Dear friends of "Photo Moments", welcome to Zabardo - the Bulgarian Hollywood in the Rhodope Mountains!
This charming village is tucked deep in the bosom of the beautiful Rhodope Mountains – the houses are perched on the steep slopes on both banks of the Zabardska River at an altitude of 1250 meters above sea level.
How to get to the village of Zabardo, Chepelare municipality?
I take the road Asenovgrad – Chepelare – Smolyan.
I am watching for the turnoff to the village of Zabardo and the natural phenomenon of the Miraculous Bridges.
It will be difficult to miss this detour, because a bagpiper-levent and a dapper, tense young woman - a sculpture-symbol of Rhodope hospitality - await me there.
While I listen to the Rhodopean song "I am white, white, brave" (the song is set to automatically play five times a day), the girl greets me with "Welcome," offering me a warm, freshly baked pita with honey.
As you can see from the sign, it is 13 kilometers to Zabardo. The road is good, with several bends, but it is an excellent ride because I am surrounded on all sides by the magically beautiful Rhodope Mountains.
An unexpected surprise!
After passing the turnoff for the Wonderful Bridges, I am greeted by a charming waterfall on the right and right next to the road.
The road winds along the Zabardska River. The majestic green slopes of the Rhodope Mountains surround me on all sides. The waterfall murmurs pleasantly. It is cool, pleasant and charming!
I'm in Zabardo again!
It is important to note that the name of the village is pronounced with an accent on the first syllable – Zàbardo.
Here is the popular caption that made the village particularly famous more than two years ago on social media.
Below the inscription and to the left of the road leading into Zabardo, I am greeted by this white dove of peace, made from 250 military helmets that have fallen into disuse.
The white dove, as well as the peculiar globe at its feet, represent a monument - a composition celebrating peace on the globe, officially opened in early May 2022.
Two years later, on May 9, 2024, a new huge four-meter composition of letters spelling out the word PEACE was discovered to the left of the white dove.
The message of peace brought me once again to this wonderful Rhodope place.
The master of the work is the sculptor Anton Urdazhiev. He is also the creator of the "Dove of Peace" helmet composition.
The mayor of the Rhodope village Vladimir Cherpokov has traveled the entire country in search of disused military helmets from which the letters MIR, as well as the composition of the white dove of peace, are made.
It's been very difficult!
There are no more helmets in the units.
We go, we collect 5 from here, 10 from there.
We found over 320 helmets.
The white dove of peace has spread its wings next to a canopy with benches, tables and a fountain from which fresh Rhodope water gushes for thirsty throats.
I pass the sign and I'm already in Zabardo!
Colorful, colorful, beautiful, green, fresh, pleasant, quiet, peaceful - I feel complete relaxation, solitude and harmony with nature here!
I drive my car along the main street, winding along the river, and on all sides the green, almost sheer slopes of the majestic Rhodope Mountains loom over me.
Zabardo is an old village steeped in ancient history. Its old name was Çukurköy.
Soon I am in front of the city hall building, where more pleasant surprises await me.
A new white temple is already being built in the center of Zabardo. This is "St. George the Victorious", which is almost completed.
During my previous visit here, the temple had not yet been started and only its foundations were here.
To the left of the town hall building, a large LED display has been installed, welcoming guests to the village with "Welcome" in Bulgarian and English.
I stop here first - on the left side of the road and along the river, I leave my car, cross and here I am by a wonderful children's playground, surrounded by flower beds, from which magically beautiful colors smile at me in a friendly way, just like the honest and hardworking people of Zabardo.
The Zabardovo Wheel
It is 6 meters wide in diameter, made entirely of wood, and was invented long before its Viennese equivalent – this is the famous Zabardovo Ferris Wheel!
Locals say that the first Zabardovo Ferris wheel was invented back in the 1870s.
It is powered by four people and can accommodate up to eight people.
Its foundations are four meters high, and beech and pine were used to make them.
My smiling grandmother told me that if you jump on it, a long and happy family life awaits you:
Whoever climbs on it, child, will not get divorced!
Behind the Zabardovo wheel, I see stairs that lead me to a Proto-Bulgarian yurt, located in front of the "Hristo Botev" community center.
Proto-Bulgarian yurt
The yurt is made entirely of natural materials and can accommodate about 30 people.
The walls are six-layered – alternating layers of clay, sheep wool and goat fur.
Its diameter is 6 meters, and it is almost 4 meters high.
It is cool during hot summer days, and warm during cold winters.
A sun is hung from the ceiling, and a hearth is formed in the middle.
I'm moving forward.
There is evidence that here, in the place where I find Zabardo today, there was an ancient settlement as early as the 4th – 5th century AD. Proof of this is the ruined fortress "Zagrad", which you can find on the high rocky peak Chukata (1427 meters) before the village, inaccessible from its northern side, at the foot of which are two of the Human (Cheleveshki) caves - Dark (Tyovnata) Dupka and Slivova Dupka, as well as the remains of a Thracian settlement.
Near Zabardo there is also a very well-preserved Roman road. Parts of the ancient road, directly connecting the main city of the Thrace province - Philippopolis - to the Aegean coast, known as the Via Egnatia, are preserved along the crest of the Chernatitsa mountain range.
A huge number of caves can be found around.
In the Cheleveshtnitsa cave, a skeleton of a cave bear, armor of a Roman warrior, as well as his weapons were found.
And I continue on my way and soon I am at the singing patriotic fountain and the wheel of fortune.
Only patriotic songs sound from the fountain, and at night – it is completely illuminated in a magical way.
It's time to say goodbye to Zabardo. I'm sure I'll be back here again and again!
My dear friends, don't forget to visit the natural landmark "The Wonderful Bridges of Erkyupria" - an impressive rock phenomenon in the Western Rhodopes.
And finally, my dear friends,
you shouldn't miss checking out
the special photo album with moments –
discovered, experienced, filmed and shared with you!
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