The Rhodope Narrow Gauge Railway Route - 12 fabulous stops in the Rhodopes, Rila and Pirin Mountains

There is no Bulgarian who has not heard of the incredible route along which the popular Rhodope narrow-gauge railway passes. Today I want to tell you about it, to remind you that this is one of the most beautiful experiences in Bulgaria that you can ensure for yourself and your children all year round!

Let's start with

THE HISTORY OF THE RHODOPE NARROWLINE!

The actual construction of the Rhodope narrow-gauge railway, popular among Bulgarians, began 104 years ago, in the distant year 1921! Can you guess?

Initially, the idea was to use it for defense during military operations, as well as for transporting forest resources.

Architect Stoyan Mitov chose the non-standard narrow gauge of 760mm due to the extremely difficult and narrow mountainous terrain, as well as for economic reasons. A curious but little-known fact is that the route was built around the clock and entirely by hand.

After 5 years of hard work, on August 1, 1926, the first section from Sarambey station /today's town of Septemvri/ to Ladzhene station /today's Velingrad/ was opened.

The photo is from the BDZ website.

Gradually, over the next 20 years, all the stops we know from today's narrow-gauge route were built and opened sequentially. The last station on the 125-kilometer mountain route, starting from Septemvri, was Dobrinishte and was finally opened on December 9, 1945.

A curious fact is that over the years, projects have been considered to extend the line to Gotse Delchev, Razlog, Sarnitsa, Batak and Dospat, but none of them have been implemented.

Another not-so-well-known fact is that in some places the trains move at a speed of less than 20 km/h, which allows a young man in love to get off at a stop in motion, pick a flower for his beloved, and get back on the train without even getting out of breath.

THE ROLLING LINE,

which is used is also very interesting. Initially, steam locomotives were in motion. The first one is even currently used for attraction trips. In the late 60s, diesel locomotives began to be used, which are still in motion today.

Initially, the carriages were equipped with wooden seats, but in the 1970s the carriage factory in Dryanovo produced modern carriages for the time with upholstered seats and steam heating. The carriages in question are still in use, but are modernized every 5 years.

The photo is from the BDZ website.

The Rhodope narrow-gauge railway directly serves towns, villages and resorts with a total population of over 50,000. For many of these settlements, there is no other public transport and the train is the only alternative for getting to larger cities.

The main cities through which the exciting route of the Rhodope narrow gauge railway passes are Septemvri - Velingrad - Yakoruda - Razlog and Bansko.

Route diagram of the Rhodope narrow gauge railway from the official website

The Rhodope narrow-gauge railway does not only pass through the Rhodope Mountains. Its route begins in the Rhodope Mountains, passes through the beautiful Rila Mountains and ends in the magnificent Pirin Mountains. Due to the huge variety of incredible mountain views and hiking trails of all difficulty levels, the narrow-gauge railway route is used by thousands of tourists year-round, but mainly during the warm days.

In the following lines, I will give you a little information about each of the stops on this magical train route. I admit that I have not been to all the stations, but I hope that the information will be useful to you and will convince you that this is one of the best walks you can organize, regardless of the season!

Let's get started!

Our adventure began before sunrise at Sofia Central Station. In principle, the trains from Sofia and Plovdiv are always well synchronized with the departure times of the narrow-gauge train from Septemvri Station. It takes about 2 hours to get from Sofia to Septemvri Station, where you should transfer to the narrow-gauge train and from there your incredible mountain adventure can begin!

Stop 1: Septemvri Town

The town of Septemvri is located in the Western Rhodopes, from where many eco-trails for mountaineering enthusiasts start. The town has a total population of about 8,000 people. You can walk to the most important monument in Septemvri - the church of St. Ivan Rilski. The railway museum is also particularly interesting, where you will learn interesting facts about the history of Bulgarian railways. Impressive exhibits include some old locomotives and wagons.

Around the town of Septemvri I would recommend the Kalugerovo reserve, which is home to many plant and animal species and is a great attraction especially in the summer. The Waterfall Canyon near the village of Lopushnya is also a beautiful place for a day trip.

