The stunning Rhodope Mountains are right next door
The Stara Planina, or Balkan Mountains, loom enticingly over the northern horizon, while the verdant Rhodopes to the south are closer and possibly more lovely. These mountains can be reached by automobile in about 15 minutes and provide limitless chances for hiking, cycling, and village hopping. Asen's Fortress, located just 15 miles from Plovdiv and perched dramatically on a clifftop in the Rhodope foothills, is an impressive medieval structure that has been successively occupied and expanded over the years by Byzantines, Crusaders, and finally in its current form by Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Asen II in 1231.
The mountain range is named after the terrestrial ecoregion Rodope montane mixed forests, which is part of the temperate broadleaf and mixed woods biome and the Palearctic domain. The region is known for its karst landscapes, which feature deep river gorges, enormous caverns, and unique sculptured shapes, such as the Trigrad Gorge. The western sections of the range include a large portion of Bulgaria's hydroelectric resources. A variety of hydro-cascades and dams are utilized for energy generation, irrigation, and as tourist attractions. There are also the hydroelectric power stations of Thisavros and Platanovrysi in Greece. Ancient Thracian ruins such as Perperikon, Tatul, and Belintash, as well as medieval castles, churches, monasteries, and charming villages with classic Bulgarian architecture from the 18th and 19th centuries, may all be found in the Rhodopes.
