Local Activities
| The newly built modern ski resort of Pamporovo and the ski town of Chepelare offer all the attractions from a ski resort. During the summer months, outdoor life of walking, hiking, cycling, rock climbing, horse riding, bird watching, fishing, hunting and canoeing can all be enjoyed. Local hotels offer swimming pools, live music, bars, restaurants, ski shops and bowling. Extensive spa facilities are available at most resort hotels and at very reasonable prices (full body massage £11, manicure £4). The nearest city of Plovdiv offers Roman ruins of old cobbled streets leading to an amphitheatre. The famous 900 year old Bachkovo Monastery is only 30km away (30 minutes). Other attractions include numerous churches, museums, an observatory, fortresses, caves and rock formations. |  skiing in chepelare and pamporovo |
  swimming pools in most hotels spa facilities in resort hotels | THE RHODOPE MOUNTAINS offer the most southern skiing resorts in Europe. It is the sunniest Bulgarian mountain resort with wonderful snow throughout the whole winter season. Pamporovo and Chepelare are situated on 1600m above the sea level at the foot of peak Snejanka (1926m) and Mechi Chal (1873m) The village, Pavelsko is situated 900m above sea level. There is a 4 month skiing season (mid December to mid April), and during the Spring to Autumn the temperature ranges from 15 to 30 degrees. This offers a full year worth of activities and holiday opportunities. |
| PLACES of INTEREST include fortresses, monasteries, churches, cities, towns & villages, caves, Roman ruins, rock formations, river activities, walking, hiking, rock climbing, fishing, cycling, horse riding, restaurants, bars, swimming, spa facilities, bowling and shopping. New adventure centres have been set up in Chepelare and Pamporovo. One example can be found at the Castle complex and offer 4x4 quad experiences, paint balling fun, and snow mobiles  |  cycle hire available to take advantage of many cycle routes |
 fishing on the river flowing through pavelsko village | HISTORY: Since ancient times the Rhodopes has been a mysterious and enchanting mountain range. It is home of the mythical singer Orpheus and the clan of guards of the famous Sanctuary of Dionysus. Archaeological excavations date back to habitations from approximately the 7th century BC. The remains of many Thracian fortresses reveal a rich ancient culture that once flourished in the area. The fortresses guarded an ancient Thracian road running from the town of Abdera, on the Aegean Sea, to Istros, on the Danube River. During the Bulgarian Revival period (1762-1878), cultural and educational life flourished in the area and the surrounding villages, illustrated by the existing 14 churches and 72 chapels. In every church existed a school. Four of the churches are now declared artistic cultural monuments of national significance, and one of the churches and 15 of the chapels are declared cultural monuments of regional significance. |
| WILDLIFE: The Rhodopes are one of the few mountain ranges in Europe where the Brown Bear and Wolf still breeds. Old-growth forests are home to deer, elk, fox, wild goat, and other rare European species. The Rhodopes are a true heaven for bird lovers and contains over 200 species, many of them quite rare. Dippers and King Fisher will dart around you as you walk along clear creeks and streams. A Golden Eagle hovering high in the sky presents an unforgettable sight. If you come to the Rhodopes during spring you might hear the early-morning mating call of the Capercaillie. Lush, grassy meadows pop into mind when thinking of the Rhodopes. For many centuries locals have kept herds of sheep, as a result of which, they have created meadows outrests. These meadows now are home to an abundance of rare flowers, many of which are not found anywhere else on Earth. In early spring you can see the pink petals of Silivriak (Heberlea rhodopaensis), the symbol of the Rhodopes, which has the unique quality of being able to spring back to life even after being pressed for years. Legend has it that the flower bloomed out of the blood of Orpheus after he was dismembered. The Rhodopes are also well known for their mushrooms. Here you can also pick yourself a multicoloured bouquet of herbs; the most fragrant thyme grows here. |  900 year old bachkovo monastery (30 mins away) |
| BIRD WATCHING: The Rhodope mountains are arguably Bulgaria's best mountain range for raptors. Short-toed, Golden and Booted Eagles, Honey and Long-legged Buzzards, Black Kite, Levant Sparrowhawk and Egyptian and Griffon Vultures breed. A few Eurasian Black Vultures (aka Cinereous Vulture) also visit from time to time. This is mostly barren, often craggy, goat-grazed terrain, dotted with dry woodlands and has a typically Balkan-Mediterranean avifauna. Other birds in spring and summer are Black Stork, Scops Owl, Alpine Swift, Red-rumped Swallow, Blue Rock Thrush, Isabelline and Black-eared Wheatears, Rock Nuthatch, Woodchat Shrike, Sombre Tit, Spanish Sparrow, Eastern Orphean and Subalpine Warblers and Rock and Cirl Buntings. In autumn more raptors, like Osprey, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Red-footed Falcon and Montagu's Harrier, move through the Arda valley. Some of the best areas to search lie along the River Arda, particularly by the reservoir and dam at Studen Kladenetz and around the village of Madzharovo. These mountains lie in the south-east of Bulgaria, up against the Greek border, east of Kardzali and south of Haskovo. |
'wonderful bridges' rock formation ten pin bowling at resort hotels mountain wildlife
PLOVDIV is a very vibrant and modern city in the centre of Bulgaria, however it hides a secret, this bustling cosmopolitan city is actually ancient – even older than Rome, Athens or Constantinople. Built one civilization upon another this wonderful city has many hidden treasures both ancient and modern. Built on three hills above the river Maritsa and shaped by the Thracians, Greeks, Romans and Slavs, this city is a place you should not miss when visiting the area.
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