What mountains of Bulgaria are called the Bulgarian Urals. Bulgaria: the highest mountain
Many people associate Bulgaria with the sea, sun and golden sand. And I have mountains. Bulgaria is amazing beautiful mountains. Smooth, colorful, wooded, foggy, with valleys, with lawns, with and without houses. Traveling in the Bulgarian mountains is a real pleasure. Take, for example, the Stara Planina Mountains. Somewhere here a Soviet non-flying saucer was lost.
Just look at this soft, warm, lamp country Bulgaria. How different she is.
A wonderful palette of colors. By the way, you can click and view the details.
Green dictatorship.
And these are other mountains - the Rhodopes. What is your very first association with the word "Rhodopi"?
I had a saying: "Smoke, girls. "Rhodopi", so that there are no acne on ...". Have you smoked like this?
Now, when I hear the word "Rhodopi", I remember not cigarettes, but the green slopes of the ancient mountains. Alpine meadows, red roofs of houses, cows grazing near them.
Click and view the rainbow in detail. This is a real rainbow, don't be afraid.
Vlad vladsokolovsky does it remind you of anything?
Even in bad weather, the Rhodopes are beautiful.
And mysterious. Yes, what is there to dissemble - the whole of Bulgaria is saturated with some kind of mysticism and mystery. Sacred land.
This is one of the many villages in the Rhodope Mountains, not far from the town of Kardzhali.
And this is a deserted crossroads near Borovitsa.
One of the most visited places in this district is the meander of the Arda River (Kardzhali Reservoir). As he says valeryromanov , there is no bad weather, so I will not say a word that we were not particularly lucky with the sunset. In my opinion, this place is beautiful in any light and weather. This place reminded me a lot in Germany - Saarschleife, which I shot 3 years ago. That place, like this one, made a very strong impression on me.
The Rhodope bull is quite peaceful and does not offer to look for "seeds in his pockets".
Yellow raincoat... Deja vu. Somewhere I already saw him during this trip ... I can’t remember ...
Oh yes, it was in Romania.
There are many settlements of Bulgarians of Turkish origin in the Rhodope Mountains. That is why many settlements have the second. Turkish name. We stopped for the night in Borovitsa, which is also called Camdere. The largest house in the center of the village for 370 people is the mayor's office. In the same building there is a cafe and the only shop.
This is the center of life, the villagers gather here - they drink beer, coffee, smoke, communicate.
Guests are rare here, so they are always welcome.
Villagers often take food on credit, which sometimes is not even recorded - they themselves remember how much and what they took. On the shelves is a standard set of selmag. They have their own brandy - although they are Turks, they have been living in the Balkans for too long. But the fault could not be found - they do not. You can order some dishes on the grill in advance and they will cook them - they will not leave you hungry.
This is the owner of the store. When he found out that we were from Russia, he smiled broadly: "Oh, brothers!"
For guests in the village there is a whole huge villa on two floors. Despite the fact that most of the time it is empty (maybe not the season), it is maintained at a decent level. There is surprisingly fast internet, hot water.
The walls are decorated with numerous paintings painted by the owner's son. Now he constantly lives somewhere in the center of Europe, he is recognized, his work is in demand.
The best time to visit the Rhodopes is autumn. Just google the pictures and you'll understand. You will definitely not remain indifferent. I really want to be here again, to see during the day, swim in the rivers, light a fire in the forest, spend a long evening with the villagers in a cafe.
More stories about this trip:
The Rhodopes are the most poetic Bulgarian mountain. located in the southern part of the country. The Rhodopes are one of the oldest mountains in Bulgaria - the land of bagpipes and the cult of Orpheus. The region is rich with gems and ore. A mountain with a soft oval shape and rounded peaks, picturesque villages and hospitable people. Very interesting are the Karst regions with their deep river gorges, large caves and other rock formations. It is characteristic there that they are the most populated mountain in Bulgaria. Together with the mild climate and numerous mineral springs, these are excellent conditions for the development of tourism. Here are the best coniferous forests in Bulgaria and 15 nature reserves some of them are under the protection of UNESCO. The highest peak in the Rhodope Mountains is Veliky Perelik - 2191 m.
