|
|
The Rhodope Mountains (Rodopi in Bulgarian)
With no doubt we may state that the Rhodopes provide the best and endless possibilities for the perfect mountain bike adventure. The Bulgarian geographers divide the Rhodopes in two parts:
- Western which is the highest (2191 m atop Mt Perelik) and is covered with endless pine forests and lush pastures. Here one can admire the dramatic valleys of the rivers Tchepinska, Vatcha and Tchepelarska and the traditional lifestyle of the local people;
- Eastern which is much lower but provides a great variety of landscapes and wild life. The visitor will learn about the ancient history of the so called "rock people" - a mysterious civilization which left its strange cuttings on the smooth volcanic rocks in the region.
Situated in the southern part of Bulgaria and northern Greece it also provides great possibilities for a combined mountain and sea bike trips. There are many small towns and villages which may be used as a base for exploration of the Rhodopes. Here we need to mention that the towns of Velingrad, Dospat, Trigrad, Devin, Smolyan, Arda, Momtchilovtsi, Kirdjali and Madjarovo will provide you with a great opportunity to discover the mountains and enjoy the local culture and hospitality. Not to miss is the so called "Trans Rhodopean Bike Route" which crosses the Rhodopes from West to East and has a length of about 450 km. The route is designed in a way which is giving you the chance to visit places with best preserved nature like "Beglika" and "Mantaritsa" nature reserves, the lakes of Beglika and Shiroka polyana, the canyons and caves of Trigrad and Yagodina, the rock phenomena in the valley of Arda River and to observe the Vulture population near the volcanic region of Madjarovo.
N.B. Avoid traveling in the Eastern part during the hot summer months and enjoy the Western Rhodopes in its best from late May till August.
PHOTO GALLERY OF THE RHODOPES
|
