PROPOSAL FOR A TOUR BY CAR – Part 2

What to see if you travel along the Sub-Balkan Road

/ Republican road I-6 /

Sopot – Karlovo – Kalofer – Pavel Banya – Kazanlak PART 2

K A L O F E R

Kalofer is a town in southern Bulgaria. It is located in Karlovo municipality, Plovdiv district. Kalofer is situated at the foot of the southern slopes of the Balkan Mountains. It is located 17 km from Karlovo, at an altitude of 603 m, 22 km from Sopot, 66 km from Plovdiv, 228 km from Burgas, 334 km from Varna and 159 km from the capital Sofia.

HISTORY

Kalofer is the hometown of Hristo Botev – fighter for freedom and independence, poet, publicist, thinker and national hero of the greatest magnitude. Here you can see the Daskal Botev School and the house-museum of Botev.

• Daskal Botev School

The male classroom school was opened in 1848. It was built entirely with donations and the voluntary help of Kalofer residents. In the school studied or taught the prominent Bulgarian revivalists. Nikola Nachov and many others.

• Botev House and Museum

Since 1858 the Botev family lived in the mother’s hereditary house. When Kalofer was burnt down in 1877, the house was burnt to the ground. It was rebuilt in 1942-44 according to the memories of Botev’s brother, retired Gen. Kiril Botev and old Kalofer residents. On June 2, 1944 the house was officially opened for visitors and turned into a museum.

NATURE

• Ecotrail “White River”

The “Byala Reka” eco-trail is one of the longest eco-trails in the country – almost 2 km. It is built in the gorge of the eponymous river in the Kalofer section of the Central Balkan National Park. The trail is 570 m above sea level and its highest point is 630 m.

According to the eco-association in Kalofer more than 10 000 people walk the trail every year. The trail is suitable for beginners, there are signs everywhere, it would be very hard to get confused. There are picnic areas, meadows and benches for resting. At the end there is a view of the Paradise Splash Waterfall and Mount Botev.

• Mount Botev

Mount Botev is the highest peak in the Balkan Mountains and the second highest in Bulgaria. The winds at the top are the strongest in the whole country, keep that in mind if you decide to climb. Mount Botev is part of the Kom – Emine hike, which is the final part of the international tourist route E3. There is a meteorological station and a radio relay and television station (opened on 10 July 1966), which covers with television and radio signal over 65% of the territory of Bulgaria..

• Waterfall “Paradise Splash”

Paradise Splash is the highest permanent waterfall in Bulgaria and on the Balkan Peninsula – 124.5 m. It is located in the Balkan Mountains, on the southern slope below the highest peak – Botev. The Paradise Splash is a very famous natural landmark that amazes with its beauty. Suitable destination for rock climbing and paragliding.

• Tundja River

The Tundzha River is one of the largest rivers in Bulgaria. For fishermen it is an interesting place full of surprises. In Kalofer the river turns to the east and at Kalofer station enters the Kazanlak field from the west, its valley widens and at the village of Alexandrovo reaches 3 – 4 km, then narrows to 1 km.

INTERESTING

• Epiphany in Kalofer (Men’s Choir)

According to Bulgarian ethnography, on the 6th of January, Yordanovden or Epiphany, the Orthodox cross is thrown into the icy water of the Tundja River and is pulled out by a brave man. It is believed that the one who takes out the cross will have good health throughout the year. Since more recent times, this tradition has been supplemented by a men’s dance performed in the cold waters of the river. Participants in the choir are of different ages, the youngest participant for 2023 is only 11 months old.

• Kalofer Lace

In Kalofer is preserved one of the finest women’s needlework – the knitting of the Kalofer lace. Similar to the Brussels lace, the Kalofer lace is also knitted with shuttles on a cylinder; what makes our lace different is the inclusion of elements from our nature – roses, tulips, sunflowers, edelweiss, wheat ears and animals shine on it, which makes it so different and gives it a typically Bulgarian look. The Kalofer Lace Festival is celebrated on 15 August.

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