Architectural tour, history tourism, walking and hiking, mountaneering, wilderness in Bratsigovo

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  Bratsigovo is situated at the foot of the western part of the Rhodopes mountains, 25 km from Pazardzhik. With splendid view, thanks to the amphitheater-like valley, it is located at 420 m above sea level.  The terrain is hilly, there are many valleys and the Rhodope Mountains soar  to the south. The city has mild winters and cool summers. Due to its location, in Bratsigovo isn’t as cold as in Pazardzhik. During the summer, there blows cool wind from the Rhodopes  and staying in Bratsigovo is a great way to avoid the heat in Pazardzhik. An interesting fact is that in 2004 NASA has detected  the cleanest air in the Balkans here. The water wealth of the town consists mostly in subsoil water, a small and shallow river, based mainly on melting snow during spring flows through the city. There is a mineral spring with curative water, situated in west direction. The plant and animal diversity is high. Bratsigovo is at the edge of the Western Rhodopes - a Natura 2000 protected area. The City Hall has  developed seven routes for eco tourism, hiking and walking,observing the flora and fauna and enjoy the wilderness. On the walks you can see the following plants: venerable beech, Bearberry, nezhit, elderberry. Animals: buzzard, sparrow-hawk, woodpecker, brown bear, chamois, red-backed Shrike, owl.                                                
   The ancient Thracian tribe Bessi  settled in the municipality, leaving behind many civilization evidences,  found in a Thracian dome tomb - golden treasures, household items. In 46 BC Claudius subdued the Bessi tribe and gave the name Bessika to the region. Even nowadays you can see parts of the Roman roads and bridges, fortress walls, tower remains. The cult place "Vartan kamen”  is from Roman times as well. It is a stone with a hole, through which the parents used to put their children to make them healthy. Bratsigovo area is dotted with numerous remains of walls, towers. Clay pots, tools and coins were found as well. In 1927 a bronze statuette of Athena was found around the city. In the Middle Ages Slavs permanently settled  in the locality, enriching the culture with their own way of  life.

Bratsigovo’s fate in these centuries is identical to that of Pazardzhik – a permanent change of the zones of influence between the Byzantine and the Bulgarian states. During the Crusades several decisive battles took place near the important fortress Vatrahokastron, 3 km west of Bratsigovo. In 1364 Lala Shahin Pasha conquered Bratsigovo and Pazardzhik, and after 30 years the whole Bulgaria fell under Ottoman rule for nearly 5 centuries. Bratsigovo was an important participant in the struggles for national liberation - one of the main cities involved in the April uprising, brutally crushed by the Ottoman Empire.

  The town has a lot to attract tourists – the belfry tower, built in 1885 is the highest on the Balkan peninsula - 35 meters. There are several well preserved houses, with ethnographic exhibitions and a history museum, offering an cultural adventure  into the history of the city and region, and the traditional crafts - rose growing and rose oil productions, barrel making, weaving, etc.The climate  is great for treating asthma and a number of lung diseases. The city is a starting point for many hiking and walking trails.  

Activities:        

Day trips: Hiking and walking to Zhrebichko    

Hiking and walking to Atoluka   

Hiking trail Dreneto