Stop 2: Varvara Village

The village of Varvara is famous for its mineral springs and their healing properties, especially suitable for problems with the musculoskeletal and respiratory systems. There are many nice family hotels with swimming pools where you could spend a wonderful, peaceful and relaxing weekend in the summer.

Stop 3: Dolene Village

In addition to its incredible natural landscapes, the village of Dolene is interesting for its church of St. George, which has distinctive Old Bulgarian architecture. The area also has the interesting natural formation of the Stone Mushrooms, which are an incredible geological phenomenon. The Stone Mushrooms are rock formations sculpted by nature, which look exactly like real mushrooms. This phenomenon attracts thousands of tourists and photography enthusiasts from the country and abroad every year.

The following photo is not mine, but it is a great illustration of the incredible beauty of this fabulous mountain railway route.

The photo is from Facebook and belongs to Alexander Ignatov.

Stop 4: Konstandovo Village

The village of Kostandovo is also distinguished by its healing mineral springs, which makes it a suitable place for rest for people seeking relaxation and "salvation" from some ailments. In Kostandovo there is another old Bulgarian church named Saint George.

Stop 5: Velingrad Spa Resort

Velingrad is one of the main points on the route of the Rhodope narrow gauge railway. Again, because of its mineral springs, it has become one of the most popular balneological resorts in Bulgaria. Many call Velingrad the Spa capital of the Balkans, mainly because of the variety of hotels that offer this type of service.

A pleasant place for a walk or a leisurely lunch is Lake Kleptuza, where you can also rent a pedalo to ride in the water and refresh yourself, especially on a hot summer day.

For me, one of my favorite places in the Velingrad region is the town of Batak, which preserves the memory of a very unpleasant part of Bulgarian history, but there are wonderful museums where you can feel the spirit of bygone times, which can give you chills, but it is good for every Bulgarian to remember. In the region, I would also recommend visiting the Stone Mound and the Rock of Desire, from which you can enjoy an exceptional view of Velingrad. The Skaklya Waterfall is also worth a visit.

One of my favorite places in the area is the village of Tsigov Chark and the beautiful Tsankov Kamak Dam, where there are many opportunities for recreation, fishing, and water sports.

Stop 6: Tsvetino Village

What sets this small village apart from other places along the narrow-gauge railway route in the area is the preserved traditional Bulgarian architecture. The local well-maintained houses and beautiful church will certainly be of interest to those wishing to immerse themselves in the authentic Bulgarian way of life.

Stop 7: Avramovo Village

At Avramovo station, the Rhodope narrow gauge railway climbs to an impressive almost 1267 meters above sea level. Avramovo station is the highest railway station on the Balkan Peninsula. Due to this fact, the station is visited annually by many foreigners who are fans of rail tourism.

Avramovo Station is also the point where the Rhodope and Rila mountains meet for the first time on the line.

In recent years, in August, a National Folklore Festival has been held at Gara Avramovo, which has gradually become one of the largest events in the region.

Between Station 7 and Station 8, the narrow gauge railway passes through an impressive 16 mountain tunnels with a total length of 2,500 m and overcomes over 220 m above sea level.

Stop 8: Yakoruda Town

Yakoruda is a very charming town that I have visited several times in recent summers! It is known for its proximity to the beautiful Mesta River, offering numerous opportunities for recreation and fishing, as well as its well-preserved cultural heritage.

One of the most important monuments in the town is another church in the area, named after Saint George. Yakoruda has a well-maintained ethnographic museum, which offers valuable information about the local history, traditions and way of life. Especially for foreigners, it is an extremely exciting place.

In the area, I recommend taking a walk to the picturesque and extremely photogenic Ginger Waterfall, as well as the beautiful village of Gorno Draglishte, which will impress you with the authentic look of the houses.

My favorite place in Yakoruda is the municipal swimming pool, which has undergone a complete transformation in the past 2 years and is an extremely pleasant place for complete relaxation. The narrow-gauge train stop is right next to its fence. What fascinates me about this beautiful place is that you are surrounded by lush nature and silence from everywhere. This is a wonderful place to feel cool in the summer heat.

