Belasitsa Nature park

In the most South-Western part of Bulgaria is situated the magnificent and attractive mountain Belasitsa. It is incredibly beautiful and ill-known. With the purpose of preservation of the mountain’s natural resources, at the end of 2007 was announced a Nature park Belasitsa’. It is the newest nature park in our country.

Belasitsa attracts with its uniqueness – this is the only mountain in Bulgaria situated on the territory of three country. The mountain is distinctive with its preserved nature. The symbol of the park are the centuries-old chestnut-forests which are the widest on the Balkan peninsula. 

Belasitsa nature park is also part of the European ecological network ‘Nature 2000’and as a sign of the preserved wild nature it is included in the ‘Green belt’ initiative. With its specific geographical situation between the Mediterranean and the Continental climate zones, with its steep slopes and high peaks, with the century-old forests and small but picturesque rivers, Belasitsa is a spring of live in the very South-Western corner of Bulgaria. The plant diversity of the mountain is extremely rich. On the territory of Belasitsa nature park can be seen lots of Balkan and Bulgarian endemic types of species which cannot be found anywhere else around the world. They are MedicagocarstiensisJacq.,Viola stojanowii Beck., Viola speciosa Pant., Liliumalbanicumetc. 

In Belasitsa, there is also great diversity of fauna. In total for the region of the mountain there are about 1,500 species of invertebrates. Only the day-flying moths inhabiting the area are around 140 species which is more than 65% of all that could be met in the country. For this reason, Belasitsa is differentiated as Main region for the butterflies in Bulgaria. In the Bulgarian part of Belasitsa could be met 10 species of amphibians and 18 species of reptiles. Among them are thereticent salamander, the gaily-coloured yellow-bellied toad, the Green stream frog, the two species of terrestrial tortoise which could be met in our country – the spur-thighed tortoise and Hermann’s tortoise, and many others. The birds nesting in the region of the mountain are 120 species. They form approximately 30% of the bird species in Bulgaria. Interesting are the Mediterranean bird species which could be met on a very small and limited part of our territory. These are for example the Western Orphean warbler and the Eastern olivaceous warbler. Other two species of birds are Balkan endemic types (could be met only on the Balkans) – these are the Horned lark and the Alpine accentor. Only the woodpeckers are 7 species – more than the half of the 10 species which inhabit Bulgaria. This is another indicator for the uniqueness of the Belasitsa forests. The unique bio-variety of the Belasitsa mountain, the diversity of nature forms combined with the preserved ways of traditional lifestyle, the rich cultural and historical heritage and geographic location are among the main preconditions for the Belasitsa nature park to be one of the preferred tourist destinations.

During your visit at Belasitsa nature park you will have the possibility to touch extremely interesting nature. Here everybody can find something. For the lovers of the walking tourism, Belasitsa offers simple hiking in the foots of the mountain under marked tourist routes reaching interesting locations, as well as long and challenging routes to the ridge. Unforgettable will remain the moments which you will experience if you decide to climb the ridge of the mountain. Panoramas are impressive.

On the South can be seen the Doiran and Kerkini lakes, on the North is opened a view to the borderline mountains Ograzhden and Malesh, and in a distance show up the ridges of Pirin and Slavyanka mountains. The highest peak of Belasitsa mountain – Radomir (2,090 m) – and the Tumba peak (1,880 m) are attractive destination for the more experienced tourists.

Images: Archive of State Nature Park "Belasitsa"