Who has ever visited the town of Madzharovo and the region of Eastern Rhodopes wants to return again. There is a lot of magic at that place. And it's like that since Thracian times, and probably before that.
Unique scenery, wildlife, warm people and life in a slow motion and without any tension. These you can see in Madzharovo - perhaps the most emblematic and visited place in the Eastern Rhodopes. Visited doesn't mean that there are crowds of tourists. In fact, if you're lucky you may not meet a single tourist. This is a place for people who love the wild, the real, the escape from civilization. Because the municipal center Madzharovo has less than 400 inhabitants the personal feeling is that urban life is incredibly far from you.
Lively mining town in the past Madzharovo extraction tourist popularity after the political changes in Bulgaria in 1989 because of its beautiful scenery, but mostly because of vultures. In the cliffs above the town is situated the largest colony of Griffon vultures and several pairs of globally threatened Egyptian vulture. These majestic birds can not be described, must be seen.
Today vulture is the symbol of Madzharovo - it is the coat of arms of the town. Above Arda river and just before the town is located Nature Conservation Center "Eastern Rhodopes". It is managed by one of the biggest environmental organization in Bulgaria - Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds and it's the first such in the country. There is an interactive hall where you can learn a lot about the nature of the Eastern Rhodopes and vultures. The center has a restaurant, hotel rooms and camping area which is very interesting. Places for tents are in the forest behind the building of NCCER on dug into the hillside terraces. Campers use facilities of the center. Caravans and motorhomes can be located at the parking lot in front of the building.
The most beautiful period to visit Madzharovo is spring time. Then blooming wild orchids and everywhere is bright green. The area offers many opportunities for active recreation - hiking, biking, kayaking on Arda, birdwatching, etc.
Photos: Official website of BSPB
Veselin Valev,
Camping.bg