Four Seasons Retreat
Momchilovtsi, near Pamporovo, Bulgaria

ABOUT MOMCHILOVTSI

Holidays in Momchilovtsi

Located in the heart of the one of the greenest and most picturesque Rhodope Mountains lies the village of Momchilovtsi, a popular ethnographic centre that has preserved its original folklore, traditions and crafts. Click link for more information about Momchilovtsi
(Click image to enlarge for panoramic view )

Activities in Momchilovtsi (click here for photos of Snowboard Park, Village views and Pamporovo)

• Momchilovtsi has its own Snowboard Park which is located just about 10 minutes drive from the village. It is used by snowboarders and skiers and provides hot and alcoholic refreshments and snacks and "apres ski" activities. The park has recently been expanded and now has skidoos and a climbing wall which add to the fun. The prices at the Snowboard Park are less expensive than in Pamporovo and less crowded and it is ideal for a family fun day out. All equipment, ie. Skis and boots can be hired for £5 and ski passes are £3 per day
• Skiing in Pamporovo click for Pamporovo ski piste map
• Climbing - climb up to the Crosses which overlook the village for spectaclar views and photo opportunities
• Guided walks
• Hiking trails stopping at mountain huts for refreshments
• Balkan Traks - 4 x 4 Adventure Trips off-roading in the mountains -[ horse riding, white water rafting etc., and discover caves, panaromic views, off-road adventure high in the Rodopi Mountains from a Land Rover] (see Links & Useful Info )
• Future plans for horse riding in the village (which can be arranged in a nearby villave if required)
• Horse races held on Todorov's day (March)
• Mountain bikes available for hire in the centre of the village

Ski package : Ski activities, lessons, equipment, transfers to/from the ski slopes & snowboard park and accommodation at Four Seasons Retreat, which we could help you arrange, are as follows:

7 nights room only - £70
ski package with 6 day pass, all ski equipment plus 6 x 4-hour lessons for 6 days - £135
plus transfers to and from the slopes 6 days - £25

Activities and sightseeing in surrounding areas

• The Perelik Project quote """The Rhodopes are one of the cradles of European civilization..... Come to these magic mountains where all your senses will be aroused and your eyes will be dazzled by the virgin beauty of the nature. If you want to come closer to the spirit of time gone by, to live for a while far from the urban bustle and vanity, to wake up in the morning with ringing of cow-bells, then you should go to Shiroka Luka, Stoykite, Gela, Stikal, Mugla, Solishta or the other picturesque Rhodope villages. If you like skiing and winter sports in general, in 2008, Perelik resort will be the place where you can spend unforgettable moments on the ski slopes and at Perelik’s entertainment places.""" (click her for more infomation about the Perelike Project)
• Canoeing/kayaking 15km stretch of white water river nearby
• Hot springs spa therapy
• Trigrad and the Devil’s Cave
• Trips to the Observatory
• The Seven Wonderful Bridges and many other places of interest to visit ......

Sightseeing tours are now available if required..

What is in Momchilovtsi

Restaurants - traditional Pubs serving food Tourist information centre Post office Shops Small fruit Market

Internet café Medical centre Museum Churches and Monasteries Local traditions and festivals Traditional dancing

The unique hospitality of the local people, who are very friendly and helpful and the delicious local cuisine, attract many of those who have decided to spend a holiday in Momchilovtsi and the Rhodopi Mountains.

Shops can be found on almost every street in the village. They are small but sell almost everything. There is an abundance of fresh seasonal fruit, salad and vegetables in the shops and also in the market which is located in the centre of the village. The nearest bank is at present in Smolian but a cashpoint is currently being installed in Momchilovtsi. This will be very valuable asset for the village as not many places in Bulgaria take credit cards and most payments have to be made in cash.

Getting to Momchilovtsi
The two main airports in Bulgaria are Sofia (all year round) and Plovdiv (ski seasons only) see Links & Useful Info page for information on flights to Bulgaria. Transfer to and from the airport is available. We can also recommend a reliable, friendly car hire service. If you wish you can be picked up at the airport and driven to Momchilovtsi, saving you the hassle of driving from and to the airport, and then the car will then be left with you in the village for the duration of your visit. Also, a new road is at present being constructed through the mountains from Greece to a few miles from the village. This road will bring the Greek coast just 1 ½ hours from the house.

Local Churches and Places of Interest to visit
The religion in the village is Christian Orthodox and it is surrounded by 23 churches all of different ages and sizes. They are open 24 hours a day and each one is maintained by the families of the village. The churches are centres for celebrations, contemplation and a booklet is being printed to show the location and walks linking them. On the three highest points of the village there are illuminated crosses aproximately 10' high. The churches and crosses are said to protect the village from harm and provide interesting places to walk to, sit by to view the surrounding areas and the village. In the centre of the village is a large, very old Church. Services are held at 5.00pm on Tuesdays and Saturdays and at 10.00am on Sundays.

Bachkovo Monastery - The second largest Bulgarian monastery, the Bachkovo cloister, lies in the valley of the Chepelare river (also known by the locals as Chaya), about 10km to the south of the town of Assenovgrad. The monastery was founded in 1083 by the Byzantine military commander of Georgian origin, Grigorii Bakuriani and his brother Abazii. Yet only the two-storey bone-vault, which lies about 300m to the east of the present-day complex, is still kept from that time. The bone-vault is a must-see building there, for its unique wall-paintings, which rank among the most valuable works of Orthodox art of the 11th –12th c. For more information click here

Interesting reading: Article by Georgi Georgiev courtesy of RuralBulgaria

Momchilovtsi – the heart of Rodope Mountain in Bulgaria
I was in the middle of the road between Pamporovo and Smolyan in the small village Sokolovtsi when I saw the sign “Momchilivtsi” and I made my way to this Rodopean village. Sunbeams were playing through the front window of my car and the white – red martenichka hanged on the mirror playfully swayed. It was the 1st day of March, the next of my tour around the Rodope Mountain. Momchilovtsi village was my destination of the day. ...... (click here to read full article)

Surrounding Villages
For information on Pamporovo, Smolyan and Chepalare, and the surrounding areas, travel, facilities and places of interest please see Surrounding Area page.

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