Accommodation
Borovets Resort
Borovets is the first mountain resort in Bulgaria and the Balkans. It is located on the northern slopes of Rila, at an altitude of 1300 to 2550 meters. It is located 68 km from Sofia and only 9 km from the town of Samokov.
Its history begins in 1896, when the Bulgarian monarch – Prince Ferdinand, built his summer residence and several hunting lodges here. After the Prince, many aristocrats and wealthy families from Sofia began to build villas for summer recreation. The area was named Chamkoria.
In the 60s and 70s of the last century, the resort grew as the largest center for winter sports in the Balkans – ski lifts and lift facilities were built, wide slopes were formed, and numerous hotels were built in the Alpine style, modeled after the French resort “Les Arcs” in the Savoie region, French Alps.
The first downhill race in Borovets was held in 1930, and the resort first appeared on the International Ski Federation (FIS) alpine calendar in 1974. The resort has hosted 2 World Cups and 12 European Cups and numerous FIS alpine skiing competitions. In 1993, Borovets hosted the Biathlon World Championships.
Today, Borovets is a year-round, modern resort with an excellent network of ski slopes and lifts, comfortable hotels, a variety of restaurants and bars, and countless opportunities for active pursuits and entertainment, including cross-country skiing, rock climbing and mountaineering, and mountain biking (mountain bike tours along routes). In 2010, the “Borovets Bike Park” was created with over 20 km of marked trails, suitable for beginners and advanced cyclists, and the park meets established world standards.
Landmarks in the area
Tsarska Bistritsa
One of the historical landmarks of Borovets is the summer royal residence Tsarska Bistritsa. Built between 1898 and 1906, it served as a hunting lodge for Tsar Ferdinand I (Saxe Korurg-Gotha) and his son Tsar Boris III. Today, the estate belongs to the royal family and they spend a large part of the year here.
Shishmanovo Kale
Known among the locals as “Old Samokov”, the ancient and medieval town, located about 3 km from present-day Samokov, dates back to the early centuries of the last millennium. The legend says that this is the place where the last battle of the Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Shishman against the Ottoman conquerors took place.
Virgin Monastery “Pokrov Bogorodichen”
One of the few operating virgin monasteries in our country, here you can feel the spirit and atmosphere of Samokov. Famous for its hospitality, the monastery has attracted many pilgrims and visitors for more than two centuries. The complex of the Virgin Monastery is a cultural monument of national importance, part of the One Hundred National Tourist Sites.
Tsari Mali Grad
The archaeological site and the new cultural and historical complex are located in the village of Belchin, just 15 minutes from the Borovets resort. Tsari Mali Grad is built on top of the hill of St. Spas, a symbol of the ancient history of the region. The legend says that the hill was part of a larger settlement known as Tsari Mali Grad – the small royal city, and some enthusiasts go further, interpreting the name as the small Tsarigrad or Constantinople.
Belyo Church
Belyo Church is the oldest Christian church in the town of Samokov. The church is single-nave with a semi-cylindrical vault, half-buried in the ground. In its current form, it was built in the 15th-17th centuries on the foundations of a late antique basilica from the 4th-6th centuries. According to local legends, the church was built during the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, by the local boyar Belyo, and therefore it bears his name. The relics of St. Simeon Samokovski are kept here.
Hotel Samokov, Borovets
Hotel Samokov, built in Alpine style, is located 50 meters from the cable car station and 250 meters from the ski lifts.
It has 250 standard rooms with the following amenities: balcony with breathtaking mountain views, direct dial telephone, satellite TV, refrigerator, bathroom with bathtub, hairdryer. Restaurant “Samokov” offers buffet, breakfast, dinner and a rich menu (a la carte), buffet breakfast.
The hotel has two restaurants: Samokov and Panorama, lobby bar, pool bar, night bar and disco.
The hotel has: Spa center, fitness center, indoor swimming pool, bowling, billiards, table tennis and hydro procedures. There is also a beauty salon.
For more information: https://www.samokov.com/