Pirin is the second highest mountain in Bulgaria after Rila. It is located in the southeastern part of the country and has an elongated shape from northwest to southeast between the river valleys of Struma and Revenge. Mountain with majestic glacial lakes and alpine peaks, offers some of the best hiking trails in Europe. Pirin has an alpine landscape - marble and granite peaks and rocks, deep cirques, well-formed glacial valleys and numerous lakes. Due to the well-pronounced Mediterranean influence in the Struma and Mesta valleys, this is a mountain with a large number of sunny days per year and an average annual temperature in the region of x. Vihren (2000 m) from -3.7C. Northern Pirin is home to the highest peaks - Vihren (2914 m) and 60 others - more than 2500 meters, as well as all glacial lakes (140-150). Here and place ski resorts and tourist centers, as well as 12 huts and four shelters, which are open all year round for tourists. Thanks to its unique nature, in 1983 UNESCO included Pirin in the list of cultural and natural heritage.
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Rila, the most high mountain in Bulgaria and the Balkan Peninsula. It is part of the Rila-Rhodope massif and occupies the northeastern part of the country. Rila seems to be part of the Alps, "thrown" in the heart of the Balkans, with 130 alpine peaks over 2000 meters high, glacial valleys and lakes. Snow cover often exceeds 2 m. East Rila is the highest part of the mountain, where the highest peak - Musala (2925 m), ten highest peaks and the highest lake in the mountain - ice lake(2709 meters). Northwestern Rila is home to some of the symbols of Bulgarian mountaineering and mountain tourism - Malyovitsa and Kupenite peaks. There are the largest and most significant - the Seven Rila Lakes. Most of the huts and shelters are in part of the mountain. Many tourist routes start here.
Stara Planina
Stara Planina, also called the Balkans, cuts the country into two parts - from the border with Serbia to the Black Sea. The granite back of Stara Planina is 550 km long. It is the symbol of Bulgaria and the birthplace of the Bulgarian nation and state, the place where the old Bulgarian traditions and culture were preserved during the Ottoman rule. It plays the role of a climatic barrier between Northern and Southern Bulgaria - there is more snow on the northern slopes than on the southern slopes. Average temperatures at the top of Botev, where the highest peak is 2376 m, are -8.9 C in January and 7.6 C in July. Its 29 peaks, over 2000 meters high, are of great interest to hikers and climbers. Numerous mountain formations in the western part of the mountain - caves, rocks and gorges attract extreme climbers and highlanders. The central part is the highest, there are many tourist and alpine huts. Specially designed tourist paths leading to important historical and cultural sites. National Park "Central Balkan" with 10 biosphere reserves is under the protection of UNESCO.
Medium grief
Sredna Gora /Middle Forest/ extends from the Pancherevskoe Gorge, outside Sofia, to Yambol in the Thracian Valley, south of the Balkan Mountains and the Rose Valley. With its oak and beech forests, numerous caves and hot springs, the area was inhabited in the 5th millennium BC. Although the Thracians left behind the golden treasure of Panagyur and the Romans left numerous ancient Roman ruins in Hisar, for the Bulgarians Sredna Gora is a symbol of the "land of the April uprising" that began in Koprivshtitsa. The cities that took part in the April Uprising are now enjoying a great deal of tourist interest. They are starting points for hiking.
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Musala (Stalin Peak from 1949 to 1962) is the highest mountain peak in Bulgaria, the Balkan Peninsula and all of Eastern Europe. Height - 2925 meters. It is composed of Paleozoic granites cut through by granite-porphyry veins. Mountain glacier relief. This is how dryly you can characterize the place where our Bulgarian friend dragged us today. :)
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Mount Musala is located in the Rila Mountains, on the territory of the Rila National Park, not far from the famous ski resort of Borovets and about 80 km from Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. We used the services of the Borovets lift to greatly reduce the time of lifting. By the way, pay attention to how little snow there is at the top, especially skiing is not popular.
