Meadows in the Mountains: In search of the perfect atmosphere

Article of BNR

Polkovnik Serafimovo is a typical Rhodope village – it attracts visitors with the beauty of nature, tranquility and fresh air. But it is also relatively deserted because of the demographic processes typical for the region, the difficult life in the mountain, the lack of jobs. Just before the democratic changes, 2300 people used to live there, but after 1989 most of them moved to Plovdiv and Kardzhali. Many have gone to Sofia or abroad. Gradually over the years, while locals have been seeking a career outside the village, Bulgarian intellectuals and foreigners chose it as a place to spend their holidays.

Today, the biggest event held there is the Meadows in the Mountains Festival. According to one of its founders Benjamin Sasse, things that attract so many people to the event are "the unique atmosphere of the place, the feeling of intimacy, diversity, culture, and the idea that you are part of a community."

"Meadows in the Mountains started out as an ordinary gathering of friends. Its organizers are sons of English retirees who had chosen to live in Bulgaria. The two brothers were impressed by the incredible views of the Rhodope Mountains and invited about fifty of their friends from London. We're currently preparing the seventh edition of the festival and expecting some 1,600 people," Vladi Vankov says, who was initially a volunteer, and later became part of the Meadows in the Mountains main team.

The event is still more popular among foreigners, but there are also Bulgarian visitors, for whom tickets come at a considerably lower price.

Vladi Vankov also explained that besides pleasant music, the festival offers different holistic practices, meditation, yoga, seminars and discussions, various therapies with aromatic herbs and tea. And as the interest in the event has been growing fast, accommodation for the guests turned out to be a challenge.

"We have set a framework of 2,000 people and we do not want to exceed this number in order not to have an overcrowded place. At first, the houses in the village were enough to accommodate all guests. In the past 2-3 years we have been preparing 3 camps, which have tents for 600 people and space for people with their own camping equipment. "

Vladi Vankov is particularly pleased with the changes in the village of Polkovnik Serafimovo as a result of the annual festival. There are more and more maintained and renovated houses that offer overnight stays. There are more and more tourists who choose to enjoy the incredible spirit of this place. An English site strongly recommends paying a visit to Meadows in the Mountains this year because of its unique athmosphere despite the rising interest. This is the magnet that attracts all these people to Polkovnik Serafimovo.

After the end of the festival the village will be ready to welcome again all participants and guests as tourists, who have felt its magic and want to experience it again.

English Alexander Markov
Photos: archive of the festival

7th, 8th, 9th & 10th June 2018

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