For us Bulgarians, Batak is a sacred place. It still echoes the tragic events of the April Uprising of 1876, when most of its innocent inhabitants were massacred by the Ottoman oppressors. Various sources estimate the number of victims at between 1,400 and 5,000. The massacre had profound repercussions in Europe and around the world, awakening the conscience of prominent public figures. Garibaldi, Victor Hugo, Darwin, Januarius MacGahan and many others strongly condemned the atrocities, bringing international attention to Batak for the first time.

If you walk along the Memorial Walk in the city centre, you will see monuments dedicated to the advocates for Bulgaria. 

The monument to Victor Hugo in Batak

The names of some of the victims of the massacre are inscribed on a special wall in the History Museum. In the old St. Nedelya Church, where thousands of women and children were killed, there is an ossuary of the deceased, and its walls still bear the bullet marks left by the aggressors.

• “Voices in support of freedom”, an exhibition presenting the general resonance in the world of the crushing of the April uprising
• Lady Strangford – the Englishwoman who loved Bulgaria
• The silver cross from Poibrene was carried by the heroes on the way to the Bulgarian Golgotha in 1876

Batak has a rich cultural calendar that attracts visitors to the town and the region. A number of lush trails around Batak entice tourists to explore the secrets of the Rhodope Mountains.

One of these trails leads to the impressive Fotinski Waterfalls. The three water cascades can be reached after a 20-minute walk along the Fotinska River from the village of Fotinovo. There are also five beautiful Roman bridges in the area, as noted by Teodora.