Entertainment
Hotels in Velingrad – Entertainment for Guests of SPA Hotel Elbrus
Tourism and sports programmes at a welcoming hotel in Velingrad
Sights and/or activities. Choose places in Velingrad that interest you. Or enjoy an invigorating activity in the beautiful surrounding countryside. Or both. At SPA Hotel Elbrus, we will be happy to tell you about places to visit and sporting opportunities. We can even plan and organise your activities together. Ask at reception, in person or by telephone. Tell us what interests you, or ask us for suggestions. There are plenty of possibilities...
Orthodox Christian symbols and churches in Velingrad. Start with the Church of the Holy Mother of God, which is very close by. Then visit the Holy Trinity Church, near the town centre. It is the oldest functioning Orthodox church in the Chepino region. Visit the Chapel of Saint Blaise too. It preserves relics of the saint, the patron of domestic animals and water. Be sure to see the 22-metre-high Cross rising on a hill above the town. Finally, visit the Chapel of Saint George the Victorious. It was built on the site of a monastery destroyed by the Turks during the forced conversion to Islam, as a symbol of Bulgarian faith. A gathering takes place here every Saint George’s Day.
Natural attractions around Velingrad. You can begin with the Velyova Banya mineral spring, very close by. The healing spring water emerges at 43°C. Velyova Banya bathhouse, after which the spring is named, was built at the source. Be sure to see the giant sequoia behind the post office. These are the largest trees on Earth. Explore Kleptuza spring, park and lake on the edge of town. Ducks are kept on the lake, and you can ride a pedal boat. Near Velingrad are the Slaveevi Skali rock formation and Lepenitsa Cave. And you must have heard of Belmeken: the peak, area and reservoir all share the same name.
Historical monuments in Velingrad. Visit the Town History Museum. It has exhibitions covering archaeology, the Bulgarian National Revival, ethnography, modern and contemporary history, and an art department. They display over 19,000 archaeological finds, household objects from the past, icons, early printed books, personal belongings of famous people, archives, photographs and documents. In town you can visit the Hristo Botev Monument, the Monument to the Fallen Soldiers of the 27th Chepino Regiment, the “Ilinden 1903” Monument, the War Memorial and the Ossuary Monument to those who died in the struggle against fascism and in the Second World War.
Memorials to historical figures from Velingrad. The town is the birthplace of notable figures in Bulgarian history. See the memorial plaque to Vlado Chernozemski, an IMRO hero who carried out the assassination of Serbian King Alexander in Marseille. There is also a memorial plaque to Georgi Aleksiev, leader of one of the Chepino detachments in the Ilinden–Preobrazhenie Uprising. Visit the sites commemorating the partisan and Resistance member Vela Peeva, after whom the town is named. See the Ossuary Memorial and memorial plaque.
Cultural attractions in Velingrad. The great opera singer Nicolai Ghiaurov was also born here. See the house where he lived. A memorial bust of the singer stands in the garden in front of the municipal building. The surrounding square bears the artist’s name. In the town centre you can also see the “Expectation” sculpture, a work by sculptor Velichko Minekov, known for his monumental sculptures. Finally, visit the Tsveta Shumanova Art Gallery, also in central Velingrad. It is housed in the home of artist Tsveta Shumanova, who donated it to establish an art gallery in her hometown.
Sports activities in and around Velingrad. The countryside here is ideal for outdoor activities. Try horse riding with pedigree horses, experienced instructors and guides, along beautiful routes through the Rhodope Mountains. The surrounding roads and trails are ideal for cycling, whether leisurely or extreme, as you prefer. For an adrenaline rush, choose a microlight flight. For spectacular contests, try paintball. If you have petrol in your veins, try go-karting. Did you know that Velingrad is also an excellent destination for skiing, snowboarding and sledging? Nearby are three well-maintained, modern and impressive ski slopes: Yundola, Starina and Kurtovo.
Ask at reception at SPA Hotel Elbrus:
about sights,
about routes,
about sport.
We will be happy to inform you, guide you and make arrangements for you.
Horse Riding
Horse riding around Velingrad
