The Rila Hotel, Borovets Resort, Bulgaria.
Borovets Resort
Established as the first mountain resort in the Balkans, by the royal family in 1896, Borovets Resort boasts 120 years of history and tradition. The four-star Rila Hotel, with its close proximity to the ski slopes (the classic ski-in/ski-out location), is the most impressive hotel in Borovets. Built in 1986, by a French contractor, following the model of the French ski resort -Les Arcs in the Alpine Savoie region, the Rila Hotel is located amidst the breathtakingly beautiful and unspoiled scenery of Rila Mountain, in the heart of Borovets, at an altitude of 1350 meters. The hotel provides perfect holidays for any age and during any season.
Borovets ski resort is located 12 km from the town of Samokov and 72 km from the Bulgarian capital Sofia.
Borovets, known as Chamkoria until the mid 20th century, is the first mountain resort of its kind, in Bulgaria and on the entire Balkan range. Its origin dates back to 1896, when Kniaz Ferdinand – Bulgaria's monarch at the time, had his summer residence and several hunting lodges built there. His example was followed by aristocrats and members of the Bulgarian elite, who subsequently built their summer cottages and chalets in Borovets.
The resort is situated on the northern slopes of the Mousala ridge in the eastern part of the Rila mountain. Borovets is huddled in venerable pine woods 1390 meters above the sea level. The highest pistes of Borovets ski centre are located at 2600 m above the sea level.
Rila mountain
Rila is the tallest mountain in Bulgaria and on the Balkan Peninsula. It is located in the Sout-West part of the country and is part of the Rilo-Rhodope massif. With its highest peak– Musala reaching 2925 m., Rila mountain ranges 6th among Europe’s tallest mountains behind the Caucasus, the Alps, the Sierra Nevada, the Pyrenees and Mount Etna. Rila Mountain enchants not just with its beauty but also with many historical and cultural landmarks. The mountain is home to the Rila monastery – one of the most significant cultural sites - Bulgaria’s national symbol, listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. The monastery is situated in the deep valley of the Rila River, at 1147 m. above sea level. Founded in the 10th century by Saint John of Rila, the actual buildings were erected in the 19th century.