Smolyan Province: Rhodopes, Nature and Culture

Notable natural attractions include the Trigrad Gorge and the Chair Lakes Protected Area near Trigrad. Devin is known for its spa resort; Chepelare is home to the Rhodope Karst Museum. Skiing, hiking, cycling and horse-riding routes, as well as regional specialties, are also among the experiences described in the province.

The Chair Lakes Protected Area, with seven lakes formed by landslides, lies near Trigrad. Trigrad Gorge is also a protected area. Among its many caves are Devil’s Throat Cave and Haramiya Cave. Those interested in karst landscapes and caves will find two distinct natural features here: lakes formed by landslides and the cave world of the gorge.

Several well-marked tourist trails of varying lengths pass through Trigrad. The area also has cycling and horse-riding trails and a riding station. Several mountain trails lead from Shiroka Laka into the highest parts of the Rhodope Mountains and to natural attractions such as Lednitsa Cave and the Momata rock formation. More than 20 hiking, cycling and horse-riding routes lead from the villages of Smilyan, Mogilitsa and Arda to scenic destinations.

A shorter option is the marked eco-trail from the Smolyan–Pamporovo road, near the arch of the Sveti Panteleimon Monastery, to the Nevyastata rock formation and Turluka. It is less than 1 km long. The trail is equipped with rest areas, panoramic platforms and information boards about the flora and fauna of the Rhodope Mountains. In Zlatograd, the Sveta Nedelya trail leads from the Vodenitsa or Tepavitsa watermill to the 865 m-high peak of Sv. Nedelya.

The Rhodope Karst Museum in Chepelare is considered unique in the Balkans. Exhibits include minerals and crystals, a leopard’s lower jaw and a reconstructed cave bear skeleton measuring 4.5 m in height. The objects on display make the museum a specific destination for anyone interested in the geology and cave world of the Rhodope Mountains.

Shiroka Laka is designated an architectural and folklore reserve and is known for its traditional Rhodope houses, including the Zgurovska, Uchikovska and Grigorovska houses. Every year, on the first Sunday in March, the village hosts the international Kukeri festival Pesponedelnik. The National School for Folklore Arts in Shiroka Laka trains singers, dancers and musicians in Bulgarian folk art. For a cultural stay, architecture, folklore and traditional arts education offer distinct areas of interest.

The Zlatograd Ethnographic Area Complex is an open-air museum. It includes an ethnographic museum, craft workshops and an exhibition about water-powered installations. At Momchilova Fortress, visitor services include guided tours; visitors can also strike a commemorative coin themselves using a blacksmith’s press.

At the Pri Vodenitsata tavern, you can try Zlatograd cuisine specialties. These include kachamak made from freshly ground flour, patatnik and klin. If you want to include local dishes in your travel plans, these are specific examples of regional cuisine.

Since 2003, the village of Smilyan has hosted the Smilyan Bean Festival every year on the last weekend of November. Together with the Kukeri festival in Shiroka Laka, it offers a glimpse into two distinct local festival traditions. The dates are distinct: the festival in Shiroka Laka falls on the first Sunday in March, while the bean festival takes place on the last weekend of November.

If you are looking for a spa and wellness focus when choosing accommodation, Devin is a specific starting point for your search: the town is a well-known spa resort with modern hotels and luxurious spa centers. For a stay with other focuses, the province’s nature trails, museums and cultural sites can guide your choice of location. The Chepelare ski center has 20 km of ski slopes and routes of varying lengths and difficulty levels. They are suitable for advanced and beginner skiers, as well as snowboarders. This lets you consider spa and wellness offerings, culture, nature and winter sports as different reasons for choosing where to stay.

To compare locations, you can also visit the pages for Mogilitsa, Devin, Gela, Smolyan, Pamporovo, Devin, Polkovnik Serafimovo, Chepelare, Zlatograd, Borino, Smolyan, Banite, Chepelare, Rudozem, Dospat, Zlatograd, Bosilkovo, Bilyanska, Nedelino and Madan.

Where is Smolyan Province?

It lies in southern Bulgaria, in the central part of the Rhodope Mountains.

When does the Kukeri festival Pesponedelnik take place?

It takes place every year on the first Sunday in March in the village of Shiroka Laka.

How long is the eco-trail near Nevyastata?

The marked eco-trail is less than 1 km long.

How extensive is the Chepelare ski area?

The ski center has 20 km of ski slopes and routes of varying lengths and difficulty levels.

For the main travel overview: Bulgaria.