The Get to Know Bulgaria Initiative related to visiting some of the most important tourist landmarks in this country has gained great popularity among Bulgarians and foreign tourists. The Bulgarian Tourist Union reports that more than 500, 000 people have bought the booklets where they collect stamps when visiting places included in the list. Now the Bulgarian Tourist Union has launched a new initiative and wants to create a list of 100 natural landmarks.

Bulgarian municipalities have readily joined the initiative as they were invited to offer interesting natural landmarks to be included in the list. The idea is to compile the list of natural landmarks through online voting on the Bulgarian Tourist Union’s website. More than 300 landmarks have already been offered for the voting. Some of them like the Magurata Cave with its unique prehistoric drawings already enjoy a great popularity. There are other landmarks that are mostly unknown, and that is why the BTS expects the initiative will rouse considerable interest.

The Magurata cave is famous for its prehistorical rock drawings.

Here is what Mariana Filcheva, director at the Echo Publishing house at BTS, told Radio Bulgaria:

“A number of participants in the 100 tourists’ sites initiative told us they mostly enjoyed visiting the natural landmarks. That is why we decided to launch this new initiative, which is to focus exactly on the great number of really interesting natural landmarks in Bulgaria”, Ms. Filcheva says.

The hottest geyser in Europe right in the center of Sapareva Banya.

The municipality of Sapareva Banya has nominated 4 landmarks for the list. These are the Obesen Kamak rock phenomenon, the Skakavitsa waterfall, the lake near the village of Panichishte and the hottest geyser in Europe. The Municipality of Sandanski wants the sand pyramids near Melnik included in the list, as well as the Ali Botush nature reserve and others. The Krushuna waterfall in the municipality of Letnitsa also has great chances to be included in the list. There are a number of attractive landmarks but the final list will depend on the voting of the tourists.

Convenient paths lead tourists to the natural landmarks.

“The contact with nature is very important and we give tourists a chance to learn some more about interesting sites. We have gathered detailed information about all phenomena. Many of them are shrouded in mystery and legend, which makes them even more attractive. We aim to make tourists interested in visiting the more remote and less popular sites. The municipalities included in the new initiatives will also have a reason to apply for EU financing in order to improve the infrastructure and access to the landmarks”, Mariana Filcheva concludes.

English version: Alexander Markov

Photos: Veneta Nikolova