| Every Bulgarian mountain has its own | | | | and the planned construction of new golf courses |
| characteristic appearance, fascination and charm, | | | | will attract a lot more visitors to the area. There |
| whether it is snow-capped peaks and soft green | | | | is also talk of a private airstrip being added in the |
| slopes or cool forests carrying the aroma of | | | | near future. |
| herbs and wild fruit. In these natural surroundings, | | | | The Rhodope Mountains |
| quick-flowing rivers lead into crystal-clear blue | | | | The Rhodopes are the greenest and most |
| lakes, re-emerging in mineral springs and nourishing | | | | picturesque of the Bulgarian mountains, linked with |
| the country's protected bio-reserves, with their | | | | the legend of the mythical singer Orpheus. Snow |
| rare plants and game. It is within this kind of | | | | and sun , clean air and a mild climate with a |
| setting that you will find Bulgaria's large, lively ski | | | | Mediterranean feel combine with an original folklore |
| resorts and its small, picturesque villages, where | | | | and superb cuisine, cordial and hospitable people |
| tradition and folklore still abound. | | | | and last but not least one of the country's largest |
| The Pirin Mountain | | | | ski resort, Pamporovo, to attract many a tourist |
| Pirin is the country's second highest mountain, | | | | to this area. |
| home to 176 mountain lakes and around 100 | | | | The Pamporovo ski resort is situated 1650m |
| varieties of rare plants - including the edelweiss | | | | above sea level, at the foot of the Snejanka |
| and the famous Baikousheva fir. It is also the | | | | peak (1926m), a region famous for its old folkloric |
| home of the well-known Bansko ski resort. | | | | tradition. Only 260km from Sofia and 85km from |
| The town of Bansko is situated in south-western | | | | Bulgaria's third-largest city, Plovdiv, Pamporovo is |
| Bulgaria, in the foothills of the beautiful Pirin | | | | said to be the sunniest winter resort in Europe. |
| Mountains. It is a national reserve listed on the | | | | The winters are gentle with lots of snow, and the |
| World natural Heritage list. Although a thriving ski | | | | number of sunny days during the season, from |
| resorts in winter, it is also popular in summer as a | | | | December to May, reaches 120. The average |
| starting point for excursions into the mountains. | | | | temperature in January is around -2ºC. |
| Bansko can be reached either by flying into Sofia | | | | Pamporovo enjoys an international reputation for |
| Airport and driving south, or by flying into | | | | its healthy climate, so it's no surprise that the |
| Thessalonica ( Salonica) in Greece. From here, it's | | | | majority of Bulgaria's centenarians are from this |
| a three-hour drive to the north. One of Bulgaria's | | | | region. A ski-centre for all levels of enthusiasts, it |
| newest winter and summer resorts, it has | | | | has excellent runs including a competition run for |
| recently been discovered by international tourists, | | | | giant slalom, a first class lift system and a |
| with its unique combination of virgin nature and | | | | ski-school of international standard with more than |
| the atmosphere of an ancient Bulgarian town. | | | | 100 highly qualified instructors. |
| Summers in Bansko are short and hot, with long, | | | | Several European and American aid programmes |
| mild winters. The average temperature during | | | | are working to help small hoteliers turn the |
| January, the coldest month, is - 1.9 ºC and | | | | unspoiled Rhodope Mountains into a year-round |
| snowfall is abundant, providing a constant winter | | | | tourist attraction, as the terrain shelters numerous |
| cover of up to 2m deep. The skiing season on | | | | natural wonders such as caves, mineral springs |
| the Pirin slopes starts in the middle of December | | | | and landscapes that embody the country's unique |
| and end in mid-April, with excellent conditions | | | | charm. |
| throughout. With a predominantly Alpine character | | | | Pamporovo is undergoing an exciting period of |
| and two peaks towering above 2900m, the | | | | growth with the construction of five new ski runs |
| slopes offer runs and tracks foe all types of | | | | this season alone. The total length of the runs in |
| skiing that suit both beginners and experts alike. | | | | the resort now reaches over 31km and official |
| Snowboarders come from all over the world to | | | | estimates project a 40% increase in tourist |
| try out the first attraction park in the Balkans | | | | numbers for the coming season. However, |
| where they can build jumps suited to their taste | | | | Pamporovo does not stop its lift for the summer, |
| and abilities, while the town itself attracts cultural | | | | allowing visitors to view spectacular vistas from |
| visitors to its monuments, museums and | | | | the peaks. The only Olympic size half pipe for |
| permanent ethnographic exhibitions. | | | | snowboarding in Bulgaria will also be completed by |
| Only 18 months after the resort's renovation, | | | | next season. Pamporovo, together with the |
| property sales are booming in Bansko. According | | | | nearby village of Chepelare, will soon boast over |
| to experts, we should see very strong capital | | | | 59km of ski runs. |
| growth over the next few years and investment | | | | All of the above, without a doubt, means that |
| opportunities continue to improve as more and | | | | new development will attract more buyers and |
| more capital flows into the development of this | | | | tourists, and the area will see extremely high |
| unique blend of natural beauty and excellent | | | | capital appreciation on investments for years to |
| holiday facilities. Rental demand is extremely high | | | | come. |