Are you planning a holiday in Bulgaria? It’s a season for skiing now. Yesterday I was on Buzludgza peak. May be some of you know it. It’s located in Stara Planina mountain, in central part of Bulgaria some 20 or less km. away from the town of Kazanlak(in the Rose Valley) and almost on same distance from Gabrovo (located on the other side of Stara Planina Mountain.
This place- Buzludgza peak as well as the ski paths there was forgotten during the last years. If you are somewhere in the valley around Kazanlak and the nearest villages or somewhere in Stara Planina Mountain you will see a huge monument. In fact you will see two of them, but this one which is on the higher peak and looks like a spacecraft is named Buzludgza and there are ski paths around it.
The monument was built during the time of the communism (at its beginning) and it’s a symbol of the communism (one of the biggest) little later after they built it they also did the ski paths and several chalets on the same peak. After the end of the socialism in Bulgaria, the monument was forgotten, same with the nearest buildings. Two years ago started a process of re-building of one of the biggest chalet there. It is now a hotel named Buzludgza.
The same owner also did a new ski path with unnatural snow. This year the season is rich enough of natural snow so the unnatural is not needed. May be you want to visit this place instead of Pamporovo or Bansko?! I am not a keen skier, but the weather yesterday was not suitable for skiing. It was not cold, but the wind was awful. There were some skiers, but you should be brave to go for snowing in weather like this. The ski paths were frozen. May be in better weather you can enjoy some skiing.
The way leading there was passable and only the last 50m to the ski path was inaccessible via vehicle (even it is a jeep 4×4).
The renovated hotel is very close to the ski path. It is too hot inside. The heating is a local one by fire wood. The rooms are very small. The bathrooms are with electric boilers. All the rooms are with w.c./bathroom. There are three apartments which are much better for compare to the single/double rooms. Honestly the rooms are not comfortable enough. If we talk about prices I find them high. You can enjoy a better two stars hotel in Smolyan (close to Pamporovo) for this money.
The price for a room per a nigh double or single is between 48 and 56 BG. The apartment costs 82 leva. Yes, definitely too high price for this type of hotel. If you wish to drink coffee on the reception you should pay 2 levs (you are not in western Europe). The price for a hot soup is between 1,6 and 2 levs. They ‘ve got a good kitchen although the previous cooker was better and then the soup as well the other things were better. The restaurant is with normal prices.
The staff is friendly but nobody speaks English. You can try if you want. The advantage is that it would never be as busy as the popular Bulgarian ski resorts.
this is a great post, thanks for all the info.