Sights

The remains are of the prehistoric sanctuary located in the area of the same name, near Dolno Dryanovo village, Blagoevgrad district. This is one of the most ancient megalithic sanctuaries on the territory of South-Eastern Europe. The area of the rock-cult complex is 500 decares and consists mainly of rock massifs. The stone ensemble of anthropomorphic and zoomorphic megalithic figures is located 5 km from Dolno Dryanovo, along the way to Satovcha village. The sanctuary occupies about 20 acres with cliffs of up to 88 m in hight.

Rock cult complex, located 14 km northeast of Kovachevitsa village, at 1339 m above sea level and occupying an area of 300 m2. It is believed that the central part of this cult site is located on the highest and flattened platform, where a huge rock cauldron, blocked on the south side by an artificial wooden wall, has been carved. From the "cauldron" "flows out" a large outfall, which, after discharging the liquid, takes it along the southern wall of the sacralised rock.

The Rock Heads Complex or Gradishte is located 5 km away from Dolno Dryanovo village. On the territory of the Complex, visitors can see several heads formed in the giant rocks, as well as a series of dolmens used for different purposes.

Words such as phenomenon, natural wonder, masterpiece are only some of the epithets that people use to describe what they can see before their eyes, not far from Osenovo village. This is the Wedding Rock Formation.

Undoubtedly one of the biggest natural phenomena in Pirin are the Melnik Pyramids. It is an endlessly colourful palette of figures. You can distinguish rock mushrooms, chimneys, ships, pointed domes, needles, cones, minarets, pleats, haystacks and Egyptian-like pyramids of various sizes.

Undoubtedly, one of the most impressive trees in Pirin is the Eastern Plane tree in Garmen village. It is known for its enormous size with a height of 24 meters and thickness of its trunk of more than 10 m. It is believed that the plane tree is more than 600 years old.

Another majestic representative of the centuries-old trees in Pirin is the Vlachi Plane Tree. It is believed that the tree is more than five hundred years old.

The Baikushev's Pine is one of the oldest trees in the world. And definitely one of the most impressive attractions in Pirin. It is believed to be more than 1300 years old.

Popinolashki Waterfall is located at 1230 m above sea level. It is found along the course of the Bashliytsa River, a hundred meters before its confluence with the Sarchalytsa River, which together form the Sandanska Bistritsa River. The waterfall is 15 m high (according to other reports – 12 m) and characterized by high water throughout the year.

One of the most beautiful and magical places in the Pirin Mountains is the Skoka Waterfall, near Kashina village.

The Pirin lakes are 176 in number and can be found at the bottoms and terraces of the numerous cirques. About 35 lakes are temporary and dry up in the summer. All the lakes are located in Northern Pirin and bear the names of the respective cirques – Sinivrashki Lakes, Banderishki Lakes, Vlahinski Lakes, etc. There are also single lakes – Salzitsa (Dautovo Lake), Disilitsa, Manenko and others. The total area of all the lakes is 18,000 acres. The biggest and deepest lake is the Popovoto Lake, it has an area of 123.6 decares and a depth of 29.5 meters.

The Seven Rila Lakes are found in the Damga area of Northwest Rila and are situated from 2100 m to 2500 m above sea level. The names of the lakes are Salzata (the Tear), Okoto (the Eye), Babreka (the Kidney), Bliznaka (the Twin), Trilistnika (the Shamrock), Ribnoto (the Fish) and Dolnoto (the Lower), chosen due to their shape.

Musala Peak 

Momina Kula Fortress is a late antique and medieval fortress located along the Mesta River, near Kremen village. It is assumed that it was built in the II-III century, and a nearby cave with remains fully proves the presence of prehistoric life here.

How about an ancient fortress with no name? It has been inhabited for over 3,500 years – isn't that amazing? But even more amazing is that it doesn't have a name to this day. It is called the Nameless City near Dobrinishte.

