| Excursions and tours |
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Our hotels can offer own transport and organized mountain walks and tours with licensed mountain guide, as well as visits of close cultural and historical sights. Rila Mountain has unique and impressive Alpine nature. Very few places can be proud with similar nature heritage. The low and high zones are overcoming destination for adventurous, eco and informative tourism. Here is what we can offer: relax and vacation of body and soul in one harmonious way. Excursions and hikes in Rila Mountain: Castle Tsarska Bistrica We would like to recommend you to visit Castle Tsarska Bistrica, which is at only a 10 minutes walk from the new centre of Borovetz. The castle was built during 1898 – 1914 while Knyaz Ferdinand was ruling Bulgaria. The building is with original interpretation of the Renaissance architecture, influenced by some European styles – richly wood-carved ceilings, fireplaces made of lovely glazed and decorative tiles, a collection of hunting trophies of the tsar’s family, collected for more that fifty years. At Tsarska Bistrica there is also a chapel, as well as small power station (built in 1912) with a Siemens turbine continuing to generate electricity. Chernata Skala (Black Rock) Anyone who likes dramatic views and nature beauties would not miss this classical route. A light and pleasant 4,5 km long path leads you up to the 100-meter balcony of the rock. And the view which is revealed from there is really dramatic – on the left is the valley of Maritsa River, on the right – the field of Dolna Banya, and above all is Mousala Peak with its 2925 meters! Under the peak / at 2709 meters/ the sun rays reflect the surface of Ledenoto ezero (Ice Lake). Maliovitsa Peak/2729 meters/ It is in the northwest part of Rila. It is a preferred place for alpinism and tourism. The highest alpine walls and the hardest route for climbing in the whole country are in this part of Rila. The peak can be climbed on foot for about 3 hours. The Seven Rila Lakes The Seven Rila Lakes is a scenery circus complex of seven lakes in Bulgaria, located in Northwest Rila. They are situated at terraces. The first 3 are surrounded by magnificent meadows with mountain flowers, groves with dwarf pine and juniper, and the highest are surrounded by large rocks. The names of the lakes /from top to bottom/ are: Salzata (The Tear), Okoto (The Eye), Babreka (The Kidney), Bliznaka (The Twin), Botanicheskoto (The Botanical), Ribnoto (The Fish) and Dolnoto (The Down). Mousala Peak /2925 m/ Mousala Peak is the highest peak on the Balkan peninsula. It is in eastern Rila. At the very peak the average annual temperature is 3,1 º C, and the snow cover holds for 8 months. The name origins from Turkish and means “the way to God”, but its original name is Tangra. The first written proof of climbing the peak is related to Tsar Philip The Second, father of Alexander The Great. Mousala Peak is preferred place for alpinism and tourism. The peak can be climbed for about 4 hours using the cabin lift from Borovetz to Yastrebetz (2250 m) and from there the marked path passing by Mousala Rest House up to the top. Eco-paths Enjoy the nature of Northern Rila! The list of rare birds and plants is long, but it is not necessary to be acquainted with it. Just go on a walk for bird and unique flowers observation. Each of your steps is a step to natural paradise. The Botanical path leads to the valley of Urdina River, and new eco-path has been built over the village of Beli Iskar. Picking of flowers is forbidden but you can taste the forest strawberries or any other fruits or you can pick mushrooms. Assisted by a mountain guide you can go to places where you can watch bears. Northern Rila is one of few places in our country where the brown bear lives in its natural environment. You can also seek the tracks of wild animals such as wolfs, deer, roe, and wild goat and listen to the song of the wood grouse. You can enjoy the views formed by the geological periods in the past. Discover the beauty of numerous alpine lakes, sharp peaks and high mountain valleys! Rila Monastery Rila Monastery is the largest monastery complex in Bulgaria and one of the most spectacular of the Balkan peninsula. It is located at about 1100 m above the sea level in the northwest part of Rila. Found in the tenth century by the Bulgarian monk Saint Ivan Rilski, the complex was demolished several times but was always rebuilt. Nowadays it is situated at about 8800 square meters. In the four-storey residential parts there are over 400 rooms, 4 chapels, guest rooms for worshippers, monastery cooking room (called magernitsa) with original constriction. The frescos made in the nineteenth century by masters from Bansko and Samokov are remarkable. Nowadays valuable Bulgarian written monuments are kept in the monastery - about 250 written books from the eleventh to nineteenth century, 9000 early printed books, noted handwriting, Renaissance graphical marks etc. From 1983 Rila Monastery has been included in the List of Natural and Cultural Heritage of Unesco. |