About Region Sofia
The resort of Borovetz is the oldest and largest winter mountain resort in Bulgaria. Situated among century-old coniferous forests at altitude of 1350 metres, the resort was created in the end of the XIX century A.D. It offers excellent opportunities for the complete range of winter sports alpine skiing, ski running,jump ski, biathlon. The resort has twice hosted rounds of the World Cup Ski Championship. The skiing season lasts from November to May, with snow cover thickness exceeding one metre and a half. The resort has open-air and indoor swimming pools, saunas, fitness centres, table tennis corners, bowling and billiard halls. The highlight of the evenings are the folklore dinners with wine tasting and trying of many local food specialities. The Borovetz resort offers plenty ski tours and hiking tracks with experienced guides to the most fascinating places in the Rila mountain, like the Seven Rila Lakes, the Malyovitza peak, the Mussalla peak, photo hunting safaris, visits to the king\'s residence in Bistritza. The Borovetz resort is constantly developing as a modern high-class resort with luxury hotels and restaurants, providing various entertainments for the spare time. The resort offers excellent opportunities for all kinds of winter sports. For the sophisticated tourists Borovetz offers night life in the bars, night clubs and discotheques. The ski carnivals are a true fiesta for the guests of the resort. The Gate to the Rila mountain that is how the town of Samokov is known to to the visitors here, willing to touch this invigorating piece of land, generously endowed from Mother Nature to the citizens of the town. It is situated some 60 kilometres to the south of the city of Sofia along the the Iskar river and its tributary Bistritza river in the Samokov valley, at altitude of 900 metres. The Samokov valley is an inter mountain dell, surrounded by the Rila mountain, the Shipochansky ridge of the Ihtiman part of the Sredna Gora mountain, the Plana mountain, the Vitosha mountain and Verilla. Along the valley of the Palakariya substantial remnants from the Thracian buildings were discovered, and the archaeological findings in the neighbourhood of the village of Popovyane evince the high material and spiritual culture of the local population in the late antiquity. The region of Samokov has six resorts, two of them have gained international recognition. One should visit the museums, the cloister and the historical monuments of the town. The town of Samokov is well known as the biggest producer of potatoes in the country. The village of Govedartzi is situated less than 80 kilometres away from the city of Sofia, at the foot of the Rila mountain, along the valley of the Cherny Osam river. It has a population of 2031 people. The village is proclaimed a national mountain resort. In its neighbourhood one can stroll along the impressive Malyovitza glen, to hike to the Malyovitza peak, and to relish the incredible sights of the local scenery. The village of Govedartzi is the starting point for hike tracks to the Seven Rila Lakes and the grand Rila monastery. The lake of Yonchevo is situated near the village, where you can have a nice picnic. One can as well take a walk in the nearby pine-tree forest, pick wild fruits, herbs and mushrooms. Only 2 kilometres to the south-west of the village itself, the local tourist premises, in the form of bungalow complex, are situated on an enormous glade. The resort of Semkovo is situated some 17 kilometres from the town of Belitza. It is sited at the foot of the Rila mountain among spruces and pine-trees, the complex offers excellent opportunities for all kinds of winter sports and summer mountaineering. In the winter it represents a true tourist attraction. The Pirdop strongholds is the common name for the Big and Small strongholds, sited near the town of Pirdop. The remnants from the Big stronghold are situated on a peak, encircled by the Topolnitza river from three sides, and at some places the stronghold\'s walls are 10 metres high. The town of Koprivshtitza is situated near the Topolnitza river, at 1060 metres altitude. It is among the very few towns in Bulgaria, which have preserved their authentic architecture from the times of the National Revival. The houses from that period are distinguished with picturesque courtyards, surrounded by high stone walls and wood gates, while the messy build meanderings of the narrow paved roads together with the numerous fountains augment the attractiveness of the small town. Of course, the houses of Koprivshtitza remain its indisputable treasure, many of which are now museums. The town serves also as a starting point for a lot of hike tracks and scenic ecowalks. The town of Etropole is situated in the beautiful basin of the Malki Iskar river, at the foot of the Baba peak, some 80 kilometres away from the city of Sofia. The location and the local environment favour greatly economic development and and the commerce from times immemorial. The rapid economic development itself generated the necessary conditions for the development of education and literature. The town of Botevgrad is situated some 60 kilometres away from the capital city of Sofia. It is sited on an important crossroads, linking east and north Bulgaria. It is located in a valley with the same name Botevgrad valley. The territory of the country encompasses ridges from the western part of Stara Planina mountain and the Predbalkana mountain. The strategic geographical position of the town is determined by the Vitinya pass, connecting north with south Bulgaria, and the proximity to the capital city of Sofia. In recent years it enjoys the interest of great deal of businessmen, investors, scientists and tourists. The town has modern infrastructure, free industrial premises and considerable intellectual potential. The only town situated in the wildest part of the Iskar gorge is the one of Svoge. The gorge itself offers unforgettable sights. This natural wonder is a lure for many zealous mountaineers, as well as all the other tourists, willing to savour the enchanting beauty of the Bulgarian nature and in particular the natural wonders, presented to us by the Stara Planina mountain.
