Chepelare

Immersed in greenery and flowers, the mountain town of Chepelare is situated along the two banks of the river Chaya. Its primeval forest with the sound of the Rhodope songs, alpine pastures and clear river waters, all keep the spirit of the ancient Rhodopes. The present settlement was founded in 1705 when Belyo Kehaya decided to build a house here. The municipality is situated at an average altitude of 1,150 meters and on an area of 375 square meters. The municipal center is located 230 km from Sofia residents, Plovdiv residents must travel 80 km to Chepelare, and 10 km is the distance to the resort Pamporovo. Only 100 kilometers from the town, by the newly built highway, is Greece.

The local climate is temperate continental with four distinct seasons - spring, summer, autumn and winter. Chepelare is the sunniest town in Bulgaria - 270 days a year. To the delight of lovers of holidays in the mountains, winter is mild and warm, and the snow cover lasts relatively long, between 80 to 120 days per year with an average thickness of 30-80 cm. Spring usually comes late and summer is cool and fresh. For lovers of cultural attractions in the town and surrounding villages, there are many exhibitions, monuments, temples, waiting for their visitors. In the town of Chepelare the so-called the Rhodope Karst Museum, the only one of its kind on the Balkan Peninsula, has opened its doors for you. It presents the beauty of caves and cave drawings kept from the dawn of human history, and it keeps 970 museum exponents. For fans of the sport a great attraction is the Museum of skis and ski sport in Chepelare, which tells the rich history of skiing and winter sports in the region of Chepelare Municipality. It has exposed 900 exhibits - skiing, medals, cups, flags, ski boots, plates and more. The town of Chepelare is the birthplace of the Olympic biathlon champion of Nagano'98 - Ekaterina Dafovska.

Here is also the only Bulgarian factory for skiing and snowboarding. Curious are also the sights, consisting of a large number of churches, chapels and mosques in nearby villages as Pavelsko, Hvoyna, Orehovo, Zabardo, Ostritsa, Progled and others. Among the sparse pine forest stand the fortress walls of Zarenitsa in the village of Pavelsko located on the left bank of Lyutidol, 5 km east of the village of Pavelsko and 5 km south of the resort Narechenski Bani. There are 45 caves in the latter village, of which the largest is Cheleveshtnitsa. In the middle of the floor of the cave, in a large bowl carved from the falling drops lies the most beautiful and impressive cave pearl ever found in Bulgarian caves, seen as a wonder of nature and the pearl of pearls. Cave "Chelevyashta hole" in the village of Orehovo, served as a hideout for many Bulgarians during the years of Ottoman rule, is also a legendary object in Chepelare Municipality.

Many Bulgarians prefer to spend their free time in this sunny and quiet town, hidden in the valley of Chepelare. Do not miss your chance to visit it at your leisure and enjoy the incredibly fresh air, and why not try the delicious local specialties.