the finds in the exploited necropolis in the neighborhood Zaevite, near the Gela village. An evidence for settled life is the Thracian fortress in the Gradishte area, southwestwards from the village of Gela, which was used as an asylum in the time of war in the Iron epoch (ХІ-І b.c .). Evidences for a persistent form of inhabitation of the Gela- Stoikite region are the exploited necropolises near the village Gela (VІ b.c. – ІV a.c.), the archaeological complex (a sanctuary- “St.Elenka” a necropolis and a village in the area Stoichensko pavle) (V – ІІ b.c), the fortress Turlata near the village Stikal (VІ-ХІV ) etc.

The Thracian fortress Turlata near the village Gela is situated in the area of Gradishte which has given its name. In the west there is preserved a wall of 90m length. In the east there isn`t built a fortress wall because it is taken advantage of the inaccessibility of the rocky ridge. At some places the wall is preserved up to 2,20m height.

The Thracian sanctuaries near the village of Gela are the places where according to their believes and views the terrestrial- human world at one side and the celestial- divine world at the other come into contact. From these places they are directing their prayers to the gods, make immolations, leave gifts. For that reason the Thracian sanctuaries are situated on “the top of the earth”. Regarding this it is not difficult to understand why in their main part the sanctuaries are situated on the Perelik-summit, on Turlata- south from Stikal, on Soliiski summit, in the north of Solishta and St. Vrach, in the south of Stoikite.

Smolyan, 16th of October, 2007
Nikola Damyanov

Author: Sports & Tourist Center Perelik www.perelikbg.com

Protected areas of the Rhodope Mountain

editor — Fri, 08 May 2009 03:30:49 +0000

In the region of the ”Shiroka Laka” State Forestry Unit the following protected areas add to to the unique natural beauty of the region:

Turlata – an area of 18.6 ha. Protection of territories with spectacular landscapes; remains of fortresses, dating from the Second Bulgarian kingdom.

Vracha – an area of 4.0 ha. A top with fortress remains.

Gradishteto – an area of 9.0 ha. Ruins of an ancient fortress.

Ledenitsata (The Icy One) – A cave on the land of the village of Gela with a surrounding area of 0.1 ha. The negotiable length of the cave is about 900 m. Noteworthy morphology with ice formations in the winter time which have given the cave its name.

Chernoka – an area of 8.6 ha. A 300-years-old black pine forest and rock formations on the land of the village of Solishta.

Lyatnata Gora (The Summer Forest) – an area of 36.6 ha. A beautiful age-old spruce and fir forest.

Momata (The Maiden) – an area of 0.4 ha. Rock formations the central of whom resembles a standing female figure.

Gorchova Voda – an area of 17.3 ha. Age-old forest.

Rozhen – an area of 108.5 ha. Picturesque forest landscapes with vast high-mountain meadows, surrounded by spruce forests.

Author: Sports & Tourist Center Perelik www.perelikbg.com

Nature landmarks of the Rhodope Mountain

editor — Fri, 01 May 2009 03:30:16 +0000

On the territory of the town of Smolyan there are also some remarkable nature landmarks:

Nevyastata-Turluka – The nature landmark Nevyastata (The Bride) is a formation of rocks. The total territory of the site is 47.7 ha, of which 41.8 ha are covered with forests and 5.9 ha are unforested.

Smolyanski Vodopad (Smolyan waterfall) – A waterfall on the Kriva Reka river near Smolyan, with a height of 20 m and an area of 0.2 ha.

Smolyanski Ezera (Smolyan Lakes) – Mountain lakes of landslide origin. An area of 9.5 ha. Preservation of the unique landscapes, surrounding the lakes, the flora and the wildlife, typical for the area. A well known tourist destination.

Dalboki Dol (Deep Dell) with total forested area of 5.8 ha. Located on the land of the village of Stoykite. A centuries-old fir, spruce and beech forest on the land of Stoykite has been put under protection.
The forest fund territories which have been declared protected areas include also the wood grouse (capercaillie) habitats and the seed bases.

Author: Sports & Tourist Center Perelik www.perelikbg.com

Towns and villages in the Rhodope Mountain

editor — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 03:30:47 +0000

Smolyan
Smolyan is the administrative, business and cultural centre of the region.
The municipality covers an area of 879 sq. km, and its population numbers 49 889 men. The residents of the central municipal town number 30 000 men. The municipality itself includes 87 towns and villages. Smolyan is situated in the heart of the Rhodopes and it is the natural capital of the mountain. The three villages of which it is made up – Ustovo, Raykovo and Smolyan- are situated along the banks of the Cherna River (Black River) and Byala River.
The town is located 260 km away from Sofia, 90 km away from Plovdiv Airport and 10 km away from the “Perelik” resort. There are approximately 50 hotels there, offering 2000 tourist beds.

