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| Plovdiv |
Pazardzhik, Varvara, Batkun Monastery |
Stara Zagora, Nova Zagora, Chirpan |
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| Kazanlak |
Kalofer, Pavel Banya |
Haskovo, Dimitrovgrad, Svilengrad |
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| Karlovo, Banya |
Panagyurishte, Strelcha |
Koprivshtitsa, Klisura, Peak Bogdan |
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Kalofer (4000 inhabitants) is situate on the two coasts of Tundja river between Stara
planina and Sredna gora mountain's. The biggest one in Stara planina mountain peak Botev is over the town. The
town is 160 km from Sofia and 75 km from Plovdiv. Kalofer is the born town of the great Bulgarian poet and
revolucionary Hristo Botev. In the place of the today’s town there was thick and impassable wood. Western was
found town Zvunigrad. The Turkish destroyed the town, but the couldn’t destroy the bamd of Kalifer leader. The sultan
let them to settle in the wood. After that the haidouks carried away the most beautiful girls of town Sopot
and they made a new town: Kalofer.
Landmarks are the Memorial complex “Hristo Botev” with the memorial and the born house of the poet. Near to the town
centre it is found the school were Botev’s father teached. Interesting are the revival church “Holy Virgin”, the stone
bridges of Tunja river, the complex revival houses, the church “St. Atanas”, the factory for rose oil and so on.
In the summer resort Panichishte were made good conditions for rest. About 4 hours from here is the biggest waterfall
in Bulgaria – "Raiskoto padalo" (The heavenly splash) - 124 m, which is a starting point for routes to Stara
planina mountain and Botev peak. 6 km on town is the holiday house “White river”. On the upper part of the river
is the wonderful canyon “Southern Djendem”, which was announced for nature reserve. The entering there becomes only
with mountain equipment.
The Kalofer nunnery Monastery “The Presentation of Mother God to the Temple” its establishment in the 18th century. The present-day church of white stones was built in 1862, when the number of nuns already reached 90. Construction works with the help of donations, raised by nuns in Russia. July 26, 1877, the monastery together with the entire town and three neighbouring nunneries was set on fire for the third time. Hundreds of people from the town of Kalofer and nearby villages, as well as monks and nuns were slaughtered by Turkish soldiers during the temporary withdrawal of Russian troops. The bones of those killed were laid in a bone-vault just beneath the altar in its southern part.
Following Bulgaria’s liberation from Turkish rule, the nuns of the four Kalofer nunneries that survived the slaughter decided to restore only “The Presentation of Mother God to the Temple” as it was the biggest monastery. For that purpose nuns were once again sent on a fund-raising mission to Russia. In 1881 the monastery was successfully rebuilt. The church was painted no earlier than 1960. It possesses copies of several miracle-working icons of Mother God. The monastery also keeps three icons that survived the slaughter of the 1877. A spring of holy water named after the Holy Mother runs out just beneath the church in the place where the altar of the former wooden church stood and worshippers drink its water for health. Besides the main church, the monastery also has a chapel, dedicated to St. Mina.
The Kalofer monks’ Monastery “Nativity of Mother of God” is situated some 7 km away from the town in northern direction. The monastery lies in a picturesque valley on the bank of the Byala Reka river. The entrance to the Central Balkan National park and the Byala Reka tourist complex can be seen some 200 m behind the monastery. The monastery was established in 1640. During the Russian-Turkish War in 1877 at a time when the Russian troops temporarily withdrew, the monastery as many others in the region was not saved by the Turks and was ruined down. Its penultimate restoration happened in 1881. The monastery can be reached down a relatively good road. Even if dirty at places, the road is still acceptable for a limousine.
The SPA resort Pavel banya (The Pavel's Bath) (4000 c) in situated on 185 km from Sofia, 20 km from Kazanlak and 85 km from Plovdiv. The balneology centre with national and international meaning. Relics from Roman bath and an old church were found in excavations. The contemporary settlement was created after the Liberation. Pavel banya is starting point for different tourist routes in Stara planina and Sredna gora mountain's. The curative mineral waters are from 7 natural sources, the temperature of some of them is 63oC. Most of them contend fluorine and they are feedly mineralize. The high contents of fluorine and the hot temperature contribute for treatment of the articulations.
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