Chepelare

Chepelare is a small resort town with population of 9,000 people. It is the town at the highest altitude in Bulgaria – 1,100 m. In last few years it has become one of the leading ski resorts in Bulgaria. Chepelare is situated 9 km north of Pamporovo and 20 km north of Smolyan, as well as 245 km southeast of Sofia. The town is surrounded by venerable spruces, pine woods and meadows. Chepelarska River crosses the town collecting the waters of Yanchovata, Kamburskata and Sivkovskata rivers. The main road through the Rodopi Mountains, the Plovdiv – Smolyan Road, passes through the town. In the past local people were occupied with cattle-breeding. Flocks grazed on nearby meadows in the summer, and shepherds took them to the Belomorie (lands near the Aegean Sea). Following the Unification of Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia the border with Turkey was closed. It was impossible to reach the Belomorie. The population of the town slaughtered most of the cattle and was forced to chop the forest in order to provide pasture-grounds for the rest of the animals.