Smolyan Province: Nature and Culture of the Rhodopes

Smolyan Province is in southern Bulgaria, in the central part of the Rhodopes. When planning your trip, you can focus on different aspects: protected landscapes, mountain trails, folklore, museums and regional cuisine. The attractions are spread across different locations and offer practical ideas for tailoring your trip to your interests.

Landscapes: lakes, a gorge and caves

Near Trigrad lies the Chair Lakes protected area, with seven lakes formed by landslides. The Trigrad Gorge is also a protected area. Its many caves include the Devil’s Throat Cave and Haramiya Cave. These offer two distinct natural highlights: landslide-formed lakes and a gorge with caves.

Hiking and other trails

Several tourist trails of varying lengths, all well marked, pass through Trigrad. There are also cycling and horse-riding trails nearby, as well as an equestrian center. More than 20 hiking, cycling and horse-riding routes lead from the villages of Smilyan, Mogilitsa and Arda to scenic destinations. From Shiroka Laka, several mountain hiking trails reach the highest parts of the Rhodopes and natural attractions such as Lednitsa Cave and the Momata rock formation. When choosing a route, consider its starting point and how you want to travel; check availability and trail markings locally.

A marked eco-trail begins on the Smolyan–Pamporovo road near the arch of the Sveti Panteleimon Monastery and leads to the Nevyastata rock formation and Turluka. It is less than one kilometer long and has rest areas, panoramic platforms and information boards about the plant and animal life of the Rhodopes. In Zlatograd, the Sveta Nedelya trail starts at the Vodenitsa or Tepavitsa water mill and ends at the 865-meter-high Sv. Nedelya peak.

Villages, folklore and museums

Shiroka Laka is designated an architectural and folklore reserve and is known for traditional Rhodope houses, such as the Zgurovska, Uchikovska and Grigorovska houses. Every year on the first Sunday in March, the village hosts the international Kukeri festival “Pesponedelnik.” Check the exact date for your travel year. The National School of Folklore Arts “Shiroka Laka” trains singers, dancers and musicians in Bulgarian folk arts.

The Rhodope Karst Museum in Chepelare is considered unique in the Balkans. It displays minerals and crystals, a leopard’s lower jaw, and a reconstructed cave bear skeleton measuring 4.5 meters tall. In Zlatograd, the Ethnographic Area Complex is an open-air museum with an ethnographic museum, craft workshops and an exhibition on water-powered machinery. The two places offer distinct highlights: Chepelare focuses on natural finds and a reconstructed skeleton, while Zlatograd features ethnographic collections and crafts.

Cuisine, festivals and thermal springs

At the “Pri Vodenitsata” tavern in Zlatograd, visitors can try Zlatograd specialties: kachamak made from freshly milled flour, patatnik and klin. Check locally to see what is currently on the menu. Since 2003, the village of Smilyan has hosted the Smilyan Bean Festival every year on the last weekend of November. It is also worth checking the exact date for your chosen year.

The mineral springs in Devin have water temperatures ranging from 16°C to 76°C. Devin is a well-known spa resort with modern hotels and luxury spa centers. If you choose a particular hotel for its wellness facilities, check the specific services offered: individual facilities may change.

Winter and historic sites

The Chepelare ski center has 20 kilometers of ski slopes and routes of varying lengths and difficulty. They are considered suitable for beginners and advanced skiers, as well as snowboarders. Since slope infrastructure and operations are seasonal, check the status for your planned travel dates.

At Momchilova Fortress, visitor services include guided tours. Visitors can also mint their own souvenir coin using a smithing press. As visitor services may vary seasonally, check what is available before making plans.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Nedelino, Smolyan, Pamporovo, Gela, Devin, Polkovnik Serafimovo, Chepelare, Zlatograd, Zlatograd, Madan, Mogilitsa, Borino, Smolyan, Banite, Chepelare, Dospat, Rudozem, Bosilkovo, Bilyanska, Devin.

For the main travel overview: Bulgaria.