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Bulgaria's historic town of Kotel attracts visitors also as ski destination

Photo: Facebook /SkiKote

In winter, the well-known Bulgarian town of Kotel known for its National Revival Period architecture attracts tourists with cultural routes, frosty landscapes and the opportunity to ski in the folds of the Balkan Mountains. About 4 km from the center of the small town, a ski complex was built in a locality called the Three Winds. The beginner's slope is 200 meters long, for the more advanced there is a 300-meter track, and the most experienced go down a slope with a slope of 30 degrees, classified as a red in terms of difficulty. 

However, the operation of the small ski area depends on weather conditions - in order to be able to use it, it is necessary to have a real winter environment with snowfall and temperatures below -5 degrees. In this regard, the current winter season has proven to be favorable and Kotel welcomes skiers and snowboarders from all over Bulgaria.


"There is snow in the city at the moment, the track is open. When there is snow, it works. It is also open today, it will also work during the weekend. There is great interest in it. Many people come during the weekends and during the week, when conditions allow, with the most visitors coming from Burgas, Yambol, Sliven and Stara Zagora. During the weekend all accommodation facilities in the town are full. I think there are not even any free places," Maria Karaivanova from the Tourist Information Center of the town of Kotel told Radio Bulgaria.


The ski area in the Three Winds area is the closest winter sports destination for the population of Southeastern Bulgaria, and this explains the interest of tourists from nearby towns and villages. But a winter vacation in Kotel is not only skiing, snowboarding and sledding, but above all an opportunity to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of one of the most beautiful towns with National Revival Period architecture in Bulgaria. 


While walking along the snow-covered "sokatsi" (cobblestone narrow alleys)  of the Galata quarter, visitors admire the preserved National Revival houses made of stone and wood with wide roofs and spacious courtyards. In this part of Kotel, there are over 110 National Revival period houses, which turn it into an architectural and historical reserve. The most visited tourist site is the Pantheon of Rakovski and the Museum of the Kotel National Revival leaders - an impressive monument of iron, stone and wood:


"It was built in 1981 on the occasion of the celebrations of 1,300 years since the founding of the Bulgarian state", says Maria Karaivanova. "The building is of impressive dimensions, it has 4 halls dedicated to the national awakeners, enlighteners, rebels and revolutionaries. The exhibitions trace the life and work of over 200 prominent Bulgarian personalities. The relics of Georgi Sava Rakovski are also laid there. The Kyorpeeva House has been turned into a museum, which recreates the typical Kotel National Revival period architecture from the second half of the 19th century. 


The Galatan School also houses an exhibition of the famous Kotel capters carpets, characteristic for their bright colors, diverse geometric figures, ornaments and flower motifs. They are an expression of the mastery of Kotel carpet weaving art. The Kotel carpets remain our most valuable symbol, which we are proud of."

Natural History Museum
On frosty winter days, tourists also visit the Natural History Museum with its rich exhibitions of minerals, plants, mushrooms, insects, reptiles and birds. And at the end of a day full of snowy emotions, warmth awaits them in guest houses and local restaurants. Maria Karaivanova recommends that visitors try the famous Kotel "taganichki" They are prepared with eggs and flour - the mixture is poured into hot oil using a special star-shaped kitchen utensil with a long handle. Another local culinary celebrity is the banitsa with rice filling ( a type of filo pastry pie with rice).



Read also:

Photos: Facebook /SkiKotel, Kotel Municipality, Facebook /Kosta Karanashev (mayor of Kotel municipality), BTA, pochivka.bg, kotel.bg, Facebook/ Zhivko Hristov


Pubilshed in English by Rositsa Petkova


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