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The Association

of Rhodope Municipalities (ARM)

was founded in 1992. It is a non-profit organization. ARM has 20 member-munici-

palities, located in 4 administrative districts according to the Bulgarian administra-

tive and territorial division.

PAZARDZHIK region – Batak, Bratzigovo, Rakitovo and Velingrad

PLOVDIV region – Assenovgrad, Luki, Rodopi

SMOLYAN region – Banite, Borino, Devin, Dospat, Zlatograd, Luki, Madan, Nedelino, Rudozem, Smolyan,

Chepelare

KURDZHALI – Kirkovo, Kurdzhali and Momchilgrad

The Association of Rhodope Municipalities was re-registered under the Law of Non-Profit Legal Entities by means

of Court Order N: 1197 from 20th December 2001.

ARM’S MISSION IS:

To actively contribute to the improvement of the local self-governance and the legal framework local au-

thorities work in;

To contribute to the increase in efficiency and transparency in the activities of the municipalities;

To create opportunities for wider citizens participation in the process of self-governance;

To promote further development of the economic potential of the Rhodope region, and each member-municipality

in particular.

MAJOR ACTIVITIES:

Lobbying

The Association of Rhodope Municipalities as a representative and defender of the interests of its member-munici-

palities works on the creation of favorable legislative environment for local authorities

Trainings

The seminars, training courses, workshops and exchange of successful practices aiming at promoting the profes-

sional qualification of the municipal officials are to establish local government bodies and strength of the civil

participation and creation of local partnerships.

Annual Conferences

The Association of Rhodope Municipalities organizes a conference every year. The themes of the Conferences were

as follows:

‘Municipal Finances - problems and solutions’;

‘Cross-border Cooperation and development opportunities for the municipalities’;

‘Regional Development – preconditions, opportunities and partnerships’;

‘Sustainable local government: perspectives to improvement of local self-government activities’

‘Education, Culture and Tourism – major prerequisites for strong local government in the Rhodopean Municipali-

ties’

‘The Young People and the Local Authorities’

Cross-Border Cooperation

On 20th March 2001 ARM and Border Region ‘Delta-Rhodopi’ signed a Frame Agreement for the establishment of

Euroregion ‘RHODOPI’ (BG-GR)

On 7th February 2002 ARM and the Local Association of Communities and Municipalities- Xanthi prefecture signed

an Agreement for Cooperation.

On 1st April 2002 the Association of Rhodope Municipalities started the implementation of the project PANDORA

(Pilot Action oN Digital economy Opportunities for Rural Areas).

The project involves the following European rural regions: Lombardy, Italy, Basilicata, Italy, Central Macedonia,

Greece, Limerick, Ireland, and Rhodope, Bulgaria and Greece.

Based on the convergence of the Internet and 2.5/3G Wireless technology, the PANDORA public services will

represent the main regional administration contact point for the population, SMEs and visitors.

The range of foreseen applications will include public services such as mobile e-government, health, cross-border

applications and providing support to wireless community networks and services to rural SMEs in the sectors of

agriculture/farming, crafting and retailing.

ARM is a member of the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR).

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PUBLICATIONS

Monthly Information Newsletter

Promotional issues produced by ARM:

‘Local government and uniting the municipalities in the Rhodopes’,

‘Mineral Waters in the Rhodopes’

‘Guide of Craft and Cultural Traditions in the Rhodopes’

‘Economic and Investment Portfolio’, promoting the economic potential of the Rhodope Region and the member –

municipalities of the Association’

The Association of Rhodope Municipalities implemented the ‘Days of Europe-Smolyan 2002’ project in coopera-

tion with the Smolyan municipality.

Contact us:

14, Bulgaria blvd.; P.O.Box 100

4700 Smolyan

Bulgaria

Phone/Fax: ++359 301 620 56; 620 48

email: arm@arm-bg.org

web-site: arm-bg.org

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Border Region Delta-Rhodopi

Civil Non-Profit Corporation

ESTABLISHMENT - HEADQUARTERS

The Civil Corporation Border Region DELTA-RHODOPI was established in 11th of Sep-

tember 2000. It is a Legal Person of Private Law non-profitable and non-governmental

on the base of its status of establishment.

The headquarters of Border Region DELTA-RHODOPI are in Prefectural Local Authorities of Drama-Kavala-Xanthi.

MEMBERS

• Prefecture Authorities of Drama-Kavala-Xanthi

• Municipality of Chrisoupoli

• Municipality of Keramoti

• Municipality of Orino

• Municipality of Xanthi

• Municipality of Avdira

• Chamber of Xanthi

GOALS OF THE CORPORATION

1. To bring forward and promote the solution of the problems caused by the isolation of the frontier districts of the

Prefecture Authorities of Drama-Kavala-Xanthi, of the regions around Nestos river and of the mountain re-

gions of Southern Rhodopi.

2. The promotion of border interest, institutes and other bodies on national and international level.

3. The development of initiatives as well as the support and coordination of cooperation on European level.

4. The exchange of experiences, the forming and coordination of common development route as well as the defen-

sibility of economic interest and the exploit of any opportunities might arise in the area.

5. The execution of Programs and the preparation of applications for funding.

6. The organisation of events relative to the development of the border region.

7. To provide, help in the solving of the problems relative to border cooperation.

8. The preparation of development programs.

9. The expansion of its action in accordance to the E.U, the European Council and other International Organizations.

10. The informing of European Bodies that are responsible for the elaboration of policy relative to border development.

PARTICIPATION IN EUROPEAN BODIES, BOARDS AND ASSOCIATIONS

• The Border Region DELTA – RHODOPI is a member of the Association of European Border Region (AEBR)

• It participates in the Association of Border Regions of East Macedonia and Thrace.

DEVELOPMENT OF BORDER COOPERATION

• The Border Region “DELTA – RHODOPI” in accordance with the Bulgarian Region “ASSOCIATION OF

RHODOPE MUNICIPALITIES” established in March 2001 the Cross-Border Region “RHODOPI”. Since

then it is trying to promote any form of collaboration between the Regions, which are members of these two

Border Areas.

• It participates in AEBR Conferences with the support of the Executive Secretariate of AEBR.

• It accomplishes visits and collaborations with Bulgaria.

• In March 2001, it organized a Workshop in Chrisoupoli. The theme of the workshop was «The elevation of natural

obstacles coming from the existence of the natural borders between nations through Cross border Cooperation».

• Organization of AEBR workshop in June 2002.

• Submission and implementation of European Programs.

SUBMISSION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF EUROPEAN PROGRAMS

DELTA-RHODOPI since spring 2002 is working together with other european organizations and in cooperation with its

Bulgarians partners, in the frame of the IST European Program, the PANDORA project, which aims in the experimental

development of a system of supplying tourist information through mobile phones of 3rd and 4th generation.

Also, DELTA-RHODOPI in cooperation with the other border districts of the regions, in the frame of the Communal

Initiative EQUAL, is functioning a project (E-quality) which aims in the confrontation of unemployment and the

social exclusion of various social groups of the region.

Also, DELTA-RHODOPI has taken initiatives in the frame of the Programs of the Ministry of Exterior Affairs

named «External Help» and has submitted in cooperation with the other euroregions relevant proposals for the

development of initiatives in the neighbouring Bulgaria.

The Border Region “DELTA RHODOPI” is also active in claiming the advantages provided by several projects

under INTERREG III and also, in co-operation with the Bulgarian side is enhancing the common activity of the

tourist promotion of the two neighboring regions in the frame of PHARE CBC.

Contact us:

Tel: 0030 2541 70 108; Fax: 0030 2541 70 109

Email: pref-dkx@otenet.gr; web-site: www.nestos.gr

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Ñìîëÿí – ïåðëàòà â ïëàíèíàòà íà Îðôåé

 ñúðöåòî íà Ðîäîïèòå, ïðúñ-íàò êàòî çúðíà íà áèñåðíà îãúðëè-öà, å ðàçïîëîæåí ãð.Ñìîëÿí. Ñëåääúëãèÿ, ëúêàòóøåù è ñ ìíîãîáðîé-íè çàâîè ïúò îò Ïëîâäèâ, òóê âèî÷àêâà åäèí óñìèõíàò ãðàä, êîéòîùå âè íàêàðà áúðçî äà çàáðàâèòåóìîðàòà. Òîçè äðåâåí è ìëàä, ìú-äúð è âåñåë ãðàä ùå âè î÷àðîâà ñïðè÷óäëèâîòî ñú÷åòàíèå íà ñòàðà èíîâà àðõèòåêòóðà, ñ óïîéâàùèÿ àðî-ìàò íà ëèïè ïðåç ëÿòîòî, ñ áàãðåíà-òà ìàãèÿ íà åñåíòà è áÿëàòà òèøè-íà íà çèìàòà.

Ïðåç õèëÿäîëåòíàòà èñòîðèÿ íà ïëàíèíàòà, ïî æèâîïèñíèòå é ïúòåêè ñà îòåêâàëèñòúïêèòå íà òðàêè, ñëàâÿíè, ïðàáúëãàðè, ãúðöè, ðèìëÿíè. Ìåñòíèòå õîðà ñ óäîâîëñòâèåùå âè ðàçêàæàò ïðåäàíèÿòà çà äåâîéêàòà Ðîäîïà, çà Îðôåé è Åâðèäèêà, çà Äèîíèñèé èíåãîâîòî ñâåòèëèùå.

Ïðåç ²² â.ïð.í.å.Ðîäîïèòå ñòàâàò äîì íà ìíîãî òðàêèéñêè ïëåìåíà, êîèòî îáîæåñòâÿ-âàò äèâàòà ïðèðîäà è ñå ïðåêëàíÿò ïðåä íåéíàòà ñèëà.  ïëàíèíàòà ñå íàìèðàò ìíîãîîñòàíêè îò òðàêèéñêè ñåëèùà è îáðî÷èùà, êîèòî ñâèäåòåëñòâóâàò çà èçêëþ÷èòåëíî âèñî-êàòà èì êóëòóðà. Âïîñëåäñòâèå òðàêèòå ñå ñëèâàò ñúñ ñëàâÿíñêèòå ïëåìåíà, êîèòî çàåäíîñ ïðàáúëãàðèòå ïðåç 681 ã. îáðàçóâàò áúëãàðñêàòà äúðæàâà.

Ïðåç Õ²V â. îñìàíöèòå íàõëóâàò â áúëãàðñêèòå çåìè è ïîðîáâàò Ðîäîïèòå çà öåëèïåò âåêà. Òåæêèòå èçïèòàíèÿ íà ðîáñòâîòî íå ñëîìÿâàò äóõà íà ðîäîï÷àíè. Òå çàïàçâàòñâîåòî íàöèîíàëíî ñàìîñúçíàíèå è ñëåä ìíîãîãîäèøíè êðúâîïðîëèòíè âúñòàíèÿ è âîé-íè èçâîþâàò ñâîÿòà ñâîáîäà â êðàÿ íà Õ²Õ - íà÷àëîòî íà ÕÕ â.

Äíåñ, íåçàâèñèìî îò íàñëîåíèÿòà íà ìèíàëîòî, ðîäîï÷àíè ùå âè èçíåíàäàò ñúñ ñâî-ÿòà ðåëèãèîçíà òîëåðàíòíîñò. Òóê â ìèð ñúæèòåëñòâóâàò õðèñòèÿíè è ìþñþëìàíè, êîèòîçàåäíî ïðàçíóâàò ñâîèòå ïðàçíèöè è èçãðàæäàò õðàìîâåòå ñè.

Ñìîëÿí ñå íàìèðà íà 250 êì îò Ñîôèÿ è íà 100 êì îò Ïëîâäèâ. Äî Ñìîëÿí ìîæåòåäà ñòèãíåòå ñ êîëà èëè àâòîáóñ.

Õîòåëèòå è ðåñòîðàíòèòå â ðåãèîíà ãîñòîïðèåìíî ñà îòâîðèëè ñâîèòå âðàòè çà âàñ,ãîòîâè äà çàäîâîëÿò âñåêè âêóñ îò ïðåäïî÷èòàùèòå êîìôîðòà íà ëóêñîçíèÿ õîòåë äî äî-ìàøíèÿ óþò íà ìàëêèòå ñåìåéíè õîòåëè.

Ðîäîïñêàòà êóõíÿÑàìî òóê, â Ñìîëÿí, ìîæåòå äà ñå îòäàäåòå èçöÿëî íà èçêóøåíèåòî íà ðîäîïñêàòà

êóõíÿ. Äîøëè âåäíúæ â Ðîäîïèòå, âèå íè-êîãà íÿìà äà çàáðàâèòå ðîäîï÷àíè ñ òÿõ-íîòî ãîñòîïðèåìñòâî è ÷óäåñíèòå ÿñòèÿ,êîèòî òå ùå ïðèãîòâÿò ñïåöèàëíî çà âàñ.Íåñðàâíèì ñ íèùî å âêóñúò íà ðîäîïñêî-òî ÷åâåðìå, ïàòàòíèêà, ñìèëÿíñêèÿ ôàñóë,êëèíà (ðîäîïñêà áàíèöà), êà÷àìàêà è ñàð-ìèòå. Ïðèãîòâÿíåòî íà íÿêîè îò òÿõ å èñ-òèíñêè ðèòóàë, â êîéòî ìîæåòå äà ñå âêëþ-÷èòå, àêî æåëàåòå. ×åâåðìåòî å àòðàêöèÿ,êîÿòî íå òðÿáâà äà ïðîïóñêàòå, èäâàéêèòóê. Óäîâîëñòâèåòî äà áúäåø äî æàðòà íà

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SMOLYAN, THE PEARL IN THE MOUNTAIN OF

ORPHEUSThe town of Smolyan is a place right in the heart of the mountain, scattered like the pearls

of a necklace. After the long meandering road with lots of turns from Plovdiv a smiling town iswaiting for you and it will make you forget the fatigue quickly. This ancient and young towncharms with the combination of old and modern architecture, the exciting smell of lime-trees insummer, the colour magic of autumn, the white quietness of winter.

In the course of the thousand-year old history of the mountain the steps of Thracians,Slavs, proto-Bulgarians, Greeks and Romans echoed on the picturesque paths. That’s why thelegends about the Rhodopes history are so numerous. Local people would be more than pleasedto tell you the stories about the beautiful Rodopa, Orpheus and Euridice, Dionissius and hissanctuary.

In 2nd c.BC The Rhodopes homed many Thracian tribes that worship the wild nature andbow to its strength. There are many remains of Thracian settlements and consecrated groundsin the mountain that show their extremely high culture. Later on Thracians united with Slavsand proto-Bulgarians and they formed Bulgaria in 681 AD. In 14th c. Ottomans invaded theBulgarian lands and enslaved the Rhodopes for 5 centuries. The severe trials of the slavery didnot break the spirit of Rhodopeans. Theypreserve their national self-consciousnessand after bloody rebellions and wars ofmany years they win their freedom at theend of 19th c., beginning of 20th c. Today,in spite of the traces of the past,Rhodopeans will surprise you with the re-ligious tolerance. Here Christians andMuslims live in peace and they celebratetogether all holidays and build churchesand mosques together.

Smolyan is situated 250 km fromSofia and 100 km from Plovdiv. You canreach the town by bus or car.

Hotels and restaurants in the regionkeep open doors for you ready to cater alltastes, from the comfort of luxury hotelsto the home cosiness of small family ho-tels.

RHODOPEAN CUISINEOnly in Smolyan you may give yourselves to the magic of the Rhodopean cuisine. Once

in the Rhodopes, you will never forget the Rhodopeans with their hospitality and wonderfuldishes that they will prepare especially for you. The taste of the Rhodopean cheverme, patetnik,Smilyan beans, klin, kachamak, sarmi cannot be compared to anything else. Preparing some ofthem is real ritual in which you can take part if you wish. Cheverme is an attraction that youmust not miss when you come here. The pleasure to be by the embers on the mountain meadowand to watch how the cheverme is rotated on a spit is something to remember for a long time.

The Rhodopes are à well-known region for growing of potatoes. Here they are prepared inevery possible way. Patetnik is a typical Rhodopean potato dish. The recipe is handed down fromgeneration to generation till our days. The potatoes are peeled and grated. Cheese, eggs, gratedonion, salt, black pepper, mint are added and mixed thoroughly. The mixture is fried in a pan on awood-burning stove. When the lower side is ready it is turned upside down and fried again.

Bean soup can be offered to you everywhere in Bulgaria but only here in the Rhodopes

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ãîðñêàòà ïîëÿíà è äà ãëåäàø êàê ÷åâåð-ìåòî ñå âúðòè íà øèø å íåùî, êîåòî äúë-ãî ñå ïîìíè.

Ðîäîïèòå ñà èçâåñòíè ñ ïðîèçâîäñò-âîòî íà êàðòîôè. Òóê òå ñå ïðèãîòâÿò ïîíàé-ðàçëè÷íè íà÷èíè. Ïàòàòíèêúò å òèïè÷-íî çà Ðîäîïèòå êàðòîôåíî ÿñòèå. Ðåöåïòà-òà ñå å ïðåäàâàëà îò ïîêîëåíèå íà ïîêîëå-íèå äî íàøè äíè. Êàðòîôèòå ñå îáåëâàò èñå íàñòúðãâàò íà ðåíäå. Ïðèáàâÿò ñå ñèðå-íå, ÿéöà, äæîäæåí, íàñòúðãàí êðîìèä ëóê,ìàëêî ñîë, ÷åð ïèïåð è ñìåñòà ñå îáúðêâàäîáðå. Ïå÷å ñå â òàâà âúðõó ïå÷êà ñ äúðâà.

Ñëåä èçïè÷àíå íà äîëíàòà êîðà ñå îáðúùà âúðõó êðúã è îòíîâî ñå ïå÷å.Ôàñóë-÷îðáà ìîãàò äà âè ïðåäëîæàò íàâñÿêúäå â Áúëãàðèÿ, íî ñàìî â Ðîäîïèòå ñå

îòãëåæäà ñìèëÿíñêè ôàñóë è ôàñóëüîâèöà. Ñìèëÿíñêèÿò ôàñóë å øàðåí, íå áÿë, à ãîëå-ìèíàòà íà çúðíàòà íà ôàñóëüîâèöàòà ñà äîñòîéíè çà Êíèãàòà çà ðåêîðäèòå íà Ãèíåñ.

