Bishop Visarion of Smolyan has officially withdrawn his candidacy for Metropolitan of Vidin citing health concerns that would prevent him from fulfilling his duties effectively In a letter addressed to Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria and the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Bishop Visarion expressed gratitude for being included among the worthy candidates for the upcoming election but emphasized that his health condition would not allow him to serve the diocese to the best of his ability “It is my duty to inform Your Holiness and Your Eminences that I have an illness that would not allow me to effectively and fully carry out the responsibilities of a diocesan metropolitan,” Bishop Visarion wrote I kindly ask that my name not be included among the eligible candidates in the election list and that my candidacy not be put to a vote by the diocesan electors on February 2 Bishop Visarion expressed deep appreciation for the trust placed in him by the Bulgarian Orthodox Church “I sincerely thank the venerable Holy Synod of our native Orthodox Church for the honor bestowed upon me,” he stated Bishop Visarion made it clear that his decision was motivated by his deep love for the Church and the faithful of the Vidin Diocese “I make this statement out of love for our Holy Church as well as out of respect for the esteemed Holy Synod,” he explained He also expressed confidence in the remaining candidates “I believe that all other eligible bishops on the list have the qualities and capabilities to bear the cross of the Metropolitan of Vidin better than my limited strength would allow.” Bishop Visarion humbly requested the prayers of the Patriarch and the Holy Synod reaffirming his loyalty to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church “I commend myself to Your First-Hierarchical Prayers and remain your faithful supplicant and humble co-worker in Christ,” he wrote The election for the new Metropolitan of Vidin is scheduled to take place on February 2 with the remaining candidates on the official ballot A car once used by Pope Francis during his 2014 visit to Bethlehem is being transformed into a mobile.. the Monastery of Saint Vlash in Albania hosted a festal Divine Liturgy on the.. Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece presided over the festal Great Vespers at the historic.. The holy Great Martyr Irene was born in the city of Magedon in Persia during the fourth century Archbishop Elpidophoros of America arrived at Saint Nicholas Ranch and Retreat Center in Dunlap 2025—the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women—Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided over the Patriarchal and Concelebratory Divine.. (function() { window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { listeners: [] cb) { window.mc4wp.listeners.push( { event : evt callback: cb } ); } } }})(); © 2023 OrthodoxTimes.com - All rights reserved Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website These cookies do not store any personal information Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website HOT: » What kind of news would you like to see more of? Twelve villages in the Smolyan region remain without electricity due to heavy snowfall according to Deputy Regional Governor Adrian Petrov which collapsed onto power lines under the weight of snow Electricity distribution teams have been working for a second consecutive day to address the damage and restore power to the affected areas Officials anticipate the situation will be resolved later today The power outages have also impacted villages with hotels and guest houses many of which already have holiday tourists the roads in the Smolyan region are reported to be passable under winter conditions Authorities advise travelers heading to the region to drive cautiously and ensure their vehicles are equipped with winter tires to avoid accidents overnight anti-icing operations were conducted on streets and boulevards to maintain safe driving conditions Crews treated roads in districts such as Sredets Focus areas included public transport routes and the Southern Arc of the Sofia Ring Road two mountain roads were treated with anti-icing mixtures: Boyana Quarter to Golden Bridges and Dragalevtsi Quarter to Aleko Chalet The Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA) is urging drivers across the region to use properly equipped vehicles and drive at appropriate speeds to ensure safety We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria Residents of Sofia who are customers of "Toplofikatsia Sofia" can now benefit from a new mobile application "My Heat," which offers a more accessible and user-friendly way to manage heating-related services The fourth edition of the LUNAR Festival of Lights in Sofia will illuminate 10,000 square meters of art across some of the city's most iconic buildings and public spaces from May 8 to May 11 The Sofia Police has launched a targeted operation against drivers of electric scooters and electric motorbikes who engage in reckless behavior in the city's central areas Todor Kantardzhiev warned that Sofia's sewer system should be cleared of rats opened fire with a gas pistol near a kindergarten in Sofia's Lyulin district Sofia Municipality is set to implement a revised framework for managing its municipal housing stock by introducing two distinct rental categories The National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology forecasts that May will bring temperatures ranging from 2°C to 33°C across Bulgaria the weather will be mostly sunny—around and after midday cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds will develop Bulgaria and Greece have signed a draft Joint Declaration regarding the use of the Arda River waters over the next five years following a decision by the Bulgarian Council of Ministers The weather across Bulgaria on May 1 will begin with sunshine in the morning followed by an increase in cloud cover during the afternoon The Constitutional Court of Bulgaria has repealed legislative changes made two years ago that permitted the installation of photovoltaic (solar) systems on arable agricultural land Bulgaria will experience mostly sunny weather accompanied by a light to moderate east-northeast wind Google Street View Cars Return to Bulgaria for Major Mapping Update Housing Prices Soar in Bulgaria’s Major Cities as Demand and Supply Strain Increase The mayor of Borino municipality Mustafa Karaahmed has moved from Ahmed Dogan's MRF to Delyan Peevski's political party "New Beginning" He indicated that talks were held with the party's chairman Mustafa Karaahmed is the first mayor of a municipality in Smolyan region to leave the MRF three of the municipal councilors of Dogan's party separated from the group in the Municipal Council – Smolyan and formed a new group “DPS – New Beginning“ Almost every municipality has a municipal leadership and women's associations in Smolyan we also formed a youth association but the most organized structure is in the municipality of Nedelino a meeting of the party's regional council was held in Smolyan Malinov added that they reviewed the cultural calendar for the month of May and set deadlines for structuring women's and youth associations where there are none yet More news from Bulgaria The Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) is organizing a local conference in Smolyan as part of its project Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills The event will be held at BTA's National Press Club in Smolyan on Tuesday The discussion will focus on the latest developments in the EU's cohesion policy for 2021-2027 and the results achieved during the 2014-2020 programming period Special attention will be given to skills as a driver of regional development and the contributions of Bulgaria and the Balkan countries to Europe's growth The conference will feature the participation of amongst others Smolyan Deputy Regional Governor Andriyan Petrov Regional Information Centre Manager Tsvetanka Gencheva and Rozhen National Astronomical Observatory Director Nikola Petrov Through Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills BTA seeks to raise public awareness and encourage open dialogue on cohesion policy and the implementation of the EU's policy priorities The project kicked off with a conference in Veliki Preslav in November 2024 BTA will host discussions at its press clubs in the following cities: Blagoevgrad Cross-border conferences will be held in Belgrade The project builds on two earlier projects "Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future" and "Europe in Bulgaria: A Common Future" Contacts +359 2 9262 210 By accepting cookies you can enjoy a better experience while browsing pages This work, Combined Training Exercise Rhodope 23 Strengthens Partnership Amongst NATO Allies, by SGT Jaidon Novinska, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright has met with students from the Language High School in Smolyan to present the "Ambassador for a Day" initiative It will be held for the eighth consecutive year by the British Embassy The aim is to increase girls' interest in diplomacy Ambassador Nathaniel Copsey was welcomed in the high school in Smolyan according to old traditions with bread The initiative is aimed at girls at the age of 14 to 18 It is held in the form of an essay contest on a given topic as the winners are guests of the British Embassy for a few days Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev has left for Washington where he will participate in the Munich Leaders Meeting (May 5-7 The forum is organised by the Munich Security Conference The foundation Unity- Kočani has sent an open letter to key Bulgarian institutions expressing gratitude for the support and humanitarian assistance provided by Bulgaria after the tragedy of the fire at a nightclub in Kočani The foreign ministers of Bulgaria and Greece Georg Georgiev and Giorgos Gerapetritis signed a joint declaration on the use of the waters of the river Arda on 2 May the BNR reports citing an announcement published by the Greek Foreign Ministry.. people will be able to withdraw money  from ATMs only in the new currency according to the website of the Bulgarian. helicopters of the Bulgarian Air Force will fly at low altitude over Sofia in preparation for a military parade marking the Day. The Bulgarian student teams that participated in the European Olympiad of Experimental Sciences EOES 2025 in Zagreb have returned with. english@bnr.bg For travel to the United States on a temporary basis For foreign citizens who want to live permanently in the United States Outside of Bulgaria: 1-888-407-4747 or 202-647-5225 Learn more about quality higher-education opportunities in the U.S that you will not find anywhere else in the world Find the closest American Space in Bulgaria where you can connect with the U.S “I am grateful to Bulgarian service members for their professionalism and dedication and we’re here tonight to support their families as well during their deployment.”  – U.S Shannon Johnson honored Bulgaria’s 101st Alpine Regiment on Saturday night at Smolyan’s Garrison Military Club colleagues hosted 101st Alpine Regiment families for dinner and played games and contests with the children of the deployed Bulgarian military members Commanding Officer of 101st Alpine Regiment Johnson is looking forward to returning to Smolyan to join celebrations when the 101st Alpine Regiment returns home in early August We use cookies to make our website work better and improve your experience bringing snowfall and a sudden drop in temperatures with significant accumulation in mountain passes such as Petrohan Authorities are actively clearing the roads but challenging weather conditions persist with four snowplows working to clear and sand the roads The temperature at the highest point of the pass dropped to -7°C at midday with strong winds and dense fog further complicating travel The ban on heavy goods vehicles over 12 tons remains in place while all other drivers must be prepared for winter conditions 29 machines operated across the Montana region to ensure road safety Snow-clearing teams are working continuously clearing the road every 30 minutes to maintain safe passage authorities urge caution and winter-equipped vehicles higher-altitude areas received about 5 cm of fresh snow and temperatures in the afternoon dropped to -6°C where 15 machines are deployed to clear and sand the roads and Pamporovo remain open and accessible even for vehicles over 12 tons the sudden winter weather caused some disruptions reported that several vehicles became stuck on Prevala Pass due to premature tire changes from winter to summer a fallen tree briefly blocked the road between Smolyan and the village of Smilyan Authorities advise drivers to remain cautious as winter conditions persist in the mountains Bulgaria commemorates one of its most significant national holidays – the Day of Saint George the Victorious and the official Day of the Bulgarian Army all retailers in Bulgaria will be required to display prices in both leva and euros Employers in Bulgaria are legally required to implement all necessary measures to prevent and minimize workplace accidents a major British tour operator specializing in holidays to Bulgaria has halted all its operations effective April 24 Wage growth in Bulgaria is projected at 9.3 percent for 2025 a 15.4 percent rise in the minimum wage since January The World Bank has revised down its forecast for Bulgaria’s economic growth in 2025 BG | EN “The Strong Economic Growth in Several Smaller Regions Leads to a Slight Decline in the Capital’s Share of the Country’s Gross Domestic Product” – analysts from the Institute for Market Economics (IME) note in their latest report “Regional Profiles 2024.” According to them the Bulgarian economy is returning to relatively stable growth following the setbacks caused by the pandemic with some smaller regions managing to increase their contribution to national production and genuine catch-up is still the top priority for several regions Smolyan and Kardzhali are two areas in the southern part of the country sharing similar geographical features (mountainous terrain and predominantly medium to weaker infrastructure) but have developed differently in recent years What are the key economic indicators with which the two regions entered 2024 and what are the major challenges facing local administration we will closely examine the data provided by IME and draw parallels between Smolyan and Kardzhali in every key category: from economic development and income to healthcare According to the “Regional Profiles 2024” by the Institute for Market Economics the gross domestic product (GDP) in the Smolyan region continues to grow While this absolute value remains relatively small in the context of the national picture The report highlights that the economy here is gradually shaking off the remnants of economic uncertainty brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on international tourism it should be noted that the overall size of economic activity in Smolyan is far more modest compared to leading regions such as Sofia (the capital) Yet it is precisely the smaller regions that have a chance to demonstrate higher relative growth year-on-year Positive signals for Smolyan come from the rapid recovery of local tourism (especially winter tourism in Pamporovo) and the gradual expansion of some production activities the IME notes that the output per employee in the region ranks among the lowest in the country (approximately 69,000–70,000 BGN per employee) suggesting low productivity and limited scale of local businesses but Positioned Low in the National Ranking A similar trend is observed in the Kardzhali region the GDP per capita also rises significantly in 2022 (according to IME but it remains far below the national average (26,000 BGN) The positive contribution primarily comes from improvements in regional entrepreneurship Kardzhali remains among the regions with the weakest overall contribution to the national economy The Institute for Market Economics notes that businesses in Kardzhali are still not particularly active and the output generated by local enterprises hovers around 69,000–70,000 BGN per employee—an equally low level as that in Smolyan Comparison: Both regions show a certain economic upswing compared to previous periods but Smolyan is gradually positioning itself as a destination with an established (winter) tourist brand and slight industrial specialization in the food sector Kardzhali relies more on its border location and certain industrial zones the insufficient scale of private investments and a limited domestic market remain obstacles to faster economic catch-up with the national averages for Bulgaria the average gross salary in the region in 2024 approaches and sometimes exceeds 1,700–1,800 BGN per month While this lags behind the national average (over 2,100–2,200 BGN) yet they remain lower than in the capital (where the average pension is 957 BGN) The poverty level in Smolyan has decreased over the past year as reported by the authors of the report—this is an encouraging sign even though the region is still dominated by an aging population with limited economic activity There is a slight “movement” in tourism which also “boosts” incomes for part of the working population Kardzhali: The Lowest Pensions in Bulgaria Kardzhali continues to have the lowest pensions in the country—633 BGN as an average monthly pension compared to 784 BGN nationally in 2023 The gap is significant and stems from multiple factors: weaker economic activity a considerable share of people nearing retirement age proximity to other labor markets (including labor migration to Turkey) as well as lower contribution rates and past incomes The average annual gross salary in Kardzhali is also rising slowly—only by 8% in 2022 compared to the national pace of 13% This confirms a trend of weaker income growth the share of the population living below the national poverty line rises to 27.3% Despite a relatively low Gini coefficient (indicating that inequalities within the region are not overly pronounced) the problem remains the very low income level affecting a large number of households Comparison: Both regions continue to lag behind the average standard of living in Bulgaria pensions and wages are slightly higher compared to Kardzhali but unemployment remains a significant challenge there as well Kardzhali notably suffers from chronically low wage growth and the lowest pensions in the country Poverty in the Rhodopes is traditionally deeper and incomes there are often supplemented by seasonal migration or relocation to larger cities The labor market results in Smolyan are mixed employment increased in 2023 (reaching 74.7%) unemployment also rose to 10.2%—significantly above the national average (5.3%) but it may be explained by the activation of economically inactive individuals A concerning trend is the decreasing share of the population of working age—only 56.0% compared to 58.5% nationally This is logically attributed to aging and negative net migration (known as out-migration) The good news is that the educational status of the workforce remains relatively good: only 13% of people aged 25–64 have primary or lower education (compared to 15% nationally) while 25% have higher education (compared to 31% nationally) the labor market appears to be facing even more serious challenges The employment rate in 2023 decreases to 70.6%—well below the national average (76.2%) The main problem for the labor market in Kardzhali is the educational structure: the share of the workforce with higher education drops to 22% (compared to 25% in Smolyan and 31% nationally) Even more concerning is that 20% have primary or lower education which hinders attracting employers in medium- and high-tech industries Comparison: Both regions exhibit a double-digit unemployment rate—almost double the national level Kardzhali lags in both employment and workforce qualifications the picture is slightly more favorable regarding education and the employment rate Smolyan: Expenditures on Fixed Assets Above 3,000 BGN Per Person some businesses in Smolyan are becoming more active: expenditures for acquiring fixed tangible assets (FTA) exceeded 3,100 BGN per person in 2022 This marks an improvement compared to previous years; however it remains far behind the leaders in the country (for example Foreign direct investments (FDI) have also increased reaching 866 euros per person—still a low level Smolyan ranks among the last in the country in terms of labor productivity but the positive aspect is that the share of export revenues remains respectable (around 20%) it remains to be seen whether public or private investments will enhance infrastructure and improve connections with the interior of the country to expand the scope of local business Kardzhali: Under 2,000 BGN in Fixed Asset Expenditures Per Person Kardzhali also shows slight positive signals: expenditures on fixed tangible assets reach 1,800 BGN per person but still places the region at the bottom of the ranking (alongside Vidin and Haskovo) which is even more than in Smolyan (866 euros) This may be influenced by the border location and a certain interest from Turkish and other foreign investors especially in sectors like textiles and lighter manufacturing the share of exports in net sales revenues is 38% (compared to 20% in Smolyan and 29% nationally) This indicates that although the overall economy of Kardzhali is not large it is relatively oriented toward international markets but it still does not change the overall lagging behind Comparison: Both regions are experiencing an uptick in investment activity Smolyan spends approximately 3,100 BGN per person on fixed tangible assets Kardzhali (3,000 euros per person) significantly surpasses Smolyan (866 euros per person) Smolyan relies more on the domestic market and tourism whereas Kardzhali demonstrates an intriguing focus on exports and cross-border logistics connections Smolyan suffers from a lack of railway connectivity as well as the absence of motorways and first-class roads The mountainous terrain and distance from major transport corridors are leading issues: the density of the road network is below the national average increasing costs and delaying the transport of goods and people The good news is that the quality of existing roads is relatively high—58% of the road surface is in good condition (compared to 40% nationally) The access of households to the internet has decreased slightly but the values are close to the national averages A significant issue in Smolyan’s settlement network is access to public sewage systems: only 71% of the population has access to sewage (compared to 75% nationally) and only 45% of the sewage infrastructure is connected to treatment plants (compared to an average of 67%) the density of the railway network is among the lowest in the country there is no full-scale development; furthermore motorways and first-class roads constitute only 11% of the network (compared to 19% nationally) This hampers access and slows economic development particularly for industries that rely on fast logistics The share of road surfaces in good condition is approximately 35% the sewage network is underdeveloped in Kardzhali Only 43% of the population