Photo: iStock/Todor Marholev
Like cobalt blue eyes the Seven Lakes gleam out of the Rila Mountains. The Tear, the Eye, Kidney, the Eye, the Twin, the Three Leaves, the Fish and the Lake Beneath - each lake is named after its characteristic shape or distinct striking feature.
Trekking Rila’s mountain landscape is like stepping back in time, with traces of the Ice Age present everywhere: 200 glacial lakes, deeply carved out cirques (valleys), and large moraines lie scattered throughout the park. Many plant species growing here have survived the Ice Age.
Hiking trails lead from the park’s highest peak, Mount Musala into the heart of some of Europe’s wildest mountain ecosystems, where the bear and the wolf roam in the thickets in the forests of the mountains, but are rarely seen. The chance of catching a glimpse of the red Balkan chamois the national parks’s emblem, is greater.
Culture buffs can take a trip to nearby Rila monastery, one of Bulgaria's biggest cultural treasures or visit the remains of ancient Roman settlements, just a stone’s throw away.
Rila has more than 100 mountain peaks rising over 2,000m above sea level. With an altitude of 2,295m Mt. Mussala is Bulgaria’s highest peak.
As a result of glacial activity, erosion and deposition there are more than 120 permanent and some 30 seasonal glacial lakes in the park’s high mountain zone.
One of the most picturesque and largest cirques is that of the “Seven Rila Lakes.”
Some of the Balkan’s longest rivers are sourced in the Rila national park and supply Bulgaria’s capital Sofia, as well as parts of Turkey and Greece with fresh water. Among them are: the Iskar, the Maritza and the Mesta River.
Rila National Park encompasses some of the most secluded forests in Europe, virtually untouched by human hand. Most common are spruce and fir mixed with the Macedonian pine and the dwarf pine. The trees are on average 90 years old.
Almost 150 medicinal plants have been identified in Rila National Park, among them are the Rila rhubarb, the sundew and the lady’s mantle. Many of the plants are endangered and therefore under protection.
Remains of ancient fortresses can be found in the ancient town of Germanea (today’s Sapareva Banya) and in Topolyna (near Bachevo). An ancient mound necropolis was excavated in Topolite (near Botevo) and the relics of an old Roman road run through the town of Pomochena Polyana (Kostenets Municipality).
Bulgaria’s only active geyser can be found in the spa town of Sapareva Banya, on the Northern slope of the Rila mountain. The mineral springs in town have a temperature between 57 and 100 degrees and are used for therapeutic treatment.
The town of Bolevo prides itself on having two important churches: The 5th century St.Spas Basilica on the edge of the town and the 12th century St George’s Church in the town center with unique icons and wood carvings. The St Theodore Tyron/St Stratilate Dobarki Church in the village of Dolno Draglishte (Razlog Community ) dates back to the 17th century and is renowned for its icons. Close to the national park and also worth a visit is the 12th century St Nicholas Church.
Nestled in a deep valley on the western flanks of the Rila Mountains lies Bulgaria’s most famous monastery . Founded as a hermit colony in the 10th century, it soon became one of the centres of early medieval culture. Abandoned, plundered and burnt to the ground, it was rebuilt and represents one of the foremost masterpieces of Bulgarian National Revival architecture today, mainly famous for its fine frescoes and icons.
Samokov- Bulgaria’s Cradle of Art
Samokov village is the cradle of Bulgarian arts and crafts. Some of the most renowned Bulgarian artists were born or worked in Samokov in the 18th and 19th century and founded the famous Samokov School of Icon Painting. Spectacular pieces of their art can be seen in the
town’s churches.
Stay up late and look out for the glowing eyes of the Tengmalm or the Little Owl. There are altogether 99 bird species in the national park.
Hike the trail of the Seven Lakes and watch your reflection on the surface of the crystal clear “Tear Lake”. There are a myriad of trails crisscrossing the park, among them Bulgaria’s first botanical trail and two European long distance routes, the E4 and E8.
Pamper yourself after a long day’s hiking in the hot mineral springs of Sapareva Banya.
Grab a basket and go mushroom hunting. 233 different species of mushrooms grow in the Rila National Park but only eleven of them are edible therefore advice and or a guide are recommended.
The area of Rila National Park falls entirely within the mountain climatic zone of altitudes of 1,000 m. and over. Otherwise, the park lies at the boundary between the moderate-continental and the transitional-Mediterranean climatic zones. The coldest month is February with an average monthly temperature of –11°C. Sub-zero mean daily temperatures may last for up to 9 months of the year, often till the end of June. In high summer the mean daily temperature hardly ever climbs above the 10°C mark.
Select your equipment with care. For higher altitudes, wear or carry high-top boots with thick soles, warm clothes, a plastic raincoat, and a spare set of clothes. The combination of cold rain and strong wind can be very dangerous. Bring some basic first aid medicines and bandages. Don’t forget sunglasses and a sun block of SPF 15 or higher. Always carry dry clothes, hats, and gloves.
http://www.rilanationalpark.org/en/index.phtml
http://www.bg-parks.net/main.php?act=parks&park=rila
The closest international airport to Rila National Park is the Airport of Sofia. From here it is only a one-hour drive to the closest entrance of the park by bus or by private transport. Cars can be rented at Sofia Airport.
