Pirin Bulgaria. Pirin National Park
Basic moments
Today, the protected lands of Pirin Park include two reserves - Yulen and Bayuvi Dupki-Dzhindzhiritsa. Human activity is completely prohibited in these reserves, so animals and birds feel absolutely safe. Visiting protected areas must be approved by the park management.
Travelers come to Pirin National Park at any time of the year, but most tourists come here from late spring to early autumn, as well as during the ski season. There are many marked routes throughout the park. Hunting and illegal tree cutting are prohibited on its territory, and fishing is prohibited on some rivers.
To provide comfortable accommodation for travelers, the park has 8 recreation centers where you can stay overnight, as well as 4 shelters. The directorate of the park is located in the city of Bansko, at the foot of the Pirin Mountains, on Bulgaria Street, 4. An information center has been created here, where educational lectures about the nature of the Balkan Mountains are held for children and adults. The park management is open from Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 12.30 and from 13.00 to 17.30.
History of Pirin Park
In 1962, the Bulgarian authorities created the Vihren National Park in the highest part of the mountains. At first, the park's territory was 62 km², which was less than 1/6 of its modern area.
After 12 years, the park was renamed, and its boundaries were significantly expanded. In 1983, UNESCO included the unique high-mountain landscapes of Pirin National Park as a World Heritage Site. The last expansion of the park area was carried out in 1998.
Pirin Mountains
The Pirin mountain ranges lie between the Mesta and Struma valleys and stretch for 75 km. The highest point of the mountain range - Mount Vihren - rises to 2914 meters, being the second highest peak in Bulgaria. More than 40 Pirin peaks have a height of over 2600 m.
In ancient times, these mountains were called differently. The inhabitants of Thrace spoke of them as “Orbelus”, which translates as “snowy mountains”. The ancient Slavs adopted the name “Yudenitsa”, and the Turks – “Beride”. The Slavic tribes who came here at a later time began to call the mountain ranges “Pirin”. It is believed that this name comes from the name of the deity Perun, who in ancient times was considered the master of thunder and lightning. According to ancient legends, the thunder god spent his days on the highest of the mountains, the top of which is often hidden in the clouds.
The Pirin Mountains are made of granite and marble. As a result of glaciation, they acquired characteristic alpine forms. It is dominated by steep talus slopes, rocky watersheds and sharp peaks.
Pirin has a high-mountain climate, so air temperature and precipitation directly depend on altitude. In the lower mountains, at altitudes up to 1000 m above sea level, the weather is milder, and in the highlands, which begins above 1600 m, the climate is much harsher.
The weather is greatly influenced by the Mediterranean Sea, as well as southwestern and western winds. The highest rainfall in the Pirin Mountains occurs in November-December, and heavy snowfall is common in the winter months.
Vegetable world
The first descriptions of the flora of the Pirin Mountains were made in the first half of the 19th century by the German florist and geobotanist August Grisebach. More extensive botanical research took place at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries.
Mountain forests grow up to an altitude of 2000 m in Pirin National Park. The lowest zone is occupied by oak forests, beech and hornbeam forests. Above them are pine forests consisting of Balkan and whitebark pines. At the highest level, in front of the alpine meadows, there is a zone of pine-juniper dwarf trees.
It is curious that some of the trees on the slopes of the Pirin Mountains are over 500 years old. There is also a long-lived tree growing here, whose age has exceeded 1300 years. This is a huge Baikusheva pine or Bosnian pine, which is considered one of the oldest trees surviving on our planet. The unique pine tree rises to a height of 26 m and has a diameter near the butt of 2.2 m. You can see it along the road that leads from the town of Bansko to the foot of Mount Vihren, not far from the Banderitsa tourist center.
Thanks to the mild Mediterranean climate, the local flora is very diverse. The mountains contain 18 local endemics, 15 species endemic to Bulgaria, and a large number of endemics from the Balkan Mountains. The symbols of Pirin are the discreet edelweiss flowers and the bright yellow Pirin poppy. On the mountain slopes there are over 300 species of mosses and over 160 species of algae. Within the boundaries of the protected zone, biologists discovered 1,300 species of higher plants.
