Golets: Hotels and Accommodation

Golets lies on both banks of the Dripla River, also called Golyam Dol. The river separates two parallel-running slopes of Lovech Mountain. Around the village, river landscapes, waterfalls, caves, local history passed down through generations, and traditional cultural practices come together.

Nature and Trails

Ruen Peak is designated as the highest point of the Balkan Mountain foothills south of Golets. Visits to Ruen Peak in spring are described as a long-standing local tradition. They include hikes, views of the awakening landscape, collecting wild garlic, and shared picnics.

In the Golets area, a signposted and developed hiking trail leads for approximately 1 kilometre to Kavuka Waterfall. The waterfall lies on the river between Golets and Kirkova Mahala; the route is stated to take approximately 30 minutes and is described as suitable for a picnic. Several smaller waterfalls and large rock formations are described along the river above Kavuka Waterfall. A rock drawing near Kavuka, close to Golets, is dated to between 5,000 and 10,000 years old.

Zmeyka Cave is a wet, periodically flooded cave approximately 130 metres long. It has a single level, no branches, and a difference in elevation of approximately two metres. Entry is described as suitable exclusively for equipped specialists, as the galleries are reached by crawling through a narrow opening and through deep, cold water.

Water

The Big Reservoir covers approximately 17 decares and can be reached by car near the eastern entrance to Golets via an unpaved road. The Small Reservoir is located within Golets and is accessible via a paved road.

Culture and History

The Golets branch of Chitalishte Probuda has a women's vocal group, a satirical troupe, and a library with 5,199 volumes. Golets' traditional Horo dances were accompanied by songs, and later also by bagpipes and the kaval. Traditional women's dress included white headscarves with flowers or gilded bouquets, colourful shirts with wide sleeves, woollen garments, and red aprons with woven or embroidered belts. Traditional men's dress included fur caps, shirts, Poturi trousers, Aba coats, homespun waistcoats, and red sashes with white stripes.

Local tradition places Golets' earliest settlement at Guzre around 1300. The inhabitants moved east after no more than 50 years because the location was exposed to storms and strong winds. According to local history, the name Golets is connected with Bay Kolyo, who was nicknamed Goltak and is said to have built the first Bulgarian house there around 1500.

The house of the heirs of Ivan Hristov Kapchiyski in Golets is listed as a locally significant architectural and construction heritage site. The house of Rayko Kolev Dachev, including its gate and the tree in front of it, is likewise listed as a locally significant architectural and construction heritage site. Two traditional spring-water fountains – the Turkish Fountain and the old fountain beside the river – were restored through a local initiative.

Transport

The Sofia–Varna E772 road runs immediately south of Golets. Anyone wishing to book a hotel in Golets can continue their accommodation search afterwards.

For the higher-level travel overview: Ugarchin.