Rural tourism at the foot of the Rila Mountain has old traditions, The villages of Govedartsi, Mala Tsarkva, Beli Iskar, and Madzhare attract the interest not only of the residents of the capital city of Sofia, which is situated not far away, but also that of foreign tourists. Guesthouses count on cozy atmosphere, delicious traditional meals and beautiful nature to attract tourists. The region offers good conditions for lovers of winter tourism but a number of visitors also come here in the summer.

The name Rila probably comes from the Thracian word ‘roula,’ which means ‘a lot of water.’ Crystal-clear lakes, reflecting the huge peaks, fast rivers going through meadows and villages, are part of one of the best-preserved ecosystems in Europe. One of these rivers is the Iskar. It passes below sublime peaks and goes through the villages of Govedartsi, Mala Tsarkva, Madzhare, and Beli Iskar, known collectively as ‘Iskrovete.’ The village of Govedartsi has long traditions in the sphere of tourism. Tourism started developing here in the beginning of the 20th century, while during the times of socialism a number of vacation complexes were built. Today there are also about 20 guesthouses, welcoming tourists from all over the world.


The Peichevi family owns a guesthouse in Govedartsi, where guests from the Netherlands, France, Spain, and Italy spend their vacations. In the summer tourists gather flowers and forest fruits, enjoying the beautiful views, while in the winter they can enjoy skiing and snowboarding on the snowy slopes.


“Foreigners also like horse trips in the mountains,” hotel owner Boyko Peichev says. “We organize tours in the regions and even bought a small bus. Now we aim to start providing services for our guests from the time they arrive at the Sofia Airport until the time of their departure. Tourists enjoy the beautiful 7 Rila Lakes; they visit the mountain resorts of Borovetz and Malyovitsa nearby, as well as the number of churches in the region. Tourists also enjoy picnics and when we have a lot of guests a folklore show with participants from the local villages is organised.”

The village of Madzhare is also attractive for the lovers of nature. The village is situated on the banks of the Beli Iskar River. Here is what guesthouse owner Milcho Pavlin told Radio Bulgaria.

The village of Majare at the foot of the mountain

“Unique nature and eco products are attractive for the tourists. The herbal tea we prepare here includes 12 different herbs collected in the region. We start picking herbs in May and continue until September. Then we let them dry and prepare a unique herbal mix. There are a number of summer and winter trails and tourists enjoy tours in the mountain, fruit picking and fishing. Those who want can even try and milk the cow before later preparing traditional cheese or sour milk.”

The Beli Iskar eco-trail

There are many tourist trails in the Rila Mountain. One of the most popular eco trails starts in the village of Beli Iskar - the gate to the natural park. One needs 4 hours for this tour, which takes people through beautiful forests, meadows and places for rest. The Rila rocks provide home to a number of endangered bird species. One should not be afraid if they see bear footmarks on the ground as the king of the mountain usually avoids people. Animal lovers will definitely have a great time in the Rila Mountain. 

English: Alexander Markov
Photos: Provided by the author