lives in settlements with public sewage systems compared to 71% in Smolyan and 75% nationally Connections to treatment plants are only 38% Access to the internet is also below the national average Comparison: Both regions share a common issue: a lack of major transportation projects and insufficient resources allocated for modernizing key road arteries Smolyan performs slightly better in terms of “quality of road surface,” while Kardzhali has a higher road density but with poorer quality the absence of railway connections is a significant limiting factor for industrial investments The “Regional Profiles 2024” indicates that local taxes in the Smolyan region are characterized by lower rates compared to national averages The most noticeable difference is in the tax on retail trade (8.02 BGN/sq The vehicle tax (1.38 BGN/kW) is also lower than the average (1.56 BGN/kW) which somewhat alleviates the burdens on local businesses and residents Among the six municipalities in the region the tax rates on non-residential properties owned by legal entities are higher than the national average Kardzhali traditionally maintains lower or comparable local tax levels to national rates For retail trade and non-residential properties taxes on the transfer of property and vehicles are slightly higher than the averages It is important to note that municipalities in Kardzhali have a limited tax base which often leads to lower own revenues and difficult budget implementation the coverage of municipal expenditures by local revenues is even lower the tax burden is not a significant factor burdening businesses; on the contrary this does not always create a competitive advantage as the other conditions necessary to retain or attract investors are lacking The self-assessment of local administrations in Smolyan regarding progress in e-government and “one-stop-shop” administrative services has improved Their transparency rating is also below average—63.4% compared to 69.3% nationwide Smolyan ranks among the top three regions with the lowest share of own revenues in the total revenue of municipal budgets (16% compared to 27% nationally) The coverage of municipal expenditures by local revenues stands at 48% (versus 74% nationally)—the second-lowest value after Targovishte This indicates a strong dependency on the central budget and EU projects Kardzhali: Second to Last in Administrative Performance the region occupies second-to-last place in terms of performance on various administrative criteria (with Vidin being last) The low self-assessments for e-government and administrative services indicate that the local administration is still not sufficiently open and digitized Transparency in the municipalities (67.8%) is slightly higher than in Smolyan (63.4%) but still below the national average (69.3%) The share of own revenues (18%) is also very low and the coverage of municipal expenditures by local revenues is 56% (compared to 74% nationally) further confirming the limited financial independence of local government in Kardzhali Comparison: Both Smolyan and Kardzhali are heavily dependent on transfers from the state budget and funds from EU operational programs Their administrative capacity is below the national average While Smolyan seems to show some progress in the digitization of services the overall levels in both regions are unsatisfactory Smolyan ranks among the regions with the most aging population—28.9% of the residents are aged 65 and older (compared to 23.8% nationally) The share of small children (aged 0–4) is the lowest in the country—only 2.9% the natural growth rate is -11.8‰ (versus -6.8‰ for the country) and the mechanical growth rate is also negative (-1.6‰)—the lowest in Bulgaria This practically means that Smolyan is “shrinking” due to both higher mortality rates and ongoing emigration (both internal and external) These trends threaten the future potential of the economy and social life in the region Kardzhali boasts the highest mechanical growth rate in the country primarily due to a strong influx of people across the border from Turkey (approximately +3.5% annually) The natural growth rate is more favorable than the national average (-6.5‰ compared to -6.8‰ nationally) the local population is also aging: 26.4% are over 65 years old while the share of children aged 0–4 is only 4.1% Although the influx of people through migration “fills” the region its economic structure fails to capitalize on these demographic processes Many of those who return are of retirement age or use Kardzhali as a temporary residence Comparison: While Smolyan is literally depopulating Kardzhali has a positive mechanical growth rate aging is a common problem for the entire Rhodope region The specificity of Kardzhali is that a significant portion of the “new arrivals” are not young specialists who remain permanently but mainly retirees or individuals who reside there temporarily whereas Kardzhali partially “replaces” its young emigrants with retirees or through short-term migration Smolyan: Second Best Performance in Matura Exams and Nearly Full Enrollment in Lower Secondary Education Smolyan traditionally excels in educational indicators The IME highlights that the region ranks next to the capital in the performance of the Matura exam in Bulgarian language and literature (average score of 4.48 compared to 4.30 nationally) The share of poor grades is only 4.1% (compared to 8.7% nationally) The net enrollment rate in grades V–VII reaches 95%—the highest in Bulgaria—while the share of students who repeat a year is exceptionally low (0.3%) The enrollment rate for children in kindergartens remains high (97%) the index of compatibility between vocational education and the economic profile is only 34.8 points (compared to 53.1 points nationally) This suggests that many graduates from Smolyan schools tend to choose specialties that do not fully align with local needs Kardzhali: Weak Performance in Matura Exams and Limited Higher Education System education remains the Achilles’ heel of the region ranking near the bottom alongside areas like Sliven and Lovech The average score in the national external assessment after grade VII (mathematics) is 36.8 points compared to a national average of 42.9 points while the Matura exam score in Bulgarian language and literature is 4.22 compared to 4.30 nationally The share of poor grades in the Matura exam reaches 14.7% Enrollment in lower secondary education is among the lowest in the country although the rate of repeat students is not very high The issue is that higher education is virtually absent in the region with only 3.6 students per thousand inhabitants (compared to a national average of 29.6) A significant percentage of young people choose to leave the region for higher education and often do not return Comparison: Smolyan demonstrates some of the best educational achievements in the country while Kardzhali is on the opposite end of the spectrum It is clear that Smolyan has well-functioning schools and qualified teachers which positively impacts the literacy and culture of the students Kardzhali suffers from a long-term outflow of students and more serious socio-economic issues that hinder good education Smolyan: Practically 100% Insured and Relatively Sufficient Hospital Beds The Smolyan region exemplifies high coverage of health insurance—almost the entire population is covered The average life expectancy is one of the highest in Bulgaria and child mortality rates are below the national average the healthcare network struggles with a shortage of qualified specialists even though the number of general practitioners is adequate The number of beds in multidisciplinary hospitals (6.0 per thousand people) is close to the national average (6.1 per thousand) the utilization rate of hospital beds is lower—48% compared to a national average of 56% Kardzhali: Chronic Shortage of Doctors and Hospital Beds While the percentage of insured individuals in Kardzhali is also high the region faces a severe shortage of medical personnel and hospital facilities It has the lowest number of general practitioners and specialists relative to the population (one general practitioner for every 2,950 people compared to an average of 1,701 nationally) the figure stands at 3.8 per thousand people which is drastically lower than the national average (6.1) The relative number of pharmacies in Kardzhali is also significantly below the average When considering the healthcare system as critical infrastructure for quality of life Kardzhali experiences serious deficiencies that directly limit access to and the quality of medical care Comparison: Smolyan is in a much better condition regarding its healthcare system although it is not among the leaders in the country suffers from a lack of hospital beds and specialists who continue to increase in number demographically Smolyan: The Lowest Recorded Crime Rate in the Country Smolyan stands out as the region with the lowest number of registered crimes (5.0 per thousand people compared to a national average of 11.3) The share of solved crimes is 63%—above the average (53%) Contributing factors to these positive indicators include the relatively small population and good coordination among law enforcement agencies 98% are resolved within three months (compared to a national average of 91%) Administrative cases are similarly efficient Kardzhali: Also Low Crime Levels and High Clearance Rates Kardzhali traditionally ranks among the top three regions with the best security indicators the number of crimes slightly increased but remains low—5.7 per thousand people the workload of the District Court is quite low while the Administrative Court experiences relatively high caseloads; nevertheless the share of cases resolved within three months is impressively high (over 78% for administrative cases and 85% for civil cases) This positions Kardzhali as one of the safest regions in Bulgaria both regions experience a notably peaceful criminal environment Comparison: In terms of order and security The relatively small population size and community ties in the Rhodopes contribute to a peaceful environment while the judicial system operates efficiently likely due to lower caseloads compared to larger cities Smolyan: Highest Share of Forests and Least Disturbed Areas Smolyan leads the ranking in terms of nature conservation Seventy-one percent of its territory is forested (compared to a national average of 33%) The need for cooling during the summer is the lowest in Bulgaria—logical considering the mountainous climate household waste amounted to 355 kg per person (compared to 488 kg nationally) with 66% of it being sent for treatment and recycling (against a national average of 76%) Although the recycling rate is below average Smolyan has a significant amount of installed renewable energy sources (RES) per capita—almost three times the national average and summer sunshine favor small hydroelectric plants and photovoltaic facilities Kardzhali ranks among the most forested areas (54% of its territory is covered by forests) only behind Smolyan and a few other mountainous regions the per capita generation of household waste is the lowest in the country (246 kg per person) but the percentage sent for treatment or recycling is only 10%—well below the national average of 76% Kardzhali has installed renewable energy capacities above average levels which is an important prerequisite for the development of green energy The consumption of drinking water is relatively lower Comparison: In both regions of the Rhodopes there is a positive impact on ecology—an abundance of forests and relatively low levels of industrial pollution Smolyan achieves a better recycling