natural wonder
Wonderful Bridges
Two natural marble rock arches formed by a collapsed cave in the Rhodope mountains, reached by a paved road with a car park.
13 km · about 25 min drive
EuropeBulgariaSmolyan
Chepelare
Smolyan, Bulgaria · Europe
About Chepelare
Chepelare is worth a stop: 20 minutes from Laki, 13km from Wonderful Bridges.
Chepelare is in Smolyan, Bulgaria, with about 5,500 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Laki, about 17 km away.
Chepelare (Bulgarian: Чепеларе [tʃɛpɛˈɫarɛ]) is the principal town in Chepelare Municipality, part of Smolyan Province in Southern Bulgaria. It is situated in the central part of the Rhodopes, on the banks of Chepelare River. Chepelare is a popular winter resort with one of the longest ski runs in Southeastern Europe.Read more
It is located near Pamporovo, one of the biggest Bulgarian ski resorts. As of December 2009, the town had a population of 5,412.
The town is known for the only ski and snowboard factory in the Balkan Peninsula. The factory cooperates with the ski brand Atomic Skis. Chepelare is also the birthplace of biathlete Ekaterina Dafovska, Bulgaria's only Winter Olympics gold medal winner. The local Sports School provides good conditions for young winter athletes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Chepelare?
Within an hour or so of Chepelare: Wonderful Bridges (13 km), Trigrad Gorge (28 km), Devil's Throat Cave (28 km), Asen's Fortress (32 km).
Are there any good drives near Chepelare?
The nearest famous roads are Trigrad Gorge, Troyan Pass (Beklemeto) and Shipka Pass.
Where is Chepelare?
Chepelare is in Smolyan, Bulgaria, about 17 km from Laki.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 5,478
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Bulgaria
- Region
- Smolyan
- Timezone
- Europe/Sofia
- Coordinates
- 41.7333, 24.6833
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Bulgaria
Vignette required for all roads outside towns.
Full driving guide for BulgariaTags
Worth the detour from Chepelare
7 notable places within an hour's drive.
famous road
Trigrad Gorge
Narrow Rhodope canyon road squeezing between 250 m marble cliffs to the Devil's Throat Cave, where a river thunders underground: one of Bulgaria's most dramatic drives.
28 km · about 35 min drive
natural wonder
Devil's Throat Cave
A cave in the Trigrad gorge where a river plunges into an underground hall, visited via a tunnel entrance with roadside parking.
28 km · about 35 min drive
castle
Asen's Fortress
A medieval fortress ruin with a surviving 13th-century church on a rock spur above the Chepelare river, beside the Asenovgrad–Smolyan road.
32 km · about 35 min drive
bridge
Devil's Bridge (Dyavolski Most)
Elegant 16th-century Ottoman arch bridge spanning the Arda River in a wild Rhodope gorge near Ardino, reached by a short mountain road: a legendary photo stop steeped in folklore.
38 km · about 45 min drive
landmark
Plovdiv Old Town
One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe, with colorful Revival-period houses perched on ancient hills above Roman ruins.
46 km · about 55 min drive
ancient ruins
Plovdiv Roman Theatre
A remarkably well-preserved 2nd-century Roman amphitheatre seating 6,000 spectators, still hosting performances today.
46 km · about 55 min drive
Driving roads near Chepelare
3 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 150km.
- 28 kmTrigrad GorgeNarrow Rhodope canyon road squeezing between 250 m marble cliffs to the Devil's Throat Cave, where a river thunders underground: one of Bulgaria's most dramatic drives.
- 38 kmDevil's Bridge (Dyavolski Most)Elegant 16th-century Ottoman arch bridge spanning the Arda River in a wild Rhodope gorge near Ardino, reached by a short mountain road: a legendary photo stop steeped in folklore.
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