Pamporovo Resort Winter 2011/2012

Progled village is a small resort village, located half a kilometer away from the road Smolian-Plovdiv and 3 kilometers away from Pamporovo. Historians say that the village was founded in the beginning of 20-th century, as it has been decided that the Bulgarian border on Turkey would be across Rojen col. Some of the inhabitants of Momchilovtsi and Sokolovtsi village decided to settle in the Bulgarian part of the Rhodopi mountain and thus Progled village was founded. The village is located at a very beautiful place-there are big meadows around, surrounded by century-old fir trees. If you walk for 15 minutes up the slope, you will climb up a peak from which you can see beautiful panorama. When you reach the peak, you will see the National astronomical observatory “Rojen” to the east and the tower of Snejanka peak, Murgavets peak, Pamporovo and the mountain peak Goliam Perelik to the west.

Geography

Progled village is located in the heart of the Rhodopi mountain. The ski resort Pamporovo is located only 4 kilometers away from the village. The resort town Chepelare is 6 kilometers away and its tourist base has been completely renovated. Progled village is situated on big meadows, on the right bank of the river Chepelarska and it is surrounded from all sides by a low ridge and thick spruce forests. The main road Plovdiv-Smolian is only 500 meters away. Summertime, there is a lot of sun and the weather is pleasant and convenient for short strolls around the vicinity of the village. Wintertime, it is protected from winds and despite the thick snow, the village is always accessible. There are many herbs, forest strawberries, raspberries, mushrooms and blueberries in the forests around.

History

The history of this village is very interesting. A local inhabitant has recorded the village history in a special book, which nearly every household in this village has. The village is bit more than century old, which is a comparatively short period for Bulgaria. It was founded by settlers, coming from the neighboring village Sokolovtsi (its name till year 1934 was Dolno Derekiyo) approximately in year 1894, which at that time was within the Ottoman Empire (the border was along Rojen pass). The Orthodox priest Vasil Todorov and other people are considered to be its founders. It is quite interesting that the settlers have reached an agreement-each of them, who would refuse to go to the liberated Bulgarian lands, would lose his real estates in favor of the other settlers. These events happened during the rule of Stambolov and for the sake of founding this village easier, there was an idea the new village to be named after the then Bulgaria’s prime minister. But the then Bulgaria’s prime minister Stambolov said that Progled was a very nice name and the village could exist without being named after him.

Religions

The village is populated only by Bulgarians, belonging to the ethnographic group Ruptsi (Rhodopi mountain Bulgarians). Their religion is Orthodox Christianity. The church “Saint Panteleimon” was built here in year 1921 for the needs of this village. There are also chapels around the village: “Saint Iliya”, “Saint Marina”, “Saint Panteleimon”, “Holy Trinity” and “saint Kirik and Yulita”.

Cultural and natural landmarks

The nature here is incredibly beautiful-there are lush pastures and century-old spruce forests. You can see fawns nearly in the very village. The bridge above the village overlooks the mountain peak Snejanka and Rojen observatory. There is natural habitat of the endemic plant Lilium rhodopeum near the village as you can see this plant only in this mountain and for this reason, many nature lovers and naturalists come to study it and to take photos of it.

Regular events

Traditionally, every year on the first Saturday of July, there is a family gathering-convocation and during the day it is held on the meadow near the village, which is quite picturesque, as it is surrounded from all sides by century-old forests. Evening time, the merriment takes place in the village at the place designed for round dances. It is very nice to walk from the village across the ridge above it up to the living district Karamanitsa. You can go from there to the meadows of Rojen, as on your way will pass close to the potato storage. There is a chapel near the path and if you have luck and sense of orientation, you may take the path to Rojen pass. Please, do not make noise and look around-it is nearly sure that you will see a fawn. It will not take more than an hour and a half for the whole walk.