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Smolyan
Smolyan resort
Location
Smolyan is a small and picturesque town in the heart of the Rodope Mountains. This magnificent town enchants visitors with interesting combination of old and modern architecture, influenced by the majesty of the great mountain. Smolyan is just 15 kilometers away from the famous ski resort Pamporovo and 260 km south of Sofia. Plovdiv is just 103 km south of Plovdiv.
History
The town is famous for its history. During the Ottoman rule, the local people were subject of pursuit to change their religion and just a few of them survived in the mountain. A lot of interesting historical monuments are preserved in this cosy town.
Landmarks
There are several preserved houses from the National revival period - Mermovata, Pridasova and some others.
The arc bridge (Beiska kupria) over Cherna River (the Black River) was built in XVIII century.
The natural reserve “Chinarat” – a 250 year old three.
The historical museum of the Middle parts of the Rodope Mountains and of course the biggest Planetarium in Bulgaria on Bulgaria Boulevard.
The Rodope Mountains Smolyan is surrounded by numerous interesting sites, that worth to be visited.
Smolynski lakes
are protected area with splendid landscape - mountain lakes with coniferous forest, varied marsh plant life. They are known as the “emerald eyes of the Rodope Mountains.” They used to be twenty, but now there are just 7 preserved. The whole region is like a natural park.
Just 10 km north of the town is the interesting village of Momchilovtsi. Recently it became a popular site for snowboarding, although it is more popular as a resort for rural tourism. Smolyan is also a starting position for different mountain routes along the western part of the Rodope Mountains.
Recommended hotels
BulgariaSki team recommends some of the hotels in the town of Smolyan. Check out the list of hotels we have prepared for your convenience, choose the one that suit your requirements, fill in the booking form and a representative of BulgariaSki.com will be in touch with you shortly.
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Resort: Smolyan Show mapDikas hotel is situated in the center of the town of Smolyan. Close to the hotel are located some of the landmarks of the...
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Resort: Smolyan Show mapLuxor Hotel is located in central Smolyan, surrounded by the Rodhopes Mountains, 7 km south of Pamporovo. The modern complex offers everything necessary for your complete relax in...
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Resort: Smolyan Show mapHotel Smolyan is situated in the centre of Smolyan in the Rhodopes mountain, at an altitude of about 1000 m. The hotel is located in the centre of scientifically proved longevity...
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Places to go in Smolyan region
Smolyan region offers many and unique opportunities for eco tourism, hiking, trekking, cave exploring and much more. The region has great places for adventourists, who search to practice sport in the mountain and relax amongst the beautiful Bulgarian nature.
Here are some interesting sightseeing spots and routes in Smolyan region:
- Smolyan Lakes. The lakes are located between the town of Smolyan and Snejanka Mountain Peak in the Rhodope Mountains. Back in the past the lakes were nearly 20, but nowadays of the so called “Emerald eyes of the Rhodohe” only seven have left.
- The Bride’s Rock (Nevestata) is a unique natural landscape, located in the Valley of Cherna River, west of Smolyan.
- Chinara is a large plane-tree, located close the Sokolitsa Hotel in Smolyan. The tree is believed to have been carried in the 19th century from Greece. The crown of the tree is enormous. The age-old plane-tree is part of unique park, featuring a mosque and a church with wooden bell tower, which is the one of a kind in the whole municipality.
- The Maid is an interesting rock formation, located close to Shiroka Lyka Village. The beautiful rock resembles the outline of a girl, holding a distaff in her hand. The formation is a result from the rock erosions and the influence of the winds.
- The Head is another rock formation near the village of Shiroka Lyka. If you look at the stone from east side you will see the profile of a man’s head. The stone is 7 metres high and 5 metres wide.
- Smolyan Waterfall is situated east of the town, at Kriva River, not far away from its flow into Cherna River. The waterfall is part of an eco-trail, starting from “Soskovcheto” preserved territory. The trail can be passed through only with guide. The Underwater Castles of the Rhodope Mountain. The Rhodopean Mountain is the oldest folded mountain on the Balkan Peninsula. The presence of many Karst regions has helped for the formation of numerous mountain caves. Most of the caves are a real challenge for many mountaineers, tourists and explorers. The caves can only be visited with guides. Some of the cave clubs in the region also offer special outfits and equipment.
