Discover Chepelare

• Chepelare Municipality lies on National Road II-86 between Plovdiv and Smolyan.
• Most of the Pamporovo resort complex is located within the municipality.
• The Mechi Chal viewing platform is at an elevation of 1,852 metres and offers views of the surrounding area.

The pages for the villages of Orehovo, Hvoyna, Zabardo, Pavelsko and Progled can also help you get a sense of the municipality as a travel destination. The directory also includes pages for Smolyan, Dospat and Madan.

Among the area’s distinctive natural formations are the Wonderful Bridges: natural rock bridges formed over thousands of years. The area around the rock bridges is protected by railings, and stone steps carved into the rock make access easier for visitors. If you are interested in sculpted rock landscapes, this is a specific natural attraction to visit, while the Mechi Chal viewing platform offers a different perspective on the surrounding area. The elevation of 1,852 metres refers to the platform itself.

The Duplevo waterfall, also a protected natural landmark, is located in the Orehovo area. Chepelare is home to the centuries-old spruce “Chepelarski Yunatsi”, which can be reached by hiking trail or lift. Sbirakova Cave is known for its sinter lakes. These varied natural attractions can help you choose whether to focus your trip on rock formations, a waterfall, a cave or a viewpoint.

The “Stara Vodenitsa” eco-trail starts at the last building of the ski factory in Chepelare and leads to the old mill. The route is described as 3 kilometres long, with a walking time of 1 hour. Its stated length and duration make it easy to fit into your day’s plans, without confusing it with the region’s longer routes.

Mountain biking enthusiasts can visit a mountain bike park in Pamporovo, which has facilities and trails and was established in 2012. Hvoyna is the starting point for a 200-kilometre cross-border eco-route along the Chernatitsa ridge. These two offerings differ considerably in format: one focuses on a mountain bike park and its trails, the other on a long route along a mountain ridge. For winter sports, Pamporovo has 50 kilometres of alpine ski runs served by eight lifts. The lift facilities and ski slopes at Mechi Chal are the main winter sports and skiing service in the town of Chepelare.

In Chepelare, the clock tower, with a history of more than 100 years, is considered one of the town’s landmarks. The church in Chepelare dates from 1834 and is a monument of art of national significance. A church dating from 1857 has been preserved in Hvoyna. These buildings add a historical and cultural dimension to a trip that also includes nature and activities.

Two museums cover different subjects. The Museum of Rhodope Karst presents five topics relating to speleology and the karst riches of the Rhodope Mountains and Bulgaria. The Ski and Sports Museum in Chepelare displays nearly 1,000 museum exhibits. In Orehovo, the “Rodopsko Badeshte” community centre houses a historical and ethnographic museum collection. Its exhibits include tools and household items from local daily life up to the mid-20th century. Depending on your interests, you can focus on karst, sport or everyday history.

How long is the “Stara Vodenitsa” eco-trail?

The trail is described as a 3-kilometre route with a walking time of 1 hour.

What winter sports are available in Pamporovo?

Pamporovo has 50 kilometres of alpine ski runs served by eight lifts.

What is there to see in Orehovo?

Orehovo is home to the Duplevo waterfall, a protected natural landmark, and the “Rodopsko Badeshte” community centre, which houses a historical and ethnographic collection of tools and household items from local daily life up to the mid-20th century.

What does the Museum of Rhodope Karst show?

It presents five topics relating to speleology and the karst riches of the Rhodope Mountains and Bulgaria.

For the broader travel overview: Smolyan Province.