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Chepelare is situated in a small valley along Chepelarska
River at the heart of the Central Rodopi Mountains. Chepelare has Bulgaria's
only ski and snowboard equipment factory, which turns out some 15,000
pairs a year for domestic and international customers. The first settlers
and their descendants earned their living by stock breeding and by primitive
farming. The new settlers realized that the pastures and farming
land soon would not be enough for all of them. Some of the people orientated
towards different crafts - tailoring, masonry, carpentry. In winter many
of the men went to Aegean Thrace to make a living. Going abroad the people
not only made a living but visited foreign countries, got acquainted with
foreign customs, culture and lifestyle and enlarged their knowledge for
the world. The road of the trade caravans between the field of Plovdiv
and Aegean region at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries
was another channel for economic prosperity of the region.
Location
Chepelare is 222 kilometers away from Sofia and just 72 kilometers
south of Plovdiv. The Pamporovo resort is just 10 kilometers away.
Ski and snowboarding facilities
The longest ski run in Bulgaria is in Chepelare. The skiing
infrastructure is basic, but very well maintained; a 2-seats lift with
total length of 2471 m reaches the top of the mountain to Mechi Chal (The
Bear’s Peak) peak (1873 m a.s.l.), where the starting points of the
ski runs is located, for just 17 minutes. A few smaller drag/towrope lifts
are also in favour of the skiers. The ski runs are open from December
usually through to April depending on the snow. The resort also offers
a lighted piste for children and beginners right in the center of the
town.
The runs vary in difficulty from black to green and are some
of the longest in Bulgaria. There are a total of 11,400 meters of runs
in three main ski tracks:
• Mechi Chal 1 is a black level run and is 3150 meters
long and 50 meters wide with a total elevation change of 720 meters and
is qualified to be used for international competitions.
• Mechi Chal 2 (The tourists’) is a combination
red/green run that is 5250 meters long and 25 meters wide with a total
elevation change of 720 meters.
• The cross country track is 3 kilometers long located
at an elevation of 1,282 meters above sea level.
• Also nearby is a 5 kilometer biathlon track.
A tourist would never feel bored because the resort also offers
parallel slalom for skiers; ski competitions - Chepelare Cup, Orion Cup
and others; ski schools; sledding competitions; outdoor winter carnivals.
How to get there
The town of Chepelare is most easily accessed from the town
of Plovdiv. From the bus station (Rodopi), located by the Central Train
Station in Plovdiv, there are regular buses to the town of Smolyan (each
1-2 hours), which pass through Chepelare en-route. On the other hand during
the winter there are many vans and mini-buses traveling between Plovdiv
and Pamporovo, passing also through Chepelare. With public transport it
takes about 1,45-2.00 h to get to Chepelare from Plovdiv. Another option
is to get to Chepelare by car. The public transport in the Rodopi Mountains
itself is not regular during winter and if you want to visit some places
of interest by the resort (which are quite numerous actually) you will
need a car.
Check the opportunities to rent
a car from the cities of Sofia, Plovdiv and elsewhere to Chepelare with
10% discount.
Weather conditions
The pleasant transitional climate strongly influenced by the
Aegean sea, the century-old spruce, pine and fir forests, the well developed
infrastructure, recreation and entertainment facilities make Chepelare
an attractive winter and summer resort. The town has the cleanest air
and the highest number of sunny days in the country but despite all that
sunshine, there is enough precipitation fall to provide the area with
plenty of snow.
Because of the sensible Mediterranean influence winters are
mild and warm, fogless and lasts for about 5-6 months. Chepelare is the
sunniest town in Bulgaria - 270 sunny days annualy and plenty of snow
in winter. The snow cover lasts relatively for long time - in the areas
up to 1000 m above sea level the snow cover is about 30-40 cm thick and
lasts from 80 to 120 days per year; in the areas located over
1000 m above sea level it is from 80 to 129 cm and lasts 120 days
and more. Springs are short and cloudy, summers - cool and short.
The temperature data show that in January average temperatures
vary from -7°C to –1.5°C. In April average temperatures from
1.5°C to 7.5°C have been measured. In July - from 11°C to
18°C, and in October - from 3.5°C to 9.5°C. The average
annual temperature in Chepelare varies from 12°C to 18°C.
Where to stay
Plenty of accommodation facilities exist in Chepelare, yet
throughout the winter months of January, February and March it is necessary
to book in advance. The family type 2- or 3-stars hotels prevail in this
small town. Almost all of the hotels have restaurants, where one may taste
local Rhodope cuisine and specialties.
Apres ski
Places of interest by Chepelare are quite numerous –
Pamporovo resort (providing more skiing and entertaining facilities),
Bachkovo Monastery (the second biggest in Bulgaria), Shiroka Luka village
(famous for its unique architecture, declared architectural reserve),
The Miraculous Bridges rocky phenomenon, the hot mineral swimming pools
in the town of Devin and many more.
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