Stoykite
The picturesque village of Stoykite has a population of 420 men and it is situated in the very heart of the Western Rhodopes. This small Rhodope village has preserved its authentic face, its national traditions, customs and culture, which turns it into a veritable open-air museum.
Stoykite is located 16 km north-west from Smolyan, 95 km south-west from Plovdiv and 10 km away from the “Perelik” resort. The village can accommodate about 800 visitors in the hotels and in the private lodgings.

Stikal
The village of Stikal is located 5 km away from the village of Gela. The name Stikal comes from the old Bulgarian word “kale” which means castle, fortress. The village is known for the curious matter that its people are fewer than its houses. According to the official data the residents number 45 men but in the winter less than 25 people remain. Nonetheless almost every house can give accommodation to the tourists. “A house won’t get eaten up if a stranger should sleep in it. You won’t run out of food if you feed him but he will remember the good thing you did for him till the end of his days.” These words are the creed of the Stikalians. The caves Beliat Kamak (the White Stone Cave) and Serdarevata Peshtera (the Serdareva Cave) are located near the village.

Solishta
The village of Solishta is a small village which has scattered its houses about the hills beneath Mount Turlata, 5 km away from Shiroka Laka in the Lukovitsa River vale.
A matter of interest is the village’s church complex, especially the bell-tower of the “Sveta Nedelya” church(Holy Sunday), crafted by the self-taught master Filyu Korbadjiev. The “Chernoka” protected area is located close to the village- the area has a Black Pine forest with over 3oo years old trees.
There is a tourist accommodation office offering accommodation services; there are also chalets offering very good conditions which can be hired separately.

Gela
The village of Gela is situated in the Rhodopes Perelik ridge. The closest town to it is Shiroka Laka – 6 km away from it, and the village of Solishta which is 9 km away from it. The setting up of this settlement is lost in the mists of time but we know that it has been inhabited by the Thracians. According to a legend the village of Gela is the birth place of Orpheus. Each summer the village of Gela hosts a national bagpipe music contest. In August there takes place the “Ilinden” fair, held at the “St. Elijah” Chapel (the first Saturday and Sunday of August). In Gela you can stay at private lodgings or small family hotels offering about 100 beds.

Mugla
The village of Mugla is situated on the upper reaches of the Muglenska River which astounds with the beauty of its picturesque waterfalls and rapids. The Bulgarian- Greek border is near it. According to an old legend the village was founded 5 centuries ago by four unmarried lads each of whom had stolen a maiden from Smolyan. They then hid themeselves in the unaccessable forests of today’s Mugla. The age of the village is indicated by the inscribed tablets, discovered in the surrounding lands; the archaeologists have not yet been able to decipher these inscriptions. The village is popular for its large number of Karst springs, the biggest of which is the spring Yaza. The wooden minaret of the mosque in the village centre is an unique piece of art. Many tourist routes start from Mugla and the village is part of the International European Tourist Route Е8.

Author: Sports & Tourist Center Perelik www.perelikbg.com

The Rhodope Mountains

editor — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 03:30:24 +0000

The Rhodope mountain range is located in the south-eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula; its highest summit is Mount Perelik (2192 m). Over 83% of the mountain stands on bulgarian territory and the rest is in Greece. The Rhodopes are among the earliest formed mountain ranges on the Balkans.

The border between the Rhodopes, Rila and the Pirin mountains is carved out by the Yadenitsa River valley, the Yundola Saddle, Avramov’s Saddle, the Dreshenets River and the Mesta River valley. The northern slopes of the Rhodopes are significantly steeper than the southern where the mountain gently settles itself down onto the plains of Aegean Thrace. Due to certain geographical peculiarities, the Rhodopes have been divided into two parts – Western (high), and Eastern (low). The division between these two parts is drawn by the rivers Kayaliyka and Borovitsa. The average annual temperature in the Eastern Rhodopes is 12-13˚С, the maximum of rainfall is in December, and the minimum is in August. The Western Rhodopes cover a territory of 8732 sq. km., and the average annual temperatures reach between 5˚С and 9˚С.

The nice climate coupled with other factors is favourable for the development of tourism. The microclimate thus established enables a thick snow cover to be preserved for a long period of time – a veritable paradise for skiers.

15 of the areas have been declared nature reserves, some of which are under UNESCO’s protection.
Numerous mineral springs take their source from the mountain.

The Western Rhodopes are the larger ridge; they are higher, more developed and more visited by tourists than the Eastern Rhodopes. The highest and most well-known peaks are also here: Shirokolashki Snezhnik – 2188 m, Golyama Syutkya – 2186 m, Malak Perelik – 2147 m, Golyam Persenk – 2091 m, Batashki Snezhnik – 2082 m, Malka Syutkya – 2078 m, Malak Persenk – 2074 m, and Prespa – 2000 m.

