Smolyan Province: Skiing, the Rhodopes and Culture
Accommodation in Smolyan Province
Smolyan Province is in southern Bulgaria, in the central part of the Rhodopes. The Chepelare Ski Centre is a specific point of reference for winter sports. The region is also shaped by natural, spa and cultural attractions.
Skiing in Chepelare
The slopes and ski routes at the Chepelare Ski Centre vary in both length and difficulty. This is a useful starting point when comparing the interests of different skiers in your travel group. The facilities are suitable for beginners, intermediate skiers and snowboarders. The figure of 20 km refers to the ski slopes and routes at the Chepelare Ski Centre; it does not indicate lift routes or the location of individual accommodation.
Rhodope landscapes and trails
Near Trigrad lies the Chair Lakes protected area, with seven lakes formed by landslides. Several well-marked tourist trails of varying lengths also pass through Trigrad. There are cycling and horse-riding trails in the area, as well as a riding centre. The Trigrad Gorge is a protected area with numerous caves, including the Devil’s Throat Cave and Haramiya Cave. This lets you take an interest in nature into account when planning your trip alongside winter sports, without combining the different places and activities into a single excursion route.
There are marked trails elsewhere, too. Several mountain hiking trails lead from Shiroka Laka to the highest parts of the Rhodopes and to natural attractions such as Lednitsa Cave and the rock formation “Momata”. More than 20 hiking, cycling and horse-riding routes lead from the villages of Smilyan, Mogilitsa and Arda to scenic destinations. A marked eco-trail starts near the Smolyan–Pamporovo road, by the arch of the “Sveti Panteleimon” Monastery. It leads to the Nevyastata rock formation and Turluka, is less than 1 km long, and has rest areas, viewing platforms and information boards about the flora and fauna of the Rhodopes.
In Zlatograd, the “Sveta Nedelya” trail starts at the “Vodenitsa” or “Tepavitsa” watermill and ends at the 865 m-high summit of “Sv. Nedelya”. This specific elevation helps distinguish the trail as a separate option; no trail length is given.
Spa resorts, culture and regional cuisine
Devin is a well-known spa resort with modern hotels and luxury spa centres. The mineral springs in Devin have water temperatures ranging from 16 °C to 76 °C. If you would rather centre your stay on a spa resort than on skiing, this offers a distinct regional focus.
The Rhodope Karst Museum in Chepelare displays minerals, crystals, a leopard’s lower jaw and a reconstructed cave bear skeleton measuring 4.5 m in height. The Rhodope Karst Museum is considered unique in the Balkans. Shiroka Laka is designated an architectural and folklore reserve and is known for its Rhodope houses, such as the Zgurovska, Uchikovska and Grigorovska houses. The National School for Folklore Arts “Shiroka Laka” trains singers, dancers and musicians in Bulgarian folk art.
Every year on the first Sunday in March, the international Kukeri festival “Pesponedelnik” takes place in the village of Shiroka Laka. Since 2003, the Smilyan Bean Festival has been held in Smilyan every year on the last weekend of November. These dates may influence your choice of travel period. In Zlatograd, the “Zlatograd” Ethnographic Area Complex is an open-air museum with an ethnographic museum, craft workshops and an exhibition on water-powered installations. At the “Pri Vodenitsata” tavern, you can sample Zlatograd specialities, including kachamak made from freshly milled flour, patatnik and klin.
For regional orientation, find pages about Gela, Smolyan, Pamporovo, Chepelare, Smolyan and Chepelare.
For the broader travel overview: Bulgaria.
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