Shiroka laka

Shiroka laka, Rhodopi, Bulgaria

If you want to sense the true atmosphere of the past times and meet the sunrise awaken by the song of the first cocks, you must visit any of the Rhodopi villages. At the feet of the north-eastern slopes of the Perelik locality of the western Rhodopi and the south-west slopes of Chertanitsa you will find the village of Shiroka laka. It is officially recognized as an architecture and ethnographic reserve. The village is 24 km. away from Smolyan and 5 km. away from Pamporovo. Your visit to the village will give you a clear notion of the life style of Bulgarians about hundred years ago. You will see the Rhodopi as they were at times of the Bulgarian Renaissance. Most typical of all id the architecture of houses: Zgurovski mayoralty, where the ethnographic museum is located, the Kalaydzhiyska, the Grigorovska and the Bogdanovska houses. You can taste the traditional Bulgarian food and enjoy the folklore entertainment, or go sightseeing accompanied by a tourist guide.

Ribaritsa

Ribaritsa, Stara Planina, Bulgaria

Ribaritsa is situated 12 km. to the east of Teteven.. The biggest attraction is the wild nature of the Balkan. The village bounders to the national park of Central Balkan and one of its nine green pearls – the Biospheric reserve of “Tsarichina”. Comfortable tourist roads lead to the two neighboring reserves of “Tsarichina”: “Boatin” to the south-west, and “Kozya stena” to the south-east. Starting from there the road leads to a number of mountain hostels. The village offers excellent conditions for rural and eco-tourism. Guests may enjoy the funny stories of the local people. The protected area of “Cherven rat” is very attractive for ornithologists. There one may observe a large variety of birds. One can enjoy a ride on the tourist train or mountain bike and visit the place where Georhi Benkovski was killed, near the Roman Bridge and the old villages of Bryazovo and Gorunyovo.

Rila monastery

[singlepic=38,300,220,web20,center]

The Rila Monastery was first declared a national museum in 1961, and later on, 1983 it was announced a UNESCO monument. It is situated 100 km to the east of the Bulgarian capital Sofia. Most important of the monastery is the fact that it is the biggest monastery complex on the Balkans. It was founded by Ivan Rilski (a Bulgarian Saint) in 10th century and is situated in the north-west part of the Rila Mountain at an altitude of 1100 m. This monastery is an impressive monument of the Bulgarian Middle Ages and Revival architecture and art of painting. It used to be an important Christian, cultural and educational center. The Hrelyova Tower and the major monastery church of ‘Virgin Mary’s Birth’ are located in the monastery yard. In the four-storey residential wings there are more than 300 monk cells and four chapels. The walls and ceilings of the monastery are richly painted and engraved.