The Smolyan province is the heart of the mystical **Rhodope** mountains where the peaks are rounded and the forests never end. Your road trip takes you to the Wonderful Bridges which are massive natural stone arches formed by an ancient cave collapse. You can walk under the giant stone ceilings and feel how small you are against the power of nature. The path through the woods is easy and leads you to different viewpoints of the rocky bridges. It is a magical place that feels like it belongs in a storybook. Drive deeper into the high valleys to find the city of **Smolyan** which is home to the largest planetarium in the country. You can sit under the dark dome and learn about the stars that shine so brightly over these clean mountain peaks. The city is also famous for its series of lakes that are scattered among the pine trees like blue gems. You can park your car and take a short walk around the water to breathe in the scent of the resin. The atmosphere here is quiet and the local people are known for their warm hospitality. The drive continues to the village of **Shiroka Laka** which is a center for traditional folk music and bagpipes. The houses are built in a unique style with white walls and heavy stone roofs that cling to the steep hillsides. You might hear the deep sound of the kaba gaida bagpipe echoing through the valley as you explore the streets. This area is the soul of the mountain culture and a place where old songs are still part of daily life. This province is a long and beautiful journey through the highest and greenest part of the south.

Smolyan (province) highlights

Part of these road trips

Follow the routes that cross this destination

The Scenic Route

The Heritage Drive

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History of Smolyan (province)

Smolyan is the **Soul of the Rhodopes**. This is the mythical home of **Orpheus**, and the history of the province is inseparable from the ancient Thracian tribes who lived in these deep forests. The **Devil Throat Cave** in the Trigrad Gorge is legendary as the site where Orpheus descended into the Underworld. The region remained isolated for centuries, preserving a unique highland culture of stone architecture, bagpipes, and ancient folklore. The province features the **Wonderful Bridges**, massive natural stone arches formed by an ancient river that collapsed into a cave. The medieval history of the region is written in the stone bridges and high altitude watchtowers that guarded the routes to the Aegean. The village of **Shiroka Laka** is a national architectural reserve, famous for its music school and the **Bulgarian Baroque** houses that cling to the steep mountain slopes. A road trip through Smolyan is a drive through the **Green Heart** of Bulgaria. You will navigate the hair raising **Trigrad** and **Buynovo Gorges**, visit the glass viewing platform at **Eagle Eye**, and see the **Smolyan Lakes**. From the ski slopes of **Pamporovo** to the astronomical observatory at **Rozhen**, the province is a place where the stars feel closer and the history is as deep as the mountain canyons.

Smolyan (province)