Ðîäîïñêàòà áàíèöà, íàðå÷åíà êëèí, å íåîáè÷àéíà ñúñ ñúñòàâêèòå, êîèòî ðîäîï÷àíêà-òà èçïîëçâà çà íåéíîòî ïðèãîòâÿíå. Îïèòâàëè ëè ñòå áàíèöà ñ îðèç, ìëÿêî, ñèðåíå, ìàñëî,à ïðåç ïðîëåòòà è ñ ëèñòà îò ñïàíàê èëè ëàïàä? Å, àêî íå ñòå, òóê ùå âè ïðåäëîæàò èìåííîòàêúâ ñïåöèàëèòåò.

Ïî ïúòåêèòå íà Îðôåé×óâàëè ëè ñòå ëåãåíäàòà çà Îðôåé? Ìèòè÷íèÿò ïåâåö å îìàãüîñâàë ñúñ ñâîÿòà ìóçè-

êà õîðà, ïòèöè è çâåðîâå. Òîé å ðîäåí òóê – â Ðîäîïèòå, ïëàíèíàòà, ñúõðàíèëà ñïîìåíà çàíåãî, ÷èèòî ãîðè è äî äíåñ ñå îãëàñÿò îò çâóöèòå íà ðîäîïñêàòà ãàéäà è âúëøåáíèòå ãëà-ñîâå íà ðîäîï÷àíè.

Ñðåäíèòå ëåòíè òåìïåðàòóðè òóê ñà îêîëî 18°Ñ, òàêà ÷å ïëàíèíàòà å èäåàëíîòî ìÿñòî çàñïàñåíèå îò ëåòíèòå ãîðåùèíè. Ëÿòîòî å òèõî, áåç âåòðîâå, ñïîêîéíî è ïðèÿòíî òîïëî.

Çàïàëåíèòå ðèáàðè ìîãàò äà ñå îòäàäàò íà ñâîÿòà ñòðàñò è äà îòèäàò íà ðèáîëîâ çàïúñòúðâà.

Ðîäîïèòå ñà èñòèíñêî îòêðèòèå çà ëþáèòåëèòå ãúáàðè è áèëêàðè. Ðàçõîæäàéêè ñå èçïëàíèíàòà, ìîæåòå äà ñè íàïúëíèòå êîøíèöàòà ñ âêóñíè ìàíàòàðêè, ìàñëîâêè, ñúðíåëèèëè ïà÷è êðàê, êàêòî è äà ñè íàáåðåòå äúõàâ áóêåò îò ëå÷åáíè áèëêè.

Èñòèíñêî ïðåäèçâèêàòåëñòâî çà êàòåðà÷èòå ïúê ñà ñòðúìíèòå ñêàëè, äúëáîêèòå ïåùåðè,Ñìîëÿíñêèòå åçåðà, êîèòî î÷àêâàò äà áúäàò ïîêîðåíè îò ëþáèòåëèòå íà àëïèíèçìà.

Èç ïëàíèíàòà ìîæåòå äà ñå ðàçõîäèòå ïåøà, ñ êîëåëî, íà êîí èëè äà ñå âêëþ÷èòå âíÿêîÿ îò åêñêóðçèèòå, îðãàíèçèðàíè çà âàñ îò ëþáåçíèòå âè äîìàêèíè.

Ïðèðîäíèòå ôåíîìåíè íà ÐîäîïèòåÏåùåðàòà “Óõëîâèöà” å åäèí îò ïîäçåìíèòå äâîð-

öè íà Çàïàäíèòå Ðîäîïè. Íàìèðà ñå áëèçî äî ñ. Ìîãèëè-öà, â ìåñòíîñòòà “Ñèíèòå âèðîâå”. Ïúòÿò äî âõîäà íàïåùåðàòà, îáà÷å, å åäíî ñåðèîçíî èçïèòàíèå. Ñëåä ïî÷-òè êèëîìåòðîâàòà ïúòåêà íàãîðå ñëåäâàò 288 æåëåçíè ñòú-ïàëà. Íàêðàÿ íàâëèçàòå â õëàäíèÿ òóíåë íà ïåùåðàòà,êúäåòî òåìïåðàòóðàòà ïðåç öÿëàòà ãîäèíà å 10-11°Ñ. Íå-ïîñðåäñòâåíî ñëåä âõîäà çàïî÷âà “Çàëàòà íà ïðîïàñòè-òå”. Èìåòî é å ñâúðçàíî ñ ÷åòèðèòå ïðîïàñòè, ðàçïîëî-æåíè â çàïàäíàòà ÷àñò íà çàëàòà. Âëÿâî îò òóðèñòè÷åñêà-òà ïúòåêà å ãîëåìèÿò ñòàëàêòîí ñ îáèêîëêà 4.2 ì. Ñòðúì-íè æåëåçíè ñòúëáè âîäÿò êúì äîëíèÿ åòàæ íà ïåùåðàòà.Òîâà å íàé-êðàñèâàòà é ÷àñò. Ñòåíèòå íà ãàëåðèèòå ñà ïîê-

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the Smilyan beans are grown. The Smilyan beans are many-coloured not white and the size ofthe bean deserves the Guinness book.

The Rhodopean pie, called klin, is unusual with the ingredients that the Rhodopean womanuses for its preparation. Have you tried a pie with rice, milk, cheese, butter, and in spring withleaves of spinach and dock? Well, if not, here you’ll be offered just such one.

ON THE PATHS OF ORPHEUSHave you ever heard the legend about Orpheus? The mystical singer used to charm people,

birds and wild animals with his lyre. He was born here in the Rhodope Mountains, which havepreserved the memory of him and whose woods have been echoing the sounds of the local bagpipeand the magic voices of the native people.

In summer the mountain will meet you with sunny sky, meadows full of herbs and wild forestflowers, crystal pure air sweet with pine. You might be surprised to know that separate places in theMiddle Rhodopes are unique with the negative ionization of the air – something very precious forman’s health.

Here the average summer temperature is 18°Ñ and the mountain is the perfect place, which willprotect you from the spells of heat in summer. Sum-mers in the Rhodopes are quiet, windless and pleas-ant.

Luring mountain trails lead you to placeswhich reveal to you the beauty of virginal nature.

Enthusiastic fishermen can indulge in theirpassion and go fishing for brook trout, which is con-sidered one of the most delicious in the world.

The Rhodope Mountains are the right placefor people who like gathering mushrooms and herbs.Roaming in the mountain they can fill their basketswith the delicious squirrel’s bread mushroom, withBrown Ring boletuses, parasol mushrooms andchanterelles, as well as with fragrant bouquets of

herbs.The steep rocks, deep caves, the Smolyan lakes are the real challenge to all mountaineers.

They are there to test your skill in climbing rocks.One can walk, ride a bake or a horse up the mountains

or take part in one of the excursions organized by the kindhosts.

NATURAL PHENOMENAThe Uhlovitsa cave is one of the underground pal-

aces of the western Rhodopes. It is located near the vil-lage of Mogilitsa, in the area named Blue pools. The roadto the cave entrance is, however, a serious test. After asteep path almost a kilometer long, 288 iron steps fromthe entrance lead to the cold tunnel of the cave where theyear-round temperature is 10-11°C. Right after the en-trance the Hall of Abysses begins. Its name is connectedwith the four abysses located in the western part of thehall. To the left of the tourist path you can see the GreatStalacton 4.2 m.round. The steep iron steps lead to thelower floor of the cave. This is the most beautiful part of

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ðèòè ñ ïðèêàçíè ñèíòîâè îáðàçóâàíèÿ, íàïîäîáÿâàùè áóêåòè îò êîðàëè è õåëèêòèòè. Âñåâåðíèÿ êðàé íà áëàãîóñòðîåíàòà ÷àñò îò ãàëåðèÿòà ñà îáðàçóâàíè äâå ñèíòîâè åçåðà,êîèòî ïðåç çèìàòà è ïðîëåòòà ñà ïúëíè ñ âîäà. Êúì “Ãîëÿìîòî åçåðî” ñå ñïóñêàò êàìåííè-òå ñòðóè íà ò.íàð. “Áðèëÿíòåí âîäîïàä”. Íåãîâèòå ñâåæè êàëöèòíè êðèñòàëè, îñâåòåíè îòïðîæåêòîðèòå, áëåñòÿò êàòî áðèëÿíòè. Ïåùåðàòà “Óõëîâèöà” å èçâàÿíà îò ïðîòåðîçîéñêèìðàìîð. Àêî îáúðíåì âíèìàíèå íà îòíîñèòåëíàòà âèñî÷èíà íà âõîäà íà ïåùåðàòà, ìî-æåì äà äîïóñíåì, ÷å íåéíîòî îáðàçóâàíå å çàïî÷íàëî ïðåäè îêîëî 3.5 ìèëèîíà ãîäèíè.

Èíòåðåñ ïðåäñòàâëÿâàò è:Ïåùåðà “Óëöàòà” – áëàãîóñòðîåíà ïåùåðà;Ñìîëÿíñêè åçåðà – êàñêàäíè ñâëà÷èùíè åçåðà â ïîäíîæèåòî íà ìèòè÷íèòå “Îðôå-

åâè ñêàëè”;“Ìîìàòà” – ñêàëíî îáðàçóâàíèå ïîä ñ. Øèðîêà ëúêà, ïðèëè÷àùî íà ñòðîéíà æåíñêà

ôèãóðà;Õàéäóøêè ïîëÿíè – êóðîðòíà ìåñòíîñò êðàé ñ. Ìîì÷èëîâöè;Ñìîëÿíñêè âîäîïàä – ïðèðîäíà çàáåëåæèòåëíîñò;“Íåâÿñòàòà” – îãðîìíà ñêàëà íàä Ñìîëÿí;“×èíàðà” – øèðîêîëèñòíî äúðâî íà âúçðàñò ïîâå÷å îò 300 ãîäèíè; âèñî÷èíà – 25 ì,

îáèêîëêà – 6,60 ì., ïëîù íà êîðîíàòà – 460 êâ.ì; ïðåíåñåíî îò Ëàðèñà (Ãúðöèÿ).

Ðåçåðâàòè è çàùèòåíè òåðèòîðèè ïëàíèíàòà ñà îáÿâåíè 4 ðåçåðâàòà ñ îáùà ïëîù 369.9 õåêòàðà, 3 çàùèòåíè

ìåñòíîñòè ñ îáùà ïëîù 212.5 õà, 15 ïðèðîäíè çàáåëåæèòåëíîñòè, 5 èñòîðè÷åñêèìåñòà è ìíîãî âåêîâíè äúðâåòà, îãðîìíè ïî ðàçìåðè, ñ ïðè÷óäëèâè è èíòåðåñíè ôîð-ìè. Òàêîâà å äúðâîòî â ðàéîíà íà Ïàìïîðîâî ñ 26 ðàçêëîíåíèÿ íà 1 ì îò äúíåðà.

 ðåçåðâàòèòå ñå íàìèðàò íàé-äîáðå çàïàçåíèòå íàõîäèùà íà ÷åðåí áîð â íàøà-òà ñòðàíà.  íåäîñòúïíèòå ãîðè îò áÿë áîð è ñìúð÷ ñå íàìèðàò òîêîâèùà íà ãëóõàð,êîéòî òóê å çàïàçåí êàòî íàé-÷èñòà ïîïóëàöèÿ. Ðîäîïèòå ñà äàðåíè îò ïðèðîäàòà è ñìíîãî äðóãè íàäçåìíè è ïîäçåìíè áîãàòñòâà. Îòòóê èçâèðàò è ñúáèðàò âîäèòå ñèðåêèòå Àðäà, Âú÷à è ×àÿ. Òåõíèòå áóéíè òå÷åíèÿ, çàåäíî ñ âîäèòå íà òåõíèòå ïðèòî-öè, âåêîâå ñà äúëáàëè ñêàëèòå è ñà îôîðìÿëè èíòåðåñíè è ðàçíîîáðàçíè ôîðìè –ìíîãî âîäîïàäè, äúëáîêè âèðîâå è ñêàëíè îáðàçóâàíèÿ. Äîñòúïíè è ïðåäñòàâëÿâà-ùè èíòåðåñ çà òóðèçìà ñà ïåùåðèòå “Óëöàòà” è “Óõëîâèöà”. Ïëàíèíàòà å áîãàòà è íàîðèãèíàëíî àðõèòåêòóðíî è èñòîðè÷åñêî íàñëåäñòâî.

Ïî-çíà÷èìè ðåçåðâàòè è çàùèòåíè òåðèòîðèè â ðåãèîíà ñà:“Ñîñêîâ÷åòî” – â çåìëèùåòî íà ãð.Ñìîëÿí

ñ ïëîù 177.5 õà, äåâñòâåíà ñìåñåíà ãîðà îò ñìúð÷è áÿë áîð, êðàñèâà ïðèðîäà è èíòåðåñíè âîäîïà-äè

“Êàçàíèòå” – â çåìëèùåòî íà ñ.Ìóãëà ñïëîù 124 õà, äåâñòâåíà ñìåñåíà ãîðà îò åëà, ÷å-ðåí áîð, ñìúð÷ è áóê, ñàìîáèòíà äèâà ïðèðîäà

“Ìîì÷èëîâñêè äîë” – ïîääúðæàí ðåçåðâàòâ çåìëèùåòî íà ñ.Ìîì÷èëîâöè ñ ïëîù 31.1 õà,âåêîâíà ãîðà îò ÷åðåí áîð

“Àìçîâî” – ïîääúðæàí ðåçåðâàò, áëàòíàïëîù þæíî îò ãð.Ñìîëÿí, íàõîäèùå íà çàùèòå-íèÿ ðàñòèòåëåí âèä ïëàâóí, íàé-ìàëêèÿò ðåçåð-âàò â Áúëãàðèÿ – 0.3 õà

“Ïàäàëà” – êðàñèâà ñìúð÷îâà ãîðà êðàéñ.Ìîãèëèöà

“Ðîæåí” – æèâîïèñíà ìåñòíîñò îò îáøèð-íè ëèâàäè, îáãðàäåíè ñúñ ñìúð÷îâè ãîðè

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the cave. The gallery walls are covered withenchanting formations very similar to bouquetsof corals. In the northern part of the gallery twolakes are formed full of water in winter andspring. Towards the Big Lake the stone streamsof the Brilliant Waterfall fall down. Its freshcalcite crystals lit up by the floodlights twinklelike brilliants. The Uhlovitsa cave is carved ofproterozoic marble. If we take notice of the rela-tive height of the cave entrance we may guessthat it started to form some 3.5 million yearsago.

The following is of interest as well:The Ultsata cave – open for touristSmolyan lakes – cascade landslide lakes

at the foot of the mythical Orpheus rocksMomata – a rock formed near the village

of Shiroka laka likened to a slender woman’sfigure

Haidoushki polyani – resort area near thevillage of Momchilovtsi

Smolyan waterfall – nature siteNevyastata – huge rock near SmolyanChinara – a venerable plane-tree more than 300 years old, 25 m high, 6.60 m circumfer-

ence, 460 sq.m.crown area, brought from Larisa /Greece/

RESERVES AND PROTECTED AREAIn the mountain there are 4 reserves with total area of 369.9 ha, 3 protected areas with

total area of 212.5 ha, 15 natural sights, 5 historical places and lots of century-old trees enor-mous in size, with strange and interesting shapes. Such is the tree in the resort of Pamporovothat has 26 branches on 1 m from the trunk.

In the reserves there are the most preserved deposits of black pine in our country. In theinaccessible forests of white pine and spruce you can see the nests of the wood-grouse pre-served here as the purest population. The Rhodopes have been generously endowed by naturewith many more over ground and underground natural resources. The Arda, the Vacha and theChaya rivers take their sources from there. Their swift-flowing waters have been cutting therocks for centuries thus forming various interesting shapes – lots of waterfalls, deep pools androck formations. The Uhlovitsa cave and the Ultsata cave are interesting and accessible totourists. The mountain is also rich in original architectural and historical heritage.

More significant reserves and protected area in the region are:Soskovcheto – the reserve is nearby Smolyan with an area of 177.5 ha, virgin mixed forest

of spruce and white pine, beautiful nature, interesting waterfallsKazanite – the reserve is situated on the land of the village of Mougla and its area is 124

ha, virgin mixed forest consisting of fir-tree, black pine, spruce and beech, original wild natureMomchilovski dol – a well-kept reserve located in the village of Momchilovtsi with total

area of 31.1 ha, century-old forest of black pineAmzovo – the smallest reserve in Bulgaria – 0.3 ha, well-kept reserve to the south of

Smolyan, marshland area, natural habitat of the protected plant club-mossPadala – beautiful spruce forest n the vicinity of the village of MogilitsaRozhen – a picturesque spot of large meadows surrounded by spruce forest

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Ñúõðàíåíèòå òðàäèöèè â ÐîäîïèòåÍàé-ãîëÿìîòî áîãàòñòâî íà òàçè ïëàíèíñêà çåìÿ ñà íåéíèòå õîðà è òðàäèöèèòå,

ñúçäàäåíè è ñúõðàíåíè æèâè îò òÿõ äî íàøè äíè. Äóõúò íà ïëàíèíàòà ñå ïðåðàæäà âêðàñèâèòå äúðâîðåçáè íà ìåñòíèòå ìàéñòîðè è â ìåêèÿ áëÿñúê íà èçÿùíèòå ñúäîâå,ñúòâîðåíè îò èçêóñíèòå ðúöå íà ìåäíèêàðèòå. À òåêñòèëíèòå ïàíà, ðú÷íî èçðàáîò-âàíè îò ðîäîï÷àíêèòå, îòðàçÿâàò ìíîãîîáðàçèåòî è äúëáî÷èíàòà íà ÷óâñòâàòà è ðàç-ìèñëèòå, êîèòî òîçè íåîáèêíîâåí êðàé ïîðàæäà ó ïîñåòèòåëÿ. Çâóöèòå íà ïðî÷óòàòàðîäîïñêà êàáà-ãàéäà, íåéíàòà ïåñåí, ðàçêàçâàùà çà îòìèíàëà ñëàâà è âðåìåíà íà ñòðà-äàíèå, çà êðàñîòà è ëþáîâ, ùå ïðîäúëæàò äà îòåêâàò â äóøàòà çàâèíàãè.

Íèêîëà Ïèøèíîâ å íà 85 ãîäèíè. Ðîäåí å â êâ. Óñòîâî, Ñìîëÿí.

Òîé å ìåäíèêàð. ×àñòèöàîò ñåáå ñè âëàãà âúâ âñåêè ñúäáàé Íèêîëà, êîéòî èçðàáîòâàñ ìíîãî ëþáîâ. Äîðè è íà 85ãîäèíè ìàéñòîðúò ðàáîòè ñúñçàâèäíà ïúðãàâèíà è ñðú÷-íîñò. Ãîëÿì ìàéñòîð å â íàï-ðàâàòà íà ãðàâèðàíè ñåðâèçèçà âèíî è êàôå, ìåíöè, êàíèè êàçàíè.

Ó÷àñòâàë å ñúñ ñâîè ïðî-èçâåäåíèÿ íà ìíîãî èçëîæå-íèÿ êàêòî â Áúëãàðèÿ, òàêà èâ ÷óæáèíà. Íåãîâè åêñïîíà-

òè ñå ñúõðàíÿâàò â ìóçåè, íàìèðàùè ñå â ðàçëè÷íè êðàèùà íå ñàìî â Áúëãàðèÿ, íî èâ ñâåòà - Ëóâúðà (Ïàðèæ), Ìåêñèêî è Êàíàäà.

×ëåí å íà Çàäðóãàòà íà ìàéñòîðèòå íà õóäîæåñòâåíèòå çàíàÿòè.Èìà ìàéñòîðñêî ñâèäåòåëñòâî, êîåòî å èçäàäåíî íà 31 àâãóñò 1944 ã. â Êñàíòè.Æèâåå è ïðîäúëæàâà äà ðàáîòè è äíåñ â ðàáîòèëíè÷êàòà ñè â Óñòîâî.

“Åäèí æèâîò íå ñòèãà, çà äà èçó÷èø âñè÷êè òúíêîñòè íà çàíàÿòà”, êàçâà

Íèêîëà Ïèøèíîâ.

Ñìîëÿí, óë. “Ïðîäàí Òàáàêîâ” 5áë. “Ðîäîïè”Òåë. 0301 31 553

ÅÒ “ÑÀÔÈ” – Âåñåëêà Õðèñòîâà

Ðàáîòè â îáëàñòòà íà: æèâîïèñòà,òðàäèöèîííèÿ áúëãàðñêè êîñòþì, òåê-ñòèëíè ïëàñòèêè è êèëèìè, ðèñóâà êîï-ðèíà, êåðàìèêà, èíòåðèîðåí äèçàéí.Èìà ñàìîñòîÿòåëíè èçëîæáè. Íåéíèæèâîïèñíè òâîðáè è óíèêàëíè êîñòþ-ìè ñà ïðèòåæàíèå íà êîëåêöèîíåðè âÁúëãàðèÿ, Äàíèÿ, Èòàëèÿ, Ãåðìàíèÿ,ßïîíèÿ, ÑÀÙ, Àíãëèÿ, Èñïàíèÿ. Æè-âåå è ðàáîòè â ãð.Ñìîëÿí.

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TRADITIONS PRESERVED IN THE RHODOPESThe greatest treasures of this land are its people and the traditions they have estab-

lished and have preserved to the present day. The culture and the spirit of the mountainstake shape in the wooden carvings and the soft glow of the finely hammered copper pots.The colours of the textiles, manually produced by the Rhodopean woman, bring out avariety of feelings and the calm of contemplation, which this extraordinary countrysideinvokes. The sounds of the world famous Rhodope kaba-gaida, telling musical tales ofpain and glory, of love and beauty, will continue to echo in the soul forever.

Nikola Pishinov is 85 years old. He was born in Ustovo quarter, Smolian.

He is a coppersmith.Uncle Nikola put, into every single pot, a bit of himself making it with lots of love.

Nevertheless he is advanced in years, he works with anotable liveliness and handiness. He is a real past-mas-ter in making his engraved wine- and coffee-sets, aswell as coppers, jugs and ewers.

He had participated with his copper articles atmany exhibitions, in Bulgaria and abroad. Some of hisexponents could be seen not only in various museums,located in different parts of Bulgaria, but also all overthe world – Paris, Mexico and Canada.

He is a member of the Society of Arts and Crafts.He holds a master certificate, which was issued

in Xanthi.He is still living and working into his small work-

shop in Ustovo. “One life is not be sufficient to examine all the

fine points of the craft you practice,’ says N. Pishinov.

Smolyan, 5 Prodan Tabakov Streetblock ‘Rodopi’Phone: 00359 /301/ 460 46

ET “SAFI” – Veselka Hristova

4700 Smolyan15 Nataliya str., ap.4tel.0301/21878, mobile 359 889 758891She works in the sphere of painting, traditional Bulgarian costume, textile plastics

and carpets, painting on silk, ceramics, interior design. She arranged individual exhibi-tions. Her paintings and unique costumes are part of private collections in Bulgaria, Den-mark, Italy, Germany, Japan, the USA, Great Britain and Spain. She lives and works inSmolyan.

Albena Chobanova

4700 Smolyan4 Byalo more str., ap.17tel.0301/21336, mobile tel. 359 887 254030She makes traditional bead ornaments by hand. They were put on as finery to the

traditional woman’s clothes in the 19th and the beginning of 20thc. They are used both asornaments and amulets. The bead ornaments are characteristic for some regions in theRhodopes. They are strung up on a thread and knitted on a crochet-hook. Necklaces, brace-lets and belts are offered for sale.

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Òðàäèöèîííè ïðàçíèöè è ôåñòèâàëèÐîæåíñêè ñúáîð

Òîé ñå ïðîâåæäà âåäíúæ íà ÷åòèðè ãîäèíè ïðåç ïîñëåäíàòà ñúáîòà è íåäåëÿ íàìåñåö àâãóñò.

Ñúáîðúò èìà íàä ñòîãîäèøíà òðàäèöèÿ. Íà÷àëîòî å ïîñòàâåíî ïðåç 1898 ã.Íà ñúáîðà ïðåç 1961 ãîäèíà èçãðÿâà “×óäîòî íà Ðîæåí” – ñàìîáèòíèÿò îðêåñòúð

“Ñòî êàáà ãàéäè”, êîéòî ñå ïðåâðúùà â ñèìâîë íà ñúáîðà. Îòòóê èçëèçà è ïåñåíòà“Èçëåë å Äåëüî õàéäóòèí” â èçïúëíåíèå íà Âàëÿ Áàëêàíñêà, çà äà êàöíå íà áîðäà íàêîñìè÷åñêàòà ñòàíöèÿ “Âîÿäæúð” íàðåä ñ ìóçèêàòà íà Áàõ, Áåòõîâåí è Ìîöàðò, âòúðñåíå íà ÷óæäè öèâèëèçàöèè â Êîñìîñà.

Îðôååâè ôîëêëîðíè ìëàäåæêè ïðàçíèöè â ÑìîëÿíÌåæäóíàðîäíèòå Îðôååâè ôîëêëîðíè ìëàäåæêè ïðàçíèöè íÿìàò ñúñòåçàòåëåí

õàðàêòåð. Ãëàâíàòà öåë å ñúõðàíÿâàíå è ïîïóëÿðèçèðàíå íà áîãàòîòî ôîëêëîðíî íàñ-ëåäñòâî è òîâà ñå ïîñòèãà ÷ðåç îðãàíèçèðàíå íà êîíöåðòè. Ïðàçíèöèòå ñå ïðîâåæäàòïðåç äâå ãîäèíè. Íà÷àëîòî å ïðåç 1972 ã. Ñúáèðàò ñå äåöà îò âñè÷êè ôîëêëîðíè îá-ëàñòè íà ñòðàíàòà è îò ÷óæáèíà.

Øèðîêîëúøêè ïåñÿöèÏî ñòàðîäàâíà òðàäèöèÿ â

ïúðâèòå äíè íà ìåñåö ìàðò â ñ.Øèðîêà ëúêà ñå ïðîâåæäà êóêåð-ñêè êàðíàâàë. Ãðóïàòà ìîìöè èìëàäè ìúæå, íåóçíàâàåìè âñòðàøíèòå ñè êîæåíè ìàñêè, èç-ïúëíÿâàò äðåâíè ñöåíè è òàíöèïîä ðèòúìà íà âúðçàíèòå ïî òå-ëàòà èì ÷àíîâå. Ðàíî ñóòðèíòà íà“Ïåñ ïîíåäåëíèê” äðóæèíàòàòðúãâà äà îáèêàëÿ ñåëèùåòî. Ïîâðåìå íà îáèêîëêàòà ñòàðèòå õî-ðà ñå ñòðåìÿò äà îòêúñíàò ïî íå-ùî îò ìàñêèðàíèòå, çà äà èìàïëîäîðîäèå è èçîáèëèå â äîìî-âåòå èì.

Ïðàçíèê íà ìëÿêîòî – ÑìèëÿíÂñÿêà ãîäèíà â ïîñëåäíàòà ñúáîòà è íåäåëÿ íà ìåñåö àâ-

ãóñò æèòåëèòå íà ðîäîïñêîòî ñåëî Ñìèëÿí îðãàíèçèðàò ïðàçíèêíà ìëÿêîòî è êðàâèòå. Ïðàçíè÷íî îáëå÷åíè â ðîäîïñêèòå ñè íî-ñèè, ñòîïàíèòå èçâåæäàò îò îáîðèòå ñâîèòå íàé-êðàñèâè è ìëå-êîäàéíè êðàâè, îêè÷åíè ñ öâåòÿ, çâúí÷åòà è ìúíèñòà, çà äà ó÷àñ-òâàò â êîíêóðñà “Ìèñ êðàâà”.

Òîäîðîâäåí â Ìîì÷èëîâöèÍà òîçè äåí ïî öåíòðàëíàòà óëèöà íà ñ. Ìîì÷èëîâöè ñå ïðî-

âåæäàò êîííè íàäáÿãâàíèÿ. Åñòåñòâåíî çà ïîáåäèòåëèòå èìà íàã-ðàäè, à çà çðèòåëèòå – íàñòðîåíèå è âåñåëèå îò èìïðîâèçèðàíèåñòðàäè è ïðåäëàãàíèòå íà îòêðèòî ðîäîïñêè ñïåöèàëèòåòè èòðàäèöèîííè áúëãàðñêè íàïèòêè.

Êóðîðò ÏàìïîðîâîÏàìïîðîâî – íàé-ñëúí÷åâèÿò âèñîêîïëàíèíñêè áúëãàðñêè êóðîðò å ðàçïîëîæåí íà

230 êì îò ñòîëèöàòà Ñîôèÿ, íà 85 êì þæíî îò Ïëîâäèâ è íà 15 êì îò Ñìîëÿí. Êëèìàòúòå ìåê ñ îñåçàåìî ñðåäèçåìíîìîðñêî âëèÿíèå. Ñðåäíàòà ãîäèøíà òåìïåðàòóðà å 8,5° Ñ, àäåáåëèíàòà íà ñíåæíàòà ïîêðèâêà å îêîëî 150 ñì.

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TRADITIONAL HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVALSThe Rozhen Festival

If you are willing to sense the real spirit of the Rhodope people, visit the Rozhen Fair. Itusually takes place every second year at the last weekend of August. The festival has more than100-year tradition. In 1898 the border between Bulgaria and Ottoman Empire passed throughthe Rozhen saddle and people on both sides of the border gathered spontaneously on the largemeadows. In 1961 the original orchestra of 100 kaba gaidi /soft bagpipes/ appeared for the firsttime and were called the miracle of Rozhen. They became the symbol of the festival. From herethe famous song “Izlel e Delyo haidutin” started performed by Valya Balkanska to land on theboard of Voyager spaceship together with Bah, Bethoven, Motzart looking for alien civiliza-tions in the space.

Orpheus Folklore holidays in SmolyanThe International Orpheus folklore holidays have no competitive character. The main

purpose is to preserve and popularize the rich folklore heritage. This can be achieved by orga-nizing concerts. The holidays takeplace every two years. The beginningwas in 1972. Children come from allfolklore regions in the country andabroad.

Shirokolushki PesyatsiFollowing an old tradition ev-

ery year, in the first days of March acarnival is held in Shiroka Luka. Agroup of young men dressed in sheepskins and unrecognizable behindtheir frightful leather masks performancient scenes and dance to therhythm of big copper bells tiedaround their bodies. Early morningon “Pes Monday” they go round the village. Older people try to pull something off the maskedyoung men, which, as the belief goes, would bring them abundant crops and prosperity.

The Festival of Milk – SmilyanEvery year during the last weekend of August the inhabitants of the Rhodope village of

Smilyan organize the festival of milk and cows. Dressed in their best folk costumes they bringout the most beautiful milk cows, decorated with flowers, beads and bells to take part in the“Miss Cow”-contest.

Todorov Day in MomchilovtsiAccording to a long standing tradition there is a horse race in the main street of the vil-

lage. Naturally, the winners get prizes and the audience – a good mood. Then follows a festivitywith songs and dances, traditional Rhodope dishes and drinks are consumed in the open air.

THE RESORT OF PAMPOROVOPamporovo is the sunniest high mountain resort in Bulgaria. It is 230 km away from

Sofia, the distance to Plovdiv is 85 km and to Smolyan – only 15 km. One day of skiing inPamporovo is enough for you to get a nice suntan. The resort enjoys 240 sunny days a year. Itsclimate is mild and the influence of the Mediterranean is perceptible. The average annual tem-perature here is 8,5°Ñ and its blanket of snow is between 140 and 150 cm.

The central part of the resort is 1650 ì above sea level and the nearest peak Snezhanka is

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Íàäìîðñêàòà âèñî÷èíà íàöåíòðàëíàòà çîíà â êóðîðòà å1650 ì, êàòî íàé-âèñîêèÿò âðúõÑíåæàíêà å 1926 ì.

Ïàìïîðîâî ïðèâëè÷à ñâîèòåãîñòè ñ ðàçíîîáðàçèåòî îò õîòåë-ñêà áàçà: åäèí 5-çâåçäåí õîòåë,äâà 4-çâåçäíè è íÿêîëêî äåñåòêè3-çâåçäíè è äâóçâåçäíè õîòåëè ñîáù êàïàöèòåò îò íàä 5000 ëåã-ëà. Áîãàòî å ðàçíîîáðàçèåòî îò çà-âåäåíèÿ çà õðàíåíå, ðàçâëå÷åíèÿ,ñïîðòíè ïëîùàäêè è ñúîðúæåíèÿçà ôèòíåñ è ðåõàáèëèòàöèÿ.

 Ïàìïîðîâî íÿìà ëàâèíè,íèòî ðåçêè ïðîìåíè âúâ âðåìåòî, òàêà ÷å áåçîïàñíîñòòà è ñïîêîéñòâèåòî íà òóðèñòèòå ïîâðåìå íà ïî÷èâêàòà ñà ãàðàíòèðàíè. Ïèñòèòå â êóðîðòà ñà ñ îáùà äúëæèíà 20 êì è äåíè-âåëàöèÿ ìåæäó 285 è 476 ìåòðà. Òå ñà ñ ðàçëè÷íà ñòåïåí íà òðóäíîñò è íåçàâèñèìî äàëèñòå íà÷èíàåù èëè îïèòåí ñêèîð, ñïóñêàíåòî ïî òÿõ å íåçàáðàâèìî óäîâîëñòâèå.

Ñêè-ó÷èòåëè ñ äúëãîãîäèøåí îïèò ùå îáó÷àò âñåêè æåëàåù äà óñåòè òðúïêàòà íàçèìíèòå ñïîðòîâå - ñêè-ó÷èëèùàòà â Ïàìïîðîâî ñà ñðåä íàé-äîáðèòå â Åâðîïà. Ïúëíàåêèïèðîâêà ñ íàé-íîâèòå ìîäåëè îò ñâåòîâíîèçâåñòíè ïðîèçâîäèòåëè å íà ðàçïîëîæåíèåâ äåñåòêèòå ñêè-ãàðäåðîáè.

È ïðåç ëÿòîòî Ïàìïîðîâî å îòëè÷íî ìÿñòî çà àêòèâíà ïî÷èâêà ñ âúçìîæíîñòèòå çàïåøåõîäíè ïðåõîäè ñ ðàçëè÷íà òðóäíîñò è ïðîäúëæèòåëíîñò. Íàëèöå ñà ÷óäåñíè âúç-ìîæíîñòè çà ëþáèòåëèòå íà ïëàíèíñêîòî êîëîåçäåíå.

Î÷àðîâàíèåòî íà ðîäîïñêèòå ñåëàØèðîêà ëúêà ùå âè ïðåíåñå îò 21 âåê â åïîõàòà íà áúëãàðñêîòî âúçðàæäàíå. Ñåëîòî

(àðõèòåêòóðíî-åòíîãðàôñêè ðåçåðâàò) å ñèìâîë íà ðîäîïñêàòà êóëòóðà è äóõ, ñúáðàëî èñúõðàíèëî â ñåáå ñè óíèêàëíèÿ óñåò íà ðîäîï÷àíèíà çà êðàñîòà, èçÿùåñòâî è õàðìîíèÿ.Öúðêâàòà “Óñïåíèå Áîãîðîäè÷íî” å ïîñòðîåíà ñàìî çà 38 äíè ïðåç 1834 ã., à òðèòå ìîñòàíàä ðåêàòà ñà çàïàçåíè îùå îò ðèìñêî âðåìå! Àêî ñå îçîâåòå â Øèðîêà ëúêà â ïúðâèòåäíè íà ìåñåö ìàðò, ùå ñòàíåòå ñâèäåòåëè íà íåîáè÷àåí íàðîäåí êàðíàâàë - êóêåðñêèïðàçíèê, íàðå÷åí “Øèðîêîëúøêè ïåñÿöè”.

Ìîì÷èëîâöè å äðóãî ðîäîïñêî ñåëöå, ðàçïîëîæåíî âèñîêî â ïëàíèíàòà – íà 15 êì îòÑìîëÿí è îò Ïàìïîðîâî. Òóê ãîñòîïðèåìíèòå ñòîïàíè íà ÷àñòíèòå êâàðòèðè è âèëè ùåîðãàíèçèðàò çà âàñ ïåøåõîäíè òóðîâå èç ïëàíèíàòà, ùå âè ðàçêðèÿò òàéíèòå íà ìåñòíèòå

çàíàÿòè - äúðâîðåçáà, øèåíå íà ðî-äîïñêè òåðëèöè, òúêàíå, à ìàéñòîð-êèòå-ãîòâà÷êè ùå âè ïîêàæàò êàê ñåïðèãîòâÿò âêóñíèòå ðîäîïñêè ñïå-öèàëèòåòè – êëèí è ïàòàòíèê. Íåçàáðàâÿéòå äà ïîñåòèòå ìåñòíèÿ èñ-òîðèêî-åòíîãðàôñêè ìóçåé è äà ñåðàçõîäèòå äî ëåêîâèòîòî àÿçìî...

Àêî èñêàòå äà ñú÷åòàåòå óäî-âîëñòâèåòî îò êàðàíåòî íà ñêè ñóþòà íà ñåëñêàòà êúùà, èäåòå â ñ.Ñòîéêèòå. Òî å ñàìî íà 5 êì îòñêè-êóðîðòà “Ïàìïîðîâî”. Òóê ùåìîæåòå äà ñè îòïî÷èíåòå ñëåä ñïóñ-

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1926 meters high.Pamporovo offers a variety of hotels: one 5-star, two 4-star and dozens of 3-star and 2-star

hotels with a capacity of 5000 beds, and there is a great number of restaurants, snack bars,nightclubs, entertainment places, playgrounds, fitness and rehabilitation centers.

Pamporovo has no avalanches, no sharp changes in the weather and this guarantees itsguest’s safe and pleasant holidays. The total length of its snow runs is 20 kilometers with anaverage radiant of 285 and 476 meters. They represent different degrees of difficulties andgoing down them is an unforgettable experience for both beginning and adept skiers.

Highly experienced ski instructorsare at disposal to all who would like toexperience the thrills of skiing. ThePamporovo ski-schools are among thebest in Europe. Full ski suits of the latestmodels produced by the best firms in theworld are available at scores of ski andequipment hire centers.

In the summer Pamporovo is a per-fect place for activity holidays offeringwalks of different difficulty and length.It is the place where the two basic hikingroutes in the Western Rhodope cross –they are along the Chernatitsa, Perelik andPrespa ridges. The lovers of mountain bi-cycling will also find a number of suitable tracks.

THE CHARM OF THE RHODOPEAN VILLAGESShiroka Luka will be a pleasant surprise for you. You will be suddenly transferred from

the 21st century to the times of the Bulgarian Enlightenment. The village is an ethnographicand architectural site and a symbol of the culture and spirit of the Rhodopes. If you happen togo to Shiroka Luka in the first days of March, you will see their unusual carnival of mimescalled “Shirokolushki Pesyatsi” (pesyatsi is the plural of ”pesyak”- a person whose duty is totake care of dogs).

Momchilovtsi is a village situated high up in the mountains. The distance to Smolyan andPamporovo is 15 kilometers. Do not forget to visit the local History and Ethnography Museumand to take a walk to the local curative ”holy spring”.

If you are willing to combine the pleasure of skiing with the cosiness of a village houseyou should go to Stoykite. The village is only 5 km from Pamporovo. You will be able to resthere after skiing down the tracks and will be given care and attention by your hosts, warmed bythe fire at the fireplace and the fine Bulgarian wine.

Gela and Solishta are small villages whose houses are scattered over wide areas. They aresituated at the foot of the highest part of the Rhodopes called Perelik. The panoramic view youget there includes the tower of the Snezhanka Peak and the Chernatitsa elevation.

Smilyan is one of the oldest villages in the region. The most important landmark of thevillage is its old clock tower. Here you will witness the peaceful coexistence between Muslimsand Christians who celebrate together their holidays and work together to raise the temples oftheir respective faiths.

Mogilitsa is situated in the deep valley of the Arda River. You will find here the only

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êàíåòî ïî ïèñòèòå, çàîáèêîëåíè îò ãðèæèòå è âíèìàíèåòî íà âàøèòå äîìàêèíè, ñãðåíèîò îãúíÿ â êàìèíèòå è èñêðÿùîòî âèíî â ÷àøèòå âè.

Ãåëà è Ñîëèùà ñà ìàëêè ñåëöà, ïðúñíàëè ìàõàëèòå ñè ïî õúëìîâåòå íàä Øèðîêàëúêà. Îòâîðèëè äîìîâåòå ñè çà âàñ, ìåñòíèòå õîðà íå ñàìî ùå âè ñìàÿò ñ íåâåðîÿòíèòå ñèïåñåííè è ãàéäàðñêè óìåíèÿ, íî è ùå âè ïîòîïÿò â ðàçêàçè è ëåãåíäè çà îòìèíàëè âðåìå-íà. Ðàçõîäåòå ñå ïî õúëìîâåòå íàîêîëî è ùå îòêðèåòå ðóèíèòå íà äðåâíè êðåïîñòè èìàíàñòèðè.

Ñìèëÿí å åäíî îò íàé-ñòàðèòå ñåëèùà â ðàéîíà, îñíîâàíî îò òðàêèéñêîòî ïëåìåáåñè. Ñèìâîë íà ñåëîòî å ñòàðàòà ÷àñîâíèêîâà êóëà. Òóê ùå ñòàíåòå ñúïðè÷àñòíè íà ìèð-íîòî ñúæèòåëñòâî íà ìþñþëìàíè è õðèñòèÿíè, êîèòî çàåäíî ïðàçíóâàò ñâîèòå ïðàçíèöè.

Ìîãèëèöà å ðàçïîëîæåíà â äúëáîêàòà êîòëîâèíà íà ð. Àðäà. Äî äåí äíåøåí òóê åñúõðàíåí åäèíñòâåíèÿò â Áúëãàðèÿ êúñíîôåîäàëåí çàìúê – “Àãóøåâèòå êîíàöè”, èçêëþ-÷èòåëåí àíñàìáúë îò æèëèùíè è ñòîïàíñêè ñãðàäè. Êîíàêúò å ïîñòðîåí ïðåç 1834 ã. è ñåîòëè÷àâà ñ áîãàòà õóäîæåñòâåíà óêðàñà îòâúí è îòâúòðå.

Àðäà ñå íàìèðà íà 30 êì îò ãð. Ñìîëÿí, áëèçî äî áúëãàðî-ãðúöêàòà ãðàíèöà. Ðàçïî-ëîæåíî å â æèâîïèñíà êîòëîâèíà. Íàä ñåëîòî, ïîä êîðåíèòå íà âåêîâåí áóê, èçâèðà ðåêàÀðäà. Òÿ å íàé-ãîëÿìàòà ðîäîïñêà ðåêà, äúëãà 267 êì.

Êóëòóðíî-èñòîðè÷åñêè çàáåëåæèòåëíîñòèÂðúõ Ñðåäíîãîðåö (“Ðîäîïñêàòà Øèïêà”) - ìÿñòîòî, êúäåòî ïðåç Áàëêàíñêàòà âîéíà

(1912 ã.) 21-âè ïåõîòåí ïîëê ðàçãðîìÿâà íåêîëêîêðàòíî ïðåâúçõîæäàùàòà ãî âîéñêà â ðà-éîíà íà ñ. Ïîëêîâíèê Ñåðàôèìîâî.

“Àãóøåâè êîíàöè” – àðõèòåêòóðíî-åòíîãðàôñêè êîìïëåêñ â ñ. Ìîãèëèöà îò íà÷àëî-òî íà Õ²Õ â., ðîäîïñêè àíàëîã íà åâðîïåéñêèòå çàìúöè, ñåäàëèùå íà ìåñòíèÿ ôåîäàëÀãóø àãà.

“Òóðëàòà” â ñ. Øèðîêà ëúêà – îñòàíêè îò êðåïîñòè îò Âòîðîòî áúëãàðñêî öàðñòâî.

ÏîñåòåòåÈñòîðè÷åñêè ìóçåé “Ñòîþ Øèøêîâ” - ÑìîëÿíÕóäîæåñòâåíà ãàëåðèÿ - ÑìîëÿíÌóçåé “Ëàñëî Íàãè”- Ñìîëÿí, êâ. ÐàéêîâîÈñòîðèêî-åòíîãðàôñêè ìóçåé - ñ. Ìîì÷èëîâöèÈñòîðèêî-åòíîãðàôñêè ìóçåé - ñ. Øèðîêà ëúêàÍàöèîíàëíà àñòðîíîìè÷åñêà îáñåðâàòîðèÿ “Ðîæåí”Ïëàíåòàðèóì - Ñìîëÿí

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castle from the later feudal period in Bulgaria. The most important features are the external andinternal ornaments. The tower is decorated with murals of flowers; the internal decoration, byan unknown master, is of pine, walnut and cherry wood. The ”Kaleto” fortification and thecaves ”Uhlovitsa”, ”Nadarska” and ”Borikovska” are close to the village.

Arda is close to the Bulgarian-Greek border, 30kilometers away from Smolyan. The ”St. Nikola”Church was built 128 years ago. Above the village, theArda River rises from the roots of a century-old beech-three. The Arda is the longest river in the Rhodopes –267 m long.

CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL

SITESSrednogorets peak /the Rhodope Shipka/ - a place

where in the Balkan war in 1912 21st infantry regimentdefeated the superior force in the region of the villageof Serafimovo.

Agushevi konatsi – an architectural and ethno-graphic complex from the beginning of the 19th c. lo-cated in the village of Mogilitsa. It is a Rhodopeananalogue of European castles. It was a residence of thefeudal lord Agush Aga.

Tourlata – ruins of fortresses dating back to the Second Bulgarian Kingdom.

SIGHTSEEING

Historical museum - SmolyanArt gallery - SmolyanLaslo Nagi Museum – Smolyan, RaikovoHistorical and ethnographic museum - MomchilovtsiHistorical and ethnographic museum – Shiroka lukaNational astronomic observatory “Rozhen”Planetarium - Smolyan

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Òðàêèÿ

 äðåâíà Ãúðöèÿ, ñïîðåä ìèòîëîãèÿòà, Òðàêèÿ å ñ÷èòàíà çà ìíîãî âàæåí ðåãèîí. Òóêå æèâÿë Àðåñ, áîãúò íà âîéíàòà. Ñúùî òàêà òóê ñà æèâåëè Âîðåé, Îðôåé è Äèîíèñèé.Âåòðîâåòå, âúëíèòå, ìóçèêàòà è ìèñòåðèèòå çà áîãîòâîðåíå íà ïðèðîäàòà ñà áèëè âñè÷êèáëèçêî ñâúðçàíè ñ âåëèêàòà çåìÿ íà Òðàêèÿ. Íåùî ïîâå÷å, èìà íÿêîëêî òðàãè÷íè, íî íåæ-íè ëåãåíäè, ñâúðçàíè ñ ôëîðàòà è ôàóíàòà íà ðåãèîíà, íàïðèìåð çà Òèðåàñ, Ïðîëîíè,Ôèëîìèëà è Èðèñ. Òåçè ãåðîè ñà áèëè ïðåâúðíàòè â ïòèöè.

Åäèí îò ïîäâèçèòå íà Õåðêóëåñ, òîçè ñ êîíåòå íà Äèîìèäèé, å òÿñíî ñâúðçàí ñ åçåðî-òî Âèñòîíèäà è ñ ðåãèîíà íà Àâäèðà.

ÊÑÀÍÒÈÊñàíòè èëè Êñàíòåÿ, èìåòî, ñ êîåòî å ïîçíàòî îùå îò 879 ã., ïúðâîíà÷àëíî å áèëî ìàëêî

ñåëî, ïðåìèíàëî ïðåç âñè÷êè íåñãîäè, êîèòî òðàêèòå ñà èçòúðïåëè, êàòî íàøåñòâèÿ, áåäñò-âèÿ, àòàêè (îò ñòðàíà íà ãîòè, õóíè, ñëà-âÿíè) è ãðàæäàíñêè áîðáè. Îòîìàíöè-òå ñà äîøëè â ðàéîíà è ñà îòêðèëè, ÷åíàñåëåíèåòî íàìàëÿâà è ïî÷òè âñè÷êîå ðàçðóøåíî. Òå ñà äîâåëè çàñåëíèöèîò äúëáèíèòå íà Ìàëà Àçèÿ è ñúçäàëèÃåíèñåÿ. Îðàéî è Êñàíòè îáà÷å ñà õðèñ-òèÿíñêè è ãðúöêè öåíòðîâå.

Ïðåç 1715 ã. Êñàíòè ñòàâà èçâåñ-òåí ñ òþòþíà, êàêòî è Ãåíèñåÿ. Ìíî-ãî ÷óæäåñòðàííè ïúòåøåñòâåíèöè ñàïúòóâàëè ïðåç ðåãèîíà è îïèñâàò æè-âîòà è áîðáàòà íà íåãîâèòå æèòåëè.Êñàíòè å èçâåñòåí â öÿëà Åâðîïà ñúñ

ñâîÿòà òúðãîâèÿ ñ òþòþí. Äâåòå ãîëåìè çåìåòðåñåíèÿ ïðåç ìàðò è àïðèë 1829 ã. ñà îñòà-âèëè òðàéíè ïîñëåäèöè, çàùîòî ãðàäúò å áèë ðàçðóøåí. Íåçàáàâíî å çàïî÷íàëî âúçñòà-íîâÿâàíåòî íà ãðàäà. Ïðåç 1860 ã. å ñúñòàâåí îáùèíñêèÿò ñúâåò íà Êñàíòè. Ïðåç 1870 ã.Ãåíèñåÿ å èçãîðåíà èçöÿëî è âñè÷êè äúðæàâíè ó÷ðåæäåíèÿ ñà ïðåìåñòåíè â Êñàíòè, êîé-òî ïî òîâà âðåìå èìà íàñåëåíèå îò 10 000 äóøè. Ïðåç 1891 ã. å ïîñòðîåíà æåëåçîïúòíàëèíèÿ êðàé ãðàäà è èêîíîìè÷åñêîòî ðàçâèòèå íàëàãà ñòðîåæà íà ó÷èëèùà è ñúçäàâàíåòîíà àñîöèàöèè.

Àðõåîëîãúò Åâ.Ïåíòàçîñ ïèøå ñëåäíîòî çà ñòàðèÿ ãðàä Êñàíòè, êîéòî å ïîñòðîåíîòíîâî ñëåä 1830 ã.:

“Ãðàäúò å ïîñòðîåí íà ñêëîíîâåòå íà ïîëåãàòè õúëìîâå, êúäåòî ïëàíèíàòà Éåðàêàñå ñíèæàâà è å çàîáèêîëåí îò òðè ìàíàñòèðà – Ïàíàãèÿ Êàëàìó, Ïàíîãèÿ Àðõàíãåëèîòèñàè Òàêñèàðõåñ. Äâå êëèñóðè ãîðàçäåëÿò íà çàïàä è ðåêà Êà-ñèíòîñ – íà èçòîê. Ðàçíîîá-ðàçèåòî íà ïî÷âèòå ïîä÷åðòà-âà íåãîâèÿ ñïåöèôè÷åí õà-ðàêòåð, êàòî ìàéñòîðèòå îòçàïàäíà Ìàêåäîíèÿ èçïîëç-âàò ñâîÿ òðàäèöèîíåí îïèò çàïîñòðîÿâàíåòî íà ãîëåìè êú-ùè, êîèòî ñå ñú÷åòàâàò ñ ïðè-ðîäíàòà ñðåäà. Ðåçóëòàòúò å÷óäåñíî ðàçíîîáðàçèå îòìåñòíè è ÷óæäè åëåìåíòè,

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ThraceIn mythology, in Ancient Greece, Thrace was considered to be a very significant region. It

was the base of Aris, the God of War. It was also the base of Voreas, Orpheus and Dionisus. Thewinds, the waves, music and the mysteries for the worship of Nature were all associated withthe great land of Thrace. Moreover, in relation to the flora and fauna of the area, there existsome tragic, but tender legends, like the ones of Tireas, Prokni, Filomila and Itis. Those heroeswere all transformed into birds.

One of the labours of Hercules, the one with the horses of Diomidis, is closely associatedwith the Vistonida Lake and with the region of Avdira.

XANTHIXanthi, or Xantheia, the name by which it has been known since the year 879 A.D. was

originally a small village, exposed toall the adventures that Thrace under-went including invasions, disasters,attacks (from the Goths, the Huns, theSlavs) and civil strife. The Ottomanscame upon the region to find a dwin-dling population and nearly every-thing destroyed. They brought overinhabitants from the depths of AsiaMinor and created Genisea. Oraio andXanthi however were Christian andHellenic centres.

In 1715 Xanthi became famousfor its tobacco, as did Genisea. Manyforeign travellers passed through theregion and described the life and struggle of its inhabitants. Xanthi became well-known through-out Europe for its tobacco trade. Two major earthquakes in March and April of 1829 were tohave a lasting effect on the town, which they destroyed. Re-building was undertaken immedi-ately. From 1860 the Municipal Council of Xanthi was developed. In 1870 Genisea was burntclown and all official offices were transferred to Xanthi which, by then, had a population of10,000. In 1891 the railway was built near the town and economic development led to thebuilding of schools and the establishing of associations.

The archaeologist Ev. Pentazos writes the following about the Old Town of Xanthi whichwas rebuilt after 1830:

“The town is built on the slopes of soft hills, where the mountains of Yeraka descend and,is framed by the three monasteries of Panaghia Kalamou, Panaghia Archangeliotissa andTaxiarches. Two gorges divide it to the west and a river, the Kosinthos, to the east. The varietyof land emphasizes its special character, while the western Macedonian masters have used theirdeep-rooted experience to build mansion houses which blend in with the natural environment.The result was a bright variety of rhythms with local and foreign elements placed side by sidein a relaxing and enriching sight for the visitor. It is a pleasure to walk down the narrow streetsagain and again and receive different impressions from every aspect.

The Old Town of Xanthi - a modern town for its time, with its narrow streets, neo-classical and traditional- style houses, its flowered yards and gardens and its lush green-ery - still give the feeling of wealth and beauty of the life of those who built and devel-oped it. The tobacco factories and warehouses were built in the plains so as not to disturbthe peace of the town and became a special area, which is now surrounded by the modernapartment blocks of contemporary Xanthi”.

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ñú÷åòàíè åäèí ñ äðóã â åäíà îòïóñêàùà è îáîãàòÿâàùà ãëåäêà çà òóðèñòà. Óäîâîëñòâèå åäà ñå ðàçõîæäàòå ïî òåñíèòå óëè÷êè è äà ñå íàñëàæäàâàòå íà âñåêè äåòàéë.

Ñòàðèÿò ãðàä Êñàíòè – åäèí ìîäåðåí ãðàä çà ñâîåòî âðåìå, ñúñ ñâîèòå òåñíè óëèöè,íåîêëàñè÷åñêè è òðàäèöèîííè êúùè, ñ äâîðîâå è ãðàäèíè, ïúëíè ñ öâåòÿ è áîãàòà çåëå-íèíà – âñå îùå äàâà ïðåäñòàâà çà áîãàòñòâîòî è êðàñîòàòà íà æèâîòà íà òåçè, êîèòî ñà ãîïîñòðîèëè è ðàçâèâàëè. Òþòþíåâèòå ôàáðèêè è ñêëàäîâå ñà ïîñòðîåíè â ïîëåòî, çà äà íåíàðóøàâàò ñïîêîéñòâèåòî íà ãðàäà è ñà ñå îáîñîáèëè â ñïåöèàëåí ðàéîí, êîéòî ñåãà åçàîáèêîëåí îò ìîäåðíèòå æèëèùíè áëîêîâå íà ñúâðåìåííèÿ Êñàíòè.”

Öúðêâèòå â ñòðàðèÿ Êñàíòè ñòàðèÿ Êñàíòè ñå íàìèðàò ìíîãî öúðêâè ñ áîãàòà èñòîðèÿ, êàòî:

Àêàòèñòîñ Õèìíîñ. Ïîñ-òðîåí ïðåç 1860 ã. Îòêðèò â ðà-éîíà, ïîçíàò êàòî ñòàðèÿ ãðàä;

Ïàìåãèñòîè Òàêñèàõåñ

(Êàâàêè). Ïîñòðîåí äî ñòàðàöúðêâà ïðåç 1747 ã., ðàçïîëîæåíñúùî â ñòàðèÿ ãðàä çàä Ìåòðî-ïîëèñ (êàòåäðàëà);

Àãèîñ Ãåîðãèîñ (ñâ. Ãåîð-

ãè). ðàçïîëîæåí ñúùî â ñòàðèÿãðàä è áëèçî äî öúðêâàòà“Ñâ.Âëàñèîñ”;

Àãèîñ Âëàñèîñ (Ñâ. Âëàñè-

îñ). Äðåâåí ìàíàñòèð, âåðîÿòíîïîñòðîåí ïðåç 1825 ã. È äâåòåöúðêâè ñà â êâàðòàë, êúäåòî ñà

æèâåëè áëàãîðîäíèöèòå íà ãðàäà è ïîçíàò êàòî Àãèîñ Âëàñèîñ.Èìà ñúùî è ìíîãîáðîéíè ïàðàêëèñè, òúé êàòî æèòåëèòå íà ñòàðèÿ Êñàíòè ñà ãè

ñòðîèëè â ñâîèòå äâîðîâå.Íà ïëîùàä “Ìåòðîïîëèñ” ñå íàìèðàò ñëåäíèòå ñãðàäè: Êàòåäðàëà “Òèìèîñ Ïðîä-

ðîìîñ” (Ìåòðîïîëèñ), Ðåçèäåíöèÿòà íà ìèòðîïîëèòà (Ìåòðîïîëèòèêî Ìåãàðî), ó÷èëè-ùå “Ìàöèíè”, äåòñêà ãðàäèíà “Ñòàëèîñ”, ïðåäñòàâèòåëíè ñãðàäè íà áèâøè ãðúöêè êîí-ñóëñòâà, ñîáñòâåíîñò íà áîãàòè òúðãîâöè íà òþòþí, è ñãðàäè, â êîèòî ñà ñå íàìèðàëèðàçëè÷íè ÷óæäè êîíñóëñòâà ïðåç âðåìåòî.

Ïî-íàòàòúê ñå íàìèðà òúðãîâñêèÿò öåíòúð ñúñ ñâîèòå ñòàðè êèíà, ìàãàçèíè è ñòðà-íîïðèåìíèöè.

Íà þãîçàïàä ñà ðàçïîëîæåíè êâàðòàëèòå “Ñâ.Ãåîðãè” è “Ñâ.Âëàñèîñ”, êúäåòî ñà ïîñ-òðîåíè ìíîãî ïðåäñòàâèòåëíè ñãðàäè. Íà þã îò ñòàðèÿ ãðàä ñëåä 1860 ã. ñà èçäèãíàòèñêëàäîâåòå çà òþòþí.

Ìåñòà çà îòäèõ è ïî÷èâêàËþáèòåëèòå íà ïðèðîäàòà è ìîðåòî èìàò

îòëè÷íè âúçìîæíîñòè äà ñå âúçõèùàâàò íàêðàñèâàòà ïðèðîäíà ñðåäà íà ðåãèîíà, îñîáå-íî íà êðàéáðåæíàòà çîíà, êúäåòî ìîãàò äà âè-äÿò äåëòàòà íà Íåñòîñ, åçåðîòî Âèñòîíèäà èðàçëè÷íè ìî÷óðèùà. Ïîðå÷èåòî íà Íåñòîñ,ïðîòîêúò íà Íåñòîñ, ðàéîíúò îò Ëèâåðà (ñúñçàáåëåæèòåëíèòå ïåùåðè) äî Ñòàâðóïîëèñ,âñè÷êè òîâà ïðåäëàãà âúçìîæíîñòè çà äåéíîñ-òè ñðåä ïðèðîäàòà è âîäíè ñïîðòîâå.

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The churches in the old Xanthi

There are many churches with rich history in the old town, such as:

Akathistos Hymnos. Built in 1860. Found in the area known as Old Town.

Pammegistoi Taxiarches (Kavaki). Built on the site of an older church in 1747, situatedalso in Old Town settlement behind the Metropolis (Cathedral).

Agios Georgios (St. George). Placed also in the Old Town and near by the church of St.Vlasios.

Agios Vlasios (St. Vlasios). A former monastery. Possibly built in 1825. Bothchurches are in quarter where the nobles of the town lived and the quarter is known as AgiosVlasios.

There are also numerous chapels as the old Xanthi residents used to build them in theircourtyards.

In the Metropolis Square the following buildings are standing: The Holy Cathedral ofTimios Prodromos (Metropolis), the Bishop’s Residence (Metropolitiko Megaro), the MatsiniSchool, the Stalios Nursery School, the former Greek Consulate mansion houses belonging torich tobacco merchants and buildings which housed various foreign consulates from time totime.

Further down, the commercial centre with its old cinemas, shops and inns, is met.Southwest the St. George and St. Vlasios quartier is placed, where numerous mansion

houses are standing. In the south of the “Old Town” after 1860 the tobacco warehouses blockswere erected.

Places for rest and recreation

The fans of nature and sea have some excellent opportunities to admire the beautifulenvironment of the region, especially the coastal zone, where they can see the Nestos Delta, thelake Vistonida and the various wetlands. The flow of Nestos, the Strait of Nestos, the area fromLiveria (with remarkable canes) to Stavroupolis, they all offer an opportunity for naturalistactivities and river sport-activities.

The virgin mountains ofRodopi with the wonderful for-ests, the Forest of Drimos,bridges, springs and settlementsfrom another time, the waterfallof Livaditis and the recreationplaces in the forest along withthe mountain shelters are thebest places to go on mountainholidays.

In the region of Xanthi,you can find as recreation placesthe city forest, the area aroundthe the river Kosinthos, the

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Äåâñòâåíàòà ïëàíèíà Ðîäîïè ñ ïðåêðàñ-íèòå ãîðè, ãîðàòà â Äðèìîñ, ìîñòîâåòå, ïîòî-÷åòàòà è ñåëèùàòà îò äðåâíè âðåìåíà, âîäîïà-äúò â Ëèâàäèòèñ è âúçñòàíîâèòåëíèòå öåíòðî-âå â ãîðàòà çàåäíî ñ ïëàíèíñêèòå õèæè ñà íàé-äîáðèòå ìåñòà çà ïî÷èâêà â ïëàíèíàòà.

 ðåãèîíà íà Êñàíòè êàòî öåíòðîâå çà ïî-÷èâêà è âúçñòàíîâÿâàíå ìîãàò äà ñå ñ÷èòàò ãî-ðàòà êðàé ãðàäà, ðàéîíúò îêîëî ðåêà Êîñèíòîñ,ìàíàñòèðèòå è õúëìîâåòå îêîëî Êñàíòè, òðà-äèöèîííèòå ñåëèùà â Êñàíòè, ñåëî Àâäèðà, Ãå-íèñåÿ, Êèìåðèÿ, Ñòàâðóïîëèñ.

Çà ñïîðòèñòè è ïðèðîäîëþáèòåëèÐîäîïèòå ñà ïðåäèçâèêàòåëñòâî ïðåç öÿëàòàãîäèíà. Äîáðå îôîðìåíèòå ïúòåêè ñìåæäóíàðîäíè òàáåëêè (Å6) âîäÿò êúìïëàíèíñêèòå âúðõîâå è äðóãè ìåñòà ñíåâåðîÿòíà êðàñîòà, êîèòî íÿêàêñè óñïÿâàò äàîñòàíàò ñêðèòè, çà äà ïðåäèçâèêàò áåçñòðàøíèÿëþáèòåë íà äèâàòà ïðèðîäà. Èçîáèëíèÿò ñíÿã,êîéòî ïîêðèâà âñè÷êî ïðåç çèìàòà, âêîìáèíàöèÿ ñ ÷óäåñíèÿ êëèìàò íà ðàéîíà,ïðåäëàãà ñèëíè ïðåæèâÿâàíèÿ ïðè êàðàíå íàñêè ïî äúëãè ñêëîíîâå. Ïëàíèíñêèòå ïúòèùà,

êîèòî ñå âèÿò èç ãîðèòå íà Ðîäîïèòå, ñà èäåàëíè çà ïëàíèíàðè è âåëîñèïåäèñòè.Ôîëêëîðíèÿò ìóçåé, Õóäîæåñòâåíàòà ãàëåðèÿ â ãðàäà “Õðèñòîñ Ïàâëèäèñ” è ðàç-

ëè÷íè çàáåëåæèòåëíè êúùè ñå íàìèðàò â ñòàðèÿ ãðàä íà Êñàíòè. Óðåäåíà å èçëîæáà íàâåëèêîëåïíà êîëåêöèÿ îò èêîíè è öúðêîâíè ðåëèêâè â ìàíàñòèðà íà Ïàíàãèÿ Àðõàãåëè-îòèñà.  ïîêðàéíèíèòå íà ãðàäà, â ðàéîíà íà ãðîáèùàòà (êúäåòî èìà çàáåëåæèòåëíè ñêóë-ïòóðè) ñå íàìèðà Ìóçåÿò íà íàöèîíàëíàòà èñòîðèÿ.  ðåãèîíà íà Àâäèðà, îñâåí àðõå-îëîãè÷åñêèòå ðàçêîïêè, òóðèñòúò ìîæå äà ñå íàñëàæäàâà íà âå÷íèòå áîãàòñòâà íà òîçèðàéîí â íîâèÿ Àðõåîëîãè÷åñêè ìóçåé.

Èñòîðèÿ è öèâèëèçàöèÿ×ðåç òåçè òðàäèöèîííè ñåëèùà ïîñåòèòåëèòå íà ðàéîíà èìàò âúçìîæíîñò äà âèäÿò

æèâîòà ïî âðåìå íà îòîìàíñêîòî ðîáñòâî. Íÿêîè òðàäèöèîííè ñãðàäè â ñòàðèÿ ãðàä, ðàç-áèðà ñå, ñà ðàçðóøåíè.  ñåëàòà Ãåíèñåÿ, Ñòàâðóïîëèñ, Åõèíîñ, Êèìåðèÿ, Àâäèðà, Õðè-ñà, à òàêà ñúùî è â ñåëèùàòà îêîëî ðàéîíà íà Ñòàâðóïîëèñ, èìà òðàäèöèîííè êúùè,êîèòî ñà áèëè ñîáñòâåíîñò íà çåìåäåëöè è ñêîòîâúäöè. Ïîêðèòèòå âåðàíäè, êàìúíèòå,êåðåìèäèòå, êîìèíèòå ñà îáùèòå õàðàêòåðèñòèêè íà âñè÷êè âèäîâå êúùè. Íåîêëàñè÷åñ-êèòå ãîëåìè êúùè, íà êîèòî ìîæåì äà ñå âúçõèòèì ãëàâíî â òðàäèöèîííèÿ ñòàð ãðàä íàÊñàíòè, ïîêàçâàò âëèÿíèåòî íà çàïàäíàòà êóëòóðà â ðåãèîíà.

Ãðàä Êñàíòè ñúñ ñòàðèòå öúðêâè, ïëîùàäè, êðú÷ìè è òþòþíåâè ñêëàäîâå ñâèäåòåë-ñòâà çà öèâèëèçàöèÿòà íà ìèíàëèÿ âåê.

Èñòîðè÷åñêîòî áîãàòñòâî è òðàäèöèè íà ðåãèîíà ñà ñúõðàíåíè â ìíîãî ñåêòîðè, êà-òî åçèê, íðàâè è îáè÷àè, òàíöè, ïåñíè è íîñèè. Ïðåç 20 âåê íàðåä ñ ìåñòíèòå ìåëîäèèèìà ñúùî òàêà è àðìåíñêè ìåëîäèè (çíà÷èòåëíà àðìåíñêà îáùíîñò), ìîòèâè îò çåìèòå íàÏîíòîñ, îò Ìàëà Àçèÿ, äðóãè îò èçòî÷íà èëè ñåâåðíà Òðàêèÿ. Îñâåí òîâà èìà ìåëîäèè èìîòèâè îò Ìåéíëåíä, Ìàêåäîíèÿ, Òåñàëè, Ïåëîïîíåñ, Êðèò, Êèïúð, êîèòî ñà îáðàáîòåíèâ ðàéîíà â ïúëíà õàðìîíèÿ. Òðÿáâà äà ñïîìåíåì ðàçëè÷íàòà êóëòóðà íà ìþñþëìàíèòå, çàäà ôîðìèðàìå êóëòóðíàòà ïàíîðàìà íà ðåãèîíà.

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monasteries and the hills around Xanthi, the traditional settlements in Xanthi, in the village ofAvdera, Genisea, Kimmeria and Stavroupolis.

For sportsmen and nature-lovers Rodopi is a challenge throughout the year. Well-madepathways with international sign-posts (E6) lead to mountain peaks and other locations ofincredible beauty that somehow manage to hide away, to provoke the daring lover of wildnature. The thick snows that covers everything in wintertime in combination with wonderfulclimate of the area offers sensational skiing experience for long descents. The mountain roadsthat unwind through the forests of Rodopi are ideal for mountaineers and cyclists.

The Folklore Museum, the ‘Christos Pavlidis’ Town Art Gallery and various mansions arelocated in the Old Town of Xanthi. An exhibition of an excellent selection of icons and churchrelics is in the monastery of Panaghia Archangeliotissa, whereas on the outskirts of the city, inthe area of the cemetery (where there are magnificent sculptures) is the Museum of NaturalHistory. In the end, in the region of Avdera, apart from the archeological places, the visitor willalso admire the everlasting treasures of this area in the new Archeological Museum.

History and civilization

The visitor of the area has the opportunity to see the life, during the latter Ottoman Occu-pation, through the traditional settlements. Some traditional buildings were destroyed but inthe Old Town as well as in the vil-lage of Genisea, Stavroupolis,Echinos, Kimmeria, Avdera, Crisaand in the villages around the re-gion of Stavroupolis there are tra-ditional settlements and traditionalhouses that belonged to farmersand stock-raisers. The roofed ve-randah, the stone, the tile, thechimneys are common character-istics of all the houses. The neo-classic mansions that one can ad-mire mainly in the traditionalsettlements of the Old Town ofXanthi show off the influence of awestern culture to the region.

The city of Xanthi with the old churches, the squares, the inns and the tobacco ware-houses indicate the civilization of the previous century.

The richness and the diachronic presence of the region are preserved in many sectors as inthe language, manners and costumes. In the 20th c., along with the native tunes there are alsosome Armenian tunes (an important Armenian community), some tunes from the land of Pontos,some from the Asia Minor, others from the Eastern or the Northern Thrace. In addition, thereare tunes from the Mainland, Macedonia, Thessaly, the Peloponnese, Crete, Cypros whichhave been developed in the area in perfect harmony. We should also mention the diverse cul-ture of the Muslims in order to form the cultural panorama of the region.

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Òðàäèöèîííè îáè÷àèÆèòåëèòå íà Êñàíòè ñà ñúõðàíèëè íå ñàìî òðàêèéñêèòå íðàâè è îáè÷àè, êàòî ïðàçíèöè-

òå íà 12-òå äíè (êîëåäàðñêèòå ïåñíè è ðàçíîîáðàçíè ÿñòèÿ íà ìàñàòà çà Êîëåäà, Íîâà ãîäèíàè Áîãîÿâëåíèå), íî ñúùî òàêà è îáè÷à-èòå ïî âðåìå íà êàðíàâàëíèòå ôåñòèâà-ëè, êîèòî ñà îñîáåíî ñïåöèàëíè, çàùî-òî ñúäúðæàò ãðàäñêè è ñåëñêè åëåìåí-òè. Ïîñëåäíàòà íåäåëÿ íà êàðíàâàëíè-òå øåñòâèÿ ñå ïðîâåæäà ìåñòåí îáè÷àé,íàðå÷åí “Öàðîñ”. Òîâà å ôèãóðà íà öà-ðÿ íà êàðíàâàëà, êîÿòî ñå èçãàðÿ íà ãî-ëÿì îãúí áëèçî äî ðåêàòà íà Êñàíòè. Çà-ñåëíèöèòå îò ñåâåðíà Òðàêèÿ ñà äîíåñ-ëè îáè÷àé, êîéòî å ñúõðàíåí â ñåëî ÍåàÊåñàíè. Òîâà å ôåñòèâàëúò íà “Áàáî”,åäèí âèä öàðóâàíå íà æåíèòå â òîâà ìÿñ-

òî. Â Ñòàâðóïîëèñ èìà ïðàçíèê íà “Êàìèëàòà”.Îñîáåíî âàæíè ñà Òðàêèéñêèÿò ôîëêëîðåí ôåñòèâàë ïî âðåìå íà êàðíàâàëà è

Ôåñòèâàëúò íà ñòàðèÿ ãðàä â íà÷àëîòî íà ñåïòåìâðè.Îò êëàñè÷åñêèòå ìàíäîëèíè è õîðîâå äî ðîê-ãðóïèòå è îò òðàäèöèîííèòå òðàêèéñêè

òàíöè äî ìîäåðíèòå ðèòìè íà åëåêòðîííàòà ìóçèêà, Êñàíòè ïèøå ñâîÿòà ñîáñòâåíàèñòîðèÿ.

Çàíàÿò÷èèÃèîðãîñ Òåêåðëåêîïîèëîñ

Ãðúí÷àð

Ãèîðãîñ Òåêåðëåêîïîèëîñ äíåñå åäèíñòâåíèÿò ãðúí÷àð â Êñàíòè èå èçâåñòåí ñ ðàáîòàòà ñè ïî öåëèÿðåãèîí.

