Villages
The Rhodopi Mountains, in the south of
Bulgaria, are home to numerous scattered villages inhabited
by people of different ethnic origins and religion. This part
of Bulgaria is little known to tourists but there has been
a recent increase in the availability of modern, private-run
guest houses and hotels.
Lifestyle here still revolves
mostly around farming. Many have their own cows and sheep
and prepare their own cheese
and yoghurt. Mules and horses are used alongside cars for
transportation. Elements of deeply rooted folk culture are
preserved in numerous
pagan festivals related to
health and the harvest.
Shiroka Luka, Kovachevitsa and Leshten
in the Rhodopi Mountains have a long tradition of welcoming
visitors. Other notable
places are Bozhentsi near Gabrovo in Northern Bulgaria
and Zheravna in the southern foot of the Balkan range near
Sliven.
The Trigrad area in the Rhodopis is well known for its
beautiful caves.
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