Bayuvi Dupki – Djindjiritsa Reserve

The town of Razlog (Southwestern Bulgaria) celebrates its public holiday today, October 24. Besides for the rich history, the region is known also for its breathtaking nature. The Bayuvi Dupki – Dzhindzhiritza is one of the Bulgaria’s oldest reserves (established in 1934). It is located close to the town of Razlog, in Pirin Mountain. The reserve was created to protect the two rare species of Macedonian pine and Bosnian Pine, as well as variety of animals. The reserve’s territory covers about 3000 hectares, and the altitude of Bayuvi Dupki – Dzhindzhiritza varies from 1200 to 2884 m. Some 60% of the area of the reserve is covered by woods. The legend tells that once the dense woods of Dzhindzhiritza were inhabited only by beasts, and the local men thought they were evil spirits, called genies. There were wonderful meadows but the shepherds were afraid to take the sheep there. Finally one of the herdsmen ventured and let the herd on the meadow, and the other men followed him. In a way to be sure they surrounded the meadow with chains ("sindzhir" in Bulgarian), and it was called Sindzhiritza. Once wolves came and broke up the herd. A frightened shepherd ran down from the hill shouting “genie in Sindzhiritza”, and since then the area is called Dzhindzhiritza.