A peak situated in the Rhodope Mountains was named after a fairytale character. People call it Znezhanka (Snow white), because it is covered with snow most time of the year. Winter there lasts from November until May. The peak rises some 15 kilometers away from the city of Smolyan at an altitude of 1,926 meters. Snezhanka is the tallest peak in the region of Bulgaria's popular winter resort of Pamporovo. The peak is also an emblem of local tourism. It was immortalized on various post cards and souvenirs sold to Bulgarian and foreign tourists. A high TV tower was built on Snezhanka peak some forty years ago. It top stands at 2,082 meters above sea level. The tower's terrace is situated at an altitude of 2,019 meters. All visitors who decide to go up there for a cup of coffee can also enjoy the wonderful panoramic view over the mountain. Some mountaineers equipped with binoculars claim that if the skies are clear, people can see early in the morning the sunrise over the calm waters of the Aegean Sea. The TV tower reveals a magnificent view of all four parts of the Rhodope Range. This is a very significant spot, because most tourist routes to Perelik Peak and to Prespa and Chernatitsa huts start from Snezhanka Peak, the Secretary of the Tourist Society in Smolyan Todor Raychev contends.

“The TV tower is still functioning. Some transmitters of the Bulgarian National Radio and the Bulgarian National Television are situated there. There is also a confectioner's shop and a terrace where people can see the whole mountain. The most visited site in the region after Snezhanka Peak is the Canyon of the waterfalls near the city of Smolyan. Those who decide to visit this area will not feel bored even for a minute. The bicycle tour during the summer months is also very exciting. A private company financed the construction of five special routes for extreme bicycle tours in the locality below Znezhanka Peak. They cross ski slopes and forests. The displacement of this route is huge - between 200 and 300 meters. The number of young tourists, driven by their passion for bicycle ride, has been constantly on the rise. This year the route of the U 14 World Cup Mountain Race also crossed under Snezhanka Peak.”

The climbing of Snezhanka Peak is even more interesting, if tourists are accompanied by a mountain guide hired from the local tourist society in Smolyan. These people are professionals who know the secrets of the Rhodopes perfectly. The local people are very hospitable and friendly, Mr Todor Raychev further said. Kind hut owners welcome every tourist who stays at Studenets and Smolenski Ezera huts, which are situated nearby Snezhanka Peak. The number of the sunny days and cloudless nights are biggest in this Bulgarian region. That is why the biggest astronomic observatory in the Southeast Europe was built on the nearby Rozhen Peak. This area is far from Bulgaria's big industrial cities and the air is crystal clear. That is why one can feel truly alive amidst this nature.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov