Pamporovo Resort Winter 2011/2012

The village of Shiroka Luka was declared an architectural and a folklore reserve. The village is located 23 kilometers northeast of Smolian town, 16 kilometers away from Pamporovo and 5 kilometers away from Stoikite village and 22 kilometers south-east of Devin town. It is situated in the valley of Shirokolushka river in the locality Shiroka Luka between the Perelik area of the Rhodopi mountain and the hill Chernatitsa. The village got its name from the Old Bulgarian word “luka”-a curve, a bend, meandering. Shiroka Luka is famous for its beautiful, authentici Rhodopi houses, situated in an amphitheater-like way on both sides of the river. The local villagers had the reputation of building masters. The old houses here were built in the architectural style, typical of Rhodopi mountain-these are two-story houses, with bay windows and with an internal wooden staircase. Most of the house rooms are wide, with wooden couches next to the walls and the windows are small. The political uncertainty for the population during the Ottoman rule is the main reason for every house here to have cupboards hidden in the walls and a small cellar with a hiding place. The thick white-walled fence conceals the yard from people’s eyes. The yard is a small one, covered with slabs and a typical stone tap stands out in the middle. Sgurovska house, Uchikovska house and Grigorovska house are the most famous houses here. All restored houses here have their own unique image and charm. During year 1834, the church “The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary” was built in this village. Legends say that it has been built for 38 days. The church chancel screen is unique in its style. Most probably, it was painted by the students of the brothers Dimiter and Zahari from Samokov town, but there is also a hypothesis that they alone have painted and decorated the church. There is an old school near the church, built in year 1835. Shiroka Luka village is famous not only for its remarkable architecture, but it is also famous for its folk songs, which are accompanied by Bulgarian bagpipe music. We may justly and honestly say that Shiroka Luka village is the center of the Rhodopi folk singing. Every family here is associated with Rhodopi folk music and some of the most famous Bulgarian singers and bagpipers of Rhodopi folklore were born here. During year 1972, the High School of Music, Folk Songs and Instruments was opened in this village. The beautiful buildings, belonging to this school, are in harmony with Shiroka Luka architecture. One of the biggest festivals in Bulgaria of mummers, scaring away evil spirits and dressed in traditional costumes, is held here during the first days of March. Local citizens call it “Festive Monday”. On this day, every guest to this village will see a strange sight-big monsters-mummers dressed in traditional Bulgarian costumes, dance around the village armed with wooden sabers, painted in black, in order to scare away evil spirits from the village, from village houses and from the souls of local people. These Bulgarian mummers wear strings of beans, peppers and garlic. There is a big belt around their chest and different Rhodopi sheep bells are attached to this belt. They scare away evil spirits by the help of the sheep bell sounds and they also brandish their wooden sabers for this purpose. There is a lot of noise and there are many peals of laughter and sheep bell peals on this day. Local people celebrate and sing many Rhodopi folk songs on this day. This view is exciting and unique against the background of old houses. Shiroka Luka is an ideal place for rural and ecological tourism. You must see its beautiful nature, architecture, century-old pines forests and breathe in the clear air in this village and you will feel real pleasure. There are cozy hotels and private lodgings at this village, where you can stay.

Ethnographic museum

The ethnographic museum in the picturesque village of Shiroka Luka is located in the building of Zgurovska resting complex. The house was built in year 1853 and was first owned first by an Ottoman state employee. It has well-preserved Bulgarian Revival Architecture, typical of this region-this is a tow-story building, with bay windows, with a high stone chimney, with thick-walled fence and this house has wrought doors, small windows and internal wooden staircase. The museum exposition reveals the daily life and customs of local people and the furniture of an old Rhodopi house. You will be carried back to past times and you will feel the spirit of traditional Bulgarian culture. The silver-tongued curator and museum founder Nikola Giorchev, called by its fellow villagers “the living history of this village” will show you around the museum and will tell you interesting stories about the past of Shiroka Luka village.

Two century-old willows are another landmark

Two century-old willows are one of the tourist attractions of the Smolian village of Shiroka Luka. One of the willows is situated on the central square in the village, called “Horishteto”. There are two memorial slabs under the willow dedicated to the village inhabitants, who died during the First World War and during the Second Balkan War and these memorial slabs are also dedicated to all Shiroka Luka village inhabitants, who died during the Second World War. There is also a monument to Exarch Stefan, who was born in Shiroka Luka. The willow is a bit more than 100 years old. Its height is approximately 15 meters and the willow stalk is approximately 2 meters thick. The second willow in this village is even more attractive. It is located near the bridge along the road to Gela village and village legends say that it is more than 200 years old. This willow is nearly 30 meters high and its stalk is approximately 3 meters thick at its base. There is another memorial complex with a tap for drinking water under this willow. None of the present-day inhabitants remembers when exactly these willows were planted and even the old people here cannot recall from their memory such a thing. These trees, which are not typical of such height above sea level, enjoy big popularity with tourists, who always take a photo of them as keepsake. All people in the village keep them very well and regularly take good care of these trees.