Kovachevitsa, or Ковачевица in Bulgarian, is one of the greatest examples of what Bulgaria used to look like in the 19th century. The well preserved architecture is what had inspired multiple films, songs and many visitors to this tranquil village set on the steep side of the Rhodope Mountains.
The town of Kovachevitsa is located about 75 miles south of Sofia (the capital of Bulgaria) and about 45 miles from the town of Blagoevgrad in the steep valley of Kanina River. The drive to the village is absolutely breathtaking although a little windy and steep. You will be driving right through the Rhodope Mountains with gorgeous views surrounding you at all times.
Once in town you will be greeted by quiet and nature like you’ve never seen before. There are less than 50 all time residents living in the village and most of them are elderly. Some of the houses are used as summer and vacation homes for people in the cities nearby. Paved roads are pretty much nonexistent here. There are mostly dirt or cobblestone roads that residents used for horse and buggy rides back in the days. Most people do not own cars around this parts and don’t need them since they rarely leave the town. The narrow streets are mostly for walking purposes and bike rides.
There are several things you will see while walking around the village of significant interest outside of the unique architecture buildings the small town is so famous for. There used to be an old school ( the oldest in the area) that was founded in 1820 and ran by priests. Secondary school was founded in 1854 but later moved to a different two story building in 1892. However it was closed years later due to the lack of young children in the village that needed to be schooled. There is the sign that points to where the school used to be located right in the townhall of the village.
St. Nicholas Church which is another significant site can be seen from almost anywhere in town. It was built right before the Bulgarian liberation from Ottoman Rule in the years between 1841-1848. A self thought builder from the area constructed it using local wood and stone. The church was adjacent to the old school mentioned above. Later a bell tower was added in 1900. The church was recognized as a National Cultural Monument. The street leading to the church is especially beautiful and we highly recommend a stroll on it.
Most of the houses that you will see along the way while exploring the small town are unique to the period in which they were built and are preserved as they were in the 19th century. There are also some newly built houses that were constricted in this typical late 19th century style in order to preserve the distinctive look of the village. In 1977 the town of Kovachevitsa was designated an “Architectural and Historical Reserve of National Importance”.
The town of Kovachevitsa is known as the “Bulgarian Hollywood”. 29 movies in total have been filmed here. The unique architecture of the town and the abandoned nature is what have drawn the attention of various movie makers that have filmed here. Thanks to that some of the houses, left abandoned due to a lot of residents leaving the small town and moving to big cities and old people passing away, have been restored.
There are several restaurants in town where you can grab lunch or dinner, offering traditional Bulgarian meals. Some of the houses in town offer accommodations if you are looking to spend a night or two. You can find them on Airbnb or Booking.com.
If you are looking for more adventuring while in the area there are trails you can take from town and explore the the surrounding woods. Recently some caves have been discovered nearby and are worth checking out if you are in spelunking. The town of Leshten that has similar architecture is close by and is worth a day trip or a night in one of the unique earth houses that can be found there.
For more ideas on things to do in and around the area check out our other Blogs and our INSTAGRAM page.