I spent my first winters and summers as a child in Pamporovo and therefore the Rhodope Mountains have always had a place in my heart. I remember with nostalgia the walks in the mountains with my family.

In summer we picked thyme and collected pine cones, and in winter I sledged down the hills. What good and carefree times!

Now it’s my turn to show the beauty of the Rhodopes to my son. The road from Sofia  was difficult. The sharp turns almost took our health, but the final destination was worth it – the cute family complex –  Mountain Lake Hotel in close proximity to the Smolyan Lakes.

The healing power of the air at Rhodope mountains

The region of the Smolyan Lakes, in which Mountain Lake is located, is distinguished by a unique natural feature – negative ionization of the air. Negative ions are like a salve for the central nervous system. They make it easier for the brain to rest and improve sleep.

I felt their beneficial effect even on myself – I was able to fall asleep much easier and sleep much better there, despite the fatigue. I recommend it for stressed and sleep-deprived moms who need to recharge their batteries.

There are also many dense pine forests in the area, whose pine needles produce phytoncides and perfectly purify the air. This is wonderful news for people like my husband who suffer from allergies especially during the autumn months.

Rhodope cheverme with a folklore program

In the Rhodopes, making cheverme is an old Bulgarian tradition. Roasting lamb on a spit is a skill that has its subtleties and has been passed down from generation to generation. Rhodopians boast that the lambs in these lands are the tastiest, because they graze aromatic herbs in the mountains.

The Mountain Lake complex organizes from July to mid-September, every Saturday, Rhodope chevermes, with a folklore program. We attended the last one of the season. As a rule, the shish is rotated in the yard, but in bad weather, as it was with us, it is brought into the restaurant.

The lamb was quite juicy and tender and the live performance of Rhodope songs made the experience even more exciting. The restaurant at the hotel offers both typical Rhodope specialties and traditional Bulgarian cuisine, as well as European cuisine.

My personal favorite is patatnik, typical for the Rhodope Mountains, but in a new interpretation – with beef.

Apartments in Mountain Lake Hotel

During our stay in Mountain Lake Hotel, we were accommodated in a one-bedroom apartment suitable for a family of three. The hotel also offers a baby crib if you have a baby or a very small child. Dimi was very happy because we let him crawl freely as the space was very spacious, light and well secured.

The apartments have everything necessary for the needs of a family – a kitchenette with a kettle for reheating water, a coffee machine and a refrigerator; and are in tune with the beautiful natural scenery outside.

The rugs made of natural materials, the comfortable sofa, the generously used wooden accents and the ski pictures on the walls radiate coziness and they predispose you to drink a cup of warm tea in pleasant company.

Spa with a hint of pine forest

While it was cold outside, we didn’t miss taking advantage of the hotel’s relaxation area. We spent our time mainly in the warm pool with a smaller section for the kids, where Dimi had a lot of fun.

For fans of spa pampering, there is a hammam, a Finnish sauna, an infrared sauna, a Roman steam bath, an aroma steam bath, an adventure shower, a cold pool and a relaxation bed.

Fun activities for kids in Mountain Lake Hotel

Children are welcome at Mountain Lake and have access to a variety of activities. The indoor children’s area has a ball pool, a slide, a crawling and climbing track and a drawing table.

The little ones can use a lot of outside facilities as well – playgrounds, swings tied to trees, football with small holes, basketball hoop, badminton court, trampoline and other games. The green areas around the complex are ideal for walks with a stroller.

We liked hiding in Grandma Yaga’s house the most.

Sights in Rhodope mountains – in the footsteps of Orpheus

Smolyan

If you are in the area, you cannot miss the highest regional town in Bulgaria – Smolyan. Here, it is as if time has stopped and the dense pine forests have merged with the urban landscape.

The buildings are massive and imposing – an example of Soviet brutalism and are named after mythological creatures. Get ready for multiple steps and monuments of Orpheus at every turn.

At the beginning of the year, the completely renovated Planetarium – the trademark of Smolyan after several years of renovations – was opened to visitors. The star hall now has very modern equipment.

Shiroka Laka

The Rhodope village of Shiroka Laka is the only architectural-folklore and ethnographic reserve of this type in Bulgaria and the birthplace of Rhodope song and Rhodope musical folklore.

At first I thought it was deserted, but we visited it on the first day of school, so the crowds of students milling around the streets disproved my assumption. Some of the most talented Bulgarian folk singers and pipers have studied and continue to study here at the National School of Folk Arts.

In the immediate vicinity of Shiroka Laka is the village of Gela, which impresses with its beautiful mountain scenery, as well as the village of Stoikite, where the Bagpipe Museum has recently opened.

In the village of Momchilovtsi, you can visit the largest museum of magic in Europe. There, Bate Nencho, who was born in Momchilovtsi, exhibited his rich collection of various props that belonged to famous Bulgarian illusionists. Entry is free, but there is a donation box where you can support the cause.

 Snezhanka Tower

Snezhanka Tower is my favorite place in Pamporovo and we couldn’t help but take Dimi there. It is massive and imposing and offers a 360-degree panorama of the Rhodope Mountains.

You can get there by car, and a special elevator will take you to the panoramic restaurant. There was no queue  – maybe because we visited the tower on a weekday in September.

Bring outerwear because the open area at the top of the tower is very windy.

We are impressed with the service in the restaurant. The waiter was very kind. He offered us a chair for Dimi, made him a straw bracelet and recommended other sights in  Rhodope Mountains to visit on our next trips.

You can find more inspiration for other mountain adventures in 7 reasons why Borovets resort is a good idea in summer and Trip to Iskar Gorge and Lakatnik rocks by motorbike and raft.