Bulgarian Regions
Pamporovo
Location and History: Pamporovo is the second mountain winter resort in the coutry after Borovets. It is 16 km from Smolyan, 12 km from Chepelare, 35 kilometers from Devin, 83 km from Plovdiv and 240 km from Sofia. It is located 1650 m above sea level in the Perelik range (Boukova Planina) of the Western Rhodopes in one of the most beautiful places of Orpheus Mountain. It received its name from the convoys of mules of Raicho Belev, a man from the town of Smolyan, which followed one another as the wagons of a train (from the Turkish word for 'train' - pampor) carrying goods. A man from Chepelare - Chichovski - built the first tourist hostel here in 1933 thus establishing the present resort.
Places of Interest: The specific combination of natural conditions makes the resort beautiful in summer and in winter alike - the large spruce forests, picturesque meadows, strange rocky forms (Orpheus rocks and others), beautiful high peaks - Mt. Snezhanka (1925 m), Mt. Mourgavets (1858 m), Mt. Orleto and others. The mountain where Pamporovo is located is composed of marble that drains the water and dries the whole region. The hill has a hunchbacked form and is very airy so the air is always fresh.
Due to the influence of the Mediterranean climate the temperatures in the resort have small daily variations. The surrounding high peaks keep it from the winds and the winter preserve the snow cover on the northern slopes of the Snezhanka and Mourgavets peaks. The area is abundant in natural slopes where many ski - runs have been built with different category of difficulty, served by sophisticated technical equipment. The resort offers 5 chair lifts, 13 tow - lifts and 17 500 meters of alpine ski - runs. 
Surrounding areas: Pamporovo is the starting point for many market tourist tracks to: Smolyanski Ezera Chalet, Izgrev Chalet, Momchil Yunak Chalet, Perelik Chalet, the village of Progled, the town of Smolyan, the Orpheus Rock, Mt. Mourgavets and Stoudenets Chalet. One can visit Bachkovo Monastery and village of Shiroka Luka.
Bachkovo Monastery located on the right bank of Chepelare River (Chaya), above Plovdiv - Smolyan road, 29 km away from Plovdiv, 89 km away from Sofia and 10 km away from Assenovgrad. This is the second biggest and popular monastery in Bulgaria - a real Holy Cloister. A prominent Byzantine statesman, of Georgion origin, founded it in 1083. It does not look the same as it did when established because it was destroyed by fire more than once and then restored. 
The only part from its originalstructure that has survived is the charnel - house with an interesting architectural design. Another building, which has survived, is Saint Archangels Church dating back from the 12th century, the ground floor of which was painted by Zahari Zograf and his students in the year 1841. Unique frescoes were discovered in the dining room of the monastery featuring ancient philosophers and writers. Sveta Bogoroditsa (The Holy Virgin) Cathedral Church (1604) is the place where is kept the most valuable icon of the Holy Virgin Eleussa, dated from 1310 is kept (brought from Georgia). The museum of the Monastery has a rich exhibition of church plate, icons, books, the sword of Friedrich Barbarossa, the Crusader, the Sultan's firman, the wood - carved cross with miniatures. 
A fresco of Doomsday, painted by Zahari Zograf in 1850 is retained in St. Nikola Church and it is one of the most interesting pieces of Bulgarian Revival art. It is believed that Patriarch Evtimii was exiled by the Turks and died here. The broad branches of a Diasperus Lotus tree (dzhindzhifa), brought from Georgia more than two centuries ago stretch over the courtyard. Bachkovo Monastery is directly subordinated to the Holy Synod. Accommodation for more than 200 people is provided in its buildings. A real tourist settlement clusters around the monastery with lots of shops, restaurants and a big camping site.
There is a tourist hostel in the near - village of Bachkovo (1 km away). Mountain hiking routes start from the Monastery: to Martsiganitsa Chalet in the Dobrostan Massif, to Bezovo Chalet again in the Dobrostan Massif and Momina Sulza Chalet. Shiroka Luka is a village - museum (an architectural and ethnographic reserve) well known not only throughout Bulgaria, but abroad as well, for its original Rhodope architectural style, musical traditions and history. 
It is located on the two banks of Shiroka Luka River and is 22 km away from Devin, 12 km from Pamporovo Resort and 24 km from the town of Smolyan with which it is connected by way of a regular bus line. It is the centre of a region of 5 villages (Stoikite, Gela, Stickal and Solishta) populated by Christians and Muslims.
It was founded after the most massive forceful conversion of the Rhodope Mountain population to Islam during the Turkish domination (17th century). A series of archaeological excavations in the area, near the village of Gela and Mt. Tourlata, resulted in the discovery of archaeological facts showing that the area was populated in most ancient times.
The residents of the village built the Holy Virgin Church in 1834 in 38 days only. The brothers Zahari and Dimitar Zograf painted the frescos and a school was opened in it only one year later. In those hard times the village was a place where Bulgarian spirit and traditions were retained. The natural conditions, the uncertainty prevailing in the centries of the Ottoman rule, the national identity of the peopl
e and their economic prosperity were reflected in the architectural style of the houses that belong to the type of a 'large Rhodope house' . They are two - storied, with bay windows and high stone chimneys, thick walls, small windows, forged doors, internal wooden staircase and a small cellar with a hiding place. The rooms have cupboards hidden in the walls, closets, etc. the yards are small, stone paved, with an outdoor drinking - fountain. All this is built with exquisite taste in harmony with the environment. Most prominent among these houses are Kaladzhiiska, Uchikovs', Grigorovs', Bogdanovs' Houses, Zgourov Inn, etc.
The arched bridges above Shiroka Luka River and some of its tributaries add romanticism to the village. The songs of the village are unique, melodious and very typical. They are sung with the accompaniment of kaba - bagpipe, flute and rebeck. The legendary Captain Petko Voivoda (The Commander) has visited the village many times. One of the two secondary music schools in Bulgaria is located here. Tourists would find especially fascinating the Pas Ponedelnik Koukerski Festival which takes place every first Sunday of March. 
Accommodation and Catering: Pamporovo offers many accommodation opportunities for tourists. The only 5-star mountain hotel on the Balkans - Pamporovo Hotel is located in front of the Assumption Church. The 3-star hotels offer great comfort - Perelik Hotel, Arfa Hotel and Prespa Hotel. The following are the 2-star hotels: Euridika, Rozhen, Orpheus, Panorama, Snezhanka. The one - star hotels are Belite Kushti, Bor, Duke's Place, Maistor Manol, Markoni, Gorski Rai. A pleasant atmosphere is also offered in Malina cottage village. Visitors who can not afford the above hotels can also find lodging in Stoudenets Chalet and Smolyanski Ezera Chalet (located near one of the beautiful lakes between Smolyan and Pamporovo that could be reached from Mt. Snezhanka by the chair - lift).
A number of cosy restaurants offer traditional Bulgarian (Rhodope) cuisine. An example is the Chevermeto folk restaurant (mehana) where the visitor should try the incredible Phodope lamb shish - kebab.
Transport: There is a regular bus line connecting it to Smolyan, Chepelare, Devin, Plovdiv and Sofia. The high transmission tower on Mt. Snezhanka helps for the location of the resort to be easily identified from far away (in a clear day). At the tower there is a panorama coffee - bar and it is reached by a chair - lift.
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