Bulgaria Inside

One of the youngest towns in Bulgaria is called Smolyan. It is hidden in the folds of the Rhodope Mountain. The town expands over kilometers.

Smolyan became a town in 1960. Ezerovo, Raikovo and Oustovo villages joined into one and have now turned into three of Smolyan’s districts. Though it is young, the town has centuries of history connected to its development. The region keeps memories of Thracian times, Slavic tribes and Bulgarian conquest.

Today Smolyan has turned into a beautiful spot. Work on the city center ended only 20 years ago. It brags impressive architecture and contemporary looks. Smolyan might be the only town in the country, where all the buildings have been set up following unified style.

If you are into landmarks, make sure you have at least two days to explore Smolyan. The town and the surrounding region feature several must-sees.

To explore the city, you will need a guide and a car since the landmarks have been scattered over a distance of 10 km.

Each residential district has something to offer. Ezerovo, today named Smolyan, has several revival-style houses among which Meramovata, Sarievi’s and Prisadov. The arched bridge over Cherna River was constructed in the beginning of the 18th century.

Smolyan’s planetarium is the biggest in the country. It hosts lectures in various languages. The history museum there features a rich collection of 150 000 objects. The town’s art gallery shows several thousand paintings and sculptures.

Raikovo district has an important architecture monument from 1860, Pangalovata house. An old fountain has a carving that mentioned the settlement long time ago. The district also has various interesting revival houses.

A craftsmen’s street is located in Oustovo district. Hadzhiivanova, Sheremeteva, Takova and Hadzhichonova house can be seen there. The district’s church is called St. Nikola and is famous for its wall paintings and architecture.

Smolyan has numerous other landmarks among which museums, houses and ancient remains. Various natural phenomena can be seen in the region surrounding the town. Nevyastata is an interesting rock formation. The caves that are near the city include Ouhlovitsa, Nadarska, Kaleto and Goloubovitsa. Smilyan is a village near Smolyan that has become famous for the type of beans grown and cooked there. Mlechen Dom dairy house functions in Smilyan. The village offers accommodation opportunities and prices are moderate.

Pamporovo ski resort is situated 12 km away from Smolyan. Snezhanka peak’s tower was constructed high above.

Some of the most beautiful villages in Bulgaria, among which Gela, Shiroka Luka and Stoikite, are located in Smolyan’s vicinities. The town of Chepelare is also there.