en bg

Home › Kardjali

Kardzhali is one of the largest cities in the Eastern Rhodopes. It is a regional city located on the banks of the Arda River, 100 km from Plovdiv and 50 km from Haskovo. The Pan-European transport corridor № 9 goes through it. Different civilizations have lived in these places for centuries - Thracians, Greeks, Romans, Slavs, Proto-Bulgarians, Byzantines, Romans and Ottoman Turks. In 1878 the Berlin Treaty left Kardzhali out of the borders of Bulgaria, but during the Balkan War it was returned within the country's boundaries. Today the region of Kardzhali has preserved its numerous temples and fortresses of the past, and together with its diverse natural heritage it attracts many tourists. The Regional Museum of History is located in a beautiful, massive building and it keeps about 37 000 exhibits divided into separate sections of Archaeology, Nature and Ethnography. The most impressive religious temples in Kardzhali are the medieval monastery of St. John the Precursor from the 10th century, the Assumption Church, the mosque, etc. The ancient and medieval town of Perperikon is only 15 km from the city. It is considered to have been one of the capital-residences of the Thracian Kings. The complex includes a palace-temple, a fortified Thracian fortress, a settlement and a circular temple. The medieval castle of Visegrad, the Monyak fortress and others are among the cultural and historical heritage of the city. The Kardzhali Dam is set exactly to the west of the city, where are located many hotels in Kardzhali, holiday resorts, villas and guest houses that provide good accommodation for the fans of fishing and peaceful holiday. The water mirror of the dam is one of the biggest attractions here, creating opportunities for recreation along the Arda River. The Studen Kladenets Dam is situated in the southeast of Kardzhali, as well. Besides good fishing facilities, it offers excellent opportunities for boating, kayaking, visiting many protected areas and historic fortresses. The deposit of fern of Venerin Kkosam, the Sredna Arda Protected Area are among the protected areas and natural sites in the region of Kardzhali, the latter being a dwelling place of the black stork, the Egyptian vulture, the little black warbler and others. Other landmarks are the rock formations of Kamennata Svatba, Kamennite Gabi, the Utroba Cave, the Karangila Cave, etc. The villages in the region of Kardzhali have preserved the traditions, folklore and crafts, which is a prerequisite for developing of rural tourism and the numerous eco-trails in the area are of interest to the tourists, as well. The accommodation base in city is very diverse. For business travelers there is a good selection of business hotels in Kardzhali, and luxury seekers may choose from several boutique hotels in the city. Budget accommodation in Kardzhali is not a rarity and is usually in the form of private rooms and apartments rented out on a hotel base. The classic hotels in Kardzhali are most in number and offer excellent accommodation at reasonable prices.