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Already leaving Sofia in the morning, it was clear that the day would be cloudy and if the sun was still peeping out on the plain, then the view of the mountains covered with a dense cap of clouds severely broke off all hopes. However, we are not the type to take it like this, turn around and retreat, tails between our legs (figuratively). We stupidly pushed forward, deciding that if we didn’t make it before dark, we’d return and spend the night in a house halfway (there is firewood, matches, some products, even, in short, we won’t be lost). Thoughts that a blizzard could start, and we didn’t even have a flashlight, we carefully drove away. :) The piquancy was added by the fact that we did not know that there was a weather station at the top, and according to our plans, we had to spend the night there (carefully read the trip plan!).
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Having gained a decent height, the sky began to acquire a bluish tint, and then it was finally decided to cut to the top (in vain that they were rushing!). :) Premonition did not deceive us, and the SKY opened for us behind the nearest stone! It was like a load of salt in f..pu and we rushed up in fifth gear.
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Such garbage could no longer shake us, we knew: the sun was up above! The ascent went steeper, but the cable rescued. In the summer, the cable is, of course, an excess, but in winter there is such ice that the boots do not hold, and, of course, we did not have cats.
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That's almost the top!
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And here is the pinnacle. :)
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Well, how can this be: we walked all day in a thick gray mass, seeing only each other, and upstairs like this?
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Imagine our surprise when we saw housing here! And what was Dobril's surprise when he found out that we did not know about it! :) In the weather service house, besides the caretaker, there were six more of his friends. We, as honorary foreign guests allocated a separate room. :) Most of them were placed in a room with bunk beds.
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An interesting feeling when you stand on the highest peak! It seems that there are the same mountains around, also rather big, but you look ahead and understand that you are the center of the world! What do you look at the world from top to bottom! Probably, this is how plans are born to take over the world and world domination! :)
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A fashionable fur jacket drives, like a down jacket "Columbia" does not drive! An icy wind of 15 m / s and a frost of -15 degrees (meteorologists do not lie) did not interfere with filming at all. The clouds rushed under my feet like crazy!
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According to some researchers, the name of the peak comes from the Turkish "Mus Allah", or "place for prayer", "prayer peak", "close to Allah", and was given during the reign of the Ottoman Empire.
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Average annual temperatures: -2.9°С, average temperature February -12°С, August +5.4°С, absolute minimum temperature -31.2°С, absolute maximum temperature +18.7°С, the coldest place in Bulgaria. Musala is covered with snow on average 254 days a year. Northwest winds prevail.
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What else to add, see for yourself ...
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For the first time in my life, like this, sitting over an abyss on a pebble, we took pictures. :)
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After the daytime photoset there was a short break for strong drinks. We took with us a liter of brandy and 600 ml of medical alcohol (in Bulgaria it is sold in pharmacies without a prescription, but where the hell can you buy it). We showed the Slavic brothers the Russian way to make alcohol, which caused quite a stir. It turns out that they simply pour alcohol into water or, on the contrary, shake it and, if possible, add glycerin for softness. Our method, although more laborious, gives best result without any chemicals. Which has been proven experimentally. :) The sunset was beginning and we had to leave the friendly team for a while for an evening photo shoot.
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With a light cloud, the sunset would have been even steeper, but this one was not bad either...
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Naturally, we successfully forgot the tripod in the car, so we had to shoot it hand-held or leaning against the pebbles. A little pathetic, but these are the last rays of the sun of that day ...
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These are the best shots, in our opinion. Amazing color and light! The first time we see this in the photo. Yes, the sun has already set below the horizon.
