Rhodope Mountains

A spectacular cave, the third longest one in the country, ranking 89 in the list of Bulgaria's most significant landmarks. The part of the cave with its marvellous stalactites and stalagmites that is open for tourism is 1,100 m long with electric illumination. Tours take about 45 min and take place every hour. Not far from The Yagodina Cave there is a natural bridge, and close to the bridge is the beautiful Praskolo waterfall.

A blend of 46 isolated waterfalls. The tour takes 3–4 hr, depending on physical condition. It is not particularly difficult but also not easy. Sometimes it is steep uphill, but you do not have to climb. Anyone who has no health problems can go the way. The waterfalls themselves are not really spectacular, but the view from the panorama point Eurike to Smolyan is worth seeing. The route could be better signposted in some places. The best way to get information is to go to the Information center at the beginning of the forest trail. It’s recommended to visit the Canyon of Waterfalls in early summer when the water levels are at their peak.

The fortress was built in the 10th century to protect an important trade route. It frequently changed hands but the Byzantines held it most of the time. The trail to the fortress is quite difficult and takes about 1 hr but the views from this fortress are breathtaking.

The fortress was built during the reign of Emperor Justinian I (527-565) who launched massive military construction projects on the territory of the entire Balkan Peninsula. It was burnt down later and reconstructed until the invasion of the Ottomans at the end of the 14th century. At that time it was burnt down again and was never reconstructed.

The prehistoric settlement and Thracian sanctuary. This ancient temple dates from the 5th millennium BC. According to archaeologists, it is one of the largest in Bulgaria and possibly in Europe. The sanctuary is on an approximately 700-m long ridge. In some places there are petroglyphs of human profiles, animal figures, fish, turtles and birds.

Hisarya, a Thracian cult, is located on the Hisarya ridge in eastern Rhodope near the village of Senoklas. The archaeological site includes a Thracian cult center with rock sanctuary, rock niches, rare rock suns and the ruins of a large Thracian and medieval fortress.

The Deaf Stones Rock Sanctuary is one of the largest Thracian cult monuments. It consists of several large boulders, in which deep chambers are carved. In the boulder in the east, a staircase has been carved, which leads to the summit. The remaining three rocky peaks are dotted with more than 200 religious niches.

(Karadzhov Kamak) is an interesting rock phenomenon near the village Mostovo. On a high plateau (1,448 m), a gaping fugue has formed on its vertical walls, in which a huge stone is stuck, as if displaced by higher forces there. Since antiquity, this place has been something special for the people - the ancient Thracians built a sanctuary here in which they honored their dead. To this day, small pits cut into the rock for religious purposes have been preserved, as well as steps leading to the upper part of the massif.

An archaeological site with monumental megalithic structures, dating back from the Bronze Age and is considered to be the largest megalithic archaeological site in all of Bulgaria.

The Thracian sanctuary is one of the most imposing megalithic monuments discovered on the territory of Bulgaria. The sanctuary is a massive rock structure and its top is a truncated pyramid. The complex comprises two sarcophagi, a rectangular bed for the main altar, and a 3-m-deep well. It dates back to the end of the 5th and the beginning of the 4th centuries BC.

Turtle-like reliefs, cut in the rocks by an ancient culture. Largest is 7x5 m.

This Thracian megalith, the Womb Cave (Cult complex “Utroba cave” Тракийско светилище Пещера Утроба) is located near village of Ilinica. The temple is shaped like the opening to a vagina. It leads into a 22-m deep cave. At the end of the cave, a carved altar (1.3 m in height) symbolises the womb itself. At midday as the sun approaches its highest point, the sun light seeps into the cave through a special opening in the ceiling and projects a perfectly recognisable representation of a phallus onto the floor. As the sun progresses further, and the light slants across the interior of the cave, the phallus grows longer, reaching out to the womb altar. Only during some months of the year, when the sun is lowest on the horizon, the phallus becomes long enough to reach the altar and symbolically fecundate the womb. A well marked tourist route exists through Enchec village and around 300 m after mountain cottage “Borovica”. The way to the cave includes around an hour of walking up. The path is steep but with three big alcoves and a shelter right under the cleft of the cliff. Local people know the place as Dangardak kaya (The echoing stone). Today childless couples visit the Womb cave to gain a long-awaited child.

A historic Thracian site near Ardino and consists of niches cut into a large rock standing above the forest. The site was obviously of religious significance. This Thracian phenomenon, the "trapezoid alcoves" are found all over the Rhodopes dug high in difficult to reach rocks. There is no definite answer as to how or why the Thracian people made them. The Orlovi skali (Eagles' Rocks) site carries about 100 insections. From Ardino an asphalted road takes you to a small parking at the start of a trail. It takes about 15 min of moderate intensity walk to get there.

A little lake 600 m from the road with waterfall. Good for resting and taking a cold bath in the lake. From the main road you branch at the signpost and follow the dirt road for about 300 m to a parking space. There you cross the little river walking over a bridge of tree trunks. The waterfall is about 500 m inland passing an animal shelter. The waterfall is not at the river that you had to cross! There are banks and tables where you can make picnics. All litter has to be taken back as there is no litter service.

A scenic waterfall near the village Dipotama.

Hot thermal springs of 80°C. In illegally built corrugated iron huts, some of which are open, you can take a hot bath.

The monastery is worth a visit, especially because of the scenic location. It is located next to the village Prasinada.

1) Take the Plovdiv-Borino bus to Teshel junction. 2) Hike/hitch up the road to Trigrad Gorge. 3) Stay overnight in Trigrad. 4) Hike to the Devil's Canyon and Bridge (rock formation), by Iagodina village and the Eagle's Eye viewpoint. 5) Hike to Zmeitsa village. 6) Visit the Small Devil's Bridge, 2 km towards Dospat from the village. 7) Hitch a ride to Dospat.

A village close to Gotse Delchev on the border with Pirin. Known for its mineral springs for centuries and is a popular spa destination with many hotels and guest houses. Miroto is entrance-free and accessible anytime, even at night.

A village under the northern slopes of the Western Rhodopes, close to Pazardzhik. There are 2 hot outside pools there—in Varvara Complex and another one in Aqua Varvara hotel.

Spa village in the middle of the Razlog Valley between Rila, Pirin, and the Western Rhodopes, close to Bansko. Numerous mineral springs and almost every hotel offers mineral water in a beautiful nature. Hot mineral water is also pouring from several fountains around the village.

In thermal springs there are no special facilities, just natural baths in dirty homemade corrugated iron huts but nice surroundings