We continue our virtual tours in the Rhodope Mountains, revealing some of the most remarkable sights and locations worth visiting. Although the sun sets earlier each day, the weather is still perfect for out-of-town excursions, and we suggest heading this weekend to one of the most colorful villages in the Rhodope Mountains. It is located in the picturesque Shiroka Laka area in the Western Rhodopes. The village is situated 16 km northwest of Smolyan, 95 km southwest of Plovdiv, and only 7 km from the winter resort of Pamporovo.
Scattered across five districts, Stoykite has preserved the authentic appearance of a small Rhodope village, along with its national traditions, lifestyle, and culture. It attracts numerous tourists and offers wonderful opportunities for relaxation amidst the atmosphere of long-gone times. Nestled at the foothills of the mountains, the village offers an incredible panoramic view of the Chernaitsa ridge, the Murgavets and Perelik peaks, and Karlak peak, which is celebrated in folk songs.
Stoykite village was first mentioned in a written document in 1706 by the French traveler Paul Lucas (a delegate of King Louis XIV), who described its beauty and charm in his chronicles. The village was settled by fugitives in the 17th century during one of the waves of Islamization in the Rhodope region. After the Liberation (1878), it was an important center during the battles of Captain Petko Voyvoda against those who tried to restore Turkish rule.
In 2013, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Balkan War, the residents of Stoykite built a monument in the Prevala area, and a 12-meter cross was positioned on Cherni Vrah, where the border of the occupied areas of the Ottoman Empire passed from 1878 to 1912. At the entrance of the village, near the "St. Spas" chapel, there is a monument built in memory of the residents of Stoykite who were killed in the Balkan, Second Balkan War, and First World War.
A must-visit location when you’re in the area is the "St. St. Peter and Paul" Church – one of the most beautiful in the Rhodopes. In 1874, the first stone of the "St. St. Apostles Peter and Paul" Church was laid in the Kaikovska district. The April Uprising and the Liberation War delayed the construction (by 1876, the building process had reached the windows), but the church was completed and consecrated by Bishop Gervasii, then assistant to Panaret, on June 5, 1881. The church is tall and massive, with symmetrically placed windows adorned with beautiful wrought iron grilles. The entrance doors of the temple are clad in metal sheets hammered with hand-forged nails. The bell was placed on two pillars between the church and the neighboring school. Since the bell sound did not reach the distant houses, in 1900, the church board decided, with the permission of the Municipal Council, to build a bell tower near the northeast wall. Two years earlier, a cell school was built next to it, and its restoration began in 2018 through the voluntary work of the residents.
In the area of Stoykite, there are more than 10 chapels maintained by the locals.
A bronze medal from the first international Olympic Games in Athens (1896) was found in the village. Research suggests it was won by the famous wrestler from the village, Georgi Kapushev. In the surrounding areas, you will also find historical remains of a Roman fortress at St. Vrach; an ancient Thracian sanctuary at St. Elena peak; and Roman cemeteries dating from the 4th-6th centuries, discovered during excavations in the Pavlya area.
In 1936, Apostol Kisyov made the first skis from beech wood, marking the beginning of ski sports in Stoykite. The village now has a six-seat chairlift that connects Stoykite with Snezhanka peak. Pavel Kisyov is also the founder of the "Sto Kaba Gaidi" orchestra, and in his honor, a National Bagpipe Convention is held every year. The only public collection "The Bagpipe: Ancient and Eternal" in Bulgaria is housed in the "Probuda" community center. It is entirely composed of donated items, objects, documents, audio, video, and photo materials representing the bagpipe art and the folk craft of making bagpipes in the country (from all folklore regions of Bulgaria). As of today, the collection includes over 250 movable items.
For tourism enthusiasts, there are numerous hiking trails, and for food lovers – the retro restaurant ‘Borika’ will enchant you with unforgettable flavors and the feeling that you are visiting an old friend. The working hours are a bit specific, with a long break at noon, but it is worth trying everything on the menu. From bean stew with mushrooms to the gourmet dishes – everything will fill your palate with divine sensations and aromas.
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