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When the brandy and vodka were already drunk, two more liters of home-made brandy (grape moonshine) suddenly appeared on the table, and our Bulgarian friend, Dobril, suggested that we go take pictures of the night sky, "because now is the time" :) Attempts to remove the stars from hands were unsuccessful a special success, although it should be noted that among the shooters vodka is not in vain considered doping. The rest of the pictures were still taken "from a stone":
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And here is our friendly team (not at full strength, though). I look, another bottle of vodka appeared: I don’t remember that anymore ...
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The caretaker stamps our passports with the seal of the Musala station. :)
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Well, all good things come to an end quickly. By morning, the starry sky had changed to... uh, how to say, cloudy weather, but the night charge of cheerfulness and fun easily overcame the morning depression. In short, the whole crowd, except for the caretaker, we rushed down ...
Bulgaria is European state located in the northeastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. The country has interesting geographical position. Bulgaria borders Macedonia, Greece, Serbia, Turkey and Romania. It has access to the Black Sea, on its territory there are the southeastern and Danube plains, as well as the Balkan Mountains. It is about the mountain system of the country that will be discussed in this article.
Stara Planina
The length of this mountain range is 555 km. It is the longest on the peninsula. The mountains of the Balkans are ancient system Carpathians and Alps. In Bulgaria, Stara Planina stretches from the Serbian border, near the Timok River (a tributary of the Danube), to Black Sea coast(Cape Emine). Mountain heights - Derventskaya and Strandzha - are located in the southern part of the country, on the Turkish-Bulgarian border.
The highest elevations of the mountain range are located in the middle part of the Balkans. Mount Botev is the largest of them. Its height reaches 2376 meters. About 20 peaks of the central part of Stara Planina are higher than 2,000 m.
The eastern part of the ridge is lower, it loses its solidity and diverges into two parallel chains that stretch to the Black Sea coast.
The Balkan mountains are mentioned in mythical legends, as well as in historical reports. In 1877-1878, during the war of liberation, the famous crossing of the mountain system was made. Warriors made their way through snow-covered gorges and passes. At an altitude of about 1300 m in 1878 there was a great battle between the Russian and Turkish armies. The course of the battle forced Turkey to relinquish its dominance over Bulgaria. Historical event happened at the Shipka pass, which is located in the center of the mountain system.
This mountainous area serves as a kind of geoclimatic barrier that prevents cold and dry winds coming from the north and holds back warm, humid air brought from the southern part of the Balkans.
Rhodope Mountains
There is another mountain range in Bulgaria, known to many as the Rhodopes. It is located in the southwestern part of the country and has a length of about 240 km. The climate is predominantly mild in this area. The highest mountain is Golyam-Perelik. Its height is 2191 m.
Since ancient times, settlements have been built on the territory of the Rhodopes, this is due to the large number of caves. In the mountains you can find ancient monasteries, which became the center of the revival of Bulgaria. There is a legend that the famous mythical hero Orpheus hails from these places.
A special distinguishing feature of this mountain range are rocks that have an unusual shape.
Pirin mountain range
The nature of these places fascinates travelers. National park spread over southern territory Pirin, protected by UNESCO. In these places you can find rare animals and unique plants. Also, these mountains in Bulgaria have preserved a huge number of geographical relics.
From September to May inclusive, these places attract skiers from different countries, since during this period the tops of the mountain ranges are covered with snow. The largest hills are located on the territory of Pirin. The highest of them reaches 2914 m. It is called Vihren. Of the 87 mountain peaks, 60 have a height of more than 2,500 m.
Rila mountains
This mountain range is the highest on the Balkan Peninsula. Here is the highest peak in Bulgaria - Musala. Its height is 2,925 m. unusual name the mountain received from the Turks, which in translation sounds like "only God is higher."
The ancient Thracians called the area "Water Mountain", and this is not surprising, since there are more than 180 freshwater reservoirs here. The sources of such rivers as the Maritsa and the Iskar originate in the Rila Mountains. In Bulgaria it is one of the most beautiful places, therefore, in 1993 they were given the status of a reserve. The area is covered pine forests, where you can find specimens of trees whose height exceeds 60 m. Among the representatives of the animal world, you can see wolves, bears, chamois and roe deer here.
