The Sliven province is where the mountains turn a strange shade of blue. The Sinite Kamani or Blue Stones park features massive quartz massifs that glow with a violet tint under the afternoon light. You can take a chairlift from the edge of the city and float high above the jagged rocks to reach the mountain plateau. The air is fresh and the view looks down over the vast valley of roses and peaches below. It is a dramatic landscape that has inspired poets and outlaws for centuries.
Drive through the winding mountain passes to find the village of Zheravna which is an architectural treasure. Every house here is made of dark wood and stone with beautiful carvings on the windows and doors. You can leave your car at the gate and walk the narrow cobblestone paths that look exactly as they did in the eighteen hundreds. Many of the old homes are now cozy guest houses where you can sit by a fireplace and eat local mountain food. It is one of the most authentic and well preserved villages in the entire country.
The journey takes you toward the Balkan range to find the Karandila area where you can hike through old beech forests. There are many clear springs where you can stop your car and fill your water bottles with cold mountain water. The region is also famous for its strong winds which make it a perfect spot for hang gliding and mountain sports. You can watch the colorful gliders soar from the cliffs into the valley below. This province is a rugged and beautiful escape for those who love high views and old wooden history.
Sliven (province) highlights
- Blue Stones Park contains massive quartz rocks that glow with a blue tint during the evening light. Take a chairlift to the top for a view of the entire rose valley and the city below. Breathe the fresh air while exploring a rocky landscape unlike any other in the country.
- Zheravna Village remains a mountain reserve with over two hundred old wooden houses and narrow paths. Stay in a historic home and eat food cooked on a stone fire in a traditional tavern. Experience the heart of the old mountain culture in a village that feels like a museum.
- Karandila Peak reaches a high plateau with a road or lift that offers a view of the city valley. Walk through the forest to find the famous rock ring shaped by the wind over the years. Join the locals who come here for hiking and to enjoy the high and fresh mountain air.
- Tuida Fortress serves as a restored stronghold with towers and ancient games for you to try. See how soldiers lived and watch the city from the high stone ramparts near the hills. Visit this site at the foot of the mountains to feel the scale of the medieval history.
- Halkata Rock forms a natural stone ring on a cliff as a famous symbol of the local mountain area. Hike the trail to look through the hole at the green valley stretching out below you. Capture photos of this unique rock formation which is a favorite for all mountain walkers.
- Sliven Elm stands as a tree over a thousand years old in the middle of a busy city street. View this living monument which has seen many centuries of history pass by its ancient roots. Honor a symbol of strength and long life for the local people of the mountain city.
- Ichera Village hides as a quiet wooden village in a deep valley along a mountain stream. Follow the scenic road through the dense green forest to find this hidden gem of history. See the local style of building and enjoy the peace of a village where time moved slowly.
- Asenovets Dam creates a scenic lake on the mountain road with clear blue water and green hills. Stop the car to take a photo of the mountain reflection on the calm surface of the water. Enjoy the clean and quiet area around the reservoir during a drive through the hills.
- Kabile Reserve reveals an ancient city where you can see Thracian and Roman ruins in a wide field. Climb the sacred hill to see stone carvings of the sun gods from the time of the kings. Walk through the ruins of a city that was once a major center in the ancient world.
- Aglikina Polyana marks a historic forest glade where old outlaws used to meet in the deep woods. Follow the trails into the Balkan range from this quiet spot which features a small monument. Experience a place of legends while walking under the shade of the tall forest trees.
The local Four
History of Sliven (province)
Sliven is the City of the Hundred Voivodes. Its history is tied to the Blue Stones, a unique quartz mountain formation that towers over the city. These jagged cliffs provided a natural sanctuary for the outlaws and revolutionaries who fought the Ottoman Empire for centuries. The province became an industrial pioneer in 1834, when the first textile factory in the Balkans was opened here, earning it the nickname The Bulgarian Manchester.
The mountain village of Zheravna is a living museum of the National Revival. It features over 200 wooden houses with stone roofs and carved ceilings, perfectly preserved from the 18th century. It was a center of literacy and craftsmanship, where wealthy merchants and writers built a culture of the mountains. The village of Ichera nearby offers a similar, even more secluded look at this traditional wooden architecture.
Driving through Sliven Province, you can take a chairlift up to the Karandila plateau for views that stretch across the Maritsa valley. The ruins of the Tuida Fortress on the edge of the city offer a look at the Roman and medieval defenses of the pass. From the revolutionary legends of the Blue Stones to the quiet, wood scented streets of Zheravna, the province is a blend of mountain bravery and early industrial spirit.