Sokolna natural reserve

The Sokolna natural reserve is located near the villages of Skobelevo and Asen, in the Pavel Banya municipality. It occupies an area of 1250 hectares, and covers a part of the mountain massif Triglav and the valley of the river Sokolna. It was officially proclaimed natural reserve on July 11 1979, and represents one of Bulgaria’s natural botanic gardens. Here, there are more than 600 species of plants, 40 of which are rare or endangered – the Stara Planina primrose, the Stara Planina edelweiss, the Bulgarian rock dill, etc. Sokolna is also the home of a variety ot trees, such as beech, oak, hornbeam, sycamore, etc. The animal world is represented by wild goats, bears, owls, woodpeckers. Some of the interesting bird species inhabiting the place are the rock eagle, hunting falcon, hawks, etc.