The famous ski resort Borovets is located in the Rila Mountains. Mountain peaks in this area are covered with snow throughout the autumn-winter period. This is a great time for a pleasant holiday and skiing.
The climate of the area is continental, with a significant Mediterranean influence.
The highest peak in Europe - Musala
The Rila Mountains in Bulgaria are the highest in Europe. Here is located the largest peak - Musala. At the end of World War II, more precisely in 1949, the mountain was renamed Stalin Peak, and this name was retained until 1962.
Musala refers to national reserve Rila, where the rarest species of trees and other plants grow. Here you can find Macedonian pine and Bulgarian spruce.
The resort town of Borovets is located on the territory of the mountain range, which attracts many tourists who prefer winter holidays. Length ski slopes is 40 km. In total, 18 tracks operate on the territory of the resort. All of them are equipped with special lifts and funiculars. In an hour, they are able to serve ten thousand passengers.
For lovers of hiking in the mountains, a route to the top is provided. Tourists will have to overcome about 10 km of the way. The duration of the ascent will be approximately 7 hours. On the mountain are tourist bases which can be reached by a specially equipped elevator. This is a cabin lift that takes travelers to their destination, at an altitude of 1790 and 2362 meters, where the camp sites are located.
The distance from Mount Musala to Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is about 80 km.
natural phenomenon
Nature never ceases to amaze us with its masterpieces. One such phenomenon is the Belogradchik Rocks in Bulgaria. This extraordinary landscape has been created by nature over millions of years.
The rocks are spread out near the locality in Vidinskaya region. Their length is 30 km. Under the influence of natural elements over many millions of years, the rock has acquired bizarre forms. These statues stretch into the sky for tens of meters. Each rock has its own name. There is "Madonna", "Gemini", "Adam and Eve", etc.
In ancient times, the rocks were used as protection, but now huge crowds of tourists come here to admire the natural masterpieces.
Shipka pass
Mount Shipka is not as high as other peaks of the Balkan Mountains, but this place has historical meaning. It was here that the turning point in the Russian-Turkish war took place. The height of the mountain is 1326 m. The original name of the peak is Sveti Nikolay. But since the communist party ruled in Bulgaria in the last century, the country's leadership decided to rename the mountain. In 1954, it was named Stoletov Peak, in honor of the general who led the defense of the Shipka Pass. The last renaming took place in 1977, after which the mountain was named Shipka.
The Shipka Pass in Bulgaria is one of the most important routes that connect the northern and southern parts of the country.
Today, the peak itself and the surroundings closest to it belong to national park. A monument erected in 1934 rises above the mountain. It is dedicated to the liberators of Bulgaria and symbolizes freedom.
Mount Malovitsa
Mountains in Bulgaria are famous for their ski resorts. Tourists come here from different European countries, including from Russia. Mount Malovitsa belongs to the Rila mountain range. This is one of the favorite places for tourists. Its height is 2729 m. The resort is located 92 km from Sofia, and 40 km from Malovitsa is the town of Borovets.
Those who love active winter holidays should come to these places from December to April. The climate here is temperate, continental. All routes have the necessary conditions for skiing. Paths are marked on the mountain, along which climbers can climb to the top as comfortably as possible. Mountain slopes are equipped with special ski lifts. But if you want to climb the mountain on foot, keep in mind that the climb will take at least 3 hours.
Surprisingly located near the resort beautiful lake Terrible, the water in which has an unusual emerald color.
Vitosha Planina
Not far from Sofia is Mount Vitosha, which can be seen directly from the city itself. This peak is a kind of symbol of the Bulgarian capital. Her image can be seen on the emblem of the city of Sofia.
