 | Asen’s Fortress Asen’s Fortress is the most interesting and most often visited tourist attraction in the Asenovgrad region. It is located three kilometers from the city on the top of a cliff, on the left bank of the Asenitsa River. There is a scenic route to the fortress branching off the road just south of Asenovgrad heading toward Smolyan. The natural cliff massif where the fortress is situated comprises an area of 12 hectares. With drops that are almost vertical and at times even overhanging above the river below, it is impregnable on three sides. Its strategic location and natural defenses explain why it has been used since the days of the Thracians, who fortified it in the 5th century BC. Read more... |
 | The Wonderful Bridges The Wonderful Bridges is a rock phenomenon also known as the Rock Bridges. It is situated in the karst valley of the river Erkyupriya in the West Rhodope mountain on 1,450 m above the sea level, at the foot of Golyam Persenk peak (2,091 m). In the past the bridges had been one entire cave, formed under the destructive activity of the river waters. Parts of it were collapsing with time, forming majestic marble bridges. The large bridge is about 15 m wide in its wider parts and almost 100 meters long. It consists of three arches, as the largest one is 45 m high and 40 m wide. The small bridge is at a distance of 200 m from the large one along the river current. Read more... |
 | Soskovcheto Reserve & Eco Trail Waterfalls Canyon Soskovcheto Reserve and the Waterfall Canyon Eco-Trail start at the end of Sredok Housing Estate in the western part of Smolyan. The highest point of the trail is at about 1,800 m above mean sea level and has a vertical drop of approximately 700 m. The trail goes up the river and crosses a number of water cascades forming a system of small and medium waterfalls that pour their waters from one to the other. The trail crosses metal and beautiful wooden bridges built over Elenska River. They are always followed by rest and picnic spots. |
 | The village of Smilyan & the Beans Museum The village of Smilyan is one of the oldest settled regions in the Rhodopes. It is 15 km from the city of Smolyan and 20 km from the Greek border. The village is famous for its beans and you can even visit a Beans Museum. The museum is part of a very interesting project to protect the biodiversity of Bulgarian crops. Its purpose is to promote and advertise the Smilyan bean, and create jobs for the local community. Everything here is decorated with beans made by the children in the local school. You are invited to stick a bean to a wall mural and participate in the museum’s goal to be in the Guinness Book of World Records for the world’s largest bean mural. There are nearly 9,500 beans in the mural and it hasn’t been finished yet. |
28 Dicho Petrov Street, 4940 Banite, Smolyan, Bulgaria
