The ancient road in the Rhodopes – a road taking Chepelare and Avdira to their future

An ancient tourist route of the Greeks and Bulgarians will be reopened again between Chepelare and Avdira. This will soon become possible thanks to the project “The Ancient Road in the Rhodopes – a Road taking Chepelare and Avdira to their future”, which amounts to 174 789 Euro. It is financed by the program PHARE – Trans-border cooperation between Bulgaria and Greece "Stimulation of the cultural, tourist and human resources in the trans-border region".

The contractor of the project is the Municipality of Chepelare in cooperation with its Greek counterparts from Avdira, as well as the Rhodopes Municipalities Association, the Regional Tourist Association “Rhodopes” and the Bulgarian Alliance for Protection of the Rhodopes.

The purpose of the project is not only the restoration of the ancient Roman road in the region, but also the restoration of that particular part of the Rhodopes mountain as an attractive destination for alternative tourism – cultural, ecological, country tourism, etc. The project will introduce the best European practices and will strengthen the cooperation between the two municipalities from the two sides of the border.

The realization of “The Ancient Road in the Rhodopes – a Road taking Chepelare and Avdira to their future” will help achieve a diversification of the tourist product, with the help of Greek experience. The experts in our southern neighboring country are renowned as the best in Europe in terms of preservation and protection of their cultural and historical heritage.

The project will include the following activities:
- Examination of the cultural heritage in the region from the two sides of the border;
- Training unemployed people in the restoration and conservation activities for the “Zagrad” fortress and the antique road, for work as tour- or mountain guides.
- Restoration of the “Zagrad” fortress near Zabardo village as well as the antique road by the ridge of the mountain from the area “Gluhite Kamani” (The Deaf Rocks), through Mezargedik ending at the “Persenk” chalet.
- Development of two tourist tracks: clearing, placing marking signs and boards, places to rest.

The development of a plan for the development of these sites is due after the completion of the project. Bulgarian and Greek scientists will mark the common possibilities for tourism development, and will establish common cultural routes for the tourists on both sides of the border.

Advertisement materials will be developed for the project: leaflets, videos, and CD in Bulgarian, Greek and English, a map of the archeological, cultural and natural landmarks in the Central Rhodopes from Plovdiv to the White Sea. An internet site will be available in Bulgarian, Greek and English for the cultural and tourist programs, and established routes.
The restored sites will be advertised and popularized on at least two tourist exhibits – in Smolyan and in Philoxenia, Greece.

"Chudnite Mostove " (the Wondrous Bridges)

The rock phenomena "Chudnite mostove" - "Erkyupriya" near Zabardo village – three natural bridges over the small river Aydarsko Dere form one of the most marvelous natural creations in the Rhodopes. The rock formations and the caves, together with the Museum of Rhodopes Karst make the region a true Center of the speleology. Chepelare has the only museum on the Balkan peninsula with 9400 items exhibited on 870 sq.m. The phenomena "Chudnite mostove" is in proximity to the road connecting Sofia with Smolyan but it does not have the necessary tourist infrastructure, However, the said infrastructure will be built thanks to the project “Development and Popularization of the Eco-Tourist Site “Chudnite mostove”. The project will help create a tourist center next to the natural landmark, which will also be accessible for people with disabilities. The site will feature platforms and stairs which will allow up to 20 tourists to be present on four levels. Parapets will help secure the approaches, a parking for 5 autobuses and 10 vehicles will be constructed, as well as WC. The road leading to the natural phenomena will be widened. Four tourist routes will be developed, including: "Chudnite Mostove", Chepelare, "Izgrev" chalet, Gluhite Kamani, Kabata, Orehovo village, “Persenk” chalet, the villages of Malevo, Hvoina, Pavelsko, Zabardo, “Pashaliytsa” chalet, Pamporovo. The development of a marketing strategy is planned – a plan with specific funds, locations and dates. Informational and advertisement products will be prepared in Bulgarian, English, French and German languages.

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