The town of Chepelare is situated on the two banks of Chepelaska River, at the southeast foot of Chernatitsa area in the Rhodope Mountain. It stands 1120 m above sea level, with population of about 6000. It's located 220 km of Sofia, 74 km of Plovdiv and 10 km of the Pamporovo resort.
In the beginning of 18th century, Bulgarians from the neighboring villages settled in that area and founded the village.
The town lies in a very beautiful area, with pure nature and mountain relief. The "Mechi chal" ski track is located at the end of the resort. It is 6 km long, and a comfortable double- chair lift can take 600 skiers per hour to the top of the mountain. The beginners can use mini ski- tows on the plateau to the peak of Mechi chal. In the surroudings of the town there is a biathlon and sprint piste. In Chepelare is located the only factory for ski equipment in the whole Balkan Peninsula.
In summer Chapelare is also attractive. It is a point of departure for many tourist routes to the West Rhodope Mountains: to Krastova gora (The Forest of the Cross), Pamporovo, Chudnite mostove (Wonderful Bridges), to Haidushki poliani (Haidouks glades), Shiroka laka, etc.
In Chepelare there are many two- and three- star family hotels, and numerous restaurants and taverns offer the typical cuisine for the Rhodopes.
The only cave - museum in Bulgaria with its collection of maps and pictures of rock formations from the Rhodopes is located in Chepelare.
The observatory of Rojen is situated 15km southeast of Chepelare.
Places of interest: Wonderful Bridges, Perperikon, Bachkovo Monastery, Trigrad, Dyavolskoto garlo (Davil's throat) Cave
Source: visitbg.net