Picturesque gorges, rock phenomena, lakes and unique landscapes attract thousands of tourists to visit the mountain during all the seasons. Many of the villages have been declared architectural monuments. They preserve traditions and customs, carrying us back through the centuries.

Author: Sports & Tourist Center Perelik www.perelikbg.com

Holidaying In The Bulgarian Ski Resort Of Borovets

editor — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 03:30:54 +0000

by Josh Taylor

The climate here is mild in winter with snow cover from December to April but there is plenty of snow around. The Bulgarian government has recently committed to developing the resort further under a scheme called ‘Super Borovets’, with the aim of turning it into a world-class, year-round resort.

Skiing in Borovets

Although a well established resort, Borovets has all the facilities and comforts of a modern winter sports centre. The resort has hosted the Alpine ski World Cup twice and offers visitors a wide range of world-class ski runs to suit all abilities from novice to expert. Skiers here can also take part in cross-country skiing, ski-doo, ice skating, snowboarding, biathlons and ski jumping. The biathlon track here is held to be one of the best in Europe.

The resort’s ski facilities are excellent and will be improved further during the ‘Super Borovets’ initiative. The resort has around 19 ski runs split into three areas (Sitniakoyo, Markoudzhik and Yastrebets). International signs and markings are used across the resort which well maintained and serviced. There are a range of lifts including a gondola, chair lifts, drag lifts and baby drag lifts.

Accommodation in Borovets

The resort offers a full range of accommodation both for people who wish to go self-catering and for people who wish to stay in hotels. The hotels in Borovets include high-quality luxury hotels and mid-range and smaller options. There are plenty of hotels here due to the size and popularity of the resort. People looking to rent accommodation are also given plenty of choice. Self-catering options include chalets, bungalows, houses, villas and apartments. Visitors can choose to rent new properties or older, traditional homes and there are options available for all size of party.

Entertainment in Borovets

The resort offers all kind of options for eating-out and night-life. There are many restaurants, bars, cafes, discos and clubs in the town to suit all tastes. Many visitors like to try out local cuisine but restaurants also offer a full range of other options here from simple snacks through to classic modern European cooking.

Local attractions

Many visitors describe Borovets as being like a big friendly village. Although the town isn’t large it is still full of local charm and tradition. The countryside in the area is lovely in both winter and summer and many people choose to spend their spare time walking and hiking and horse riding is also available. Taking a trip up Mount Musala is a popular option for many. Visitors should also make sure to visit the Bistrista Palace. This old royal hunting lodge is worth a trip in itself but make sure to take a look at the local woodcarvings there which are a local tradition.

Those looking for attractions further afield can visit Sofia which is around an hour’s drive away. There are a lot of museums and churches worth a look here including the National History Museum and the St Nikolai Church.

Conclusion

It’s not surprising that so many people choose to return to Borovets after their first ski trip. The resort offers high quality skiing and facilities, the locals are friendly and there is plenty to do in the town. Although the most popular resort in the country, costs are still relatively low compared to the UK which makes it even easier to enjoy a stay in Borovets!

Josh Taylor writes regularly on real estate and business topics.

Find further regional information and a variety of both full and self-catering accommodation in Borovets, Bulgaria ranging from hotels to apartments and ski chalets at Sunny Rentals.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Josh_Taylor

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BOROVETS – a winter retreat at the foot of the highest Balkan peak

editor — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 03:30:59 +0000

by Jolis Eltilib

Only 73km from Sofia, lays Borovets, the biggest and the oldest Bulgarian ski resort. It was established in 1896 and since then it has become a very popular ski destination on the Balkans. Situated in Rila Mountain, at 1,350m above sea level, Borovets offers a dramatic scenery. It is located at the foot of peak Mousala (2,925m), the highest mountain summit on the peninsula, attracting mountaineers from the entire continent.

The resort offers over 45km of ski runs, kept in excellent condition. Borovets also boasts a very good ski program – it has more than 200 instructors, who teach at 5 difficulty levels.

In Borovets visitors can find numerous hiking trials that, depending on the season, can lead tourists to multiple picturesque mountain spots.

Borovets is also known for its great night life and many tourist attractions.

Several European and American aid programmes are working to help small hoteliers turn the unspoiled Rhodope Mountains into a year-round tourist attraction, as the terrain shelters numerous natural wonders such as caves, mineral springs and landscapes that embody the country’s unique charm.

Pamporovo is undergoing an exciting period of growth with the construction of five new ski runs this season alone. The total length of the runs in the resort now reaches over 31km and official estimates project a 40% increase in tourist numbers for the coming season. However, Pamporovo does not stop its lift for the summer, allowing visitors to view spectacular vistas from the peaks. The only Olympic size half pipe for snowboarding in Bulgaria will also be completed by next season. Pamporovo, together with the nearby village of Chepelare, will soon boast over 59km of ski runs.
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