The City of Dreamland
The name Smolyan probably derives from a small, local Slavic tribe called Smolyani. During the Ottoman occupation, the place was also named Paschmakli. Don't confuse Smolyan with the small town of Smilyan, which is just a few kilometers further to the south.
Smolyan nestles amidst the massive Rodopi mountain range, the Western Rodopi to be exactly, which straddles the Greek-Bulgarian border. The highest summit of the Rodopi, the Perelik, is only a few kilometres away and 2 191 m. high. To the north, it's around 100 km to the closest big city, which is Plovdiv. The Greek border is in the south and only some 20 km away, but this is of no use, since there's no border crossing in the vicinity. Population is with around 32 000 people, Smolyan is by far the biggest city in the area.
Actually, Smolyan consists of three small towns, which have been unified in 1934. In 1960, the place was granted municipal rights. The town stretches between altitudes from 885 m. up to 1300 m, which makes it the highest town of Bulgaria. All the three parts stretch along the river Cherna - Smolyan is many kilometres long. The town was supposed to be a socialist model town and this involves a lot of concrete in the centre. Therefore, the center looks a bit different. However, people do not come to admire the town but the surrounding mountains.
The first settlement was founded around the year 1 200. Due to its isolated location and the fact that there was nothing like a real town but only three villages, the place never gained more than local importance. The attempt to create a socialist model town was interrupted by the political changes after 1989. Ever since, the mountainous border area around Smolyan, with the serious drawback of no border crossing, suffers structural problems. During the 1990-ies, the unemployment rate went up to 60 %. Officially, it dropped to around 20 % by now. Around Smolyan, tobacco is cultivated. Smolyan's future partially lies in winter sports, since the mountains attract many skiers and snowboarders in winter.
Smolyan nestles amidst the massive Rodopi mountain range, the Western Rodopi to be exactly, which straddles the Greek-Bulgarian border. The highest summit of the Rodopi, the Perelik, is only a few kilometres away and 2 191 m. high. To the north, it's around 100 km to the closest big city, which is Plovdiv. The Greek border is in the south and only some 20 km away, but this is of no use, since there's no border crossing in the vicinity. Population is with around 32 000 people, Smolyan is by far the biggest city in the area.
Actually, Smolyan consists of three small towns, which have been unified in 1934. In 1960, the place was granted municipal rights. The town stretches between altitudes from 885 m. up to 1300 m, which makes it the highest town of Bulgaria. All the three parts stretch along the river Cherna - Smolyan is many kilometres long. The town was supposed to be a socialist model town and this involves a lot of concrete in the centre. Therefore, the center looks a bit different. However, people do not come to admire the town but the surrounding mountains.
The first settlement was founded around the year 1 200. Due to its isolated location and the fact that there was nothing like a real town but only three villages, the place never gained more than local importance. The attempt to create a socialist model town was interrupted by the political changes after 1989. Ever since, the mountainous border area around Smolyan, with the serious drawback of no border crossing, suffers structural problems. During the 1990-ies, the unemployment rate went up to 60 %. Officially, it dropped to around 20 % by now. Around Smolyan, tobacco is cultivated. Smolyan's future partially lies in winter sports, since the mountains attract many skiers and snowboarders in winter.
