PETAR LASHOV: PARADISE FOUND

Imagine a place that embodies the idea of modern relaxation: elegant, contemporary architecture set amid stunning, almost Mediterranean landscapes of mountains, gardens, rocks, and rivers; locally grown, delicious food; abundant greenery and options for recreation for all ages; and excellent wine made from vineyards just around the corner.

Lozenitsa Estate is all of this – and more. This ambitious project near Melnik and Sandanski includes an outstanding winery, a hotel, a restaurant, spa facilities, and holiday properties for sale, plus a charming park. When completed, it will be a holistic paradise where people and nature coexist in harmony, where relaxation is complete and life's pleasures come naturally.

To learn more about this exclusive project, we spoke with one of the men behind it, Petar Lashov. A self-described gentle aggressor, he works tirelessly toward creating an experience never before seen in Bulgaria.

How did you discover the region around Lozenitsa village, and what impressed you there?

It was actually my partner, Rosen Hristov, who discovered this part of Bulgaria six years ago. He ended up there by chance, was amazed by the landscape and its wildness, and bought some farmland. Then he bought more – and more.

Three and a half years ago, he told me about the place and his vision for its future. He needed a partner. I went there to see what all the fuss was about, and immediately fell under the spell of the region.

This part of Bulgaria truly is special. It has its own ambience, its own spirit. It reminds me of Tuscany – but in some ways, it is even better: surrounded by seven mountains and rich in mineral waters.

Nowadays, everyone talks about the three factors that guarantee a healthy life – sun, water, air. In Lozenitsa, all three are in abundance.

Other entrepreneurs have already discovered the area and established it as a destination for wine and exclusive tourism. Lozenitsa Estate will elevate the experience to an entirely new level. It may sound a bit crazy, given everything we have planned, but dreams should always be just a little bit crazy.

Your ambition is to achieve balance and harmony between nature, wine, pleasure, and sensible investment at Lozenitsa Estate. How will this become reality?

Our project is indeed multilayered and diverse. And it evolved into a mega-project quite naturally.

Let me give you some examples. Because we want to stay close to nature, we have planted 1,000 artichokes and almost 1,000 jalapeño plants. We have a 0.6-hectare cherry orchard, as well as persimmon, fig and pomegranate trees. We produce four types of dessert wine. The Melnik River flows through our property, and we want to build a fish pond. Our goal is as much of the food served at Lozenitsa Estate as possible to be produced and made by us – because good food is true luxury today.

We also planted a 3.5-hectare park in the heart of the estate. It will grow and evolve into something magical over the years.

The houses we are going to build will be surrounded by greenery, so we actively plant shrubs in that part of the property as well.

We also plan to create the most modern balneological centre in Bulgaria, using the region's wondrous mineral waters. Our architect, Krasimir Dzhedzhev, has created a true masterpiece.

Who is Lozenitsa Estate for?

Everyone is welcome, but it will be strongly family-oriented. Everything is designed to be as inclusive and stress-free as possible.

For example, our 2,000 sq m restaurant will include a dedicated bar, areas for smokers, and a children's corner with transparent walls. Our lobby bar will transform into a lounge on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays to offer more entertainment for our guests.

People who enjoy active relaxation will have plenty of options – from outdoor sports grounds and yoga spaces to an indoor gym. Our swimming pools will span around 2,000 sq m. The infinity pool alone will be almost 50 metres long, with breathtaking views of the Pirin Mountains and the sandstone of Melnik. It has the potential to become a talking point not only in Bulgaria, but internationally – a staple in lists of the world's best infinity pools. As I told you, dreams should be a bit crazy.

When can we visit Lozenitsa Estate and enjoy its atmosphere and wine?

You are welcome anytime you are nearby! On weekends, we have open-door days. Come and taste our wines. See how the project is taking shape. Feel how truly extraordinary it is – because Lozenitsa Estate is being designed and built with lots of love, dedication and attention to detail.

If all goes according to plan, we will welcome our first guests next May.

lozenitsaestate.com