Stop 9: Town of Belitsa

In addition to its incredible beauty, the village of Belitsa is also popular for the Bear Conservation Center located in the wilder part, which was established many years ago by the French actress Brigitte Bardot.

The place is popularly known as the 'Dancing Bear Park'. At the center, volunteers take care of restoring the health of bears, who have been rescued mostly after abuse. The Bear Conservation Center is open to the public. Every 30 minutes, small groups enter with a guide who tells the history of the complex in detail, as well as provides information about the fate of each of the inhabitants of the place, which you can see up close, but of course, behind a thick and high fence.

You can find wonderful footage and more detailed information on the official website of the Dancing Bear Park. - https://www.bearsanctuary-belitsa.org/bg .

Stop 10: Razlog Town

Razlog is one of my favorite towns in Bulgaria, located in the beautiful valley of the Mesta River and surrounded by 3 mountains - Rila, Pirin and the Rhodope Mountains.

Among the important places to visit are the Church of the Holy Presentation of the Virgin Mary and the Museum of Razlog. The central square is very beautiful and ornate and leads to a wonderful and wonderfully maintained lake.

My favorite place in Razlog is the observation deck, which offers a fabulous panoramic view of the city, Pirin, Rila and the Rhodope Mountains. To climb to it, you will pass through the so-called. Panoramic Alley "The Steps", which is quite tiring, but also with enough places to rest with information boards, from which you can learn many interesting facts about the city and the local flora and fauna while you rest. The observation deck is located on a small hill. I promise you that if you climb all the stairs, you will take great photos!

My photos were taken in January in bad weather, but you can still get an idea of ​​the wonderful view that opens up before you from this gorgeous place.

Stop 11: Bansko Mountain Resort

Bansko is a favorite ski resort for many Bulgarians and even more foreigners. The truth is that it is a wonderful place to go outside the winter season as well.

Bansko has the largest ski area in Bulgaria thanks to its modern lifts and well-developed slopes with different levels of difficulty.

The city has a beautiful and long avenue with shops and restaurants, and the historic center with old houses and narrow cobblestone streets is located on it.

Among the popular landmarks in Bansko are the Holy Trinity Church, which has a unique iconostasis and remarkable frescoes. Right next to the church is a 30-meter clock tower-bell tower. It is also interesting to visit the museum of the great Bulgarian poet and revolutionary Nikola Vaptsarov, who was born in Bansko. The museum is located in his native house.

Bansko is becoming increasingly popular with the organization of regular cultural events during the warmer months such as the Jazz Festival, Bansko Film Festival and more.

Stop 12: Dobrinishte Spa Resort

Dobrinishte is becoming an increasingly popular place for vacation and skiing! It is gaining popularity due to its great thermal mineral baths, which have been used since ancient times to treat various diseases.

One of the important religious monuments in Dobrinishte is the church of St. George the Victorious. Nearby is the Pirin Monastery of St. Cyril and Methodius.

In conclusion

The Septemvri - Dobrinishte railway line is undoubtedly a national treasure, impressive with its history and the incredible landscape through which the trains run. It connects the three most beautiful Bulgarian mountains and each station is the beginning of a beautiful tourist trail.

I hope this short story has made you feel the magic of the Bulgarian mountains and convinced you to immediately draw up plans and start organizing for the journey along one of the most beautiful routes in Bulgaria!

To make this easier for you, I am immediately attaching a link to the site where you can find the current timetable of the Rhodope narrow-gauge railway. The prices for each route are also indicated, and I believe they are extremely affordable compared to other methods of transportation. The two-way 6-hour trip costs about 20 leva for an adult, which is a negligible price considering the unique experience you will experience. - https://tesnolineikata.wixsite.com/home/razpisanie

The Rhodope narrow-gauge railway reveals some of the mountain treasures of Bulgaria! Traveling with this incredible transport facility for its time will help you explore hidden corners of our country and will surely make you fall in love with the beauty of our mountains! You must definitely pass through its route!