Borovets

Borovets (Bulgarian: Боровец [ˈbɔrovɛt͡s]), known as Chamkoria (Чамкория [ˈt͡ʃam koˈrijɐ]) until the middle of the 20th century, is a popular Bulgarian mountain resort situated in Sofia Province, on the northern slopes of Rila, at an altitude of 1350 m. Borovets is 10 km from Samokoz, 73 km from Sofia and 125 km from Plovdiv.

Borovets Town from the slopes
An old villa in Borovets

History

Borovets is the oldest Bulgarian winter resort with a history that dates back to 1896. Borovets was originally established at the end of the 19th Century as a hunting place for the Bulgarian Kings. Borovets gradually developed into a modern ski resort with hotels, restaurants, bars and a network of ski runs and lifts along the slopes of the Rila Mountains, providing for a whole range of winter sports. The resort has twice hosted World Cup Alpine Skiing rounds(1981 and 1984), while the Biathlon track is one of the best in the world. [1]

Super Borovets

The Super Borovets project is one of the largest and most expensive investment and development projects in Bulgarian history. The plan is to enlarge Borovets town to encompass the nearby towns of Samokov and Beli Iskar. The resort will be divided into three levels:

Level 1 or Low Borovets: A brand new development just outside Samokov, this area will cater for the less economically well off tourists, but will have good connections and transport with Borovets and the main ski area. This project will provide around 5,000 hotel rooms.

Level 2 or Borovets: Consists of the existing Borovets with extensive investment and development. This will provide around 10,000 hotel rooms (approximately what Borovets currently provides) and will remain as the main accommodation area.

Level 3 or Super Borovets: This will cater for those looking for 5 star hotels and a luxury experience, however it will provide no more than 2,500 hotel rooms.

The current plan from the architects (subject to review and acceptance by the ecology team) is to expand the number of pistes by constructing 19 new pistes bringing the total ski-able area to around 90 km. To cope with the higher demand for ski-lifts and gondolas, 12 new ski-lifts will be built. One of these lifts will be a multi-station gondola which connects Borovets to Samokov allowing skiers easy access to the slopes from the Lower Borovets development site.

The project was launched in 2004 and was to be completed by 2009, however several setbacks have delayed it. The project was then given the go-ahead in October 2007, amidst opposition from environmentalists.[2] However, by February 2010, still nothing had happened with the whole project mired in financial problems as a result of the late-2000s financial crisis, and the project's backers denying that work had restarted.[3]

Climate
Climate data for Borovets, Bulgaria
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 0.6
(33.1)		 2.2
(36.0)		 5.4
(41.7)		 11.1
(52.0)		 16.2
(61.2)		 19.6
(67.3)		 22.1
(71.8)		 22.3
(72.1)		 17.9
(64.2)		 12.6
(54.7)		 7.3
(45.1)		 2.6
(36.7)		 11.7
(53.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) −3.8
(25.2)		 −2.5
(27.5)		 0.7
(33.3)		 6.1
(43.0)		 11.0
(51.8)		 14.9
(58.8)		 16.8
(62.2)		 16.8
(62.2)		 12.5
(54.5)		 7.9
(46.2)		 2.6
(36.7)		 −2.1
(28.2)		 6.8
(44.2)
Average low °C (°F) −7.1
(19.2)		 −6.2
(20.8)		 −3.1
(26.4)		 1.2
(34.2)		 5.7
(42.3)		 9.1
(48.4)		 10.4
(50.7)		 10.2
(50.4)		 7.0
(44.6)		 3.1
(37.6)		 −1.2
(29.8)		 −5.7
(21.7)		 2.0
(35.6)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 59
(2.3)		 53
(2.1)		 62
(2.4)		 82
(3.2)		 114
(4.5)		 121
(4.8)		 91
(3.6)		 62
(2.4)		 56
(2.2)		 68
(2.7)		 67
(2.6)		 60
(2.4)		 895
(35.2)
Source: Stringmeteo.com[4]

Winter sports

The ski resort is at an altitude of 1350 m. 58 km of marked pistes cover the generally north facing slopes up to an altitude of 2560 m, with many runs terminating near the village centre allowing skiers to ski almost to their hotel door. The longest run is a gentle 12 km return to the resort along the maintenance road.

Downhill skiing

Borovets Ski Slopes

Ski Run Difficulty Length (m) Inclination (m)
Sitnyakovo ski track Green and blue 6000 0
Sitnyakovo 1a Blue 5800 400
Martinovi Baraki 5 Green 5000 0
Sitnyakovo 1b Red 4000 230
Sitnyakovo 2 Red 4000 250
Yastrebets 1 Black 2300 860
Yastrebets 2 Red 3000 650
Yastrebets 3 Red 2350 617
Markujik 2A Red 1300 280
Martinovi Baraki 3 Red 1260 320
Markujik 3 Red 1240 390
Martinovi Baraki 4 Black 1240 302
Markujik 1 Red 1220 220
Martinovi Baraki 1 Black 1160 340
Martinovi Baraki 2 Red 1160 280
Sitnyakovo 3 Red 1000 220
Lavinata Black 830 0
Yastrebets Black 800 0
Markujik Green 600 0
Borovets Cross Country 0 0

Lifts
The Gondola in Borovets

All ski lifts are open 8.30 am to 6.30 pm. Each lift closes for technical checks and maintenance for half a day each week and for 1 full day each month, see local signs for dates and times for each lift.

