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  • Writer's pictureStefan Ivanov

Fairytale forest park in Rakovski tells "The Old Deer and the Little Deer"

Updated: Oct 2, 2023

The old deer led his herd to the high mountain meadow where green and soft grass grew.


Park "Fairytale Forest" in the city of Rakovsky: Fairy tale "The old deer and the little deer

He walked with confident steps through the old beech forest, for he knew all the hollows and ridges, he knew where the goat trails led, and where the hunters laid ambushes and dug deep pits for the deer and roe deer to fall into.


Park "Fairytale Forest" in the city of Rakovsky: Fairy tale "The old deer and the little deer

The old deer still knew every beech tree in the forest, and he had memorized the nests of the birds, but he did not know that twenty paces from the clear well the hunters had yesterday dug a deep pit, covered it with twigs and grass and rushes, so that as soon as he stepped on top some heavier animal, to tumble into the pit. He did not yet know that in the branches of the old beech tree by the well the hunters had set up an ambush, and only the barrels of their rifles could be seen pointed at the pit.


Carefree and calm, the old deer was walking along the path that led directly to the hidden pit, and a whole herd of deer, roe deer, and fawns followed him.


Park "Fairytale Forest" in the city of Rakovsky: Fairy tale "The old deer and the little deer

When the herd approached the well, the smallest fawn, which trotted nimbly at the rear, overtook the others, went to the guide, and cried:

- Stop, grandfather, stop! Don't lead the flock down that path.


Park "Fairytale Forest" in the city of Rakovsky: Fairy tale "The old deer and the little deer

- Why? – the old deer turned its head towards him.

- Because somewhere here there is a hidden pit and a hunting ambush.

"How do you know, little puppy?" – said the old deer with annoyance.

- Yesterday, when I came to draw water from the well, I saw four sharp shovels with which it had just been dug, thrown under the branching beech tree.

- How did you know that they were stolen?

– On the damp soil stuck to the shovels. I saw four more guns standing by the log. The rifles were double barreled. And you all know that hunting rifles have two barrels. Ah, grandfather, if you knew how scared I was! I started to run towards the herd. My heart would burst with fear.


Park "Fairytale Forest" in the city of Rakovsky: Fairy tale "The old deer and the little deer

The old deer shook his head and said:

- Your grandfather knows every path and every bug in this forest. Your mouth still smells like milk, and you want to teach your grandfather. Another time, don't you dare give me advice on where to lead the flock, because I'll poke you with my horns. You probably dreamed of guns and wet shovels last night. Stay in line - that's where you belong!


And raising his head, the horned old man strode forward, shook his horns, and even began to run straight to the hidden pit.


The whole herd rushed after him.


But as soon as he approached the stream that flowed from the well, something terrible happened.

The light covering of the pit did not hold, and the old stag, together with three heavy doe, collapsed into the deep trap.


The whole herd stopped. And just at that moment rifles cracked and two more doe fell shot.


– Run back! – cried the little deer and rushed between the beeches. The surviving roe deer turned and flew after him like fliers.

And in the deep trap the old stag was banging his head and saying:

- My proud head, I draw from you. If I had listened to the wise fawn, I would not be in the pit now.


Park "Fairytale Forest" in the city of Rakovsky: Fairy tale "The old deer and the little deer

The fabulous photo moments were captured in the "Fairy Tale Forest" park in the town of Rakovski.


Links to the rest of the Fairytale Forest tales:



How do you get to the city of Rakovski?

Rakovski is a city in southern Bulgaria, Plovdiv district, the administrative center of Rakovski municipality.



It is named after the prominent Bulgarian national revolutionary Georgi Stoykov Rakovski, known as Georgi Sava Rakovski.



The city was created in 1966 by the merger of three villages - General Nikolaevo, Sekirovo and Parcevich, in the past called Kalachlii, Baltaja and Alifakakh respectively.

The villages are inhabited by the descendants of Paulicians who converted to Catholicism in the 17th - 19th centuries.


Catholic Cathedral of the city of Rakovsky - Catholic Church "Sacred Heart of Jesus"
Catholic Cathedral "Sacred Heart of Jesus" in the city of Rakovsky

Rakovski stands at:

  • 161 kilometers (about 1 hour and 47 minutes by car) from the capital

  • 29 kilometers (about 38 minutes by car) from the city of Plovdiv

  • 345 kilometers (about 3 hours and 55 minutes by car) from the city of Varna

  • 229 kilometers (about 2 hours and 07 minutes by car) from the city of Burgas



How do you get to the "Fairytale Forest" park in the city of Rakovski?


You will also find "Fairytale Forest" park near "G.S. Rakovski" street between "Sekirovo" and "General Nikolaevo" districts.


Park "Fairy Tale Forest" in the city of Rakovski
Park "Fairy Tale Forest" in the city of Rakovski

Nearby is the "G.S. Rakovski" stadium, which is a great landmark.



What can be seen nearby?

Adjacent to the "Fairytale Forest" park is the Adapted Children's Playground.


Adapted playground in Rakovski
Adapted playground in Rakovski

16 kilometers east of the town of Rakovski (about 17 minutes by car) is the town of Brezovo.


In Brezovo, on a weekday, stop by the municipality to see the exhibition dedicated to Beethoven's best portraitist - Mincho Katsarov.


Mincho Katsarov – the best portrait painter of Beethoven
Mincho Katsarov – the best portrait painter of Beethoven

Another great Bulgarian artist - Zlatyo Boyadzhiev - is from Brezovo. His house in the town of Brezovo is open for visits and anyone can see it.


Birthplace of Zlatyo Boyadzhiev in the town of Brezovo
Birthplace of Zlatyo Boyadzhiev

27 kilometers northeast of the town of Rakovski (about 29 minutes by car) you will find the village of Babek. "Babek" dam is located nearby, near which you can take a wonderful walk.


"Babek" Dam in the skirts of Sarnena Sredna Gora
"Babek" Dam in the skirts of Sarnena Sredna Gora

Just 10 kilometers north of the village of Babek (about 16 minutes by car) you will find the Svezhen Architectural and Historical Reserve.


In the village of Svezhen, you can visit the church "Holy Apostles Peter and Paul".


Church "Holy equal apostles Peter and Paul" in the village of Svezhen
Church "Holy equal apostles Peter and Paul" in the village of Svezhen

You can visit the ruins of the old church "St. George", near which the foundations have been discovered - the remains of cells plastered with mud plaster on the walls, which are supposed to have been inhabited by the scribes-calligraphers of the Adjarian literary school.


The ruins of the old church "St. George" in the village of Svezhen
The ruins of the old church "St. George" in the village of Svezhen

And as a finale, my dear friends,

you shouldn't miss a look

the special album with photo moments –

discovered, experienced, captured and shared with you!



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