The Agushevi Konatsi in Mogilitsa, a bagpipe exhibition in Stoykite, and the Kaleto and Uhlovitsa caves near Koshnitsa are the main attractions. These offer different ways to shape your travel plans.
Cultural History and Bagpipe Art
The Agushevi Konatsi in Mogilitsa, Smolyan Municipality, is designated a cultural monument of national significance for its artistic and historical value. This gives the place a distinct cultural profile for travellers who want to include a designated monument in their plans.
A different cultural perspective is offered by the “The Bagpipe: Old and Eternal” exhibition in Stoykite. It showcases bagpipe art and the traditional craft of bagpipe making from all of Bulgaria’s folklore regions. In an interactive format, it combines a museum, an ethnographic art gallery and a sound installation. The collection opened in 2022; check locally for current access before visiting.
Kaleto and Uhlovitsa: Two Different Caves
A marked hiking trail leads to the entrance of Kaleto Cave near Koshnitsa, with rest stops along the way. Visitors at the Kaleto cave complex can also try a 40 m alpine pendulum jump. The rope is attached at the highest point of the rock arch. Confirm locally that the activity is available before travelling.
Uhlovitsa Cave near Koshnitsa has a different, geological focus: it is 460 m long and about 3.5 million years old. Its dendritic formations are strongly reminiscent of sea corals. The developed section is 330 m long and is reached by a path with 280 metal steps. These figures distinguish the cave’s length from the developed section and the path leading to it.
Smolyan Province: The Wider Region
Looking at the wider destination of Smolyan Province opens up further regional themes. Smolyan Province is in southern Bulgaria, in the central part of the Rhodope Mountains. Near Trigrad in Smolyan Province is the Chair Lakes protected area, with seven lakes formed by landslides. The Trigrad Gorge is also a protected area in Smolyan Province, with numerous caves, including Devil’s Throat and Haramiya Cave.
The mineral springs in Devin, in Smolyan Province, have water temperatures ranging from 16 °C to 76 °C. Devin is a well-known spa town in Smolyan Province, with modern hotels and luxury spa centres. This offers a different focus from the cultural and cave sites described earlier in Smolyan Municipality.
Shiroka Laka in Smolyan Province is designated an architectural and folklore reserve and is known for its authentic Rhodope houses, including the Zgurovska, Uchikovska and Grigorovska houses. The international Kukeri festival “Pesponedelnik” is held every year on the first Sunday in March in the village of Shiroka Laka, in Smolyan Province. Check the exact date for the relevant year.
The Chepelare ski centre in Smolyan Province has 20 km of ski slopes and routes of varying lengths and difficulty, suitable for advanced and beginner skiers as well as snowboarders. Check the facilities and operating status for your chosen season. The Rhodope Karst Museum in Chepelare, Smolyan Province, displays minerals, crystals, a leopard’s lower jaw and a reconstructed cave bear skeleton standing 4.5 m tall. The Rhodope Karst Museum in Chepelare is considered unique in the Balkans.
The “Pri Vodenitsata” tavern in Zlatograd is a culinary highlight of Smolyan Province. Visitors can sample Zlatograd specialities there, including kachamak made from freshly milled flour, patatnik and klin. Check locally to confirm which dishes are available.
Discover more destinations: Stoykite, Vievo, Momchilovtsi, Sokolovtsi, Arda, Solishta, Shiroka Laka, Pisanitsa, Dunevo.
Back to the wider travel guide: Smolyan Province.