Borovets Lifts

Ski Run/Lift Type Length (m) Elevation (m)
Gondola Yastrebets Gondola 4827 1054
Yastrebetz Express 4-seat 1786 439
Sitnyakovo Express 4-seat 2050 609
Markudjik 2 4-seat 950 342
Martinovi Baraki 6-seat 1209 313
Markujik 3 Drag 1031 366
Markujik 1 Drag 903 223
Markujik 0 - beginners piste Drag 500 42
Sitnyakovo Drag 280 70
Rila Drag 180 33
Iglika Drag 196 50
Rotata Drag 500 54

The lift infrastructure of the resort is very well developed by drag lifts, baby tows, seat chain lifts, plus a gondola lift. 1 six-seat Gondola lift, 2 High Speed Quad Chair lifts, 1 Fixed Grip Quad Chair lift, 10 Surface ski lifts and 9 tow lifts. As for the 6 persons gondola lift, it takes you to the Yastrebets peak on 2363 m above sea level. The difference in altitude is approx. 1046 m and length of route is 4827 m. The gondola lift has a capacity of 1200 persons per hour. The journey takes around 20 minutes. The total capacity of all tow lifts of Borovets is 8150 persons per hour.

A 200-meter carpet lift takes the skiers from ski center Markudjik to the upper station of the gondola lift "Yastrebetz"; and the widened 10 km long Musala Pathway provides an easy way to return to the resort.

Night skiing

For night skiing there is a different lift pass that has to be bought separately at the kiosks on the pistes. It is valid from 6 pm till 9.30 pm.

Cross-country skiing

The resort also offers biathlon facilities for training and competitions. 35 km of cross country trails are designed according to the requirements of FIS (Federation Internationale de Ski), although they cancelled the last two cross-country events to be held in Borovets, in 2009 and 2010.

Landmarks

The Black Rock of Chamkoria

It is located near the resort of Borovets and is a huge stone rock whose walls impressively rise above the valley of the Golyama Slivnitsa River. The distance from the top to its foot is 135 m. At its upper part is a flat rocky ground, secured by a metal railing, from which there is an incredible view of the mountain slopes and the forested abyss. The view is interspersed by the receding fog between the tree crowns and the rock formations. As if in a dream, the roar of the river was heard from afar. The place is easily accessible and does not require any special preparation. The terrain is mostly flat and the transition from Borovets to the Black Rock takes just over an hour of peaceful walking. The starting point of the eco route is one of the main streets of the resort, which leads to an equestrian base on the outskirts of Borovets. From here it takes a dirt road, just straight and leads to the forest. Turn left onto a path that leads to a T-shaped branch. Take the right, after 30 meters - again left on a path. After 5 minutes you will reach the dirt road to the huts "Maritza" and "Zavrachitsa". It turns right and shortly there is a deviation for the natural phenomenon Black Rock. After 15 minutes the walk reaches the cliff. [5]

The black rock also has a sad image. In this abyss after September 9, 1944, 60-70 people were killed without trial and sentence (their exact number is still unknown) by Samokov, the villages of Beli Iskar and Belchin. For the victims of the communist regime, writer Georgi Manov is writing a book entitled The Black Rock. An iron cross was erected on the frontal site in memory of those who died.

Other activities

Ski-doo

2 person ski-doos are available for local rent in the resort. Tourists can be guided through the local forests by an instructor..

Ski Instruction

One of the major attractions of Bulgaria and especially Borovets is the high standard of instruction available at a much lower cost than is common in the ski resorts of Western Europe.

The instruction is divided into 5 different levels according to the skill level of the individual. The lessons may be group or individual (subject to request) and the duration of the course is from anything from 3 to 12 days. There is also a ski kindergarten for the children aged 4 to 8 years which runs for the entire day.

Ski Day Trips from Sofia

Borovets is now easily accessible to the guests of Sofia. Borovets is just 70 km away from the capital, or just over an hour drive. A couple of tour companies run day trips from Sofia to the ski resort, providing everything that is needed for both beginners and advanced skiers to enjoy a day on the slopes - lessons, transportation, guidance, lift passes, full gear, including clothes, gloves, goggles, etc.[6]

Summer activities

Like most ski resorts, Borovets is quieter during the summer, but there is always horse riding, by the hour or 1 to 7-day holidays, on the wonderful mountain and forest tracks and paths, and more recently, mountain biking has become popular and there are many dedicated routes which include purpose-made jumps. The lifts are working in the summer and bikers can take their bikes up on them. Different lifts work on different days. Hiking is also popular as is fishing at the local trout fishery.

The Kings Palace (Tsarska Bistritsa) is open from 10 till 5 Friday to Sunday and cost 3 leva entry.

References
  1. http://www.ski-trips.co.uk/borovets/borovets-ski-runs/
  2. "Bulgaria Gives Go-Ahead to 3-Tier Super Borovets Project". Novinite JSC. (Sofia News Agency). October 9, 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
  3. "Bulgaria Denies Report of USD 1 B Super Borovets Development". Novinite JSC. (Sofia News Agency). February 9, 2010. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
  4. Archived 2012-03-01 at the Wayback Machine, Stringmeteo.com Retrieved February 24, 2012.
  5. "ЧЕРНАТА СКАЛА" (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2019-10-21.
  6. https://www.balkanity.com/borovets-ski-snowboard-day-trip Ski & Snowboard Day Trip to Borovets from Sofia

Borovets travel guide from Wikivoyage Media related to Borovets at Wikimedia Commons

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