The modern town Smolyan is combines the three suburbs – Smolyan, Ustovo and Raykovo, scattered on the slopes of the Rhodopa mountain and stretching some 10 km along the valley of the Cherna river. The town of Smolyan is taking advantage of the mind-boggling scenery around it and the proximity to Pamporovo, to give prominence to the development of tourism, which with timber industry and stock-breeding remain the major means of living for the local people. The numerous summer festivals, held in the region, gather many singers, musicians and dancers from all over the Rhodopa mountain in August. Two kilometers away from the town lie the famous Smolyan lakes, pellucid water mirrors, dispersed among green hills and glades. There are a lot of caves and architectural reserves around Smolyan. The cave “Dyavolskoto garlo”, the Trigrad gorge, the cave “Uhlovitza”, the Agushevite resting-places, and the village of Shiroka Laka are one of the most fascinating places of interest. In the village of Mogilitza the houses are built from Bulgarian craftsmen in the middle of the nineteenth century and are really impressive. The village of Yagoda is situated near the Bulgarian – Greek border some 30 km away from the town of Devin. The road to the village passes through the incredibly beautiful “Byuinovsko zhdrello”gorge, and meanders along the springs of the Maritza river. The village of Yagoda is the starting point of three different ecoroutes of varied length and difficulty. The local landmark is the renowned “Yagodinska peshtera” cave, which, with its 10 km of labyrinths, is the longest cave in the Rhodopa mountain. The village of Trigrad will catch your breath with the its elemental and harsh beauty. The houses are situated on the cliffs, surrounded by rock massifs. Narrow stony paths and dirty roads, well trodden by mules and cows, link the isolated neighbourhoods of the village. The asphalt road to Trigrad leads through the famous Trigrad gorge, and passes by the “Dyavolskata garlo” cave. It is the atmosphere of home cosiness that envelops one in the village. The “Dyavolskata garlo” cave is an abyss cave with waters running down the inner cave\'s waterfalls. It is only 1,3 km away from the village and the waters there form several different waterfalls. The village of Gela is small, with neighbourhoods scattered along the hills overhanging the village of Shiroka Laka. One can see the ruins of ancient fortresses and monasteries, when taking a walk on the hills. The village of Shiroka Laka is an architectural and ethnographic reserve, the only of this kind in the whole of Bulgaria. It is a living symbol of the Rhodopean culture and restless spirit, which has gathered and preserved the unique sense of the local man of beauty, refinement and harmony. The region of Chepelare is situated in the picturesque Chepelare valley, only 80 km away from the city of Plovdiv. The town of Chepelare has the highest altitude of all the towns and cities in Bulgaria – 1.140 metres. The snowfalls here are abundant, with snow cover holding for a long time, providing excellent conditions for skiing. The town also has more authentic traditional Rhodopean atmosphere than Pamporovo. It is home of the only ski factory in Bulgaria. The resort of Pamporovo is the sunniest of all the Bulgarian winter resorts. It is located on the foots of the peak “Snezhanka” at altitude of 1.650 metres. The local climate is exceptional – winter with over 120 sunny days, with long-lasting and thick snow cover at the same time. The skiing season extends from mid-December to mid-April. The round relief of the mountain, with rounded ridges and peaks make for the excellent ski tracks in Pamporovo. Lovers of dynamic tourism and diversity would certainly appreciate the numerous routes for walkers in the mountain – to the peak of Rozhen, the Smolyan lakes, the Orpheus cliffs, as well as visits to near and far away places of interest in the country – the village of Stoykite, Chepelare and the speleological museum, the only one in Bulgaria, the town of Smolyan, the architectural and ethnographic reserve of the village of Shiroka Laka, the Bachkovo monastery and the city of Plovdiv. The Devin region encompasses the central, most high parts of the picturesque Western Rhodopean area with a total surface of 552 square kilometres. The town of Devin is situated at the altitude of 710 metres. The small and hilly glen of Devin has left its mark on the building and architecture of the town. The fresh cool climate and the large number of sunny days have a prophylactic effect on the visitor, as have the emerald-green glades scattered all around the hills. The town of Devin is the perfect place for healthy and active people, seeking to go back to nature and acquire unforgettable experiences. The whole region is rich in natural phenomena and landmarks – magnificent gorges, caves, rock formations, restricted areas and natural reserves full of endemic flora and fauna. Around the town of Devin there are three natural reserves – the ones of “Kastrakliy”, “Kazanite” and “Starata gora”. The village of Banite is a balneological centre, nestled in the heart of the Rhodopa mountain along the valley of the Malka Arda river, in the eastern part of the Smolyan province. In the middle of the village a thermal mineral spring was uncovered, dating back to the times of the Roman empire, according to the legends. The water has temperature of 35 to 43 degrees centigrade. Its rich mineral content makes it perfect for prophylactics and curative treatment of broad spectrum of diseases. The village of Momchilovtzi embodies the typical Rhodopean village, some 17 km away from Pamporovo and situated at an altitude of 1.100 metres. The predominant houses are built around the sixties of the last century, with a great number of them turned into small family hotels and taverns. In winter months the village is a good alternative for skiers, due to the low temperatures. It boasts a picture gallery, ethnographic museum and over 20 chapels and a church. The county of Dospat is located in the southwest part of the Rhodopa mountain on the boundary of two provinces and the national border with Republic of Greece. The relief is mountainous and the terrain is very rough. The spring comes rather late, the summer is cool, and the autumn is warm. Due to the Mediterranean influence along the valley of the Dospatska river, the winter is mild, but the snow holds well.