rate (66% compared to 10% in Kardzhali) Both regions have the potential to develop ecotourism and renewable energy sources (RES) Although educational indicators are excellent cultural activity in Smolyan is not particularly vibrant IME data for 2023 indicates that there are 169 cinema visits per thousand people (compared to an average of 684 nationally) and 183 library visits (679 national average) the tourism sector in Smolyan is much more developed The region has 130 accommodation beds per thousand residents The number of overnight stays is 8,773 per thousand people—again among the highest values thanks to the winter resort of Pamporovo and rural tourism in the surrounding areas Kardzhali: Almost at the Bottom in Cultural Activity Kardzhali is one of the most culturally passive regions Museum visits stand at only 85 per thousand people compared to the national average of 770 and library metrics are also very low—more than five times below the averages with only 19 accommodation beds per thousand residents (compared to 56 nationally) The number of overnight stays is 855 per thousand people which is nearly two orders of magnitude below Smolyan’s figures Although there have been attempts in recent years to promote the “Kardzhali” and “Studen Kladenets” reservoirs as tourist destinations allowing it to approach the top destinations in the country while Kardzhali remains a peripheral area where cultural events and the tourism sector are not particularly developed A significant legacy of historical and natural attractions in the Kardzhali area is not being fully utilized for culture and tourism The IME analysis conveys a clear message: there is still a significant gap between the developed and less developed regions in Bulgaria and the Rhodopes remain among the most vulnerable areas „За истината“ спазва Eтичния кодекс на българските медии. За нас | Контакти | Подаване на сигнал | Дарения | Партньори | Условия за ползване | Политика за бисквитките „За истината“ © 2024. Някои права запазени We are in the season of skiing and winter sports but we also know that this is not always the best option for people with young children or are constantly looking for something new and exciting That's why our recommendation this week takes you on a trip near Smolyan It's suitable for a one-day getaway from Plovdiv and the surrounding area or a short excursion if you're already in the region for a vacation The “Santa Claus” Deer and Animal Farm is located in Momchilovtsi about 15 kilometers from the town of Smolyan and  Pamporovo resort and you can also combine your time outdoors with a visit to the village’s historical museum which houses an impressive collection of over 3,500 exhibits related to local life and history the only Magic Museum in Bulgaria has been opened boasting the largest collection of its kind in Europe It includes items from its creator - magician and actor Nencho Iliev as well as artifacts from legendary illusionists such as Mister Senko Among the exhibits is even an electric chair personally designed by Nikola Tesla for Mister Senko The Santa Claus Farm was founded by Dragni Georgiev from Dobrich he came to the Rhodope Mountains with friends to snowboard he ended up staying—and found love along the way (at least that’s how he tells the story on the website and we think it sounds quite romantic and adventurous) He and his partner decided to raise their children in the Rhodopes They started with an animal area and later expanded to include a forest adventure park for kids and a cozy café for parents to enjoy food and drinks The children's park features attractions such as a trampoline It's the perfect place for a fun weekend getaway it’s best to contact them in advance to make arrangements Four projects are being implemented in Smolyan Region under the 2021-2027 Education Programme Regional Education Department Head Nikola Zapryanov said during a local conference as part of BTA's Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project The conference took place at the BTA National Press Club here on Tuesday He pointed out that schools in the region are also working on 18 national programmes and on projects funded by the Erasmus + programme adding that the latest project under the programme includes a visit to the Rhodope town by teachers and students from Malta Smolyan Region continues to be one of the regions with the best educational indicators recalling that it is in the top places in national assessments in any format The region has six vocational and two specialized high schools two schools focused on culture and one municipal sports school He also stated that there is no student who does not have access to education and that there is a 97% coverage of children in preschool and school education in the region The region also follows the national trend of focusing on vocational education as it must become leading in order to provide business with the necessary personnel He noted that there is an increase in the popularity of new specialties in vocational education such as Internet Application Organizer adding that professions related to programming are extremely widespread Zapryanov concluded that STEM centres have also already been built in Smolyan Region under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.  BTA's Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project aims to raise public awareness and foster open dialogue about cohesion policy The project builds on the Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future and Europe in Bulgaria: A Common Future projects "Six reports of bear attacks were received by the Regional Inspectorate for Environment and Waters – Smolyan in March" said Ekaterina Gadzheva – director of the inspection She indicated that joint inspections were carried out by the rapid response group and forestry employees Three of the attacks were in the village of Buynovo One damage was found in the villages of Dve topoli - Banite municipality the director of the Regional Inspectorate for Environmental Protection and Water Resources specified Gadjeva added that an inspection was also carried out in the village of Trigrad for traces of a brown bear whose area has suffered frequent damage in previous years A significant arsenal of illegal weapons and ammunition was uncovered in Bulgaria during a specialized operation led by the Directorate for the Prevention of Organized Crime and the Counterterrorism Department (GDBOP) This discovery marks the largest such find in the country's history The operation took place on December 3 across the Smolyan region law enforcement officers found a workshop designed for the conversion of firearms The action was overseen by the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Smolyan with two individuals arrested and charged in connection with the illegal weapons trade Further details regarding the operation will be revealed at a briefing on December 5 at the Smolyan Courthouse Presenting the information will be Senior Commissioner Boyan Raev Deputy Director of the General Directorate for Counterterrorism An 18-year-old girl who had been reported missing in Haskovo has been found dead A 33-year-old man from the village of Semchinovo has been taken into custody by the police for physically assaulting a 10-year-old child A 12-year-old boy from Lukovit has been hospitalized with two broken arms and head injuries after reportedly being assaulted and thrown from a bridge the director of the Plovdiv Customs Office was arrested earlier today for allegedly facilitating a new smuggling route for cigarettes The tourist flow to hotels and resort areas in the southern Smolyan region marked an increase in July as July and August are shaping up to be the busiest summer months for accommodation establishments in the region according to data from regional hoteliers and representatives of the tourism business.  who chose the mountainous region to escape from the high temperatures Along with the hiking routes in the surroundings of Pamporovo the resort also offers relaxing spa treatments while the highlight of the tourist offers are air conditioning and health programmes for lung prevention Even though mostly Bulgarian vacationers rest in Pamporovo in the summer Greek and Turkish tourists are also expected as well as tourists from Saudi Arabia and Israel from the beginning of August There has been an increase in tourists in Devin as well The city of mineral water welcomes vacationers with a water park and a newly opened 4-star hotel "Hotels with pools and water attractions have the highest occupancy with accommodation almost full on Saturdays and Sundays" tourists from Israel traditionally rest in Devin hotels with outdoor and indoor pools with mineral water attract tourists from all over the country to Zlatograd The spa facilities of the Ethnographic Complex are filled with mineral water from the Erma River There is still high interest in holiday packages which include the mountain and the sea so transport to the beaches of Northern Greece is provided for tourists in Zlatograd The summer tourist season started earlier than usual in the village of Banite as the first tourists arrived at the end of June Banite Municipality maintains a permanent concert programme during the weekends and a festival of Rhodope cuisine gathered hundreds of visitors at the beginning of July" According to the data from regional hoteliers many tourists also visited the small hotels in the villages of Arda Hiking trails and the taste of Rhodope cuisine remain a trademark of family hotels in rural tourism destinations in the region The newest landmark in the area of ​​the upper reaches of Arda is the panoramic lookout called Lisa Gora near the village of Mogilitsa revealing a panoramic view of the Rhodopes We continue our virtual tours in the Rhodope Mountains revealing some of the most remarkable sights and locations worth visiting the weather is still perfect for out-of-town excursions and we suggest heading this weekend to one of the most colorful villages in the Rhodope Mountains It is located in the picturesque Shiroka Laka area in the Western Rhodopes The village is situated 16 km northwest of Smolyan and only 7 km from the winter resort of Pamporovo Stoykite has preserved the authentic appearance of a small Rhodope village It attracts numerous tourists and offers wonderful opportunities for relaxation amidst the atmosphere of long-gone times the village offers an incredible panoramic view of the Chernaitsa ridge Stoykite village was first mentioned in a written document in 1706 by the French traveler Paul Lucas (a delegate of King Louis XIV) who described its beauty and charm in his chronicles The village was settled by fugitives in the 17th century during one of the waves of Islamization in the Rhodope region it was an important center during the battles of Captain Petko Voyvoda against those who tried to restore Turkish rule on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Balkan War the residents of Stoykite built a monument in the Prevala area and a 12-meter cross was positioned on Cherni Vrah where the border of the occupied areas of the Ottoman Empire passed from 1878 to 1912 there is a monument built in memory of the residents of Stoykite who were killed in the Balkan A must-visit location when you’re in the area is the "St Peter and Paul" Church – one of the most beautiful in the Rhodopes Apostles Peter and Paul" Church was laid in the Kaikovska district The April Uprising and the Liberation War delayed the construction (by 1876 the building process had reached the windows) but the church was completed and consecrated by Bishop Gervasii with symmetrically placed windows adorned with