Bansko is full of tourists in mid-August. The resort town is a preferred summer destination because of the greenery, clean air and especially the hiking opportunities in the Pirin Mountains. Apart from being the leading ski resort in this part of the Balkans, Bansko is also known as the gateway to Pirin National Park, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Dozens of marked hiking trails lead to spots untouched by human hand with incredibly rich flora and fauna. Among them is the Yulen Reserve, which was established in 1994 to preserve and protect the valuable forest and plant ecosystems, as well as the huge diversity of animal species on its territory. Yulen is a high mountain reserve, situated at an altitude between 1,650 and 2,851 meters above sea level. It spans a territory of nearly 3,157 hectares. Chavdar Zlatev from BNR - Stara Zagora spoke with Associate Professor Borislav Grigorov who lectures biogeography at the Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”:

"Yulen Reserve is a habitat for 700 species of vascular plants, of them more than 40 are included in the Red Date Book of Bulgaria. Centuries-old forests of white fir (Pinus peuce Griseb), black fir (Pinus heldreichii)), spruce (Picea) and silver fir (Abies Alba) can be found there. The bog pine (Pinus mugo) is the dominant species among the shrub communities. The globeflower ( Trollius europaeus) , the narcissus-flowered anemone (Anemone narcissiflora) and Aquilegia aurea are among the valuable plant species”, Associate Professor Borislav Grigorov said.

There are a number of beautiful lake groups on the territory of the nature reserve such as the Vasilashki Lakes, Dislishki Lakes, Tipitski Lakes, Polezhanski Lakes and Strazhishki Lakes. There are also isolated lakes which are the source of several small rivers. Associate Professor Grigorov has more:

"Yulen Reserve is also home to many animal species. The Balkan trout is found in some of the local lakes and rivers. The lovers of bird fauna would be interested in the great tit (Parus Major), the woodpeckers, the spotted nutckracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes), the wood grouse (Tetrao urogallus) and the rock partridge (Alectoris graeca). As for mammals, we should mention the presence of the wild goat (Capra aegagrus), as well as the wolf and the bear which are rare in many parts of the country”.

If you want to learn about the natural riches of Pirin Mountain, including the Yulen Reserve, a preliminary preparation is recommended. For this purpose, you should hire a mountain guide from the nearest towns Bansko and Dobrinishte.

“Yulen is one of the most visited nature reserves in Bulgaria, which is also due to the presence of an ancient fortress located very close to the present-day town of Bansko. The fortress dates back to the times before the Roman period. However, I would like to remind you that the reserve is a strictly protected area in which any human activity is prohibited, except for visits for scientific and educational purposes. In such places you can only hike along the marked trails, without deviating from the previously mapped tourist route. It is good to comply with the rules of conduct in protected areas," warns Assoc. Borislav Grigorov.”

See also: 

• Bulgaria is fourth in ranking of highest rated national parks in Europe

• Going to a ski resort at the end of summer

Compiled by: Veneta Nikolova

Interview by: Chavdar Zlatev-BNR Stara Zagora