rural tourism Bulgaria

Dolen Village, Rhodope Mountains – Bulgaria’s secret gem

Veneta Nikolova
Dolen Village in Bulgaria seems frozen in time. Unlike nearby villages Kovachevitsa and Leshten, this hidden gem hasn’t been transformed by tourism or concrete developments. Many houses are empty and crumbling, while the narrow streets are overgrown in places. There’s not a single paved road, no commercial cafés or restaurants...

The Dobarsko Church and its cosmic frescoes

Veneta Nikolova
Dobarsko Church sits in the quiet village of Dobarsko, near Bansko and not far from the Bulgarian-Greek border, surrounded by mountain scenery. It sits about 150 km from Sofia and 20 km from Bansko. From the ski resorts or the seaside, you can reach Dobarsko in around 2–3 hours. Dobarsko...