Municipality of Madzharovo

Travelling to the Eastern spurs of the Rhodope Mountains, where the meandering river Arda forms one of the most beautiful river bends, one finds the small mining town of Madzharovo. The underground treasures of the region, namely more than 16 kinds of semi-precious stones, minerals and gold, and the vultures, which have found one of their last refuges in Europe here, have become the symbols of the town. The nests of Griffon and Egyptian vultures are scattered around the rock complex surrounding Madzharovo and form a system of 5 protected areas around the volcanic crater here: the natural phenomenon Kovan Kaya, and the protected areas Patronka, Gyurgena, Momina Skala and Chernata Skala. To preserve and popularize this natural reserve, the nature preservation centre eastern Rhodopes was opened in Madzharovo in 1998. Preservation of the cultural and historical heritage is also part of the challenge that the Eastern Rhodopes represent. The only surviving cromlech in Bulgaria – a counterpart of the world-famous Stonehenge, is to be found near the village of Dolni Glavanak. Thracian temples and tombs have been found in the vicinity of the villages Gorno Pole, Okopa and Hysarya. The local historical Museum, the Thracian Memorial, the craft workshops, the tahini (roads sesame paste) and halva manufacturers in the village of Borislavtsi and last but not least the folklore group lglika all combine to form a picturesque palette of the past and present of Madzharovo. Also, in the villages of Gorno Pole and Borislavsi you can find the ideal place for village holidays and finishing.