Rural tourism in Ilinden
One can barely imagine all the hidden beautiful places in Bulgaria before sometimes he or she turns away from the main roads and highways. One of the beautiful discoveries for tourists is situated in Southwestern Bulgaria close to the border. There the village of Ilinden is situated on the northern slopes of the Rogach Mountain. The town of Gotse Delchev is some 18 kilometers away. There are hot springs and guesthouses here, while the mountainous climate affected by the Mediterranean attracts even more tourists. The Greek beaches are just an hour drive away.
he place may seem secluded but in the times of modern technologies visitors have internet connection, satellite television and everything they need, says Angel Yurukov, one of the people from Ilinden who work for turning the village of their fathers and grandfathers into a tourist destination. According to Mr. Yurukov, this is a possible task thanks to the clean environment and rich history of the village, which is suitable for rural tourism. The village holiday is August 15th, the feast of the Assumption of Mary. This is also the time when all relatives of a family gather in their native village.
The old name of Ilinden was Libyahovo and it had a population of 1900 people. In 1891 the Bulgarian geographer, historian, and politician Vasil Kunchev visited the village and described it as following: “A magnificent view reveals nearby Libyahovo. It is situated close to a small tributary of the Burovitsa River. The view from the peak is marvelous. One sees beautiful fields and meadows. The village consists of 300 Bulgarian houses. There has been a Bulgarian school in the village since 1870.”
One of the most renowned families to come from the village was the family of great Bulgarian actor Krustyo Sarafov. His brother Petar Sarafov was one of the architects of the city of Sofia in the 20s and the 30s of the 20th century.
During recent years a team of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences has discovered artifacts that show the place was inhabited 5000 years BC.
Local citizens are not surprised by the claims of the scientists and believe that there was also a fortress nearby, from which the Romans watched the caravans traveling from ancient Greece to the north. “I have traveled across the world and lived in the US for 9 years but always dreamt of Ilinden,” Angel Yurukov says.“I never stopped thinking about my village and have asked myself many times what this strong force that brings me back was," Angel Yurukov goes on to say. "I lived in the US until 2005 but in that huge and interesting country the feeling that I must return to my native village grew stronger. I decided to dedicate myself to this place and make it so that more and more people discover its beauty. We are very proud of the heritage of the Bulgarians who lived here before us. The church in the village was built in 1830 and it is still functioning. It is situated on a hill from which a marvelous view is revealed. Local people are very hospitable. They produce cheese, yogurt, and other products according to traditional recipes,” Angel Yurukov says and adds that Ilinden is a must-see for people who want to “hear the silence” and try the real taste of food.
Source and photo: bnr.bg
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