Smolyan

 

Smolyan municipality is situated in the central south of Bulgaria, in the heart of the Rhodope Mountains. The municipal center Smolyan is 250 km away from the capital Sofia, and 100 km south from the second biggest city - Plovdiv and the charter flight airport in its vicinity. The town lies along Cherna River and includes four bigger districts - Ustovo, Raikovo, Smolyan and Ezerovo. The town is notable for the modern architecture in the New center area, harmoniously merging traditional and contemporary style with the landscape around.

Another attractive place for citizens and guests it the renovated pedestrian and commercial of the town. In the Star hall of the biggest Planetarium in Bulgaria - the one in Smolyan - year-round astronomical performances in Bulgarian and 6 foreign languages are offered.
The architectural reserve "Cheshitska mahala" is a complex of buildings constructed in Bulgarian Revival period architecture. That is the only place of the town where you can understand why the local masons were famous all over the southern Bulgaria and Aegean Thrace. Do not miss to visit the traditional complex "Konaka" in the Gorno Raikovo district, where you will have the chance to taste typical Rhodope dishes.

 

Traditions
Rhodope people value and are proud with the local handicrafts. The famous "100 bagpipes" orchestra, the State Folklore Performance Arts Ensemble "Rhodopa", the Youth Folklore Performance Arts Ensemble "Orpheus", as well as the numerous amateurs folklore groups preserve the traditions and promote the richness of the Rhodope folklore across Bulgaria and abroad. Photo

 

Handy crafts
In the past Smolyan was a famous craft center In the IX century the copper-smiths of Ustovo district have furbished the homes of Bulgarians all over the country, their trade expanded to the cities of Edirne and Xanthi. Nowadays the tradition of the coppersmiths and the blacksmiths is still alive. Momchilovtsi is a center of woodcarving, Mogilitsa -of the production of manually carved wine vessels - baklitsi. Almost in every settlement in the municipality there are women who still process wool and weave fabriks, as well as the popular long fleece rugs. However, they can only be witnessed in Smolyan, Shiroka Laka, Mogilitsa and Momchilovtsi, in the local handicrafts demonstration centers.

People of Smolyan
In spite of the fast pace of contemporary life, people in Smolyan find some time for socializing and walks in the renovated pedestrian area of the town. The number of the population of the municipality is 48 978 inhabitants, two thirds of whom live in the municipal center - the town of Smolyan. About 6000 students study in the divisions of Varna Free University and Plovdiv University "Paisii Hilendarski". Six professional high schools, three - general, a high school in natural sciences and mathematics, a foreign languages school, and a National school in folklore arts in Shiroka Laka make the municipality an educational center of Smolyan Region.

 

Business
Priority branch is the tourism development, with the whole product range and services to secure a year-round tourism offer. The accents in winter are ski and snowboard sports and over the summer season- mountain trekking, biking and adventure tourism. At present the capacity of accommodation facilities in the municipality has risen to 3149 beds in total.

Administration
The Smolyan Local Government is modernizing its administration to meet new requirements for the public institutions. The citizens and business receive "one-stop shop" services through the front offices of administrative departments. Recognition of the work of the municipality is the "Twinning star" award presented to the municipality in 2000 for the partnership with the German town Suhl. Smolyan has partnership relations with Xanthi Municipality-Greece, Municipality of Pendik,Istanbul - Turkey, Eilat - Israel, Xuchang-China, Sluik-Belarus, Belts-Moldova, the Kispest Region, Budapest-Hungary and Martinsicuro-Italy.

Nature
Within the Central Rhodopes Region 100 protected sights have been registered. One of them is Soskovcheto Reserve established in 1968 in order to preserve the unique floral biodiversity. For those preferring mountain hiking, there is an eco-trail - "The Waterfalls Canyon". The trail crosses amongst the spruce-forest of the reserve and opens up numerous places to beautiful panorama sights towards the town.

 

 

Adventures
Those who enjoy nature may opt for the eco- and tourist mountain trails in the area for walking and speleo tourism in the upper Arda River Valley, the region of the villages Stoikite, Shiroka Laka and Gela, or the area of Momchilovtsi village and Haidushki polyani. Those seeking adventure and challenge have the option to practice sports like rock climbing, mountain biking and penetration in wild caves. Special equipment and qualified guides can be booked through the Tourist Information Centre of Smolyan Municipality:

тел: 0301/ 62530
e-mail: toursmolyan@abv.bg

 

Програма "Туризъм" 2005
Община Смолян