High in the mountains: Zagaza hut

Zagaza Hut

1400 m.a.s.l. - North Pirin

Private

Yanor ('66) - owner and mountain hut manager for the last five years

Zagaza hut attracted my attention with its interesting location in the less popular western part of Pirin. The hut is a private property, fully renovated, becoming popular around the tourist circles more than ever. Can be reached by car from Kresna from the area called “Varbite”. The stretch is 22 km long. Тhe road is in poor condition, so choose a suitable vehicle to go there. If you choose to walk to the hut the most convenient and easy to follow the path starting from the village of Vlahi and takes about 4 hours.

The hut was renovated. The rooms are clean and convenient. Apart from the tourists, many families with children and grandchildren also come here for relax and fun. The owner of the hut made a route for small children - path passing through two beautiful waterfalls that takes 20 minutes walking. Only 45 minutes walk from the hut leads to Nivcha, the area where there are magnificent views of the peaks Sharalia, Konski kladenec, Sinanitsa, Gergiritsa, Muratov peak, Muratova chuka, Vihren,Kutelo and others.

http://www.visitbulgaria.today/mountains-in-bulgaria-eastern-europe/high-in-the-mountains-zagaza-hut

High in the mountains: Gorski Rai hut

Gorski Rai Hut

1450 m.a.s.l. - Northwest Balkan Mountains

Private, family

Mitko (‘60) - owner and mountain hut manager for the last 10 years

Krasimira ('59) - owner and mountain hut manager for the last 10 years

Gorski Rai Hut is one of the first private huts in Bulgaria. It is located in North-Western in the Balkan Mountains, under Mount Midzhur and on boundary of the biosphere reserve "Chuprene." This is not the standard hut through which pass dozens of tourists coming from neighboring chalets. It is quite remote from other ones and still attracts many people. And as owners told me "once you’ve seen the place, you definitely want to return." I went there with a desire to understand what magic attracts tourists to this hidden corner. Although the hut can be reached by car, I wanted to walk to there. The eco trail starting from the area "Bekinska shoburka" a few kilometers above the village Chuprene leading to the ridge of Balkan Mountains, where it merges with the tourist trail to the peak Midzhur. Steep and overgrown, covered with blackberries and wild flowers. Аfter 1000 meters elevation difference just before the hut the vegetation overflows into pine forest and you can feel the amazing smell of pine trees and resin.

http://www.visitbulgaria.today/mountains-in-bulgaria-eastern-europe/high-in-the-mountains-gorski-rai-hut

HIGH IN THE MOUNTAINS: MAZALAT HUT

When we imagine high mountain hut, our first association immediately evokes a feeling of warmth and comfort burning fireplace, delicious food and a clean bed. In reality, these huts are not much our mountains. We did a tour which starts from the Balkan Mountains to Pirin Mountains to take a closer look at the management of three prosperous high mountain huts, all private or leased for a long period of time.

Mazalat Hut
1620 m.a.s.l. - Central Balkan
Leased by SIP
Michaela ('31) - mountain hut manager for the last six years
George ('30) - mountain hut manager and former assistant manager for the last 10 years

Mazalat hut is one of the most popular high mountain huts in the Central Balkan Mountains. The place is a major stop for tour groups and starting point of a number of popular routes. Both Tuja hut (west) and Riviera hut (east) are nearby. The hut won the prize "Hut of the Year" for 2015 in the competition organized by planinar.org. After a three-hour trekking following a steep path among beautiful beech forests you will find yourself in front of impressive views of the Triglav massif. The building itself has nice architecture, typical hut stone walls and a pointed roof. It is equipped with solar panels and energy-independent.http://www.visitbulgaria.today/mountains-in-bulgaria-eastern-europe/high-in-the-mountains-mazalat-hut

THE STADIUM OF PHILIPPOPOLIS IN PLOVDIV AT GLANCE

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Plovdiv is an amazing ancient city and it is also the second largest city in Bulgaria. When visiting Bulgaria, Plovdiv is a must see for any foreigner who likes history and archaeology. We would like to bring to your attention the Roman Stadium of Philippopolis when visiting Plovdiv city which was also recently appointed as European Capital of Culture 2019.
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The Stadium of Philippopolis was built in the beginning of 2nd century AD during the reign Emperor Hadrian. It is situated in the Northern part of the fortified city surrounded by defense walls, in the natural terrain between Taksim Tepe and Sahat Tepe. The facility is approximately 240 meters long and 50 meters wide. Its capacity is up to 30 000 spectators. To honor the visit of the Roman emperor Caracalla in 214 the games held on the stadium were called Alexandrian while the games for the visit of emperor Elagabalus in 218 were called Kedrisian Games.

The games were organised by the General Assembly of the province of Thrace. 
Athletes competed in two age categories – men and boys. Agonothetes (organisers of the sport events) presided over the games.  Like the other imperial buildings for spectacular events, the Ancient Stadium of Philippopolis had its seats of honor preserved by inscriptions in the marble blocks. Seats with Greek inscriptions were found, proving the existence of special seats for members of higher public position.