Animals
Pirin National Park is home to more than two thousand species of animals, many of which are rare or endangered. There are 6 species of fish found in mountain lakes, rivers and streams.
Dense forests have become a refuge for 160 species of birds. The rarest of them are several species of owls, alpine accentors, peregrine falcons, rock nuthatches and tufted tits. In addition, rare species include golden eagles, falcons, lesser spotted eagles and Balkan larks. In favorable conditions isolated from humans, 45 species of mammals live. Pirin Park has created comfortable conditions for brown bears, wolves and foxes. Here you can often find jackals, squirrels, hedgehogs, wild boars, deer and chamois.
How to get there
Pirin National Park is located in the southwestern part of the country, about 100 km from the Bulgarian capital - Sofia. On its territory are the cities of Simitli, Bansko, Gotse Delchev, Razlog, Sadanski, Kresna and the village of Strumyani. All of them belong to the Blagoevgrad region.
You can get to the city of Bansko, where the park directorate is located, from Sofia by bus E81.
Pirin National Park is located in the mountains of the same name in southwestern Bulgaria. It was created in 1962 and was formerly called Vihren National Park. In 1974 it was renamed and then expanded to its current size.
Currently, the park covers an area of more than 400 km². Within its borders are two of the oldest biosphere reserves - Bayuvi Dupki-Dzhindzhiritsa and Yulen. Pirin was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983.
On the territory of the national park there is the highest point of the mountain range - the peak of Vihren, 2914 m high. Externally, the relief of Pirin resembles an alpine one. The rocky mountain ridges here are adjacent to deep karst depressions, sharp ledges, clearly defined valleys, caves, waterfalls and many glacial lakes. There are about seventy of the latter.
The park consists of several belts located at different heights. The lowest is a mountain forest, where beech and fir forests grow, giving way to pine woodlands. The next zones are subalpine and alpine, with corresponding meadow vegetation.
The Mediterranean climate has contributed to the species diversity of flora and fauna. Centuries-old Macedonian pines, beeches, silver spruces and firs coexist with endangered edelweiss and Pirin poppies. A special attraction of the park is the Baikushev pine, which is more than a thousand years old. In Pirin you can find harmless herbivores - red deer, roe deer and chamois, as well as predators - foxes, badgers, wolves and brown bears. Several species of interesting birds nest here - golden eagles, eagles, alpine swifts, alpine ptarmigan and cranes.
The national park has all the conditions for a wonderful holiday. An unforgettable experience is guaranteed for every lover of untouched nature. Those who want to improve their health are attracted here by the mineral springs, which have a beneficial effect on the body. Fans of active pastime have a direct route to ski resorts; their routes are designed for both well-trained athletes and beginners.
Pirin National Park - PHOTO
For a long time, I associated Bulgaria exclusively with the sea. However, having visited the southwestern part of the country, not far from the border with Macedonia, I realized that Bulgaria is also a country of mountains - high, picturesque, mesmerizing in their beauty. And mountainous Bulgaria is, first of all, Pirin.
Pirin is a mountain range in the southwestern part of the country, located between the valleys of the Struma and Mesta rivers and conventionally divided into three parts: Middle, Northern and Southern. In the south-eastern direction, the Pirin Mountains border on the resort of Bansko and the town of Dobrinishte, in the north-western direction - on the balneological center of Sandanski. The highest point of Pirin is the peak of Vihren, which rises to 2914 meters.
Most of the mountain system (about 400 sq. km) is occupied by a national park of the same name, which has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1983. It would be a shame not to visit these places for those who like to conquer peaks and make many hours of ascents, who are impressed by the clearest lakes and waterfalls, mountain slopes covered with dense vegetation and rocky ridges that entice with thrills.
