General Information

Borovets is the biggest international ski resort in Bulgaria. It is located on 1350m altitude and is situated at the foot of the Musala peak (2925m) and on the northern slopes of the Rila Mountain amongst the green pine forests. It is only 73km from Sofia and 126km from Plovdiv. The nearest town is Samokov which is 10km from Borovets.

Borovets offers all the modern conditions for active relaxation, sports and tourism during the entire year. It has been a host of the championship of the world ski cup for alpine disciplines two times.

Borovets and its vicinity offer a wide range of accommodation options including hotels, guest houses, apartments and villas. A number of new hotels and guest houses were built in the last few years making it possible for visitors to Borovets and the region to enjoy their holiday. A number of privately owned villas and apartments also became available for rent directly from the owners. Please make sure that you check our listings of rental guest houses, villas, apartments and hotels in Bansko.

 

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Sights

You can visit:

• The past tsar´s castles Bistrica, Sitniakovo and Saragiol;
• The ´Rilski´ monastery which is a historical monument with world significance for the culture and science;
• The sights in the town of Samokov – A historical museum, the ´Sarafskata´ house, the ´Bairakli´ mosque, the monastery ´Pokrov Bogorodichen´ which is the women´s closter dated from 1772, the ´Beliova´ church, the ´Shishmanovo´ stronghold;
• The National Park ´Rila´ which is a big part of the Rila Mountain and is one of the most precious and biggest protected areas in Europe. It is a favorite place for tourists, nature lovers and enthusiasts because of its fascinating beauty, its alpine relief – high rocky rounded hills with fantastic forms, deep abysses with vertical walls, crystal clear lakes and fast rivers (about 200 lakes and numerous mineral springs);
• The seven lakes of Rila – an extraordinary beautiful place in the National Park ´Rila´. Many of the plants and the animals are protected and registered in the Red Book. Each of the lakes is named after its shape. Their names are the Eye, the Kidney, the Twin, the Trefoil, the Fish lake and the Bottom lake;
• The Musala peak which is the highest peak in the Balkan Peninsula – 2925m. The name means ´the path to God´. The first written proof for the climb to the top of the peak is for Tsar Philip II who is the father of Alexander the Great. The Musala peak is a preferred place for alpinists and other tourists. It houses the Alpine meteorological observatory and the Main ecological observatory ´Musala´;
• The ´Maliovica´ resort which is situated at the foot of the Maliovica peak and is preffered place for alpine ski climbing and alpine sports. The lake ´The Scary´ is situated nearby;
• The ´Rilski´ monastery which is founded during X century by St. Ivan Rilski who is a patron of Bulgaria. It is situated on 1174m altitude and is protected by UNESCO. It looks like a medieval fortress. The tomb of Tsar Boris III and the relics of St. Ivan Rilski are kept here.

History

The national climatic mountain resort Borovets is the oldest mountain resort in Bulgaria. It is dated from 1896 when Prince Ferdinand built a summer residence. It was called Cham Koria until 1942. The first villas were built in the end of XIX c.

 

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Entertainment

You can enjoy:

• A holiday amongst the nature, village tourism, ecotourism, balneotourism, cycling, hiking, walking, horseback riding, rehabilitation gymnastics;
• The coolness of the pine forests and the most picturesque walking trails in the summer, half-day and all-day tours for beginners and alpinists;
• Trips by a lift, by a ra-track, jeep safari, slade rides and cab rides, horseback riding;
• A summer barbecue – numerous places especially adapted for outside cooking;
• Fishing, mushroom gathering, herbs, watching birds and wild animals;
• Night parties and fiestas in bars, discos with famous DJs, night bars with various drinks and restaurants with delicious local cuisine, folklore nights;
• Various tours around Bulgaria are offered: to Melnik, Sofia, Plovdiv, Samokov, to the ´Rilski´ monastery.

The resort also offers suitable places for seminars and different types of tourism for young and old people.

 

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Sports

Borovets is an alpine resort and a center of national and international winter sports competitions. The full length of the marked tracks for alpine ski is 58km, the cross country ski tracks total 35km for beginners and advanced skiers. There are are a total of 14.5 km of ski lifts serving these ski runs, including 4 seat lifts, individual and cabin lifts.

During the winter the resort offers:

• Three ski centers – Borovets, Iastrebec, Markudjik and a national snowboard center;
• Excellent conditions for ski alpine disciplines, cross country ski, ski jumps and biathlon, snowboard, snowmobile driving, skating, slalom;
• 17 well-run ski tracks totallying 30km, more than 20 cross country tracks, ski trenches, ski lifts with a capacity of 8650 people per hour;
• A ski school which is one of the best in Bulgaria. It has more than 200 ski instructors;
• A climbing area called ´Vodohvashtaneto´;
• The biggest ski school in Bulgaria which includes ski school for children and a kindergarten ´Borosport´.

During the summer the resort offers:

• Horseback riding; walking and hiking, rock climbing, alpinism, fishing, cycling.

Others:

• Fitness/yoga, including well trained instructors, tennis complex, golf, open air and covered swimming pools, saunas, table-tennis, billiard s, bowling, water sports in the ´Iskar´ lake, conference halls and services, catering, a forestry school.

Here are held:

• The national snowboard championship Cup ´Ice Angels´ for men, women and children;
• Programs for professionals:
• Ski alpine disciplines: ´Memorial Ilia Pavlov´ cup, ´Veselinov´ cup for men and women, ´Iskra Barzanova´ cup;
• Ski running: ´Samokov´ cup, ´Veselinov´ cup;
• Programs for children:
• Ski alpine disciplines: ´Samokov´ cup, State championship, ´Cham koria´ cup, ´Veselinov´ cup;
• The race ´Bulgaria´ – European championship;
• Cycling and pedestrian tournaments in the summer.