Velingrad: Kleptuza, Mineral Water and Museum

Velingrad is located in the Chepino Basin in the western part of the Rhodopes. Kleptuza, a karst spring with a flow rate of 600 to 1,200 liters per second, is in the Chepino district. Kleptuza Park has two lakes of the same name; the first was created in 1933.

Mineral Water and Landscape

The official extraction flow rate for the mineral waters from Velingrad’s three deposits—Chepino, Ladzhene and Kamenitsa—as well as the deposit in the village of Draginovo is 124.28 liters per second; temperatures range from 25 to 97.3 °C. Velingrad’s mineral water is hyperthermal, weakly mineralized and bicarbonate-sulfate-sodium; it also contains fluoride, silicic acid and radon.

The marble outcrops between Beglika and the Chepino district are also of great tourist value. They add a distinct geological theme to the waterscape.

History and Culture at the Museum

The Velingrad Historical Museum has four permanent exhibitions: a memorial exhibition about Vela Peeva in her birthplace, the ethnographic exhibition “The Mountains—A Hospitable Home,” an exhibition of painted Easter eggs, and an exhibition about Nikolay Gyaurov, the great bass singer. The subjects range from personal remembrance and folklore to crafts and music.

The museum also preserves and researches more than 19,000 archaeological finds, objects from everyday life in the past, icons, old printed works, personal belongings and archives of well-known figures, as well as photographs and documents. The museum also offers visitors a workshop on decorating Easter eggs with wax.

Hiking, Cycling and Yundola

Yundola has ski runs with lifts. In summer, the coniferous forests around Yundola, near Velingrad, are ideal for walks and hikes. Hiking routes from Yundola lead to Mount Belmeken in the Rila Mountains and Mount Chernovets in the Western Rhodopes. Belmeken is 2,626 meters high and Chernovets 1,834 meters; the two destinations therefore differ both in elevation and in mountain range.

The Chapel of St. Petka stands in a meadow in the center of Yundola. It is an important stop for tourists visiting holy sites in this part of the Rhodopes and was built with the support of the local forestry administration and donors.

Six cycling routes start and end in Velingrad. One runs via the peaks of Strazha, Kaleto and Vrani Kamak, as well as Draginovo; another via Peyova Polyana, the Kladova hut, Mount Arapchal and Lokvata. Other routes run via Yundola and Lokvata, and via Kachakov Chark, Pashino Burdo and Tsigov Chark. The remaining two lead via Avramovo railway station, Mount Veliytsa and the Sofandere forestry post, and via the access to Lepenitsa Cave, Removo, Blattsa and Brezi.

The route from Velingrad to “Stariyat Chark” is listed as taking one hour. Check trail conditions and markings locally before hiking.

Getting Your Bearings

The Septemvri–Dobrinishte narrow-gauge railway line runs through Velingrad. Today it carries passengers only; in the past, it also transported goods. If you plan to include the train in your itinerary, check the timetable in advance.

At the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Information Center in Freedom Square, you can get information about attractions and accommodation in Velingrad.

Discover more destinations: Sarnitsa, Pobit Kamak, Yundola, Bratzigovo, Pazardjik, Lesichovo, Strelcha, Rakitovo.

For the regional travel overview: Pazardzhik Province.