Pirin National Park is divided into 6 park areas:
- Bayuvi Dupki (includes the Bayuvi Dupki Dzhinzhiritsa biosphere reserve);
- Vihren (center - Bansko) - the most accessible part of Pirin National Park for tourists);
- Bezbog (center of Dobrinishte) - includes part of the Julen biosphere reserve and the famous Pirina lakes.
- Sinanitsa;
- Kamenica (center of Sandanski) - includes lakes Tevno and Kuklensko;
- Rub the rivers.
Glacial lakes, exciting hiking routes
Lakes of glacial origin, of which there are more than 160, give a special romance to these places. The reservoirs are distinguished by crystal clear water and especially decorate the conservative mountain landscapes.
The largest and at the same time the deepest body of water in Pirin is Lake Popovo. It covers an area of about 13 hectares, and its depth in some places reaches 29 meters. Among other famous reservoirs of Pirin: Gorno-Polezhanskoto - the highest mountain lake of the Balkan Peninsula (height 2712 m), Rybnoe, Tevnoe and Bezbog (Bezbozhkoto).
There are 19 tourist routes of varying length and complexity through the Pirin National Park. Some are designed for experienced travelers and experienced climbers, others for beginners and just lovers of hiking. At the intersection of the main routes, there are tourist huts or recreation centers - there are 13 of them in the park. For a reasonable fee, you can spend the night in such huts and taste some national cuisine.
The starting points of most marked routes are the resorts of Bansko and Dobrinishte, located on the northern slopes of Pirin. Some mountain walks are organized from the resort center of Sandanski on the opposite slope of the mountain range. But most often for ordinary tourists, excursions to the peaks of Pirin start from Dobrinishte, where a ski lift was built that takes guests to the mountain lake Bezbog. It was from this point that our journey to the most famous national park in Bulgaria began.
On the official website of the National Park you can download a map of Pirin tourist routes.
How to get to Pirin National Park?
After looking at photographs of local species and reading reviews from tourists who had already been here, we got ready to set off. The starting point of our journey through the expanses of the national park was the ski resort of Bansko, where we got from Sofia by bus. In this town we decided to rent an apartment for a few days.
Bansko is easily accessible from Sofia by bus or car along the highway passing through Blagoevgrad. Buses regularly run on the Sofia-Bansko route, covering a distance of 160 km in 3 hours. The average ticket price is 13 levs. (6.5 euros). From the central bus station of Sofia there are 6 flights daily to Bansko, from the Ovcha Kupel bus station - 11 flights.
A walking tour through the Pirin Mountains - a sea of adrenaline and an unforgettable experience
We chose an excursion that included several tourist routes and, perhaps, the main attractions of Pirin. It started from Dobrinishte, from where a modern two-stage ski lift took us directly to the Bezbog mountain hut.
Hut Godless
View from the nearest peak to the Bezbog hut
We saw what tens of thousands of tourists come to these places every year for: the famous lakes, including Popovo and Bezbog, the third highest in the Balkans and the second highest mountain peak in Bulgaria, Vihren, incredibly beautiful and rich in contrasts nature. We fell in love with the romance of hiking in the mountains and spent the night in the classic alpine hut Tevno Jezero (2500 m above sea level).
The top of Mount Vihren is 2914 m.
At times, climbing the bumpy mountain slopes completely exhausted us, but after reaching the next peak, the view from there made us forget about the efforts made and filled us with peace and contentment. At the end of the trip we were very tired. But the incredible sensations gained from seeing endless panoramas are worth any effort. Indeed, Pirin is able to truly surprise its guests. It's definitely worth a visit.
Pirin mountain range, about 100 km from Sofia.
How to get there: independently by car or as part of an organized excursion.
Mountains, waterfalls and meadows
Today, the area of this largest national park in Bulgaria occupies more than four hundred kilometers. In the half century since its foundation, the park has grown in size almost seven times! It “began” in 1962 as a reserve for the protection of the local high-mountain forests, ten years later it was significantly expanded, and in 1983 it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Today, the park contains two biosphere reserves: Yulen and Bayuvi Dupki-Dzhindzhiritsa, one of the oldest in the country. The elevation difference here ranges from one to three thousand meters, picturesque glacial lakes, waterfalls and limestone caves are often found here, and the Mediterranean climate reigns throughout the territory. It is thanks to these conditions that the park is exceptionally rich in vegetation and animals.
