Rural Holiday Bulgaria

The Central Balkan National Park

The highest waterfall in the peninsula, the tallest mountain peak in the Balkan Mountains and the deepest precipice cave in Bulgaria. The biggest population of brown bears and the largest beech forests under protection in Europe.

The Entrance to the Central Balkan National Park is just 50 miles from Novo Selo at the Troyan Pass

The Central Balkan National Park lies in the heart of Bulgaria, nestled in the central and higher portions of the Balkan Range. The Park contains rare and endangered wildlife species and communities, self-regulating ecosystems of biological diversity, as well as historical sites of global cultural and scientific significance.

The Central Balkan National Park was established in 1991 to conserve the unique natural scenery and heritage of this area and protect the customs and livelihood of the local population. The Park Directorate, a regional body of the Ministry of the Environment and Waters manages the Park. The Directorate engages local organizations, volunteers, and mountain enthusiasts in pursuing its goals.

Ecosystems of Balkan National Park

Centuries-old forests of beech, spruce, fir, hornbeam, and durmast cover most of the Park. More than half the flora of Bulgaria has been identified within the Park, and of these, 10 species and 2 subspecies are endemic, and are found nowhere else in the world. Over 130 higher plants and animals encountered in the Central Balkan National Park are listed in the Bulgarian and the World Red Book of Endangered Species.

There are 166 known species of medicinal plants, law protects 12 of which. In addition, there are 229 species of moss, 256 species of mushrooms, and 208 species of algae. The central portion of the Balkan Range is home to 70% of all invertebrate organisms and 62% of all vertebrate animals in Bulgaria. There are 224 separate species of birds, making the Central Balkan National Park an important, international bird refuge.

The EU-funded CORINE BIOTOPS Project created a habitat classification methodology and 49 of the CORINE classified types of habitats are represented in the Central Balkan National Park. Of these, 24 are included on the List of Endangered Habitats, requiring special protection measures pursuant to the EU Convention on Habitats.

Terrain Balkan National Park

The Park terrain includes large high-mountain meadows, vertical rock faces, precipices, deep canyons, waterfalls, as well as numerous peaks, of which some 20 are situated at altitudes of 2,000 meters and over. The Central Balkan National Park is a favourite spot for tourists, naturalists, and scientists alike.

Just Some of the birds and Mammals that inhabit the Park

Protected Area Balkan National Park

The Central Balkan National Park is one of the largest and most valuable of the protected areas in Europe. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has listed the Park as Category 2. The Park and eight of its nature reserves are on the UN List of Representative Protected Areas, and four of its nature reserves are included in the World Biosphere Reserves Network under the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Program. In 2002, Central Balkan National Park became a candidate for membership into the PAN Parks

Bear (Ursus arctos)

The Lord of the mountain you would recognize by the paws footprints – the hind ones resemble human but have well expressed traces from the claws. Their length speaks about the age and the size of the animal.he males can reach 350 kg of weigh and live up to 30 years. They inhabit the forests, but often visit the mountain pastures

Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)

The golden eagle is the largest in terms of size eagle that can be seen in the Stara Planina Mountain, with a wing span of up to 225 cm. The head and the back part of the neck of the adults are yellowish with golden pattern, the feathers are sharpened, spear-shaped and resemble a mane. The rest is dark-brown, with broad and unclear black strip on the top of the tail, which in flight seems broader than that of the imperial eagle

Red deer

(Cervus elaphus)

Impressing with its noble outlook, the red deer is the second largest European deer.

The average body length of the males is 250 cm, and their shoulder length is 152 cm on the average, and the average weight is 235 kg. The females are smaller.

Wild boar (Sus Scrofa)

The wild boar can be found in deciduous and mixed forests. It feeds on fruit, tuber, small mammals, carrion, eggs, etc. When searching for food it can even be seen on the alpine pastures of the park.

Wolf (Canis lupus)

It mainly inhabits hilly and mountainous areas. In general the wolf can be seen in remote, well-wooded mountainous and inaccessible places. The hiding places of the wolves are located in afforested and well protected slopes and ravines away from the towns and cities where men live and work. The trails of the wolf resemble those left by domestic dogs. The wolf feeds on mammals and birds