What Smolyan is known for

Situated in Southern Bulgaria, the town of Smolyan is nestled in the heart of the Middle Rhodopes. The town sprawls across a portion of the Cherna River valley, giving it the name "Black River." There are several sights to visit in the city. One of them is the Old Houses Architectural Complex in the Cheshitska Quarter. This historic quarter, part of Raykovo Housing Estate, is known for its houses built after 1835, including semi-detached houses. Cheshitevs' Semi-Detached House, constructed in the late 19th century, serves as an example of this style. Gyordzhev's House, built in 1873, served the needs of a craftsman's family. It was initially owned by Raycho Gyordzhev, a wool producer. The house was donated to the Smolyan History Museum in 1984 and has since hosted an exhibition dedicated to Hungarian poet Laszlo Nagi. Smolyan is also home to the Stoyu Shishkov Regional History Museum, offering insights into the region's history. The town boasts Bulgaria's largest planetarium with an astronomical observatory, while the most prominent Orthodox temple in Southern Bulgaria, named after Vissarion of Smolyan, was consecrated in 2006. Nature enthusiasts can explore Smolyan Lakes, which features 7 of the original 20 lakes suitable for camping and fishing. Nearby, the Nevyastata Eco-Trail leads to Nevyastata Rock, a symbol of Smolyan. Soskovcheto Reserve and the Waterfall Canyon Eco-Trail offer hikes and cross-water cascades with provided resting spots.[7]

For outdoor enthusiasts, the Yagodina Cave can be found in the Smolyan Province, serving as a natural and historical site. This labyrinthine cave extends for 10.5 kilometers across three levels, with the third level being open to visitors. A 1,250-meter path has been created for tourists, accessible via artificially excavated tunnels. The cave's formations include a variety of stalactites, stalagmites, sinter lakes, draperies, helictites, and the unique cave pearls. Among the many formations, some resemble characters such as Santa Claus, Snow White, and the Seven Dwarfs. One of the cave's features is an Eneolithic dwelling from the fourth millennium BC, discovered at its natural entrance. Yagodina Cave is also known for its biodiversity, housing various species of bats, cave grasshoppers, spiders, and unique troglobites. The cave is an essential site for bats during the summer and autumn months.[8] Another one, Devil's Throat Cave, is located 17 kilometers from Devin in the Western Rhodopes. The cave entrance is parallel to the cave's name, as it resembles a devil's head, with a waterfall plunging down its throat. This formation creates the highest underground waterfall on the Balkan Peninsula. The cave descends vertically without branches, and the water from the Trigrad River flows through, disappearing into a funnel before emerging in another cavern and flowing out among the mountain peaks through another cave. Visitors can explore the cave via an artificial gallery with 301 steps that descend alongside the waterfall, offering views of the cavern and its carvings.[9]

Geography

Smolyan Region showcases physical geography diversity, mainly due to its coverage of the Western Rhodopes. The landscape is predominantly mountainous, shaping various aspects of regional development, including socio-economics, settlements, and infrastructure. The region is reportedly abundant in mineral resources such as lead-zinc ores, notably in the Madan, Nedelino, and Mikhalkovo ore fields, along with fluorite, granite, and syenite. Flowing through the area are the Arda, Vacha, and Chepelarska Reka rivers, while the Smolyan lakes and thermal mineral springs near Devin, Mikhalkovo, Beden, and Banite serve as water sources. The local flora features deciduous trees in lower elevations and coniferous trees in higher mountain areas. In terms of weather conditions, Smolyan has a predominantly mountainous topography. However, it is a transitional Mediterranean in the south-eastern parts of the region.[4]

The Rhodopes, the most extensive mountain range in Bulgaria, primarily in its southern part and partly extending into Greece, features Golyam Perelik as its highest peak, towering at 2,191 meters. This region is known for the Rodope montane mixed forests ecoregion, characterized by temperate broadleaf and mixed forests. Its karst terrain includes river gorges, caves, and geological formations such as the Trigrad Gorge. The Western Rhodopes, constituting 66% of the Bulgarian Rhodopes, are the tallest, most developed, and most visited part of the range, hosting prominent peaks, including Golyam Perelik, Shirokolashki Snezhnik, Golyam Persenk, Batashki Snezhnik, and Turla. The area features rock phenomenon called Wonderful Bridges and notable bodies of water, and a few that are typically mentioned are Chaira lakes, Dospat, Batak, Shiroka Polyana, Golyam Beglik, and Tsigov Chark dams. Tourists flock to the region's attractions, such as the town of Batak, popular centers including Smolyan, Velingrad, Devin, Chepelare, the winter resort Pamporovo, Bachkovo Monastery, Asen dynasty's fortress ruins, and the aforementioned caves of Devil's Throat and Yagodinska.[5] The Rhodope Mountains' biodiversity results from its diverse climate and soil conditions. This region houses over 2,000 plant species, 90 of which are unique to the Balkan Peninsula. The deciduous tree population is prominent, and one can find oak, hornbeam, durmast, wild pear, beech, and ash trees growing. In the western part of the mountain, people can find coniferous species such as spruce, white pine, and black pine. Wolves, wild boars, brown bears, and Balkan Chamois are a few mammals that inhabit the area. The Rhodopes also host a diverse array of ladybirds, with over 200 species. Additionally, the area is home to the largest populations of Griffon vultures and Egyptian vultures on the Balkan Peninsula.[6]

History

The earliest archaeological findings in the Smolyan municipality's region date back to around 13 BC, marking the end of the Bronze Age. Over the next two thousand years, the ancient authors regarded the Rhodope Mountains as a sacred Thracian mountain, believed to be the birthplace of Orpheus. During this period, various sanctuaries, mound necropolises, and a unique flat necropolis were established. Around 4 to 5 AD, the Thracian population of the Rhodopes converted to Christianity, evidenced by the presence of early basilicas dating from the 7th to 9th centuries. This period also witnessed the formation of the Bulgarian identity in the region. After the fall of the Bulgarian kingdom and Ottoman rule, the Middle Rhodope area was granted to the court physician Aha Chelebi by a sultan's decree in 1519. This led to the area being referred to as Ahachelebi. In Ottoman documents from around the 17th century, the settlement was mentioned as Ezerovo and later underwent several name changes, including Bashmakla, Pashmakla, and Pashmakli, which persisted until 1934. On January 17, 1878, the Cossack cavalry brigade under General Cherevin entered the town, and seven months later, the Berlin Treaty of August 1, 1878, led to the dissolution of Bulgaria as established in the San Stefano Treaty.[1] However, in 1912, during the First Balkan War, the region was liberated by the 21st Sredna Gora Regiment under the leadership of Vladimir Serafimov. The present-day town of Smolyan was created through the amalgamation of three preexisting villages, namely Ustovo, Raykovo, and Ezerovo, in 1960.[2]

Today, Smolyan is the highest town in Bulgaria, perched at an elevation of 1,000 meters above sea level. This town serves as a hub for local agriculture, timber production, and, in recent years, mining activities. Its surroundings encompass forests, lakes, and highlands.[3]