beautiful wrought iron grilles The entrance doors of the temple are clad in metal sheets hammered with hand-forged nails The bell was placed on two pillars between the church and the neighboring school Since the bell sound did not reach the distant houses with the permission of the Municipal Council to build a bell tower near the northeast wall and its restoration began in 2018 through the voluntary work of the residents there are more than 10 chapels maintained by the locals A bronze medal from the first international Olympic Games in Athens (1896) was found in the village Research suggests it was won by the famous wrestler from the village you will also find historical remains of a Roman fortress at St Vrach; an ancient Thracian sanctuary at St Elena peak; and Roman cemeteries dating from the 4th-6th centuries discovered during excavations in the Pavlya area Apostol Kisyov made the first skis from beech wood marking the beginning of ski sports in Stoykite The village now has a six-seat chairlift that connects Stoykite with Snezhanka peak Pavel Kisyov is also the founder of the "Sto Kaba Gaidi" orchestra a National Bagpipe Convention is held every year The only public collection "The Bagpipe: Ancient and Eternal" in Bulgaria is housed in the "Probuda" community center and photo materials representing the bagpipe art and the folk craft of making bagpipes in the country (from all folklore regions of Bulgaria) the collection includes over 250 movable items and for food lovers – the retro restaurant ‘Borika’ will enchant you with unforgettable flavors and the feeling that you are visiting an old friend but it is worth trying everything on the menu From bean stew with mushrooms to the gourmet dishes – everything will fill your palate with divine sensations and aromas Smolyan Region is being promoted as a tourist destination in China who is a member of the Bulgarian - Chinese Society Friends of China The region's promotional campaign is boosted by Momchilovtsi a brand of Bulgarian dairy products popular in China that has been on the market since 2009 The advertising campaign goes beyond Chinese consumers' perception of Momchilovtsi as a place of longevity and puts the focus on the tourism products available at Rhodope Mountains Pamporovo and Smolyan Region were represented at the tourism expo in Ningbo He shared that the popularity of Momchilovtsi milk can bring Chinese tourists to the Rhodope Mountains as the advertising campaign relies on showing a comprehensive tourism product that turns the "Milk Road" into a long-term itinerary He added that the potential benefit of developing a tourism product for the Chinese market is significant China's middle class is comprised of 300 to 500 million people said that every Chinese attendant of the expo they spoke to was already familiar with the Momchilovtsi dairy brand The village of Momchilovtsi's popularity in Asia has already brought tourists to the Rhodopes in the past decade The village is once again enjoying tourist traffic from China in 2024 Chinese language courses are being taught in Momchilovtsi Plans to increase tourist flow from China face two major obstacles: Bulgaria is not yet part of the land Schengen and there is no direct air route connecting the two countries All municipalities of the Smolyan region were represented at the tourism exhibition in China The focus was on Pamporovo as a ski destination as well as on sites for cultural and historical tourism Projects in the scientific and research sphere should be administratively simplified Rozhen National Astronomical Observatory Director Nikola Petrov said during a local conference as part of BTA's Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project He stressed that conducting public procurement for projects related to science is inapplicable adding that for a scientific and research activity specific equipment is needed in order to achieve a specific scientific result in the US and suddenly they tell us to make a public procurement How can the US participate in a project with a public procurement He stated that the observatory in Rozhen was visited by 15,000 people during the summer in 2024 "We have been waiting for four years for a project to be implemented for the road to the observatory which is difficult to access," Petrov emphasized the observatory began construction of a new telescope for the first time in the last 45 years The equipment was officially unveiled in 2023 Scientists have developed a modern meteorological station adding that the new projects are related to space processes for climate change the astronomical observatory will be included in a global network for observing cosmic particles" which prevented cars and people from reaching the non-working Rudozem-Xanthi border crossing were removed on Friday Temporary arrangements have been put in place so that people can reach the border Smolyan Regional Governor Zahari Sirakov told BTA We hope that citizens will show sense and not cross the transport section that has not been put into operation,” Sirakov added The border crossing and the accompanying infrastructure at Rudozem-Xanthi were completed by the end of 2021 but the opening was postponed because of a delay in the construction of the road on the Greek side During those years security for the building has cost hundreds of thousands of leva according to the Smolyan Regional Administration The route from Dimario to the border has been covered with asphalted such as the installation of kerbs and road markings The road is not finished and is a construction site Smolyan district governor Zahari Sirakov said at the end of December He said there is no explicit ban on passing through the checkpoint but traffic has been restricted to avoid unnecessary accidents cars can only reach the newly-built building for the customs office The temporary traffic arrangements were put in place after a meeting on Friday of Regional Governor Zahari Sirakov the head of the local road authority Kostadinka Milanova and Miroslav Belyashki head of the Plovdiv office of the Customs Agency The representatives of local and state institutions inspected on the site the access to the non-operational border crossing and the border with Greece Vehicles cannot cross into Greek territory access for cars is also prevented by a metal fence installed next to the border itself The link between Dimario and the border is an entirely new facility that needs to be commissioned He said that the inspection showed that the road to the border on the Greek side is still a construction site such as the installation of road barriers and markings have been delayed probably due to the bad weather conditions Rocks tumble down on the road from Rudozem to the border from the nearby mountain hill The Regional Governor said that the authorities will request that a safety net is put up to secure the route in the areas with falling rock debris At the site of the non-working border crossing on Friday there were people who came from the neighboring village of Chepintsi and from Rudozem Many families in Chepintsi have relatives across the border we are all looking forward to meeting friends and relatives from the neighbouring Greek villages Greek guests of residents of Chepintsi arrive by cars to the border crossing where the hosts transport them to the village “Today the right decision was made to remove the fences because there has been some tension recently,” said Rudozem Mayor Nedko Kulevski He expressed hope that the partners on the Greek side will be ready soon with the road so that both Bulgarians and Greeks can pass freely The mayor said that the Rudozem bypass road which should take cross-border traffic out of the town centre After Bulgaria’s Schengen accession by land the buildings at the Rudozem-Xanthi border crossing continue to be guarded by a private company hired by the Customs Agency which makes it necessary to maintain a security detail The customs officers who were supposed to work at the border crossing were selected and appointed two years ago Because of the plans and expectations that the border crossing would be opened years ago the Customs Agency took measures to recruit a a team the officers will continue to work under the new set-up developed jointly with the Border Police and the Ministry of Interior The Rudozem-Xanthi border crossing was built under a 1995 agreement for the opening of three new border crossings between Bulgaria and Greece The checkpoint at Rudozem was built on EU funding and its cost over EUR 5 million the site was handed over to the Road Infrastructure Agency and the Customs Agency for management and operation Dozens of vehicles headed to the border crossing on the first day without land border controls  between Bulgaria and Greece but the vehicles were stopped by a metal fence located nearly a kilometer before the checkpoint  The fences did not stop those wishing to reach Greek territory walking the distance on snow-covered paths through the forest but the fence at Elidze has not," said Nikolay Georgiev one of the visitors near the border in the early hours of January 1 Patrols of the Border Police and the Interior Ministry stopped motorists A security guard for a private company guarding the premises of the border crossing which went out of commission before it started operating Several cars came to the checkpoint during the night and in the morning the first car arrived at 9 am He continues to the border on foot along steep paths recommended by border guards as an alternative Residents of the border village of Chepintsi and of Rudozem expect the commissioning of the road to bring economic revival to the region Older residents are more sceptical about plans for free travel through the crossing point at Elidzhe "For years they have been lying to us and always making excuses for the Greeks and they also claimed that the Austrians were preventing us from Schengen but we still can't get in," said Fakri from Chepintsi He added that the locals were very disappointed by another postponement as they had planned to drink coffee in Greece in the first days of the new year the promises and plans to open the road to the southern neighbour via Elidzhe have been in place for 30 years The prices of properties in Rudozem and the surrounding area have increased by about 50% recently precisely because of the expected opening of the border Rudozem has also seen increased investor interest in the past two years we rarely accept the highest located regional town in Bulgaria as a starting point and a base for settling down We head to the mountain resorts and small villages nearby but today we're giving you a few reasons to stop by and grab a bite to eat in Smolyan And here is where you can relax and recharge your batteries with delicious food: An eclectic place with a fairly varied menu where you can eat everything from traditional Bulgarian cuisine to Greek specialties and pizza as we are used to more and more specialized and profiled restaurants but it’s a good option because there is literally something for everyone The restaurant is small and relatively cramped which is indeed prepared on the spot and has nothing to do with the reheated frozen versions in many places They have a lunch menu and the prices are extremely reasonable Hotel-restaurant near the Smolyan Waterfall The atmosphere is authentic and seems to take you back in time with all the comforts of modern times but they fully correspond to the quality of the food and service but also guests of the town constantly recommend us Be sure to ask for a recommendation on what to try on the particular day of your visit The interior is in Rhodope style with a fireplace The lunch menu is also worth it