Flora and fauna
In Pirin today there are more than a thousand species of higher plants (more than 30% of all plant species in Bulgaria), a wide variety of mosses and algae. Among them there are rare and even endangered species: edelweiss (the symbol of the park), Pirin poppy, Bosnian and Macedonian pines, silver spruce... It is here, by the way, that the oldest tree in Bulgaria grows - the Baikushev pine, 26 meters high and more than two meters in diameter, whose According to scientists, the age is at least 1300 years!
The park is divided into several zones: the lower zone includes fir and beech forests, higher there is pine-juniper woodland, and meadow vegetation reigns in the highest alpine and subalpine zones.
As for wildlife, in the park you can find both peaceful herbivores (chamois, roe deer, deer) and large predators (foxes, brown bears, wolves, wild cats, jackals). Of course, other animals also live on the territory - for example, there are 12 species of bats alone. There are a lot of different birds here - from falcons and eagles to swifts, wood grouse, cranes and ptarmigan. In total, there are more than two thousand species of animals in Pirin, including birds and fish, of which about 300 are rare, and 15 are on the verge of extinction.
Springs and resorts
In addition to the above-described beauties and rarities, many tourists are attracted to the park by the local mineral springs, which originate high in the mountains and allow them to improve their health. There are about seventy of them here.
There are ecological trails throughout the park, and there is the opportunity to go mountain climbing or go down into the caves.
On the border of the park there are ski resorts with slopes for both beginners and trained athletes.
In general, this beautiful national park has all the conditions for a wonderful holiday, be it quiet contemplation of the beauty of untouched nature or active pastime.
The Bulgarian Pirin National Park is located in the mountain range of the same name, in particular between the valleys of the Mesta and Struma rivers. The nearest major city is Sofia, located at a distance of about 100 km.
Pirin National Park is mainly characterized by mixed deciduous forests, which are located in a relatively cold climate zone. Precipitation prevails in summer and autumn. The park's altitude ranges from 1000 to 2915 meters above sea level and covers an area of 401 sq. km.
Natural beauty of the park
The Pirin mountain range is the 2nd largest in Bulgaria. The landscape of the national park consists of magnificent glacial lakes and rocky peaks. From a geological point of view, it belongs to the Thracian-Macedonian massif. The main components of this composition are slate, granite, limestone and marble.
As for vegetation, it is represented by both deciduous and pine forests. There are also virgin forest areas here, which have still been touched by human hands. Very beautiful pine forests, framed by a thick layer of lichens. The picturesque valley of the Struma River is worth a visit, whose flows in certain places form stunning waterfalls.
There are more than 60 peaks in the park, the height of which exceeds 2500 meters above sea level. The number of glacial lakes is more than 150. Another great advantage of this park is the fact that the local weather remains good throughout the year.
Hiking routes, excursions
WITH
It should be noted that in this park you can move around both by bicycle and on foot. Of course, climbers will also get unforgettable pleasure here. Among the most beautiful places in Pirin are the granite peaks near Kamenitsa, Dzhana and Polezhen.
This area is located in the southern part of the park. A very interesting area, located relatively far from the 1st, is the marble part of the mountain range, which is located next to Vihren (the highest mountain in Bulgaria) and Koncheta. Don't miss visiting this National Park if you are interested in a holiday in Bulgaria.
The cost of excursions from Bansko starts from 70 euros per person for 4 hours.
Animal and plant life
In addition to its very diverse geological structure, Pirin National Park has a very diverse flora and fauna. There are quite a lot of interesting plants in the park; it is worth noting the olive trees and quince that grow in the valley
Struma River. You can also find various types of lilies and orchids here. The park is home to primroses, some of which are endemic species. As for forests, beech predominates among trees. Coniferous forests begin in the overlying areas.