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5 MORE INSTAGRAMMABLE LOCATIONS IN BULGARIA5 MORE INSTAGRAMMABLE LOCATIONS IN BULGARIA
Bulgaria's potential for Instagram-worthy photographs goes far beyond our initial selection of five locations we offered you in issue 164 of Vagabond. Here are five more places to experience – and photograph – in the summer of 2020. Just remember to keep your social distance!
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5 MORE INSTAGRAMMABLE LOCATIONS IN BULGARIA
Bulgaria's potential for Instagram-worthy photographs goes far beyond our initial selection of five locations we offered you in issue 164 of Vagabond. Here are five more places to experience – and photograph – in the summer of 2020. Just remember to keep your social distance!
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SEVEN RILA LAKESSEVEN RILA LAKES
Once upon a time it took hours of a strenuous trek to reach the Seven Rila Lakes, one of the highlights of the Rila mountain range south of Sofia. A controversial aerial ropeway, which opened in recent years, cut the journey to about 10 minutes one way. From the upper station of the ropeway you can take a day-trip around all seven lakes, taking in stupendous views in all directions until you reach the summit whence you can see all the lakes at once.
In August the area gets mobbed by followers of Peter Deunov, a 20th century Bulgarian mystic who set up a sect calling itself The White Brotherhood. The Deunovists perform light physical exercises in circles and to the tunes of violin music every morning until the culmination on 19 August, when their new year begins.
Tip: You will be tempted to use wide-angle lenses to "get" most of the nature into one shot, but then you run the risk of making the white-clad Deunovists appear too small.
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SEVEN RILA LAKES
Once upon a time it took hours of a strenuous trek to reach the Seven Rila Lakes, one of the highlights of the Rila mountain range south of Sofia. A controversial aerial ropeway, which opened in recent years, cut the journey to about 10 minutes one way. From the upper station of the ropeway you can take a day-trip around all seven lakes, taking in stupendous views in all directions until you reach the summit whence you can see all the lakes at once.
In August the area gets mobbed by followers of Peter Deunov, a 20th century Bulgarian mystic who set up a sect calling itself The White Brotherhood. The Deunovists perform light physical exercises in circles and to the tunes of violin music every morning until the culmination on 19 August, when their new year begins.
Tip: You will be tempted to use wide-angle lenses to "get" most of the nature into one shot, but then you run the risk of making the white-clad Deunovists appear too small.
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FOTINSKI WATERFALLFOTINSKI WATERFALL
About 20 miles southwest of Plovdiv by a road that was once asphalt the Fotinski Waterfall is easy to pass by without noticing it. Pull over just ahead of a 1950s bridge and look down. A short but very steep path that can get slippery leads to what in recent years has become one of Bulgaria's top locations for photographers. The waterfall itself is at its best in springtime or after a heavy rain.
Tip: Bring wellies and a waterproof tripod. You are likely to get soaked.
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FOTINSKI WATERFALL
About 20 miles southwest of Plovdiv by a road that was once asphalt the Fotinski Waterfall is easy to pass by without noticing it. Pull over just ahead of a 1950s bridge and look down. A short but very steep path that can get slippery leads to what in recent years has become one of Bulgaria's top locations for photographers. The waterfall itself is at its best in springtime or after a heavy rain.
Tip: Bring wellies and a waterproof tripod. You are likely to get soaked.
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PLOVDIVPLOVDIV
Bulgaria's second-largest town has been continuously inhabited for at least 7,000 years – and it shows. Spectacular Roman ruins, Ottoman-era mosques, 19th century Revival Period architecture, pre-Second World War urban culture, Communist-era brutalism: Plovdiv has it all. Photography opportunities are everywhere, but try to spend some time on top of the Three Hills where the ruins of an ancient fort can still be seen. Thunderstorms are not a rarity, so if you are lucky you may experience one.
Tip: Once it starts pouring with rain run for cover into a conveniently located restaurant nearby.
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PLOVDIV
Bulgaria's second-largest town has been continuously inhabited for at least 7,000 years – and it shows. Spectacular Roman ruins, Ottoman-era mosques, 19th century Revival Period architecture, pre-Second World War urban culture, Communist-era brutalism: Plovdiv has it all. Photography opportunities are everywhere, but try to spend some time on top of the Three Hills where the ruins of an ancient fort can still be seen. Thunderstorms are not a rarity, so if you are lucky you may experience one.
Tip: Once it starts pouring with rain run for cover into a conveniently located restaurant nearby.
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RIVER VELEKA AT SINEMORETSRIVER VELEKA AT SINEMORETS
By European standards, the Veleka is not a very long river. It gushes out in Turkey, then crosses into Bulgaria and meanders its way through the Strandzha mountain range until it hits the Black Sea. The views of its sand-bar estuary north of the village of Sinemorets are breathtaking. You can see it best from the difficult-to-reach northern tip or from the south, on the outskirts of the village.
Tip: Bring a drone.
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RIVER VELEKA AT SINEMORETS
By European standards, the Veleka is not a very long river. It gushes out in Turkey, then crosses into Bulgaria and meanders its way through the Strandzha mountain range until it hits the Black Sea. The views of its sand-bar estuary north of the village of Sinemorets are breathtaking. You can see it best from the difficult-to-reach northern tip or from the south, on the outskirts of the village.
Tip: Bring a drone.
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FLYING SAUCER AT BUZLUDZHA SUMMITFLYING SAUCER AT BUZLUDZHA SUMMIT
Originally constructed as a Communist Party folly in the early 1980s, the Buzludzha "Flying Saucer" has ran to seed ever since it was abandoned when Communism collapsed. Yet, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The huge brutalist construction perched on a Stara Planina mountain top has attracted plenty of attention mainly from urbex explorers and bikers who sometimes make long detours on bad roads to see the incredible thing. Access into it is no longer allowed for safety reasons as the concrete structure may collapse any time now. The Buzludzha Flying Saucer is regularly in the various Internet lists of odd and bizarre monuments worldwide.
Tip: Hurry to snap it while it is still there.
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FLYING SAUCER AT BUZLUDZHA SUMMIT
Originally constructed as a Communist Party folly in the early 1980s, the Buzludzha "Flying Saucer" has ran to seed ever since it was abandoned when Communism collapsed. Yet, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The huge brutalist construction perched on a Stara Planina mountain top has attracted plenty of attention mainly from urbex explorers and bikers who sometimes make long detours on bad roads to see the incredible thing. Access into it is no longer allowed for safety reasons as the concrete structure may collapse any time now. The Buzludzha Flying Saucer is regularly in the various Internet lists of odd and bizarre monuments worldwide.
Tip: Hurry to snap it while it is still there.
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