Ïúðâèÿò ìó êîíòàêò ñ ãëèíàòà åîòïðåäè 60 ãîäèíè, îùå êàòî ìàëêîäåòå òîé íàáëþäàâàë ñâîÿ áàùà êàêâçåìà íåîäóøåâåíî è áåçôîðìåíîïàð÷å è ìó âäúõâàë æèâîò.Ðåçóëòàòúò îò òîâà íàáëþäåíèå åíåãîâîòî áîãîòâîðåíå íàãðúí÷àðñòâîòî è ïî-êúñíî ãîïðàêòèêóâà êàòî ïðîôåñèÿ.

Íåãîâèòå ïðîèçâåäåíèÿ ñà÷èíèè çà õðàíåíå èëè ÷èíèè çà

óêðàñà íà ñòåíè, âàçè, ÷îâåøêè ôèãóðè, êàíè, ïðåäìåòè è ñèìâîëè íà Êñàíòè, êîèòîïðåäñòàâëÿâàò èíòåðåñ çà òóðèñòèòå.

Âñè÷êî, êîåòî òîé ñúçäàâà îò ãëèíà â ñâîåòî àòåëèå, ñå ïðîäàâà ïî ïàçàðèòå â öÿëàòàñòðàíà, ãëàâíî íà îñòðîâèòå, íî ñúùî òàêà è â ÷óæáèíà, íàïðèìåð â Ãåðìàíèÿ..

Ëèòà Ìàâðîãåíè

Õóäîæíèê

Ëèòà Ìàâðîãåíè e ðîäåíà â Êñàíòè. Æèâåå è òâîðè â Êñàíòè, íî å èçâåñòíà êàêòî âÃúðöèÿ, òàêà è èçâúí íåÿ.

Òÿ å õóäîæíèê ñèìâîëèñò è íåéíèòå òâîðáè îòðàçÿâàò ëè÷íèòå é ïðîáëåìè èðàçáèðàíèÿ.

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Traditional customsThe citizens of Xanthi, preserve not only the Thracian manners and customs, such as the

feast for the twelve days (carols and various foods on the table during Christmas, New YearEve and the Epiphany), but also the customs during the carnival festivities, which are quitedistinct because they contain urban and rural features. A local custom, which is called ‘Tzaros’,is performed during the last Sunday of the carnival festivities. It is an effigy of the king ofCarnival, which is burned in a big fire near the river of Xanthi. Moreover, the inhabitants of thenorthern Thrace, brought a custom that is still preserved in the village of Nea Kessani. It is thefeast of ‘Babo’, a kind of domination of the place by women. In Stavroupolis they have thecustom or the feast of the ‘Camel’.

Of special importance are the ‘Thracian Folkloric Festival’ during the Carnival and the‘Old Town Festival’ at the beginning of September.

From the classical mandolins and choirs to the rock groups and from the traditional Thraciandances to the modern rhythm of electronic music, Xanthi writes its own history.

Artisans

Giorgos Tekerlekopoylos

Potter

Giorgos Tekerlekopoylos is today theonly potter in Xanthi and famous for hisart in the wider region. His first contact withthe clay was when, 60 years ago, he wasstill a little child, was watching his fathertaking a piece of inanimate and shapelessmass and giving life to it. The result of thatwas to adore the art of pottery himself, too,and practice it later as a profession.Amonghis creations are plates for food or platesused for wall decoration, flowerpots, hu-man figures, jugs, objects and symbolsfrom Xanthi which attract mainly the in-terest of the tourists. Everything that hemanufactures with clay in his laboratory is channelled in the markets of the entire country -mainly in the islands - but also abroad (for example in Germany).

Lita Mayrogeni

Painter

Lita Mavrogeni is a painter bornin Xanthi. She lives and creates inXanthi but she is also famous inside andoutside Greece.She is a symbolicpainter. That is to say that her work ex-presses her personal questions andconcerns.Up to day she has created fiveartistic themes (“Moral Rise”, “the Rid-ers of the Light”, “The Angels of Rev-elation”, “Tripartite Dionisos-Orpheus-Christ”, “Touch”) that spring from herpersonal searches as a human but touchupon the people, too, as it’ s been provedby her communication with them.Her

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Äîñåãà òÿ å ñúçäàëà ïåò õóäîæåñòâåíè òåìè – “Ìîðàëíî èçäèãàíå”, “Åçäà÷èòå íàñâåòëèíàòà”, “Àíãåëèòå íà îòêðîâåíèåòî”, Òðèìàòà Äèîíèñèé-Îðôåé-Õðèñòîñ,“Äîêîñâàíå”, êîèòî âúçíèêâàò îò íåéíèòå ëè÷íè òúðñåíèÿ êàòî ÷îâåê, íî ñúùî òàêà îêàçâàòâúçäåéñòâèå âúðõó õîðàòà, êîåòî å ïîòâúðäåíî îò îáùóâàíåòî ñ òÿõ.

Íåéíèòå êàðòèíè ñà èçëîæåíè â ðàçëè÷íè ãðàäîâå ïî ñâåòà – Èñòàíáóë, Ïàíòîâà,Âåíåöèÿ, Ñîëóí, Ìîñêâà, Àòèíà, Èíñáðóê, Ìàëòà, Áåðëèí, Àíêàðà, Èçìèð.

Îñíîâàòåë å íà Àêàäåìèÿ è ìóçåé íà äåòñêîòî èçêóñòâî, ÷èÿòî öåë å äà ñúçäàäå äîìíà äåòñêîòî èçêóñòâî â ðàçëè÷íè ãðàäîâå ïî ñâåòà.

Íåéíîòî ìîòî å “Äà èçïîëçâàìå èçêóñòâîòî êàòî ñðåäñòâî çà îáó÷åíèå íà äåöàòà, çàäà èì ïîìîãíåì äà íàäíèêíàò â ñâîÿ âúòðåøåí ñâÿò è äà êîìóíèêèðàò ñ âúíøíèÿ ñâÿò.”

Ðåêà ÍåñòîñÐåêà Íåñòîñ – ðåêàòà íà æèâîòà, êàêòî ÿ íàðè÷àò, å åñòåñòâåíàòà ãðàíèöà ìåæäó

Òðàêèÿ è Ìàêåäîíèÿ. Ðåêà Íåñòîñ å áèëà ïúòïðåç ïëàíèíàòà äî ìîðåòî îùå îò äðåâíèâðåìåíà. Îò 1891 ã.æåëåçîïúòíàòà ëèíèÿ ïîáðåãà íà ðåêàòà , åäíî âåëè÷åñòâåíîïúòóâàíå ïðåç 30 òóíåëà, å äîïðèíåñëà çàñúæèâÿâàíåòî íà âñè÷êè îêîëíè ñåëèùà.

Ïðèáëèæàâàéêè òîçè ðàéñêè êúò ñïî÷èò è óâàæåíèå, ïúòíèêúò ïî Íåñòîñ èìàøàíñà äà ñå íàñëàäè íà äèâè öâåòÿ ñ ðÿäêàõóáîñò, íàïðèìåð îðõèäåè, â òÿõíàòàåñòåñòâåíà ñðåäà.

Ëþáèòåëè íà ñïîðòà è ïðèðîäàòà ìîãàòäà ñúçåðöàâàò ðåêàòà, êàòî âúðâÿò ïîêðàé íåÿ ïî åâðîïåéñêèÿ ïúò Å6 èëè êàòî ãðåáàòíàäîëó ïî òå÷åíèåòî â êàíó.

Çàùèòåíà òåðèòîðèÿÏëàâàéêè íàäîëó ïî òå÷åíèåòî íà ðåêà Íåñòîñ, ïîñåòèòåëÿò ìèíàâà ïîêðàé îñòàíêèòå

íà Êîöà Îðìàí – ëåãåíäàðíàòà ãîðà, êàêòî ñà ÿ íàðåêëè òóðöèòå, öåíåíà âèñîêî çàðàäèçàùèòàòà, êîÿòî å äàâàëà ïðè íàâîäíåíèÿ. Íàé-êðàñèâàòà è íàé-öåííàòà ãîðà â Åâðîïà ñïëîù îò 72 000 àêðà äî 1946 ã., êîãàòî å áèëà êàòî ãèãàíòñêà íåïðîõîäèìà çåëåíà ñòåíà îòâèñîêè äúðâåòà, äíåñ ïðåäñòàâëÿâà ñàìî ñ íÿêîëêî àêðà, êîèòî ñå îïàçâàò âíèìàòåëíî, çàäà íè íàïîìíÿ çà íåéíîòî ñëàâíî ìèíàëî.

Êàêâî äà ïîõàïíåìÌíîãîáðîéíè ìàëêè êðú÷ìè, ðàçïðúñíàòè ïî öåëèÿ ãðàä, ùå âè ïîìîãíàò äà ïðåêà-

ðàòå åäíà íåçàáðàâèìà íîù ñ ìåñòíèòå äåëèêàòåñè. Àêî ïðåäïî÷èòàòå ðåñòîðàíòèòå, òåïðåäëàãàò ÷óäåñíî ñïåöèàëíî ìåíþ.

Âúâ âñÿêî ñåëèùå â ïëàíèíàòà èìàìåõàíà, êúäåòî ìîæåòå äà îïèòàòå îòëè÷-íè ìåñíè äåëèêàòåñè è íàé-âêóñíîòî ñè-ðåíå.

Êñàíòè ñúùî òàêà å ãàñòðîíîìè÷åñ-êè ðàé çà ïðÿñíà ðèáà è ðèáíè ÿñòèÿ. Òà-âåðíèòå çà ðèáà â ãðàäà, à òàêà ñúùî èâúâ âñÿêî êðàéáðåæíî ñåëèùå ùå ïîòâúð-äÿò òîâà.

Íèêîé íå ñè å òðúãíàë îò Êñàíòè, áåçäà ñè êóïè èçâåñòíèÿ øîêîëàä “Êàðè-îêåñ”.

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work as a painter has been presented in various cities around the world (Istanbul, Pantova,Venice, Thessaloniki, Moscow, Athens, Insbruk, Malta, Berlin, Ankara, Ismir)

Among her actions is also the establishment of an institution by the name of “Academyand Museum of Children’s Art” which has the objective to create hearths of children’s art invarious cities in the world.Her moto is “we use art as a vehicle for educating the children, inorder to help them enter their inner world and communicate with their outer world”.

The Nestos RiverThe Nestos River, ‘the river of life’ as it was called, is the natural boundary between

Thrace and Macedonia. The Nestos passage has been a way out of from the mountains to thesea since the ancient times, while since 1891 the railroad on the river-bank with a majestic tripthrough 30 tunnels has been revitalizing all the nearby villages.

Approaching this paradise-like scenery with care and respect, the Nestos traveler has thechance to admire wild flowers of rare beauty, such as orchids, in their natural environment.

Sports and nature-lovers can even enjoy the river by walking next to it on the Europeanpathway E6 or rowing downstream in a canoe.

Preserved areaFlowing downstream the Nestos river, the visitor goes through the remains of Kotza Orman,

the legendary Forest as the Turk called it, treasuring it for the protection it offered them fromfloods. The most beautiful and most precious forest of Europe with an area of 72 000 acres upto 1946 when it was like a gigantic and impenetrable green wall made of tall trees, boasts onlya few dozen acres today carefully preserved to remind us of its glorious past.

What to eatMany little taverns, spread all over the town, will help you spend an unforgettable night

with local delicacies. If you prefer restaurants, they offer wonderful special menus.Taverns can be found in every village in the mountains. There one can try excellent meat

delicacies and the most tasty feta cheese.Xanthi is also a gastronomic paradise for fresh fish and sea-food. Fish taverns in the town

as well as in every coastal village will confirm that.Nobody has left Xanthi before buying the famous chocolate ‘cariokes’.

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ÈÑÒÎÐÈ×ÅÑÊÀ ÐÅÒÐÎÑÏÅÊÖÈß

Ãðàä Àâäèðà å ñúçäàäåí ïðåç ñðå-äàòà íà VII â. ïð.í.å., êîãàòî íàé-íàïðåäîò Ìàëà Àçèÿ òóê èäâàò êëàçîìåíèòå.

Ïðåç àíòè÷íèÿ ïåðèîä Àâäèðà çà-ïî÷âà áúðçî äà ñå ðàçâèâà è ñå ïðåâðú-ùà â åäèí îò íàé-ïðîñïåðèðàùèòå ãðà-äîâå íà Ñåâåðíà Åãåÿ, ïîðàäè ðàçâèòà-òà òúðãîâñêà äåéíîñò è ìíîãîáðîéíèòåîáðàáîòâàåìè çåìè.

 ïðîöúôòÿâàùèÿ ãðàä Àâäèðà,êîéòî ñèëíî å ïîâëèÿí îò éîíèéñêàòà

êóëòóðà, ñå ðàæäàò è òâîðÿò âåëèêè ôèëîñîôè, ïîåòè è ñîôèñòè, ìåæäó êîèòî ãîëåìèÿòôèëîñîô è îòêðèâàòåë íà àòîìíàòà òåîðèÿ Äåìîêðèò, ñîôèñòúò Ïðîòàãîð, ôèëîñîôèòåËåôêèïîñ è Àíàêñàðîñ, ìàòåìàòèêúò Âèîí è ïîåòúò Íèêåíåòîñ.

Àâäèðà ïðîöúôòÿâà íàé-âå÷å ïî âðåìå íà âèçàíòèéñêèÿ è ñëåäâèçàíòèéñêèÿ ïåðè-îä, êàêòî è ïðåç ðàííèÿ ïåðèîä äî íàøè äíè.

ÌÓÇÅÈ

Àðõåîëîãè÷åñêè ìóçåé - Àâäèðà

Òåë. 0030 25410 51003

Àðõåîëîãè÷åñêèÿò ìóçåé â Àâäèðà îòâàðÿ âðàòè ïðåç ÿíóàðè 2000ã. Åêñïîçèöèÿòà âíåãî âêëþ÷âà ïðåäìåòè îò íàïðàâåíèòåðàçêîïêè, êîèòî îáõâàùàò ãîëÿì ïåðèîäîò ñúùåñòâóâàíåòî íà ãðàäà (îò VIIâ.ïð.í.å. äî 13 â. îò í.å). Åêñïîíàòèòå ñàðàçïðåäåëåíè ïîä òðè çàãëàâèÿ: îáùåñò-âåí æèâîò, áèò è èíôîðìàöèÿ çà ïîãðå-áàëíè îáè÷àè â äðåâíà Àâäèðà, êàêòî èåêñïîçèöèÿ íà ïðåäìåòè îò åæåäíåâèåòîâ îáùåñòâåíèÿ è ëè÷íèÿ æèâîò íà õîðà-òà òóê. Ïîñåòèòåëèòå ùå áúäàò âïå÷àò-ëåíè îò ãðîáîâåòå ñ îðèãèíàëíî çàïàçå-íè ÷îâåøêè ìúðòâè òåëà è ëè÷íè âåùèêàòî âåíöè, íàêèòè, èãðà÷êè, ãúðíåòà,ìàëêè èäîëè, îòêðèòè ïðè ðàçêîïêèòå.

ÔÎËÊËÎÐÍÎ-ÈÑÒÎÐÈ×ÅÑÊÈ ÌÓÇÅÉÒåë. 0030 25410 51 207

Ôîëêëîðíî-èñòîðè÷åñêèÿò ìóçåé â Àâäèðà ñå ïîìåùàâà â ðåêîíñòðóèðàíàòà ñãðàäàíà ñòàðîòî ó÷èëèùå, êîåòî å ïîñòðîåíî ïðåç 1860 ã. ñðåùó öúðêâàòà “Ñâ. Ïàðàñêåâà”.

Íà ïúðâèÿ åòàæ íà ìóçåÿ òóðèñòèòå ùå ñå âïå÷àòëÿò îò ñåëñêèÿ æèâîò, ðàçãëåæäàé-êè åêñïîíàòè, ïðåäñòàâëÿâàùè ñåëñêîñòîïàíñêè ñå÷èâà, äîìàêèíñêè ñúäîâå è îáçàâåæ-äàíå, à íà âòîðèÿ åòàæ ñà èçëîæåíè ïðåäèìíî òåêñòèëíè èçäåëèÿ, êàòî êèëèìè, îáëåêëà,áðîäåðèè è äåêîðàòâíè ïðåäìåòè.

Õàðàêòåðíà îñîáåíîñò íà ìóçåÿ å òàçè, ÷å âñè÷êè åêñïîíàòè ñà ëè÷íî ïðåäîñòàâåíèîò æèòåëèòå íà Àâäèðà ñ öåë äà äîïðèíåñàò çà êóëòóðíîòî ðàçâèòèå è ïðîñïåðèòåò íàðåãèîíà. ×ðåç íàïðàâåíèòå äàðåíèÿ òå èçðàçÿâàò óâàæåíèåòî è ëþáîâòà ñè êúì ãðúöêèòåòðàäèöèè è îáè÷àè.

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BRIEF HISTORIC RETROSPECTION

The city of Avdera was founded in the middle of 7th century B.C. when first in thearea was settled, from the coasts of Minor Asia, by the Klazomenees having leader theTimisia in the 656/652 B.C.

In the Classical years, Avdera was quickly developed into one of the most flourishingcities of the North Aegean because it carried out trade activities and because of its hinter-land and the richness of cultivable lands.

In the prosperous city of Avdera, which was strongly influenced by the cultural lifeof Ionnia, were born and worked great philosophers, poets and sophists. The great phi-losopher and inventor of the atom theory Democretus, the sophist Protagoras, the Philoso-phers Lefkipos and Anaxarhos, the mathematician Vion and the poet Nikenetos, are someof the greatest spirituous men of Avdera.

Particularly worthy of the progress of Avdera are the Byzantine and post – Byzantineages, as well as the early period until nowadays.

MUSEUMS

ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF AVDERA

Tel. 0030 25410 51003

The Archaeological Museum of Avdera has beenoperating since January 2000. It houses exposition ofartifacts from the excavations of the broader area ofAvdera (from the 7th century B.C to the 13th centuryA.D), all classified into three topics: public life, pri-vate life, and burial information material for the an-cient city of Avdera and the exposition of the daily useditems of public and private life. In the burial practicetopic, the visitors will be impressed by the graves wherelay an original body with personal belongings: wreaths,jewelries, toys, pots and little idols, as they were foundduring the excavations.

Folkloric anD historic museum of AvdEraTel . 0030 25410 51207

The Folkloric museum of Avdera is housed in the reconstructed building of the oldschool, which was built in 1860 and is positioned beside the ‘Agias Paraskevi’ Church.

On the ground floor of the museum the visitor would have the opportunity to admirethe old rural life through the exponents of agricultural tools, household implements andfurniture, while on the second floor dominates the textile art represented by carpets, clothes,embroideries and decorating items.