and runs out pretty quickly Long spring and summer days are always an occasion for a tour outside the city don't miss Smolyan when planning your next weekend getaway We continue with the ideas for escaping from the relentless scorching sun (at least for the hours of the day) and today we share with you a route that is extremely suitable for the weekend The beginning of the eco-trail is from a wide meadow with an information board and a small chapel You can reach it by taking the road from Smolyan to Devin and then take the first turnoff to the right (there are directions) and the trail covers only the three largest of them Quite achievable for a day trip from the city under the hills The first lake is Trevistoto Lake (Grassy Lake) one third of which is densely covered with peat It is connected by a river arm with Bistroto Lake (Clear Lake) and is not the largest at the moment It gets its name because of the thick grass that sprouts on the peat in the spring and summer To the right of it is the chapel of the Holy Spirit which was turned into a stable during socialism Here you will regularly see stretched tents or blankets for picnics and relaxation and during the weekend there are stretched tables where you can buy homemade jam and real honey connected to the Trevistoto Lake by a thin river arm It is characterized by the blue-green water in which the trees around it are proudly reflected the bottom is clearly visible through its crystal clear waters At the lower end of the lake there is an artificial embankment along which passes the tourist road to the Studenets hut The third bigger one is the Matnoto Lake (Muddy Lake) and for it you have to take the path through the forest Pay attention to the interesting forms formed by the vegetation and mysteriously named by the locals - "The Throne of Eurydice" and "The Lyre of Orpheus" It is located in a darker area and around it hovers a kind of mystery and mysticism Its waters sometimes look black and hence the name Keep in mind that lift 4 connects Smolyan Lakes with Snezhanka Peak Be sure to check if it works at the time of your visit The other lakes can be seen on the road and the first one - Keranovia gyol Lake  (also known as Platenoto) was artificially blocked at its lower end and so it turned out to be one of the largest in size but others are actively used for camping and fishing The heavy snowfall created problems in the passes in the Middle Stara Planina and the Rhodope mountains Restrictions on the movement of trucks have been imposed through the Troyan - Karnare Prevala and Pechinsko passes in Smolyan region The movement of cars with trailers and semi-trailers on the territory of the Smolyan region is restricted Between 30 and 40 cm is the new snow cover in the high areas of the district The roads of the republic network are passable in winter conditions The road section between the Smolyan villages of Shiroka Laka and Stoikite has not been cleaned Temperatures at night ranged from minus 5 to plus 1 degrees Celsius the traffic is normal and without incidents reported the duty officer from the Regional Road Administration in Gabrovo The snow cover in the area reaches 15 centimeters Snowfall awaits the drivers at the Republika pass as well 140 snow removal machines performed anti-icing treatments on city transport routes and main streets in the neighborhoods A heavy accident closed the main road Ruse - Veliko Tarnovo near the village of Samovodene a public transport bus and a car collided head-on there A yellow code for heavy rain has been announced for today in 11 regions in Eastern Bulgaria where quantities of around 20-30 liters per square meter are expected In the villages of Karavelovo and Bogdan in Karlovo region which were flooded in the fall of last year heavy machinery is starting to clear the riverbeds A partial state of emergency was declared yesterday due to rising water levels in local rivers There is again an accumulation of sediments and preventive activities are required Follow Novinite.com on Twitter and Facebook Write to us at editors@novinite.com Информирайте се на Български - Novinite.bg have led to widespread power outages in Northeastern Bulgaria Snowfall was reported Monday morning over Shipka Pass A hurricane-force wind is blowing over the Shipka Pass creating severe snowdrifts and reducing visibility to zero on the Kran-Shipka road Cold weather and snow are expected to hit Bulgaria later this week Over 170 snow removal machines are actively working across all 24 districts of Sofia as the city continues to experience heavy snowfall The baker says, “Sorry, we just ran out of bread, but we’ve got plenty of politicians who’ll promise to bring some tomorrow!”... read The Bulgarian replied, "Simple, we just put everything in a pot, add a little rakia, and let the flavors fight it out!" It’s a recipe for success… and possibly a ... read While speaking briefly with the media, Trump took a question on the stock market drop following the tariffs and said, "I think it's going very well," and added that the United States will "have six or seven trillion dollars coming into our country."He further said, "The markets are going ... read 'This is not the time to go it alone,' Rutte warns, as he says 'no alternative to NATO'Nato’s secretary general Mark Rutte is speaking again, giving a lecture at the Warsaw School of Economics in which he strongly backs the role of the alliance and tells both Europe and the ... read Capturing spring in Bulgaria: A blooming season through our lens Spring in Bulgaria is a time of vibrant renewal marked by blooming flowers and milder weather the countryside transforms with colorful wildflowers such as snowdrops Cities and villages alike celebrate the season » See all photos The Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) Thursday opened a National Press Club in Smolyan on July 13 on the eve of one of the largest festival in the Rhodope mountains BTA Director General Kiril Valchev spoke about the “signs” about the new press club including its location in a former journalists’ club He said that the Smolyan press club will cover the municipalities of Smolyan Chepelare – as well as one of the country’s largest skiing resorts The BTA Director General pointed out that the press club opens just ahead of the start of the Rozhen estival which held its first edition 125 years ago and is exactly as old as BTA BTA has a new "home" in Smolyan after five decades of covering life in Smolyan and the Rhodope mountains by its correspondents The BTA National Press Club is a venue for press conferences for communication between media and representatives of business The ribbon was cut by BTA Director General Valchev Smolyan Regional Governor Stefan Sabrutev and Smolyan Mayor Nikolay Melemov The opening ceremony was attended by representatives of local and state authorities The new office will be used by the BTA’s Smolyan correspondent Hristina Georgieva Cell phone: +359 889 444 135 Cell phone: +359 882 634 969 Email: smolyan@bta.bg Bulgaria's Defense Ministry has decided in favor of preserving the only alpine battalion in the Bulgarian Army part of the Special Forces of the Bulgarian Army is based in the city of Smolyan in the Rhodope Mountains "101st Alpine Battalion will be preserved because it is presents a unique defense capacity for the Bulgarian Army," Gen Angelov told the servicemen and servicewomen in the battalion in Smolyan on Monday He said the battalion will be restructured as of June 2013 reducing it by 55 soldiers but that it will have additional reservist spots Angelov praised the high level of preparation and training of the military base in Smolyan Colonel Katsarov who is in command of the only Bulgarian alpine battalion pointed out that a high number of its soldiers have participated in missions abroad and a very high number of women serve in the unit which is part of the 68th "Special Forces" Brigade of the Bulgarian Army is the successor to the Sredna Gora regiment created by Bulgarian Tsar Ferdinand in 1889 Its dissolution has been discussed in the past 20 years but the Defense Ministry has ultimately decided to preserve it; until 2009 the alpine battalion was not counted as part of the Special Forces; it was by itself an independent "101st Mountain Brigade" The 101st Alpine Battalion focuses its training on fighting in mountainous terrain ski warfare; its training is very different from that of the other Bulgarian commandos According to a recent analysis by the National Statistical Institute the city of Smolyan has surpassed Vidin as the poorest city in Bulgaria Russian President Vladimir Putin is making a change in leadership by replacing Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu Bulgaria's Defense Minister Todor Tagarev has sparked debate after signing a letter with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov expressing Bulgaria's willingness to assist Ukraine with various measures As Bulgaria prepares for a cabinet rotation Defense Minister Todor Tagarev finds himself under mounting criticism for delays in providing crucial military aid to Ukraine An official flu epidemic has been declared in the Smolyan Region prompting the implementation of temporary anti-epidemic measures set to be enforced from January 18 to 24 announced the Health Ministry on Wednesday According to Bulgaria's Military Intelligence Service report for 2023 Russia remains the dominant destabilizing force in global security A deviation in the operation of a system on the F-16 Block 70 fighter has been identified during the aircraft acceptance process according to the Bulgarian Air Force Commander The second F-16 Block 70 fighter jet purchased by Bulgaria has departed from the United States alongside European Council President Antonio Costa visited the Arsenal military plant in Kazanlak Russia and the volatile situation in the Western Balkans are identified as the primary threats to Bulgaria’s national security in the 2024 Bulgaria is actively defending its national interests within NATO according to Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov The “Vizyor” /Viewfinder/ company from Haskovo will deliver 700 tons of pellets to Smolyan Municipality over the next three years This was made clear when awarding the public procurement in which the “Risk Management Strategy” was a leading condition was won by the company owned by the parents of GERB MP Delyan Dobrev RIEW-Smolyan experts received a new signal about a bear cub located near the town of Chepelare (under the main road Smolyan - Chepelare - Plovdiv) and carried an on-site inspection The inspection established that the cub had spent more than two hours alone in proximity to the main road A team was immediately formed to search the area The bear cub was captured without anesthesia The Ministry of Environment and Water has contacted the Four Paws Foundation and the cub is already on its way to the Dancing Bear Park in the village of Belitsa where it will be accommodated and provided with the necessary care “Levski is the embodiment of the Bulgarian spirit in its purest form” another Bulgarian patriot saw his 10-year-old dream come true this summer – a depiction of revolutionary Vasil Levski He is the 94-year-old Georgi Milushev from the town of Smolyan in Bulgaria’s Rhodope Mountain – a retired accountant a self-taught artist and one of Bulgaria’s present-day spiritual leaders who seem to bind together the past designer and author of the bust of the Apostle at the Freedom Square in the old centre of Smolyan This place is favoured for meetings by locals and tourists in the Rhodope town and the public garden already houses a monument to another Bulgarian National Revival prominent figure –Hristo Botev This is how the idea for this monument was born” Milushev told the Bulgarian National Radio because I am self-taught and I have never done sculptures before To tell you the truth – it was not an easy task because I have no knowledge of anatomy the way professionals do With a lot of courage and perseverance I managed to complete it in 4 years.” The venture was financed entirely from private funds Georgi set aside 50 leva from his retirement pension every month for 4-5 years to make the monument He had to remodel it several times - all by himself it passed for approval through a special committee composed of three artists perseverance and everything he did to make this project possible His enthusiasm should serve as an example of what a person must become during their lifetime” says his son-in-law Kiril Assenov – one of the largest industrialists and employers in the region The High School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics in the town of Smolyan bears the name of the Apostle of Freedom and until this summer housed the only monument to Vasil Levski in front of its building “I have been almost everywhere in Europe and I know how important such monuments are to a nation They (the other nations) build monuments for the most trivial of things so that they could leave a trail It just doesn’t!” laments Georgi who has almost completed his second monumental project – a bust of another Bulgarian National Revival leader and revolutionary – Georgi Rakovski Georgi Milushev continues to read a couple of books a week He likes historical novels and biographies He built his house all by himself and in the 1960s he even designed and assembled his own car which was a source of family pride and a real attraction for his fellow citizens He called the car RosVen after his two daughters – Rossitsa and Venera Uncle Georgi admits that one of the greatest treasures in life is to have a job It pains him that there is no eagerness for common causes in Bulgarian society to have kindness and respect for one another we only think about ourselves and our financial benefits I watch and read newspapers and I am astonished at the ignorance around me These are the things that make people a nation!” Compiled by Vessela Krasteva (based on an interview of Radostina Chernokorova Only on the Day of Bravery and Holiday of the Bulgarian Army (May 6) we will provide our visitors with the opportunity to enter three of perhaps the most interesting machines from our outdoor exhibition Dozens of enthusiasts and nature lovers will kick off the 44th edition of the Move and Win campaign with a spring hike to Bozhur Hut The meeting point will be the Vladishki Bridge in Veliko Tarnovo The third edition of the Samardala Festival will be held on 3 May in the central square of Nova Zagora is used as a spice and is harvested at the peak of its flowering in May we will provide our visitors with the opportunity to enter three. The page you are looking for might have been removed Over 350 military personnel from 4 countries are participating in the military exercise "Rhodope - 24" in Bulgaria's Smolyan region They train in combat and survival in the mountains with the lowest salaries in the country recorded in December 2024 The average salary in Smolyan stands at 1,617 leva (826 euros) Sofia residents receive the highest salaries marking a 260 leva increase from the previous quarter This disparity contributes to the South-Western region having the highest average salary of over 3,000 leva though this amount is not reached outside of the capital the cities with the highest average salaries are Varna the next lowest salaries are found in Vidin The average salary in Plovdiv and its region stands at 2,120 leva for December 2024 The sectors with the highest remuneration include information and communication technologies financial and insurance activities at 3,520 leva and the production and distribution of electricity and heat at 3,506 leva the lowest-paying industries include hospitality the public sector saw a 12% increase in the average monthly wage in the fourth quarter of 2024 while the private sector experienced a 14.2% rise compared to the previous year with 45.2% of those aged 16–74 having bought goods or services via the internet in the past year a trend that has persisted for over 30 years A Romanian family paid 3,084.60 leva (1,500 euros) for medical treatment at the Burgas University Hospital following a serious road accident Argophilia The page you are looking for no longer exists. Perhaps you can return back to the homepage and see if you can find what you are looking for you can try finding it by using the search form below 2025-04-23 By a paradise for sun-seekers and selfie enthusiasts has become the battleground for Greece’s latest episode of “Who can break the law while admiring nature.” For those who skipped the fanfare the region’s Monitoring and Implementation Committee held their fourth meeting on April 15 To check if the Elafonisi environmental protection plan—announced […] 2025-04-23 By Tourists visiting Crete find Ierapetra struggling with mounting recycled waste from farm chemicals and recycling companies face gridlock due to government delays 2025-04-23 By VOAK completion on Crete inches forward as the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure discusses the latest hurdles and plans for the island’s major highway After the Samaria Gorge accident on April 22 a 28-year-old Belgian hiker survived a 25-meter fall thanks to the efforts of fellow hikers and Chania rescue teams 2025-04-22 By A young Dutch tourist was hospitalized after falling 25 meters in Samaria Gorge He is in stable condition at Chania Hospital’s Neurosurgery Clinic More Crete travel news COPYRIGHT © 2025 · ARGOPHILIA TRAVEL NEWS In the soft reaches of the Beech Mountain in the middle section of the Rhodopes one comes across some of Bulgaria’s most beautiful mountain lakes – the Smolyan lakes Scattered on the left slope of the valley of the Cherna River under Orpheus rocks and at the foot of Snejanka Peak (Snow-white) they lie in close proximity to the town of Smolyan these invigorating mountain lakes numbered twenty whether because of human negligence or due to climatic anomalies with one having been converted into a micro dam some of the dried-up lakes fill with water again Mystical and beautiful as the Rhodope Mountains in which they were born they revive with their water even the most exhausted human body and are capable of neutralizing harmful radiation After the Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986 an experiment was carried out – a uranium-ore laden truck was transported near the lakes which have had a reputation for their curative properties Before the truck loaded with the dangerous ore entered the vicinity of the lakes when the truck entered the boundaries of the curative area of the lakes in the Smolyan region This is an explanation given by radiation expert Ivan Todorov who for years has been studying the properties of the water of the Smolyan lakes “Radioactive minerals and elements have a half-life” The fact that radiation is strong at one point and less strong at another is explained by the nature of the disintegration or decay of these chemical substances and the radiation that is released at the moment and namely such is the complex of lakes near Smolyan has the ability to change the environment and electromagnetic radiation and to saturate the air with a certain type of ions In an environment that is saturated with negative ions beneficial to humans and which assimilates that heavy radiation Such experiments have been made and observed in major research institutes such as the Space Studies Institute in Graz and the Academy of Natural Sciences in Moscow the interaction of clean and contaminated water in nature shows how natural water is able to purify contaminated water This is confirmed scientifically and there is nothing strange believing that the radiation from the transported radioactive material has been absorbed by the lakes It is quite natural for water to purify itself using its own devices Passing through different physical states and vortexes when naturally moving in the environment water constantly changes its chemical composition and structure discharging part of the accumulated information and other substances in it” Physics expert Georgi Kazaliev who explored the area during the experiment with the uranium ore says the region of the Smolyan lakes is characterized by the so-called mountain breezes - winds restructuring the electroatmosphere Then the researcher found that the most favorable atmospheric conditions for humans is when the content of negative ions in the ambient air is from 600 to 6,000 negative ions per cubic centimeter This number varies at different times of the day and negative particles are most numerous in mornings and evenings “If we talk about the Smolyan lakes themselves they are located in a unique area of Bulgaria’s nature “The trouble is that these lakes are slowly receding from us There are heights of 1,200 to 1,600 meters above the sea level which are very favorable to people The altitude of 1,200 meters is the so- called snow line These are regions where water passes through its four physical states and purifies itself naturally the beautiful scenery and the combination of coniferous and deciduous forests in the region are an important prerequisite Let us not forget that Bulgaria still has the most solid natural beech trees And it is well known that natural fountains are mainly found in beech forests and it’s where water is born incessantly more and more often I see beech firewood sold in stores The logging of beech forests would deprive us of an astonishing wealth at a time when the water supply is growing scarce worldwide We should not lose this wealth as a result of policies in the region of the Smolyan lakes we have beautiful old beech trees bearing mythical names like “Eurydice’s throne” and “The Lyre of Orpheus" One can also find there one of the oldest beech trees in Bulgaria having a diameter exceeding four meters and a half The amazing thing about these trees is that when one appears Everywhere such trees are considered sacred and it is no wonder that they are found nowhere else but in the beech part of the Rhodope Mountains” the Rhodope Beech Mountain embraces all visitors with its healing air the Smolyan lakes always keep attracting the people avid for unspoilt wildlife and crystal-clear mountain springs “An interesting phenomenon is that near the living sources of water such as rivers there is a radiation of a very interesting microlepton gas" They say this is the spiritual food of man - the particles that allow the soul to revive from serious conditions I fully admit that such a radiation is possible in the region of the Smolyan Lakes The fact that the onslaught of man on the lakes is more offensive speaks volumes Construction there is very active and many people want to be near the water trying to appropriate a piece of nature for us thus depriving others of the opportunity to communicate with her many healing places in Bulgaria have become fenced off and one can not get near them It is reckless to sell them as private property This is a matter of state policy as the national natural landmarks must be accessible to all This is one of the paths we must take if we want to continue our lives as people on this earth which is our home” The Bulgarian party “Movement for Rights and Freedoms” (DPS) announced Wednesday it does not support the veiling of Muslim women when taking their new passport pictures the Mufti Office from the Bulgarian city of Smolyan demanded that the regional police department