Nicopolis ad Nestum was one of three cities founded on the Balkan Peninsula by the Roman Emperor Trajan in honor of his victory over the Dacians in 106 AD, it was called the "City of Victory at the Places" and is remembered as the City of Places (in Latin Nikopolis ad Nestum). In the past, the city occupied an area of about 13 ha, part of which has been excavated and studied. A settlement of strategic importance in the past and with a glorious history, Nicopolis ad Nestum has been declared an archaeological and architectural monument of Antiquity and the Middle Ages.
Here you can explore the remains of two early Christian basilicas, the foundations of public and cultural buildings, burial mounds, etc., giving yourself a truly exciting journey back in time – to the era of Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages.
The town of Hadjidimovo - a beautiful and holy place perched on one of the many hills in the valley of the Mesta River. The monastery was built in 1865. At this place in the past there was a Christian center dedicated to St. George, therefore today's holy abode bears the name of the saint. An interesting legend is connected with the monastery, according to which a shepherd from the nearby village of Gorna Singartia (the village is the predecessor of today's town of Hadjidimovo) persistently dreamed three nights in a row of a young man on a white horse, who ordered him to dig up the hill near the village.
After the third night, the shepherd listened to his dream and began to dig up the hill. There were a lot of setbacks, of course, but in the end an icon of St. George was discovered during the excavations. It is believed that this is the icon that can still be seen today in the monastery church and which is considered miraculous. A small chapel was originally built on the site in honor of the saint, and a little later the monastery itself was built.
Church of St. Archangel Michael - city of Gotse Delchev - is a revival church in the city of Gotse Delchev (Nevrokop), Bulgaria, part of the Nevrokop Diocese of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. It has been declared a cultural monument of local importance. It was built in 1811 and is the oldest preserved church in Nevrokopsko.
At the beginning of the 20th century, it was in the hands of the Bulgarian exarchists. The temple has 109 valuable icons from the 17th century, surviving after the reconstruction frescoes in the dome and on the pendentives, original carved old royal doors of the new iconostasis, ornately carved Vladyka's throne and the central appliquéd wooden ceiling. 70 icons from 1881, the work of Sergi Georgiev, are stored here. The portable icons "Theotokos Hodegitria" and "Christ the Almighty" are valuable.
Blue pool area - Near the village of Kovachevitsa, among the harsh beauty of centuries-old pine forests and inaccessible rocks in some places, there is one of the most impressive natural attractions in the Western Rhodope Mountains - the Siniya Vir area.
Here the south-western slopes of Dabrush Hill are cut by the Kanina River gorge, over 300 m deep in places, and its waters descend the steep slopes in a breathtaking cascade of rapids and waterfalls, falling with a roar into the deep, created by their mighty and eternal power up to 5 m rock recesses.
Kozi Kamak Rock Complex - The Kozi Kamak Rock Sanctuary is located at the southwestern foot of Mount Beslet (Western Rhodopes). The 30 m high rock is sacralized, and access to its top is provided by a narrow and steep path cut into the rock, winding towards the top.
It is assumed that the central part of the cult site is located on the highest and leveled site, where a huge rock cauldron was cut, blocked on the south side by an artificial wooden wall. On the northern side of the rocky platform are numerous groups of circular rock excavations, which, according to some archaeoastronomers, are a kind of star maps of the constellations Cassiopeia and Cepheus.
Rizova Dupka Cave - "Rizova Dupka" cave - a karst chasm with a depth of 10-12 meters.
In the cave, vertical wooden stairs have been built from the two openings, respectively for descent and ascent, which lead to a kind of corridor with a length of 15 meters and a width of 2 meters.
Kayali rocks - It is located at 1,500-1,600 m above sea level in the Kayalietso area, 16 km along an asphalt road northeast of the center of Kovachevitsa, 4 km along a dirt road north-northeast of the Beslet area, leading to the foot of the sanctuary.
The imposing stone pyramids formed by erosion among the Late Paleozoic granites of the Rilo-Western Rhodope batholith were formed about 250-300 million years ago.
Leshten Architectural Reserve - Located in the middle of the Western Rhodopes, this corner nestles in the soul from the first moment you touch it.
The flocks of picturesque old houses scattered along the moors have been there since the Renaissance in the 18th and 19th centuries. Some of the buildings have been restored in a way that preserves their authentic architectural style.
Architectural and Historical Reserve Dolen - The architectural reserve in the village of Dolen is located in the western part of the Rhodopes, about 26 km from Gotse Delchev.
Many preserved Renaissance houses can be seen in the village, which is why it was declared a historical and architectural reserve in 1977. It consists of 70 buildings - monuments of culture. One of the landmarks in the village is the church of St. Nicholas, built in 1834 together with a cell school. The village also offers accommodation in old authentic houses.
Architectural Reserve Delchevo - The village of Delchevo is a charming village located in the foothills of South Pirin, at 1050 m above sea level. Delchevo is a village that visitors sympathize with because of the revival spirit and authenticity it brings. The architecture represents the characteristic buildings of that time, which were built on stone foundations. It was typical for buildings at that time to be up to three stories high and to have many windows.
Tourists could visit the complex of 30 impressive Renaissance houses, monuments of culture. The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, dating from 1838, is a wonderful place.
Kaninska Ecopath - Garmen municipality - It is a great opportunity to spend more time and bond with loved ones, and also a unique way to enjoy truly wonderful views. The Kanina eco-trail is located in the western Rhodopes along the Kanina river and is located near the municipality of Garmen. The Rhodopes are known both for their beautiful views and for the cultural heritage they keep within themselves.
The route of the Kanin eco-path is about 13 km long, and it connects four interesting places. These are the villages of Kovachevitsa, Gorno Dryanovo, Leshten and Skrebatno. Each of these places can be the starting point of the Kanin eco-path, and you choose which of them to pass through. The Kanin eco-path offers many options for crossing. The crossing can last between 2 and 10 hours, depending entirely on the route you take. The Kanin eco-path consists of a large and a small circle.