From Sofia daily buses go to Dupnitsa, town of Rila, Blagoevgrad, Razlog, Belitsa, Yakoruda, Samokov, Kostenets and Dolna banya. From these towns buses leave for the villages and some of the entry points of Rila National Park.
www.centralnaavtogara.bg/cbs/home.nsf/vPagesLookup/home~en?OpenDocument
From Sofia daily trains travel to Kulata and stop at the railway stations of Dupnitsa and Blagoevgrad. Trains from Sofia to Plovdiv and to Burgas via Plovdiv stop at Kostenets and Belovo.
A good road network has been developed around the national park. All towns, villages and park entrances can be reached by private transport.
Entrances to Rila National Park (see also map of Rila National Park)
• Blagoevgrad (±100 kilometres from Sofia)
Via Bodrost Holiday Complex - Via the Slavova River
• Razlog (±150 kilometres from Sofia)
Via the villages of Bachevo, Godlevo and Dobarsko
• Belitsa (±170 kilometres from Sofia)
Via Semkovo Resort Complex
• Yakuruda (±180 kilometres from Sofia)
Via Trestenik Tourist Complex - Via Yundola (Belmeken Dam Lake access).
• Belovo (±90 kilometres from Sofia)
Via the village of Sestrimo.
• Kostenets (±70 kilometres from Sofia)
Via Kostenets Holiday Complex
• Dolna banya (±85 kilometres from Sofia)
Via Gerginitsa Hut
• Samokov (±60 kilometres from Sofia)
Via the village of Beli Iskar- Via Vada Hut - Via Malyovitsa Tourist Complex - Via Medarnika (Mechit) Hut - Via Borovets Resort Complex (Mussala Hut access, Chakar Voivoda Hut and Maritsa Hut)
• Dupnitsa (±65 kilometres from Sofia)
Via Panichishte Resort Complex - Via the village of Samoranovo (Otovitsa Hut access) - Via the village of Bistritsa.
• Town of Rila (±90 kilometres from Sofia)
The visitor centre of the Rila National Park is located in Panichishte and provides information and guidance to visitors of Rila National Park. There are also many local visitor and information centres in the villages and towns around the park.
Panichishte Visitor Center,
tel: +359 701/40757
More details: http://www.rilanationalpark.org/en/index.phtml?context=category&ctg_id=138
Rila National Park offers excellent tourist opportunities. The chalets, lodges, and network of well-maintained tourist trails within the park provide convenient accommodation and make hiking in the area easy and attractive.
A multitude of trail routes, some of them known throughout Bulgaria and abroad, crisscross Rila National Park. Most run across the higher altitudes (2,000 meters and higher). Two of the main European routes, E4 and E8, also cut across the Park territory.
For more info: http://www.rilanationalpark.org/en/index.phtml?context=category&ctg_id=85
The park management offers several specialised trails:
• Friends of Plants Botanical Trail
• Beli Iskar Ecotrail
• Interpretative Trail Rila Cowslip
• Interpretative Trail Capercaillie
•Interpretative Trail Balkan chamois
Besides the specialised trails many more trails and routes can be found throughout the park.
There are also two main international European mountain itineraries which cross the park in the direction from west to the south and from northwest to the south: Е-4 and Е-8
There are some possibilities to rent mountain bike and skiing equipment from the hotels, chalets and holiday homes in the park region.
The phone number of the rescue service Central 24-Hours Point:
tel.: +359 2 9632000, +359 88 621286, http://www.pss.bg/index.php
Rila National Park Visitor Center Panichishte has disabled access.
The Rila National Park regime imposes certain prohibitions upon the visitors. The following activities are prohibited:
• Hunting and disturbing of wild animals
• Pollution of water and littering in the area
• Bivouacking outside specified sites
• Lighting of fires outside specified sites
• Collection of fossils and minerals, damaging of rocks formations
• Bathing and swimming in the streams, rivers and lakes
• Picking of flowers
Within the territory of the National Park there are 17 tourist huts and 5 shelters.
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Developing tourism in Rila
27 October 2009
Certified PAN Park Rila National Park has launched a project to develop tourism through more efficient marketing of its tourist destinations, with special focus on natural attractions. The park aims to create a public-private body to become a driving force for sustainable tourism initiatives around Rila NP, which is to operate as Local PAN Parks...more |
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Protecting the Balkan Chamois in Rila National Park
14 February 2009
It is the logo of Rila National Park, its flagship species and its pride: The Balkan chamois, endemic to the high altitudes of the rugged, rocky Rila mountains.
Worldwide extensive poaching had almost wiped it out in the past and the IUCN (International Union for Conservation and Nature) included it on its red list of endangered species....more |
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Annual LPPG meeting in Rila
24 February 2008
Rila National Park achieved full PAN Parks certification last year and the first five local business partners were certified in October 2007. A small team of committed people not only worked hard to develop the tourism strategy, which has been verified by international PAN Parks verifiers but are now working hard on its implementation. Following...more |
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Bulgaria's Rila certification depends on government decision
04 September 2005
Recent PAN Parks verification confirmed high standards of management in Bulgaria's Rila National Park and verifiers recommended certifying Rila according to PAN Parks Principles 1-3 (natural values, habitat, and visitor management) with some conditions and recommendations. However, there are uncertainties about ski resort development around the...more |
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Ski developments threaten Rila's candidacy
30 March 2005
The Bulgarian Rila National Park's progress toward PAN Parks verification may be impeded by local ski resort development. Rila's administration, PAN Parks and other NGOs express their concerns about the planned constructions.Aiming to develop the area as a tourist resort complex, the municipality of Samokov-Borovec-Beli iskar has proposed three...more |