A special feature of the museum is that the citizens gave all the exponents. They haveoffered these exponents in order to contribute to the cultural development and advance ofthe region and to show their respect and love of history and tradition.

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ÀÐÕÅÎËÎÃÈ×ÅÑÊÈ È ÈÑÒÎÐÈ×ÅÑÊÈ ÎÁËÀÑÒÈ

ÀÐÕÅÎËÎÃÈ×ÅÑÊÀÒÀ ÇÎÍÀ  ÀÂÄÈÐÀ

 àðõåîëîãè÷åñêàòà çîíà íà Àâäèðà ïîñåòèòåëèòå ùå ñå íàñëàäÿò íà ÷àñò îò îñíîâ-íèÿ ãðàä Àâäèðà, ñúùåñòâóâàë ïðåç äðåâíîñòòà, àíòè÷íàòà, åëèíñêàòà è ðèìñêàòà åïîõà.Äíåñ ãðàäúò å ðàçïîëîæåí âúðõó ïëîù îò 12 000 äêà. Óêðåïëåíèÿòà, êúäåòî å ïîñòðîåíòåàòúðúò, îùå ñå çàáåëÿçâàò, â þãîçàïàäíàòà ÷àñò ñå èçäèãà õúëìúò ñ àêðîïîëà, à â ñåâåðî-çàïàäíàòà – äðåâíàòà åëèíñêà ãðîáíèöà. Ðàçêîïêèòå ñà çàïî÷íàòè ïðåç 1950 ã. îò àðõåîëî-ãà Äèìèòðèîñ Ëàçàðèäèñ.

ÂÈÇÀÍÒÈÉÑÊÈ ÀÊÐÎÏÎË “ÏÎËÈÑÒÈËΔ

Àêðîïîëúò èìà îñîáåíî çíà÷åíèå çà ðàçâèòèåòî íà Àâäèðà ïðåç âèçàíòèéñêèÿ èñëåäâèçàíòèéñêèÿ ïåðèîä. Ãðàäúò å ïðåèìåíóâàí è çàïî÷âà äà íîñè èìåòî ÏÎËÈÑÒÈ-ËÎÍ (çàðàäè ìíîãîáðîéíèòå ñè êîëîíè). Òîé å áèë è ñåäàëèùå íà åïèñêîïà.

Òàçè âèçàíòèéñêà ïîñòðîéêà ñå íàìèðà òî÷íî íàä ñòàðîòî ïðèñòàíèùå è ñå íàðè÷àÁóëóñòðà.

ÑÒÀÐÀÒÀ ÆÈËÈÙÍÀ ÇÎÍÀ ÍÀ ÀÂÄÈÐÀ

 ñúâðåìåííàòà æèëèùíà çîíà íà Àâäèðà ïîñåòèòåëèòå ìîãàò äà òðúãíàò íàãîðå èîò ñåâåðíàòà ÷àñò íà öåíòðàëíèÿ ïëîùàä äà âèäÿò âïå÷àòëÿâàùè ñãðàäè îò íåîêëàñèöèç-ìà, êîèòî èìàò èíòåðåñíà àðõèòåêòóðà è óíèêàëíà èñòîðè÷åñêà ñòîéíîñò.

Çàáåëåæèòåëíè ñà ñãðàäàòà íà ñòàðîòî ó÷èëèùå, â êîÿòî ñå ïîìåùàâà Ôîëêëîðíèÿòìóçåé, öúðêâàòà “Ñâ. Ïàðàñêåâà” è òðàäèöèîííèòå êàìåííè ïåùè â äâîðîâåòå íà êúùèòå.

ÅÊÎËÎÃÈß – ÏÐÈÐÎÄÍÀ ÑÐÅÄÀ

ÅÇÅÐÎÒÎ “ÂÈÑÒÎÍÈÄÀ”

Åçåðîòî “Âèñòîíèäà” å íàé-äúëãî-òî åçåðî â Òðàêèÿ è å ñ ïëîù îêîëî 42000 äêà.

Âúçñîëåíàòà âîäà, ïîðàäè áúðçîòîé ïðåìèíàâàíå, ïðîìåíÿ ñâîåòî ñúäúð-æàíèå íà ñîë, â çàâèñèìîñò îò ïîëîæå-íèåòî, êîåòî çàåìà. Òîâà äîâåæäà äî ðàç-ëè÷èÿ â îêîëíàòà ñðåäà. Òóê èìà ðàçëè÷-íè âèäîâå ôëîðà è ôàóíà.

Åçåðîòî, êàêòî è è ïðèëåæàùàòàòåðèòîðèÿ, êîÿòî å îáÿâåíà çà çàùèòåíà

êàòî èçêëþ÷èòåëíî åêîëîãè÷íî ìÿñòî, å ñúùî ãîñòîïðèåìíî êúò÷å çà áîãàòîòî ðàçíîîá-ðàçèå îò ïòèöè, êîèòî ïðåëèòàò íàä ñòðàíàòà.

Òðè ñà îñíîâíèòå êàòåãîðèè ïòèöè â ðåãèîíà:- ïòèöè, êîèòî èäâàò äà ñå ðàçìíîæàâàò;- ïðåëåòíè ïòèöè;- ïòèöè, êîèòî îñòàâàò òóê ïðåç çèìàòà.302 ñà íàìåðåíèòå âèäîâå â ðåãèîíà. Òàçè öèôðà å ìíîãî ãîëÿìà, àêî ñå ñúäè ïî

òîâà, ÷å â öÿëà Ãúðöèÿ ñà ðåãèñòðèðàíè îáùî 422 âèäà ïòèöè.

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ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL AREAS

ARCHAEOLOGICAL AREA OF AVDERA

In the Archaeological area of Avdera the visi-tors can admire a part of the main city of Avdera -from the Archaic, classical, Hellenistic and the Ro-man period - which today is spread along an area of3,000 acres. The fortifying enceinte are distin-guished, where the theatre was built, while the hillof acropolis is raised in the southwest part and theArchaic, classical and Hellenistic cemetery is lo-cated in the northwest. The archaeologist DimitrioLazaridis started the excavations in the area in 1950.

THE BYZANTINE ACROPOLIS “POLYSTYLO”Particularly worthy is the progress of Avdera during the Byzantine and post-Byzantine years.

The city was renamed POLYSTYLON (because of the great number of pillars-columns) and it wasthe residence of the Episcope.

This Byzantine establishment spreads in the coast gilofo – cape with the name: Bouloustra:and is exactly above the ancient harbor.

TRADITIONAL RESIDENTIAL AREA OF AVDERAIn the Contemporary residential area of Avdera if the visitor goes uphill, in the north side of the

central square, between the narrow paths of the traditional residential area, he can see the impres-sive neoclassic mansions with their special architectonic and unique historic value.

Distinguished are the old school building, where the Folklore museum is housed today, theChurch of Agia Paraskevi and the traditional stone ovens that decorate the yards of the houses.

Ecology – Environment

LAKE VISTONIDA

Lake Vistonida, the largest lake of Thrace,occupies an area of roughly 42.000 hectares,that fluctuates proportionally to the seasons, asit is one of the main aquatic receptors of themountain range of Rodopi. The three channelsof communication with the Thracian Sea, in theheight of Porto Lagos, salt its waters and ap-point it as one of the largest lagoons of Greece.The salty water, because of its intense circula-tion, is differentiated in the content in salts,from point to point, a fact that leads in a variety of environmental conditions in whichvarious species of fauna prefer to live but there is also developed special flora. The lakeand the area around it, which is protected by international Treaties as a place of particularenvironmental conditions, constitutes also one hospitable migration station for a largevariety of birds that they go through our country.The avifauna of the region, which counts302 species, (a quite big number if it’s compared to the total of species that has beenrecorded in Greece and amounts to 422 types) could be separated in three major catego-ries:

- Birds that visit the region for their reproduction.- Migration birds.- Birds in hiber-nation.

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The hospitable ‘Kiparis’ hotel is situated in the bosom of theRhodope Mountains, in the town of Smolyan. It has 30 beds in 8single rooms, 8 double rooms and 4 suites. The rooms are fur-nished in the Rhodope style and have terrace with panoramic viewsof the mountains. Each room and apartment has mini-bar, tele-phone and satellite – TV. The hotel has a restaurant with 90 seats, aconference hall for 25 seats and a garden with barbecue facilities.The hotel provides room service; it also has a fitness centre, Jacuzzi and a guarded parking lot.Excursions to natural and architectural sites in the region can be arranged.

In 1998 the ‘Kiparis’ hotel was licensed by the British Know- How Fund as a hotel thatmeets the European standards. In 1999 it was nominated to be Hotel N: 1 in the Rhodoperegion, while in 2000 it was announced to be the best family-run hotel in Bulgaria.

Family Hotel KIPARIS ���

The ‘Makrelov’ hotel is in the Raykovo quarter, Smolyan.It is the first private hotel in the Rhodope region. Being a pio-neer in the field of private hotels in the South Bulgaria, it offersto its guests hospitality, cosy atmosphere and conditions for awonderful holiday. The hotel offers also possibilities for shoot-ing, hunting and fishing.

Family Hotel MAKRELOV ��

Welcome to the new ‘Silver’ family hotel in Smolyan!It is located 8 km. way from Pamporovo winter resort and 3km. way from the Smolyan Lakes.

The hotel has 20 beds, distributed into 1 single room,6 double rooms and 3 suites.

In the restaurant, which has 30 seats, you can try deli-cious dishes from the Bulgarian cuisine and good Bulgarianred and white wine.

For the winter season 2003 the hotel will open a tavern with 35 seats, which will offeryou Bulgarian traditional dishes, as well as Rhodopean specialties. From the very begin-ning of the winter season the hotel will open also a Conference hall with 25 seats, in orderto meet your business needs.

The hotel offers excursions to some historical and cultural sites, such as the Yagodinacave and the Trigrad Gorge, as well as to the attractive historical place ’Perperikon’, lo-cated in the Kurdzhali municipality.

Family Hotel SILVER ��

If you want to feel the coziness and comfort of the typical Rhodopeanatmosphere, come to the ‘Katerina’ family hotel! The hotel has 8 single and

8 double rooms and 4 suites, arranged in Rhodopean style.The restaurant offers typical Rhodopean dishes and at yourrequest Rhodopean folk evenings can be arranged in it.

Family Hotel KATERINA ��

31 Sokolitsa Street, 4700 Smolyan, Bulgaria

Phone: 00359 (301) 211 08; 22 797; 62 642, Fax: 00359 (301) 62 912

14, N. Filipov Str., 4700 Smolyan, Bulgaria00359 (301) 27 742, 22 762

email: makrelov@abv.bg, www.infotour.org

8, Panorama Street, 4700 Smolyan, Bulgaria00359 (301) 63 292

16, N.Filipov str., 4700 Smolyan, BulgariaPhone: 00359 (301) 288 05

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The hotel is situated in Smolian, in Raykovo quarter. Ninedouble rooms and two suites can accommodate 25 guests. Eachroom has bathroom, TV, radio, telephone and terrace. The restau-rant for 36 guests offers unique Rhodope specialties. Authentictavern with fireside for barbecue; lounge with day bar to host 20guests. Ski outfits, sledges, ski teacher and transport to Pamporovo.Excursions to historical, ethnographic and natural site.

Family Hotel RODOPI ��

The ‘Z’ Palace hotel is located on the road entering thecity of Xanthi, and at walking distance from the city centreand the surrounding sites.

The hotel’s five suites (two of which are the presidentialand the bridal ones), are equipped with Jacuzzis and promise

to satisfy the most demandingguest.

The hotel’s 93 rooms are all furnished in the mostrefined taste and they are fully equipped for your comfort:mini bar, pay TV, air conditioning, hair dryer, radio24-hourroom services is also available.

At the ‘L’Etoile’ restaurant, or by the pool in the sum-mer, you can enjoy your meal in a unique environment withdelicious Greek and French specialities.

Terma Georgiou Kondili67 100 Xanthi, GreecePhone: 0030 2541 64 414 - 8;Fax: 0030 2541 64 410e-mail: z-palace@otenet.gr; http://www.z-palace.gr

Z-PALACE Hotel ����

Enjoy your staying at the Elena hotel!It is situated by the riverside in a walking distance

from Xanthi’s old section.All 45 rooms are air-conditioned, with cable TV, tele-

phone and room service.The Conference Hall is

at your disposal, with capacity of 50 seats, slide-projector andsound installation.

The ‘Dryades’ Restaurant offers Greek and internationalcuisine at a luxurious setting.

Stratou Av.&P. TsaldariXanthi, GreecePhone: 0030 2541 63 901Fax: 0030 2541 63 906e-mail: elenahotel@internet.gr; www.elenahotel.gr

ELENA Hotel ���

14, Gimnazialna str., 4700 Smolyan, Bulgaria00359 (301) 25174

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Luxury, comfort and excellent service are the three ele-ments that characterize the motel.

The recently rebuilt and redecorated motel has 72 roomsand 2 suites, 3 restaurants and a conference room, which aredesigned to offer high standards of service for every customer.

In Leykippos restaurants you can taste both Greek andInternational dishes, during the day, while the variety of wineswill leave you with the best impression as well as taste.

In Magnolia room you can enjoy a delicious breakfast,while in Porfyrra, which is a specially decorated place youcan have coffee or drink. You can spend memorable summernights in the open-air restaurant of the motel with special plates and quick service.

Xanthi-Kavala (National Road – 1 km)Phone: 0030 2541 21 521 – 4; Fax: 0030 2541 21 525Email: natanast@yahoo.gr; http://www.hotelnatassa.gr

Motel NATASSA ���

This is the only five-star hotel in the most beautifulwinter resort in the Rhodopes.

Hotel Pamporovo has 145 double rooms, 17 luxuryapartments and a presidential apartment on two floors withsauna and jacuzzi.

The hotel is elegant and functional. Each room has amini-bar, telephone and satellite TV. The guests have at their disposal a sport hall, an in-door swimming pool, jacuzzi, solarium, massage and fitness centers, three bowling alleys.

4870 Pamporovo, Bulgaria

Tel.: +359/3021/8122; 8325 Fax: +359/3021/8525e-mail: hotel_pamporovo@yahoo.com www.victoria-tour.com

Hotel PAMPORORVO �����

Grand hotel Murgavets now completely renovated is rightin the center of Pamporovo. It is open all the year round. Itoffers great possibilities for skiing, mountaineering, bicycleriding, organizing business meetings, seminars and celebra-tions of all kinds.

The hotel has two presidential, two VIP and three du-plex apartments, 57 rooms and a conference hall.� Its restaurant is open throughout the whole year as wellas, � summer and winter barbecue, � lobby bar, �Cosmos Viennese cafe, � casino, � night club, � wall-bars, � tennis court, � table tennis,� badminton � day and night winter safari in wintertime

The Sports-Health Center offers to you two swimming-pools for adults and children, jacuzzi,fitness, saunas, massage, thalassic-therapy, aroma-therapy, beauty centre, anti-cellulite and other rec-reation procedures, a rational weight-reduction programs and traditional Chianese medicine.

4870 Pamporovo, Bulgaria

Tel.: +359 3021 8366, 8310 Fax: +359 3021 8366e-mail: murgavets@mail.bg www.murgavets-bg.com

Grand Hotel MURGAVETS����

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Hotel Finlandia is the newest one in the resort. Itopened its doors for visitors in December 2000.

This four-star hotel offers its guests a modern andcomfortable hotel, a lot of first class services and apleasant holiday.

For individual and group reservations:4870 Pamporovo, Bulgaria

Tel./fax: +359 3021 8367; 8368E-mail: hotelfinlandia@hotmail.com www.bulgariaski.com www.infotour.org

Hotel FINLANDIA ����

The Snezhanka hotel is popular both in winter andsummer. It offers a high standard of accommodation andrange of facilities: restaurant, lobby bar, tavern, nightclub,disco, modern fitness center, indoor swimming pool, sauna,Jacuzzi, massage, souvenir shop, safety deposit boxes atthe reception.

There is a conference hall with 80 seats.4870 Pamporovo, Bulgaria

tel.: +359 3021 8316; 8441fax: +359 3021 8273e-mail: snezhanka@mail.orbitel.bg

Hotel SNEZHANKA ���

You have come here not to make a choice. You HAVEalready made it.

You have made the right decision choosing:the comfort and cosiness of 4 double rooms and 1 suiteYour choice – the ‘Kalina’ Family Hotel- is 12 km away

from the winter resort Pamporovo. You can hire skiing andsnowboarding equipment. A ski instructor speaking Germanor English will help you to gain skills.

We thank you for the choice you have made!

Shiroka LukaPhone: 00359 3030 675; Mobile: 00359 888 784897Email: hotelkalina@abv.bg

Family Hotel KALINA ���

The ‘Margarita’ hotel was opened in 2000. It is situ-ated near the main highway and has a parking lot of its own.It offers 3 double rooms and 2 suites. They all have theirown. They all have bathrooms and TV sets.

It is a really perfect place for your stay in Shiroka Luka.For reservations:

Shiroka LukaPhone: 00359 /3030/ 693; 793

MARGARITA Hotel ���

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If you want to stay closer to the spirit of ancient times, tolive for a while away from the urban vanity and bustle, the bestplace for your holiday is the hotel ‘Shiroka Luka’

The hotel has 3 triple rooms; 2 double rooms and 1 suiteThe hotel has a restaurant with 40 seats. You can try typi-

cal Rhodopean dishes. The perfect service and delicious cui-sine will make you holiday unforgettable!

The Rhodopean room with 20 seats can host your business meeting or your workshop.Services:

The hotel can arrange a rich folklore music and dance with local performers espe-cially for you!

The hotel may arrange guided one-day tours to local destinations, like:Trigrad Gorge – Yagodinska CaveSmolyan – Uhlovitza Cave – Village of MogilitzaBachkovo Monastery – Castle of AssenovgradFor reservations:

Shiroka Luka 4710 Phone: ++359 3030 341 Email: rozhen@infotour.org

SHIROKA LUKA Hotel ��

Yuo can enjoy magic panorama view with the help ofthe host who speaks perfect English.

Four double rooms, breakfast is included.For reservations:

Gela; Phone: 00359 3030 738; GSM: 00359 888 847 648

Vila TISHINA ��

Nice rented 4 double rooms that provide wonderful op-portunities for recreation.

The owner has created a cozy folk-style restaurant inwhich meals are traditional for the region.

