Smolyan is a town in the Rhodope Mountains of Bulgaria. It occupies the narrow gorge of the Cherna River in the East Rhodope Mountains, and has 34 000 residents. Once the Slavs' tribe of smolyani inhabited the area and gave the name of the settlement. The magnificent nature, mild climate, its closeness to the mountain and the Pamporovo resort attract tourists all year round. It became a town in 1960 after unifying three villages- Smolyan, Raykovo and Ustovo.

Get in edit

 
The 300-year-old chinar (plane tree) in Smolyan

It lies 12 km from the Pamporovo resort, 45 km from Devin, 102 km from Plovdiv and 260 km from the capital Sofia.

Get around edit

See edit

Numerous houses and churches from 17th-19th centuries have been preserved up to the present day. Some of them are: "Pangalov’s house" (1860), "Sgurov’s house" (1866), "Alibeev’s town- hall" (1751), "Kelev’s house" (1860), etc.

The architectural and ethnographic reserve called Cheshitska mahala is located in the district of Raykovo.

  • St. Visarion Smolenski. The second biggest Bulgarian Christian temple.
  • Stoyu Shishkov Regional History Museum, +359 30 162 770. Provides information about the history of the region.
  • Town Art Gallery.

Do edit

There is a planetarium and a Drama Theater

  • Rhodope Drama Theater.

Buy edit

Eat edit

Drink edit

Sleep edit

Go next edit

Smolyan is a starting point for many mountain routes. The Smolyan lakes and the Smolyan waterfall are located not far from the town.

This city travel guide to Smolyan is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!