Rural Tourism in Bulgaria

The varied scenery, proven ecological factors, peace and quiet of the Bulgarian village are sufficient prerequisites for active holidays and relaxation in an unusual environment.
All four seasons are suitable for rural tourism . Each season has its own fascination and holds unexpected surprises for today's urbanized man. If you want to immerse yourself in a domestic atmosphere, lifestyle and customs, you will no doubt want to get a taste of a farmer's daily chores. Farm work never ends: the land needs to be tilled, the harvest gathered, the hey mowed and stacked, the cattle grazed and the cows milked. Dairy products such as butter, cheese and yoghurt are still made at home according to old technologies, fruit and vegetables are grown, herbs and mushrooms picked, etc. There is also plenty to do inside the home: cooking according to traditional recipes, embroidery, knitting. Depending on interest and possibilities, anyone is able to experience something new and make his dreams come true.
Rural homes combine traditional furnishings with modern comforts and radiate coziness and warmth. The friendly hosts welcome their guests with the famous Bulgarian hospitality . The days are filled with good mood and unforgettable experiences. Suitable places for rural tourism and different programmes are offered in the Bulgarian mountains: Pirin, the Rhodopes, the Balkan Range and Strandja.

Situated in environmentally clean regions, unaffected of the industrial progress, with opened doors to share their folklore, local cuisine, old crafts and rituals - the typical Bulgarian village atmosphere could be experienced in Bozhenzi, Arbanassi, Kovachevitza, Zheravna, Leshten, Shiroka Luka, Bistrilitza, etc.

Bozhenzi is 600 years-old architectural and historical reserve - an idyllic village nested in the Balkan Mountain. It is situated 16 km from the town of Gabrovo, which time seems to have lulled to sleep centuries ago. The shutters of the workshops have been closed, the blacksmiths have stopped hammering, the hearths have gone out. The well in the square, the wax workshop and the St. Elija Church are almost 200 years old. Until the end of the 19-th century Bozhentsi has been an economic, administrative, educational and spiritual center for the surrounding villages. Nowadays there are about 100 houses there, which were built 100 – 250 years ago.

Arbanassi is another architectural reserve with monasteries and churches, containing unique murals and icons, as well as with monumental houses which resemble minor fortresses but behind the solid walls you will discover carved ceilings, colourful rugs and cushions, silver and ceramic utensils. There are 80 preserved houses, of which 36 have been declared monuments of culture - the Konstantsaliev, the Hadjiiliev, the Hadjikostov, the Chamourov, the Kandilarov and the Lechev houses. Arbanassi is situated 247 km from Sofia, 223 from Varna and 5 km from Veliko Tarnovo – just on the hill next to Tzarevetz Palace.

The quaint architectural style of building in the village of Kovachevitza has not been changed since the founding of the village - only stone and wood. Kovachevitza has served as historical stage for the shooting of numerous films. Picturesque canyons, a crystal-clear river, thick forests, cool peaks offering breath-taking views - this will take you back to long-forgotten past. The village of Kovachevitza is nested 1050m above sea level in the remotest south-western corner of the Rhodopes Mountain. Nearby winds the Kanina River, renown for its three deep ponds. Its narrow, cobble-stone streets, the tall white-facade houses with stone-slab roofs are a unique example of the Bulgarian architectural genius.

Nearby is situated another very well preserved village – Leshten . 15 of the 30 houses in the village are rentable and the other half is used for taverns and by the local people. The architecture is in the typical old style representing the authentic atmosphere. There is a variety of holiday opportunities - fishing, riding, mountain drives and other.

The Shiroka Luka is an architectural and ethnographical reserve, located in the valley of the Shirokolushka River and 20 km north-west from Smolyan. 910 people live there. The oldest houses date back to the beginning of the 19 century. The houses vary in design by the introduction of overhanging bays and forthcoming protrusions. These resemble fortresses - the ground floors of economic importance are built of stone, levelled by means of wooden girdles (santrachi); topmost one will see the residential quarters - glazed, with protruding bays, white-washed and framed in wood. The roofs are stone-tiled, and the chimneys - of original multiform design. There is a very famous musical school teaching national instruments.

The village of Zheravna is situated in the eastern part of the country, in the middle of the eastern part and at the southern slope of the Balkan Mountains. Zheravna is one of the best places to spend your vacation. Here one could find absolute eco purity, silence, rural atmosphere and interesting landmarks. Excursions, picnics, fishing, hunting, photo tourism and cave tourism are possible there. The village has 330 houses and 550 inhabitants. It is at an altitude of 640 meters above sea level. The most elevated peak is "Razboina" - 1128 meters above sea level. The distance between Zheravna and the beaches of Black sea is only 110 km (90 minutes by car).

Bulgaria’s potential for further development of this type of recreation.