The main entrance to the Stadium is formed by masonry pillars decorated with marble pilasters and reliefs. On the pilasters there are busts of Hermes (hermai) with placed above them prize vases with palm sprays, accompanied by Hercules’ attributes – lion skin, a mace and a quiver. There you can dive underground at the original level of the Ancient town. The space open for visitors includes a part of the track, the semi-circular part of the spectator seats (sfendona) and a panoramic wall with hypothetical reconstruction of the missing space of the facility. Some of the discovered elements of the Stadium are identified along the main street of Plovdiv. The Roman Stadium was pronounced a national cultural value in 1995.

WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT VELIKO TARNOVO?

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Veliko Tarnovo is a city in north central Bulgaria and the administrative centre of Veliko Tarnovo Province. Often referred to as the "City of the Tsars", Veliko Tarnovo is located on the Yantra River and is famously known as the historical capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, attracting many tourists with its unique architecture. 

The old part of the city is situated on the three hills Tsarevets, Trapezitsa, and Sveta Gora, rising amidst the meanders of the Yantra. On Tsarevets are the palaces of the Bulgarian emperors and the Patriarchate, the Patriarchal Cathedral, and also a number of administrative and residential edifices surrounded by thick walls.

Trapezitsa is known for its many churches and as the former main residence of the nobility. During the Middle Ages, the city was among the main European centres of culture and gave its name to the architecture of the Tarnovo Artistic School, painting of the Tarnovo Artistic School, and to literature.

TRIP TO BACHKOVO MONASTERY

Bachkovo monastery is the second largest monastery in Bulgaria. It is beautifully situated on a ledge, on the right from the Valley of Chepelarska River, close to the village of Bachkovo, 10 km from Asenovgrad and 30 km from Plovdiv.
Bachkovo monastery is the second most visited monastery in the Bulgaria. During the weekends or on orthodox holidays, there are large groups of pilgrims and tourists. The climate is mild because Bachkovo monastery is in the heart of the Rhodope Mountains. The summers are breezy and the winters are mild. Therefore, most vegetables and fruits could be successfully grown in the valley yards.

The Bachkovo monastery is almost 8000 sq.m and about 440 meters above sea level. It includes two yards and 4 churches. The monastery has 18 chapels, 10 in Asenovgrad and 8 in its surroundings.

Close by is the the National reservation park “The Red Wall”. It is famous for its fauna which includes quite a few rare animals and the plant Haberlea Rhodopensis, a prehistoric in nature, whose sky blue flowers enchant the visitors every spring. Near by is the Chepelarska river named by the locals as ‘Chaja’. Chaja has been the monastery trout fish supplier for a long time. Keen fishermen patiently wait on the shores with hopes to get lucky. For those willing to try the fish without catching it yourself, it is served in most restaurants in the village. Visitors could stay at the monastery or at the many hotels and houses that are close by.
           The monastery is part of the Bulgarian Heritage. It is open to visitors at all times.
http://www.visitbulgaria.today/things-to-do-bulgaria/trip-to-bachkovo-monastery

BELOGRADCHIK ROCKS AT GLANCE

The Belogradchik Rocks are a group of strangely shaped sandstone and conglomerate rock formations located on the western slopes of the Balkan Mountains (Stara Planina) near the town of Belogradchik in northwest Bulgaria. The rocks vary in color from primarily red to yellow; some of the rocks reach up to 200 m in height. Many rocks have fantastic shapes and are associated with interesting legends. They are often named for people or objects they are thought to resemble. The Belogradchik Rocks have been declared a Natural Landmark by the Bulgarian government and are a major tourist attraction in the region.

The Belogradchik Rocks extend from the village of Rabisha in the west to the village of Belotintsi in the east.
The central group of rocks is situated just to the south and adjacent to the town of Belogradchik. Here are located the most interesting and impressive formations which are as follows:

• Adam and Eve
• The Mushrooms
• The Schoolgirl
• The Bear
• The Dervish
• The Shepherd Boy
• The Lion
• The Camel
• The Madonna
• The Horseman
• The Monks
• The goddess Bendida
• The Rebel Velko

The second group of rocks lies to the west of Belogradchik. The rocks are of the Alpine variety and are surrounded by steep precipices. The most famous of these rocks are:

• Zbegovete 
• Erqupriya
• Boritch

The third group of rocks lies 4 km. to the east of Belogradchik and includes the rocks around the Latin Gate and the Lipenik Cave.

The fourth group of rocks lies between the villages of Borovitsa and Falkovets. These rocks include:

• The Pine Stone
• The Bee Stone
• The Torlak
• The Maid’s Rock.

The fifth group of rocks lies between the villages of Gyurgich and Belotintsi.

Your opinion matters to us:

• Have you visited the the Belogradchik Rocks yet?
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• Where else have you been in Bulgaria?

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