The archaeological complex in Sandanski includes several cultural monuments of national importance – the Episcopal Basilica, the Early Christian Complex and the Basilica of Bishop John. The sites were part of the Ancient City, which stood on the site of today's Sandanski. Undoubtedly, one of the most interesting archaeological discoveries in the city made in recent years is the martyrium, discovered in 2012. It amazes with magnificent wall paintings, marble floors and a holy well.

Heraclea Sintika is an ancient city in present-day South-West Bulgaria, the ruins of which are located in the land of Rupite village, Petrich municipality, on the southern slope of the Kozhuh Volcanic Hill. In ancient times, the city was the centre of the Sintika region, inhabited by the Thracian tribe Sinti.

The Tsari Mali Grad ancient fortress with a church ensemble and a shrine, has been studied since 2007. It has been declared a cultural monument of national importance. Outside the fortress is the cult complex. The votive offering and the stone cross for St. Spas or the Ascension of God, venerated until the 1950s, a medieval church from the 15th century and the remains of two early Christian temples, and under them the ruins of a pagan sanctuary, were here. One of the unique things about this site is the almost 1700 years of Christian worship in one place.

Delchevo village is located among three peaks in Pirin. Most of the houses in the village have been declared cultural monuments. They are located amphitheatrically on the slopes of the mountain, and the narrow streets are covered with cobblestones. Several eco-trails, offering pleasant places for a picnic in the nature, start from the village. Not far from Delchevo is Omaya Eco Village – another little piece of paradise, suitable for a refuge from the city and relaxation in nature.

Ribnovo village – Weddings from Another World – the customs in Ribnovo village A picturesque mountain village in Bulgaria, which seems not to belong to this modern world. Time flows differently here and wedding traditions come to life every winter – colourful, cheerful and fabulous. The brides' faces are painted and covered in sequins. To teach the future spouses tenderness, they have to remove the sequins one by one very carefully. This ritual is still observed today.

Kovachevitsa village is a unique Revival architectural ensemble, declared a cultural monument. Inside the village can also be found the St. Nicholas church (1847), declared a cultural monument of local importance.

Nicopolis ad Nestum, translated as "City of Victory at the Mesta River", is a Roman city located in Southwestern Bulgaria. The remains of Nikopolis are in the land of Garmen village, right next to its first houses, in the localities of Marchov Chiflik and Hisarlaka, 7 kilometres east of Gotse Delchev. 

The Bear Sanctuary Belitsa is located in the southwestern part of Rila, in the Andrianov Chark area, about 12 km away from Belitsa. It covers an area of 120,000 m2 at an altitude between 1200 and 1345 m above sea level. Experts studying the behaviour and habits of the brown bear were involved in its formation. It has dense forests and hills for walking and privacy, meadows and specially built sunny places for relaxation. Bathing ponds and sleeping dens of various sizes and shapes have also been constructed.

Miracles and mystical powers rule over Zlatolist village, where Venerable Stoyna used her prophetic powers to heal and predict the future. The village monastery is named Saint George, in honour of its patron.

From a cultural and historical point of view, the most significant landmark in the Melnik region is the Nativity of the Holy Virgin Mary temple in Rozhen. It is the largest Orthodox monastery in Pirin and is a centuries-old spiritual centre. The miraculous icon of the Holy Virgin Portaitis, a replica of the Panagia Portaitis in the Iviron Monastery on Mount Athos, is kept here.

Rupite is a picturesque area that is shrouded in a mystical aura. It is associated with the psychic Baba Vanga and charges every visitor with high energy. It is located on the banks of the Struma River, at the eastern foot of the Kozhuh Volcanic Hill, only 10 km away from Petrich. The St. Petka of Bulgaria temple built by Vanga – a place of worship for thousands of people in need, is located here. In the past, a volcano erupted in this place and as a result healing mineral springs with a temperature of 75ºC were formed.