Innovative property investments
Investment Property in Bulgaria
Mountain Areas
Vitosha
Rich reserve
Vitosha National Park, the oldest Balkan reserve, marked its 70th anniversary in 2004.
Encompassing the entire hilly mountain within its 27,000ha and stretching up to Cherni Vrah (2290m), the park contains a rich diversity of climates, flora, and fauna within its boundaries.
Wolves, bears, wild boars and wild cats find shelter there as do less dangerous types such as badgers and deer as well as multitudes of butterfly and bird species.
The Bistrishko Branishte Reserve is a UNESCO protected biosphere on the eastern slopes of the mountain covered in 100 year old pines and spruces, orchids and rare grasses.
The Torfeno Branishte Reserve conserves the 1000-1500 year old peat complexes in the mountain’s highest reaches upon which flourish osier, juniper and blueberry bushes.
Natural wonders include the drama of Boyana waterfall, the curative mineral springs of Knyazhevo, Bulgaria’s longest cave Duhlata, decorated with stalactites and stalagmites, and eight examples of stone rivers: streams of bolders running down the mountainside - former moraines of ancient glaciers eroded and drawn downhill by gravity and moving water.
Cultural lures include Boyana Church and the charm of Dragalevski village and the 15 minute walk up to its mid 14th century monastery.
Active pursuits
Welcoming a million visitors a year, Mount Vitosha is Bulgaria’s favourite mountain resort.
Through the summer months its wide, clearly marked paths are ideal for walking, hiking and biking.
Rock climbing, caving and paragliding are further possibilities as are botany and wildlife trips with companies such as Naturetrek.
rom December until late spring, the small collection of chair and drag lifts radiating out from the Aleko Resort create a decent area for a day’s skiing.
Its 29km of marked runs include several easy runs, two very difficult ones and, for fans of extreme skiing and snowboarding, there’s the challenging steepness of Big Rezen Peak’s eastern slope.
Those who prefer cross country runs have 15km of tracks to explore. Due to its popularity, however, those who can visit between Mondays and Fridays get the best skiing.
Easily accessible
At just 22km from the capital’s centre, it’s perfect for day tripping Sofians, who can wake up, look out their window and, if the weather looks good, be up the mountain and enjoying its many natural wonders in just half an hour.
Reaching Aleko (1800m) is simply a matter of a bus, taxi or drive to the Simeonovo gondola or Dragalevski’s chairlift and onto the resort.
From there, an hour’s steady hike, or a further chair lift and an easy walk, has one enjoying the summit views of Cherni Vrah in next to no time.
Property guide
Although there are a few hotels in and around Aleko and in the surrounding villages, most visitors travel up and down the mountain for a days skiing or walking from bases in Sofia.
Addresses in Sofia’s Vitosha district are popular with the middle classes and the area has seen considerable new build activity.
The luxurious country homes and villas of Boyana, Simeonovo and Dragalevtsi attract affluent buyers and command high rents.
In 2006 typical homes here of 250-450m2, with three to four bedrooms were offered at 200,000-350,000 EUR (134,000-234,500 GBP) rising to 500,000 EUR (335,000 GBP) depending on the quality of construction, size of garden, landscaping, amenities and value-added services offered.
They were rented out for between 1,200 and 2,500 EUR a month (800-1,675 GBP).
Downloadable Reports and Documents
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