- Uhlovitsa Cave. This is the only cave in Smolyan, which is well equipped and open for tours. It is known as one of the “Underwater castles of the Western Rhodope Mountain” and is included in the 100 national tourist sights of Bulgaria. The cave is located 25 km south of Smolyan and 3 km away from Mogilitsa Village. The entrance of the cave is located 1040 metres above the sea level. The temperature inside is 10 C Celsius all year round. The cave is famous for the so called Abyss Hall, which starts immediately after the entrance. Four deep precipices lay at the west part of the hall. The walls of the hall are covered with fairy-tale cave forms. The end of the gallery has two cave lakes. The stone streams of the so called Diamond Waterfall go all the way down to the second larger lake. 460 metres of the cave are explores and only 330 metres are open for tourists. The highest displacement is 25 metres. The cave was first open in 1984.
- Nadarska Cave. The cave is situated 6 km away of Uhlovitsa Cave. It is very beautiful, but not lit up and facilitated for tourists. You can enter the cave only with special equipment and guide.
- Kaleto Passage Cave. It is located near the village of Koshnitsa and is one of the natural phenomenons of the region. The cave actually represents a big rock arch, which leads to a top, where the ruins of the ancient fortress “Kaleto” are located. Here the tourists can enjoy an adrenaline-rush adventure, called “Alpine Cradle”. Special equipment can launch the tourists 40 metres away from the cave entrance, so that they can enjoy an unforgettable view towards the Valley of Arda River.
- Golubovitsa Caves The two-cave system is located near Koshnitsa Village and is a very interesting spot for keen cave explorers. The caves are hard-of-approach and need special equipment. Inside the caves you can try rope descending, rock climbing and even boating to pass inside deep in the cave, where beautiful sceneries, hidden and kept through the centuries will come into sights. After you go out – another challenge awaits you – the “Alpine Trolley”. It represents a rope facility, which hangs between two distant rocks. Here you can have the chance to pass the 40 metre- long rope line, connecting the two rocks over Esenna River, 20 metres above it.
- Lednitsata Cave. Lednitsata Cave is situated in close vicinity to Shiroka Lyka, in the Valley of Gorski Dol River. The formation of the cave is provoked by tectonic moves, which made the ground layers tear down, while at the same time water dissolved the limy rocks and thus created a unique cave world. Lednitsata Cave is more than 1400 metres long and is the 5th deepest cave in Bulgaria. For millions of years the underground natural powers have been creating majestic rock forms, including rock waterfalls, pearls and many fantastic sculptures of animals and heros. The cave is not equipped for visitors. Special equipment and guide needed for tours.
Comments Smolyan
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David Bowden From England
Sent on 20 August 2007I have been to hotel Crystal 4 times since it open and have been made most welcome each time a it is very beautiful Hotel and the views from all the rooms are wonderful and the food and quality of service could not be better I will be their this winter for the skiing -
Frank & Jill Wheer From Wales
Sent on 31 January 2007We have visited this hotel twice - in the summer of 2006 and again January 2007. You will not be disappointed in the least. Everyone is very friendly and the food is marvellous. All the facilities are as described and you could not want for more. We can thoroughly recommend the hotel -
Jane Mills From Manchester UK
Sent on 02 January 2007We have an apartment in the Ustovo area of Smolyan. We purchased it about 1 year ago, and everytime we visit we cannot believe the changes and developments taking place. The people are so nice, welcoming and kind. The food is freshly prepared, and extreemly good value for money. Smolyan has a lot to offer as a small town being very cosmopolitan and not too far from Pamparovo, where all the night life is if you want it. Does anyone else have an apartment in Smolyan to exchange notes with. I welcome the Bulgarians into the EU they will bring alot of benefits!!
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Date: 2008-07-23 Autor: News.bg, Diana Stoykova, July 23, 2008
%CT1% Free Eco Fest in the Rhodopi Mountains A... read more
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Date: 2008-07-03 Autor: www.julyjazzbg.com, July, 03, 2008
%CT1% Jazz Fest in Smolyan in July 2008 This... read more
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Date: 2008-06-25 Autor: BNR, Roumyana Tsvetkova, Margarita Dikanarova
%CT1%Tourism is a major priority in the agenda... read more
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Date: 2006-12-11 Autor: Standart Daily
%CT1%Sculpture of Orpheus to Be Erected in... read more
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