allow Muslim women to take the new passport pictures on with headscarves on The Regional Mufti Nedzhmi Dabov has announced that the requirements for the pictures with biometric data are in conflict with the Islamic canon that the Muslim woman should not display other parts of her body except her face and her hands up to her wrists “It is normal for spiritual leaders to take such a position on the issue Bulgarian Orthodox Church has also had special demands in different spheres,” the MP from DPS said in an interview for the Bulgarian private TV channel bTV Kazak said firmly he does not support the demand of the Smolyan Mufti Office Muslim women will not be able to travel in Europe where passport pictures of veiled women are not allowed Another official who does not support the Mufti demand is the director of the police department in Smolyan He said Tuesday that the demands of the Muslim spiritual leaders cannot be fulfilled because according to the rules for issuing identity documents and at least 1 cm of the hair of the person The debates regarding the second vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov’s government have concluded and the vote will take place tomorrow at 2:30 p.m The faction of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) aligned with Ahmed Dogan—now operating under the name Democracy Rights and Freedoms—has officially exited Bulgaria’s ruling majority If parliamentary elections were held now in Bulgaria GERB would emerge as the leading political force A recent survey conducted by "Market Links" reveals a concerning decline in trust towards political institutions in Bulgaria The DPS-Dogan party will maintain its support for the GERB-led government in Bulgaria at least until it receives the convergence report on joining the eurozone expressed his disappointment with the recent declaration from the political party "Democracy Two attacks by killer bears on domestic animals occurred overnight in the Smolyan District in Southern Bulgaria The bears have killed and eaten several sheep in two separate villages The local authorities have inspected the damages and are to compensate the owners for them the Smolyan District has seen an increased number of attacks on domestic animals by killer bears as well as two attacks on humans – a 65-year-old man was killed and mutilated in May near the village of Kutela and a 64-year-old woman was severely wounded near the village of Malka Arda As a result, the government has moved to increase the monitoring of the brown bear population. The Bulgarian authorities spent a total of BGN 60 000 in 2009 to compensate farmers in the Rhodope Mountains whose animals were eaten by bears Travelers en route to Pamporovo ski resort were in for an unexpected sight as they stumbled upon an unusual duo on the road - a pair of bears A bear with her little one was shot in the area of ​​the State hunting site "Vitosha-Studena" The three small bears who were found without a mother and rescued near Dospat dam will go to Greece for readaptation and then be returned to Bulgarian nature the Ministry of Environment and Water announced on Tuesday a joint action of the Ministry of Environment and Water Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Waters - Smolyan and the Four Paws Foundation saved three bears found near the road near the Rhodopian village of Barutin A British couple are under investigation for allegedly trying to sell industrial bleach to vulnerable people as a cure for cancer and autism Trading standards officers and police raided the £3million home of Amanda and Doug Jewell in Surrey earlier this month to break up a meeting of members of the Church of Genesis II The organisation offer 'MMS liquid cures' to desperately ill people seeking 'healing' - potions that have previously been exposed as containing industrial bleach The Jewells have continued to live a life of luxury after the raid, splitting their time between their Surrey mansion and a hotel in Bulgaria, The Sunday Express reports. The Pearl Lodge hotel, located in a pine forest near a ski resort, contains a clinic for sick people to visit and is where Ms Jewell is understood to have taken orders over the internet for MMS. Now Mrs Jewell announced on Facebook she would delete all reference to it from the Bulgarian hotel website, explaining: 'I don't want people to think I am still selling it.'  Mark Grenon, the self-styled 'Archbishop' of the Church of Genesis II shared a video of the raid at the Jewells' home - describing MMS cure as a 'sacrament', and adding that they only ask for a 'donation' towards the mixture. In a 4,000-word rant on Facebook, he denied that MMS was harmful and said the state had no right to interfere in his church's teachings. 'They were passing out flyers stating how our church teaches sacraments are dangerous to health and not approved by their government agency', he wrote.  'Could you imagine if this same train of thought was used on ALL churches, synagogues, mosques and other religious or spiritual meetings around the world?  He added: 'I told them that not one single church in the world would allow ANY government to stop the taking of their sacraments and the right to worship peacefully.  'Our Creator has given us the gift of life and health, and it is up to us to maintain that health in our temple - the body.'  A spokesman for Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards said: 'While there was no evidence that MMS had been supplied at the recent meeting in Farnham, we have serious concerns that vulnerable people are being misled in order to profit from their misfortune.' Major terror attack 'was just HOURS away' before it was foiled by the special forces and police:... Victim of acid attack 'plotted by his ex-partner who teamed up with a gang' dies in hospital six... We are trapped in unsellable newbuild homes after a £52m dual carriageway was built on our... Horror as $4.5M influencer-laden yacht SINKS off Miami... after glam women made a rookie maritime... Pub is forced to pay family £75,000 after wrongly accusing them of 'dine and dash' over £150... How Meghan's biggest cheerleader brokered Harry's disastrous BBC interview - three months after... Woman dead and three others including a child injured after car ploughed into pedestrians: Man, 49,... 'It's a rather giant f*** you.' Royal insider's furious reaction to Meghan's Instagram salvo as... Woman who was missing for more than 60 years is found 'alive and well' decades after vanishing... American tourist suffers horrific fate while attempting to capture selfie at Rome's Colosseum The towns being ruined by day-tripper invasions. Selfie-loving tourists cause traffic hell and the... Revealed: The reason behind Fred & Rose West kids' bitter family rift as siblings have 'nothing to... How can I see the Red Arrows' iconic flypast? Map reveals when and where planes will be visible over... Hamas hostage, 23, 'raped by personal trainer influencer in her own home after being released' King, Queen, William and Kate honour selfless devotion of Britain's wartime heroes as they lead... Husband of British mother, 65, who was knifed to death in French village says her affair is a... British couple investigated for selling BLEACH as 'cancer cure'Commenting on this article has endedNewest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}} Subscribe to newsletters to receive our hottest offers: The former mayors of the Bulgarian cities of Plovdiv who lost the run-off votes October 30 to ruling GERB party representatives have joined forces to request a recall of the vote What is unusual is that the three are representatives of highly different and traditionally inimical Bulgarian political forces Second-largest Bulgarian city Plovdiv ex-mayor Slavcho Atanasov comes from the recently founded small VMRO-NIE party the former mayor of Pleven in the north Nayden Zelenogorski is part of the rightist Blue Coalition while Dora Yankova from Smolyan in the south is a representative of the Bulgarian Socialist Party The three have come together Sunday to announce that they will request a cancellation of election results for their cities and accused GERB of abusing its position of power and mishandling the vote across the country In Plovdiv Atanasov and GERB candidate Ivan Totev had a head-to-head race with the final outcome remaining unclear well until the wee hours after election day last Sunday Pleven's Zelenogorski met a similar fate, losing to GERB's Dimitar Stoykov with only 389 votes' difference and having reported what he claims to be a string of abuses that started with problems with his own registration for the race "I am not one who's looking to win at all costs - I just want to help stop election manipulations and controlled voting," commented Yankova, up to now mayor of Smolyan All three have said vote-buying took place in their cities on a massive scale sponsored by GERB or neglected by election authorities The main opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party has already stated it will request a recall of the vote in Plovdiv and Smolyan Millions of Canadians cast their ballots in Monday’s snap federal election Svetoslav Malinov predicted that early parliamentary elections in Bulgaria are likely to be held next year GERB leader Boyko Borissov reaffirmed his commitment to guiding Bulgaria into the eurozone stating that nothing would divert him from this goal Parking in central Plovdiv is set to become significantly more expensive Bulgaria spared over BGN 8 M in state budget money by carrying out its local and presidential elections on the same date in 2011 the country's Finance Minister Simeon Djankov has stated Former Justice Minister Margarita Popova was nominated by the ruling centrist-right party GERB to run for Vice President of Bulgaria in the elections that took place on October 23 2011 former Bulgarian Regional Development Minister was elected President on the ticket of the ruling center-right Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria part (GERB) on October 30 2011 Bulgaria's President-elect and Vice President-elect will take the oath of office before the National Assembly on Thursday On of the phenomenon of the Trigrad Gorge is the Devil's Throat cave The waters of the Trigradska river enter the cave and create 12 underground waterfalls The highest waterfall is 42 m tall (one of the tallest in Europe) A rare white roe deer was caught by photo traps in one of the hunting farms of the South Central State Enterprise-Smolyan in the Western Rhodopes The animal has an apparent age of between 5 and 7 years "This is a very rare phenomenon and is probably a consequence of inbreeding which is why genetic changes in appearance have occurred," says the director of the enterprise but in the spring it can be seen from afar It is probably the more secretive way of life of roe deer that allowed the albino to survive so long in the wild Oblast Smolyan has a high level of seismic activity Based on data from the past 55 years and our earthquake archive back to 1900 there are about 63 quakes on average per year in or near Oblast Smolyan Oblast Smolyan has had at least 5 quakes above magnitude 7 since 1900 which suggests that larger earthquakes of this size occur infrequently probably on average approximately every 23 to 27 years Oblast Smolyan has about 40 quakes of magnitude 2 or higher per year The quake had a very shallow depth of 5 km (3.1 mi) and was too small to be felt by people Oblast Smolyan has had 8 quakes of magnitude 2.0 or above There were also 7 quakes below magnitude 2.0 which people don't normally feel The quake had a very shallow depth of 13.2 km (8 mi) and was not felt (or at least not reported so).