22 Alexandar Stambolyiski Street

Momchilovtzi

Phone: 00359 3023 2204

SHIPKATA Rented Rooms ��

A nice two-storied hotel. You are always a special guest here!Rooms: 4 double and 2 triple rooms.A beautifully decorated tavern and two fireplaces make

evenings romantic throughout the whole year. The tavernoffers typical Rhodopean specialties.

For reservations:

Momchilovtzi Smolyan officePhone: 00359 3023 28 63 Phone: 00359 301 32 356

RODOPCHANKA Hotel ��

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RibkataPanoramic roadTel.: 00359 301 63507

MechtaPanoramic roadTel.: 00359 301 63353

Sokolitsa43 Parvi mai str.Tel.: 00359 301 63143

Pizza cafe57 Bulgaria blvd.Tel.: 00359 301 63334

Bolero51 Bulgaria blvd.Tel.: 00359 301 38245

Culture Club33 Bulgaria blvd.Tel.: 00359 301 33621

Otmora35 Bulgaria blvd.Tel.: 00359 301 63401

Haiduti31 Bulgaria blvd.Tel.: 00359 301 33725

Rodopchanka9 Bulgaria blvd.Tel.: 00359 301 62112

It offers special Rhodopean style cuisine and typicalRhodopean atmosphere.

The interior is made of timber and stone.The snack bar has 130 seats available. It offers to its

guests:- Barbecue- Fireplace- Meat roasted on fire

Welcome to Snack-Bar ‘Milano’!

Feel its coziness, comfort and hospitality!

22, Bulgaria blvd.SMOLYANPhone: 00359 301 656 60

Snack-bar MILANO

RESTAURANTS IN SMOLYAN REGIONRiben dar

16 Snezhanka str.Tel.: 00359 301 63220

Vasilius bar30 Bulgaria blvd.Tel.: 00359 301 32132

Central14 Bulgaria blvd.Tel.: 00359 301 28802

Vinarnata57 Kosta Avramikov str.Tel.: 00359 301 25017

Arkite3 Lilyana Dimitrova str.Tel.: .00359 301 21052

Konaka7 Shipka str.Tel.: 00359 301 21115

Rodopi77 Rodopi str.Tel.: 00359 301 62164

Smolena restaurant withsummer garden – v. Smilyan

Tel.: 00359 3026 2308Ìîbile: 0889 476 291

Aida mehana – v.SmilyanTel.: 00359 3026 2336

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KlimatariaOrologiou 3(Central square of Xanthi)Tel: 2541 0 22408

Epilogi1st km of Xanthi-Kavala national roadTel: 2541 025455

Ktima4th km of Xanthi-Porto Lagos roadTel: 2541 0 21010

FanarakiaGeorgiou Stavrou 14Tel : 2541 073606

Kiposend of Vasilissis Sofias StreetTel: 2541 074403

ParadisosEvmoiro (inside the forest)Tel: 2541 0 26661

ErodiosAgiou Athanasiou 2Tel: 2541 074806

Xanthipi1st km of Xanthi-Stavroupoli roadTel: 2541 023627

ArxontissaPalaiologou 4 (Old Town)Tel: 2541 073161

Erkolos3rd km of Xanthi-Kavala national roadTel: 2541 024701

MidosGeorgiou Stavrou 18Tel: 2541 077060

Ta Tempi Toy NestouGalaniTel : 2541 093071

KonakiGeorgiou Kondili 50Tel: 2541 062100

Masa SouraPalaiologou 8Tel : 2541 076986

DasakiPorto LagosTel : 2541 0 67063

Nikolas3rd km of Xanthi-Porto Lagos roadTel: 2541 064655

Neraida1st km of Xanthi-Porto Lagos roadTel: 2541 065855

RESTAURANTSAND TAVERNS

IN XANTHI

••••••••• 39••••••••• 39••••••••• 39••••••••• 39••••••••• 39

USEFUL INFORMATION

TRANSPORT INFORMATION

FROM PLOVDIV (BULGARIA) TO XANTHI (GREECE)

EUROBUS KARAT-S

12.30 a.m. – Monday and Wednesday (via

Svilengrad - Orenio)

9.00 a.m. – Wednesday and Saturday (via Sofia,

Kulata - Promahona, Drama, Kavala)

MATPU-96 Ltd

23, Damjan Gruev Str.,

1606-Sofia, Bulgaria

Phone: 00359 2 981 58 56; 952 50 04; 953 24 81

Fax: 00359 2 954 96 92

For info and reservation:

Plovdiv, Bulgaria

00359 32 632 633

Sofia, Bulgaria

00359 2 981 58 56; 981 56 53

Serres, Greece

0030 2310 256 502; 244 400

Thessaloniki

27, Aristotelis sq.

Phone: 00302310/ 256 502; 244 400

HOW TO GET TO BULGARIAYou can fly to the Sofia airport using international

airlines, or taking a Charter flight to Varna or

Bourgas.

HOW TO GET TO SMOLYANYou may reach Smolyan by car or by bus. Travel-

ling by train is possible only to Plovdiv. There are

regular buses from Smolyan to Sofia. The last ply

from Smolyan to Sofia is at 3.30 p.m. There are

regular buses from Sofia to Smolyan. The last bus

to Smolyan leaves the bus-station (located near the

Princess hotel, very close to the central train-sta-

tion) at 6.00 p.m.

COMMUNICATION:The international country code of Bulgaria is

++359; the code number of Smolyan is 301, when

dialing from abroad, while from Bulgaria: 0301

CURRENCYThe national currency is the Bulgarian lev (1

EUR=1.95 BGN)

CHEAP PRICES IN THE RESTAURANTSYou may have a lunch or dinner only for 4 or 5 EUR

(salad, main coarse, Rhodopean typical specialty, and

a bottle of good beer/glass of red or white wine).

HOW TO GET TO XANTHIDaily flights from Athens to Chrisoupolis (Kavala)

and Alexandroupolis. Regular coach service from

Athens, Thessaloniki, Drama, and Komotini, Regu-

lar train departures from Athens via Thessaloniki

and from Alexandroupolis. Once in Xanthi, there

is a good bus and coach service covering most

routes from the local bus station.

WHERE TO EATMany little taverns spread all over the town will

help you spend an unforgettable night with local

delicacies. If you prefer restaurants, they offer won-

derful special menus.

Taverns can be found in every village in the moun-

tains. There one can taste excellent meat delica-

cies and the most delicious feta cheeses. Xanthi is

also a gastronomic paradise for fresh fish and sea-

food. Fish taverns in the town as well as in every

coastal village will confirm that.

COMMUNICATIONThe international country code of Greece is ++30;

the code number of Xanthi and Avdera is 25410.

CURRENCYThe currency in Greece is EURO.

SCHEDULE AND PLACES OF DEPARTURE

From Thessaloniki to Sofia

27, Aristotelis sq.

Time of departure: 4.00 p.m. and 10 p.m. – Mon-

day, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Time of departure: 10 p.m. – Tuesday

Time of departure: 4 p.m.

From Serres to Sofia

Elpida hotel

Time of departure: 6 p.m. and 12 p.m. - Monday,

Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Time of departure: 12 p.m. – Tuesday

Time of departure: 6 p.m. – Wednesday

From Plovdiv to Thessaloniki

Princess hotel

11 a.m. and 4 p.m. - - Monday, Thursday, Friday,

Saturday, Sunday

4 p.m. – Tuesday

11 a.m. – Wednesday

40 •••••••••40 •••••••••40 •••••••••40 •••••••••40 •••••••••

From Sofia to Thessaloniki

23, Damyan Gruev Str.

Central Train-station

‘Traffic market’

Pavillion 58

1.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. - Monday, Thursday, Fri-

day, Saturday, Sunday

6,30 p.m. - Tuesday

1.30 p.m. - Wednesday

GAS STATIONS AND ROAD HELP SERVICESSMOLYANÎÌV, 52 Parvi mai str., tel. 00359 301 66007

SHELL, Peter Beron str., tel. 00359 301 62738

Gas station, Raikovo, Kosta Avramikov str., tel.

00359 301 62347

Gas station, Trakiya str., tel. 00359 301 64060

Gas station, Raikovo, tel. 00359 301 28643

XANTHIElpa: 104

Express Service: 154

Hellas Service: 157

Interamerican: 168

STATE AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONSXANTHIPrefectual Local Authorities Drama-Kavala-

Xanthi,

tel. 0030 25410 70 108 fax: 70 109

Prefecture of Xanthi, tel.0030 25410 22661

Xanthi Town Hall, tel. 0030 25410 24 444

Avdera Town Hall, tel: 0030 25410 51 207

Chamber of Xanthi, tel: 0030 25410 25 105; fax:

25 987

Xanthi University Polytechnic, tel: 25410 20 319,

23 878

Post office, tel.0030 25410 22 511

Hospital, tel.0030 25410 72131

Outpatients’ Clinic , tel.0030 25410 22222

First aid center, tel.166

Police station, tel.100

Port Authority, tel.0030 25410 96666

Forestry Inspection, tel.0030 25410 22669

Fire station, tel.0030 25410 22199, 199

SMOLYANBus station, 85 Bulgaria blvd., tel. 00359 301 63104

Pamporovo bus station, 85 Bulgaria blvd., tel.

00359 301 63230

Bulgarian telecommunication company – Smolyan

branch,18 Bulgaria blvd., tel. 00359 301 64444,

fax 00359 301 62949, e-mail trd-sm.pd@btk.bg,

Smolyan District administration, 14 Bulgaria blvd.,

tel. 00359 301 60192, fax 00359 301 62333

Municipality of Smolyan, 12 Bulgaria blvd., tel.

00359 301 36100, fax 00359 301 62426, e-mail

smol@abv.bg, web-site www.rodopi-bg.com

Post office, 18 Bulgaria blvd., tel. 00359 301 62522

Fire station, Raikovo, 11 Beliyat kamak str., tel.

00359 301 62396

Regional Directorate of the Ministry of the Inte-

rior, 67 Bulgaria blvd., tel. 00359 301 62323

Regional police station, 1 K.Irechek str., tel. 00359

301 62215

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONSSMOLYANBank DSK, tel. 00359 301 60063

Bulbank J.S.Co., tel. 00359 301 63198

Bulgarian Post Bank J.S.Co., tel. 00359 301 62750

State Insurance Institute, tel. 00359 301 62246

SG Expressbank J.S.Co., tel. 00359 301 62661

United Bulgarian Bank F.S.Co., tel. 00359 301 62005

First East International Bank J.S.Co.,

tel. 00359 301 62006

Raiffeisenbank J.S.Co., tel. 00359 301 62094

Economic and Investment Bank J.S.Co.,

tel. 00359 301 63316

Commercial Bank Biochim J.S.Co., tel. 00359 301

62972

Central Cooperative Bank, tel. 00359 301 62163

XANTHIAlpha Bank: 0030 25410 23 631

Agricultural Bank of Greece: 0030 25410 22 410

Aspis Bank: 0030 25410 62 572

General Hellenic Bank: 0030 25410 28 013

Egnatia Bank: 0030 25410 83160-3

EFG Eurobank: 0030 25410 62610

EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 0030 25410 20 946

Commercial Bank: 0030 25410 22 454

National Bank of Greece: 0030 25410 28 301

National Bank of Greece: 0030 25410 27 224

National Bank of Greece: 0030 25410 28 341

Piraeus Bank: 0030 25410 72 751

TRANSPORTATION

Railway Station 0030 25410 22 581

Olympic Airways: 0030 25410 26 497

Coach Services:

Prefecture of Xanthi: 0030 25410 22 684

Coach Services:

Prefecture of Kavala: 0030 25410 22 944

City Buses: 0030 25410 77 877

Megas Alexandros Airport:

0030 25910 53 273, 53 279

Taxi: 0030 25410 29 977, 23 866, 23 331, 22 311

••••••••• 41••••••••• 41••••••••• 41••••••••• 41••••••••• 41

SMOLYAN

RODOPA State ånsåmble for folklore songs and

dances, 5 Bulgaria blvd., tel. 00359 301 27291

Historical museum, new center, tel. 00359 301

62727

Planetarium, 20 Bulgaria blvd., tel. 00359 301

22953

Rhodope drama theatre, 10 Bulgaria blvd., tel.

00359 301 62577

N.VRANCHEV Universal scientific library, tel.

0301 62524

Art gallery, tel. 00359 301 62328

HRISTO BOTEV cultural club, 80 Bulgaria

blvd., tel. 00359 301 32820

ROZHEN National astronomic observatory, tel.

00359 3021 8356

University of Plovdiv, Smolyan branch, 32

Dicho Petrov str., tel. 00359 301 62339

Varna free university, educational and scientific

complex “Rodopa” in Smolyan, 2 Perelik str.,

tel. 00359 301 62015

CULTURAL INSTITUTIONSXANTHI

The Folklore Museum of Xanthi, 7 Anthika str.,

the Old town of Xanthi, tel. 0030 25410 25 421

The Museum of Natural History, 10 An.Romilias

str., tel. 0030 25410 21212

The “Christos Pavlidis” City Art Gallery,

Orpheus str., the old town of Xanthi, tel. 0030

25410 76 363

The Academy of Thracian Art and Tradition, 12

Apostolon & Od, Androutsou str., tel. 0030

25410 29 282

The Folklore Museum of Avdira, Avdira, tel.

0030 25410 51 207

The Archaeological Museum of Avdira, the ar-

chaeological place of Avdira, tel. 0030 25410

51 003

House of Literature and Art, the city amphithe-

ater, tel. 0030 25410 22 415

Folklore Museum, Stavroupolis,

tel. 0030 25420 22 226

Information Center, Vistonida Lake, Porto-

Lagos, tel. 0030 25410 96 646

Museum of the Panagia Archageliotissa Mon-

astery, tel. 0030 25410 29799

CRAFTSRegional Craftsmen Chamber

Smolyan, 10 Bulgaria blvd., 5th , office 501, 502

Phone: 00359 (0) 301/23387

e-mail: rzk_sm@mail.bg

Tasho Iliev Mihaylov – coppersmith

Smolyan, 87 ‘Geo Milev’ Street,

Phone: 00359 (0) 301/46375

Nikola Kuzmanov Pishinov -coppersmith

5, Prodan Tabakov Street

block ‘Rodopi’

Phone: 00359 /301/ 460 46

Decho Stoyanov Dechev – artistic

woodprocessing, making folklore musical instru-

ments

Smolyan, ‘Kap. Petko Voyvoda’ Street, block 10

Phone: 00359 (0) 301/32553

Mincho Assenov Minchev – cooperage and

wooden dishes

Village of Mogilitza, Smolyan municipality

Phone: 00359 (0)3036/294

Angel Ivanov Bebelekov – production of articles

of forged iron,

Smolyan, ‘Han Asparuh’ Street, block 34, entrance Â

Phone: 00359 (0)301/23430

Vassil Georgiev Petrov – stone-cutting

Smolyan, 5 ‘Vazhod’ Street, block ‘Vodopad’ 4,

entrance Â

Phone: 00359 (0)301/32531

Vulko Masurski – trays and bowls made by wood,

spoons, icons painted on wood

Shiroka Luka

Phone: 00359 (0) 3030 448

Veselka Hristova

4700-Smolyan, 15 Natalia Street, entrance A, ap. 4

Phone: 00359 (301) 21 878

Mobile: 00359 889 758891

Albena Chobanova

4700- Smolyan, 4 Byalo more’, bl. Izvor 7, en-

trance Á, ap.17

Phone: 00359 (301) 21 336

Mobile: 00359 887 254 030

42 •••••••••42 •••••••••42 •••••••••42 •••••••••42 •••••••••

TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRES AND TRAVEL AGENCIES

XANTHI

AIR TRANS: 0030 25410 26 497

GALAXOUSIDIS: 0030 25410 77 685

ESMERALDA TRAVEL: 0030 25410 71 473

LEFKIPOS TRAVEL: 0030 25410 83 122

MOURATIDIS: 0030 25410 22 683

PILOT TRAVEL S.A.: 0030 25410 711 20

TARPIDIS TOURS: 0030 25410 22 277

TASIOS TOURS: 0030 25410 26 865

TONIAS TRAVEL: 0030 25410 75 029

VISTONIS: 0030 25410 23 047

SCOUTWAY – FORESTLAND: 0030 25410 62 488

STROVILOS: 0030 25410 93 870

EXPLORER: 0030 25410 75 309

The Tourist Information Centres offer useful info, friendly advice, reservations and other tourist

services. Tourist maps and souvenirs are also available there.

CENTRE FOR TOURIST INFORMATION, CRAFTSAND NATURE PROTECTION

� The Centre provides information for theopportunities of tourism and accommodationin the region, as well as forthcoming culturalevents. The Centre makes reservations in ho-tels and guesthouses. At tourist request, theCentre organizes folklore events and dem-onstrations of local crafts, secures mountainguides and guides, who have good commandof foreign languages.� There is a children spot, which shows theNature of the Rhodope Mountains through pic-tures, sounds and games. The Centre is able toproject video-films on protection of Nature.� It provides tourist maps and guides’ books,a range of tourist brochures, postcards, booksand CDs with Rhodopean music. You can buyrugs, musical instruments, souvenirs, madeby the local craftsmen and artisans.� It provides computing and xero-copying ser-vices, as well as e-mail and Internet access.

4710 Shiroka Luka

Smolyan region

Phone: 0887 522843; 03030 233

Email:sh.luka@infotel.bg;

eor@rhodope.org

www.rhodope.org

SMOLYAN

Smolyan

5 Bulgaria blvd., tel: 00359 301 62530,

e-mail mati_dil@yahoo.com

Tourist Agency “Rhodope Tours”

Reservation, accommodation, excursion, insur-

ance, airplane and bus tickets

Smolyan

50, Bulgaria blvd.

Rhodop_tours@rodopi-bg.com

GSM: 00359 887 783 810

Phone/fax: 00359 301 34238

Shiroka Luka

tel. 00359 3030 233,

e-mail: sh.luka@infotel.bg

Momchilovtsi

Center for mountain sport and tourism,

tel./fax 00359 3023 2803, e-mail: cpst@abv.bg

Mogilitsa

Center for tourist services, tel. 00359 3036 315,

e-mail: ardam@abv.bg

Tourist Information Centres, located in other

towns and villages of the Smolyan region

Chepelare

44B Belomorska Street, tel./fax: 00359 3051 2110

e-mail: tic@infotel.bg

Orehovo

Tel: 00359 3053 3490

Mobile: 00359 48 931 702

Devin

Tel./fax: 00359 3041 41 60; 48 56

Zlatograd

Tel: 00359 3071 2169

e-mail: tic_zlatograd@hotmail.com

Banite

Tel.: 00359 3025 2087