The surroundings of the mountain belong to the national reserve, the territory of which exceeds 26 thousand hectares. The nature of these places surprises with its richness. There are more than 2700 varieties of plants here. The tourism industry is very well developed. Excursions are organized daily, both on foot and climbing. Vitosha is known to many tourists because of the very long cave. At the top of the mountain, snow lies for about 150 days a year, so this perfect place for active winter holiday. 18 km from Sofia is the famous ski center"Aleko".
60% of the territory of Bulgaria is occupied by mountains and hilly areas. The mountains are very diverse and are part of the Alpine-Himalayan chain, which includes mountain systems on two continents - Europe and Asia. The mountains are accessible in all four seasons of the year and provide unlimited opportunities for recreation, sports and tourism. The highest mountain in Bulgaria and the Balkan Peninsula is Rila with Musala peak - 2925 m. In total, there are more than 30 peaks in Bulgaria with a height of more than 1000 m and 8 peaks between 2000 and 3000 m above sea level.
Most of Bulgaria is in mountainous areas which favored the development ski tourism, and the presence of many warm mineral springs- balneology.
The Balkans or Staraya Platna is the longest mountain range on the peninsula, after which it is named. This chain belongs to the system of the Alps and the Carpathians. It extends from the Serbian border, located near the Timok River, which flows into the Danube, to the Black Sea (Cape Emine). In its western part, at the top of Shchipka, Staraya Planina rises to altitudes between 1,500 and 2,376 m (at the top of Botva). The Balkans have deep tuples in the river Iskar.
The southern slope of Staraya Planina is relatively steep, and the opposite one, the northern one, smoothly descends to the Danube Plain. The peaks are covered with abundant vegetation: pastures on mountain ranges, forests, among which beech trees predominate.
Thanks to the natural protective conditions of the relief, at the foot of the Balkans was the cradle of the first two Bulgarian kingdoms: Pliska, Prospav and Tarnovo. Using local heights and ruggedness of places, impregnable fortresses. In the future, the fire of national self-consciousness continues to burn in the Balkans - this is a place of resistance, the struggle for independence. It, like the peak of Shipka, will remain sacred and heroic in our history, a symbol of the struggle against Turkish slavery.
Today, in the wilds of the Balkans, there are numerous balneological centers: Berkovitsa, Etropole, Teteven, Troyan, Kotel.
To the south - the Middle Mountain - the Central Massif, located parallel to Staraya Planina. Its highest peak is Bogdan (1604 m). Its slopes descend evenly gently to the Thracian Plain. Between Srednaya Gora and the Balkans, the valley of the Tundzha River stretches from west to east. This is the famous Rose Valley, the main center of which is the city of Kazanlak.
The Strandzha and Vitosha mountains belong to the same tectonic age, the latter rises from the southwestern side of Sofia and is a natural continuation Middle Mountain over the Pancherevskaya ridge. From here, the Iskar and Struma rivers originate. The highest point of Vitosha is Black Top (2290 m). Vitosha turned into national park and is a desirable place for tourism and recreation. With its diverse flora, it attracts nature lovers all year round. Vitosha is called the “lungs” of the capital.
Strandzha stretches southeast from the Tundzha River almost to Istanbul. Most of it is in Turkey. The Strandzha massif is considered old tectonic (formed in ancient times). Its tops are not very high and rounded.
The Rhodopes are the widest mountain range in Bulgaria. In the north and east they border on the valley of the Maritsa River, in the west - on the Mesta River. To the south, a part of Roden is in Greek territory. The most high peak– Golyam Pernik (Big Pernik) – 2191m.
Two other mountains are located to the west of the Mesta and Struma rivers and are closely connected with the Rhodope massif. First of all, this is Rila. Majestically rises its peak Moussam (2925 m), which is the most high point on the Balkan Peninsula. With its steep slopes covered with snow all year round, its magnificent nature and climate, the interest that the Rila Monastery arouses hidden in its bowels, Rila enchants and attracts its many lovers and tourists.
