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Panichkovo is a village in Southern Bulgaria. It is part of Chernoochene Municipality, Kardzhali region.
Panichkovo is located 25 km north-west of the village of Chernoochene, 40 km in the same direction of Kardzhali, 54 km south-west of Haskovo, 58 km south-east of Plovdiv and approximately 205 km in the same direction of the capital Sofia city.
The village of Panichkovo spreads in the Eastern Rhodopes, at an altitude of about 896 m. The relief is mountainous and the climate characterizes with warm summer and cold winter. The village comprises several neighbourhoods - Karakachanska neighbourhood, Eminchaush neighbourhood, Lilyak neghbourhood and Pamuk neighbourhood. It is set on the border between Kardzhali Region and Plovdiv Region a few km away of the main road connecting the two regional centers.
The population of Panichkovo is approximately 300 people. The main livelihood of the population is tobacco growing.
The village's infrastructure is settled with partly asphalted and lighted streets. There are water and electricity supply systems. The village comprises a mayor office, a primary school "Nikola Yonkov Vaptsarov", a kindergarten "Nikola Yonkov Vaptsarov", a mosque, a health center with one dentist, a grocery store and cafes. Besides, in Panichkovo you will find a tourist hut and a hotel. A GP you will find in the village of Komuniga /13 km in the south-east/.
Legend has it that the village's name comes from the Roman pottery /panitsi/ found in the village's settlement. The monument of Orphey which is located at the entrance of Kardzhali today, was set in the village of Panichkovo till 2001.
There is a small dam in the village suitable for fishing. Every year on the last sunday of June a traditional fair with religious prayers for rain is held here.
In the village of Nochevo /10 km in the north-east/ you can visit rock shrines in Parmak Kaya area with many ritual objects, dating back from Thracians times, as well as Thracian sharpans - facilities representing solid liquid tanks for liquids carved in a rock with grooves between them, which suggests that they served for making wine and during various religious ceremonies in ancient times.
In the village of Zhenda /21 km in the south-west/, in the Asar Каya area you will find the remains of a Thracian fortress and sanctuary located on a high rock terrace with a magnificent view to the region.
In the village of Pchelarovo /26 km in the south-east/ you can visit a few sites:
Sources: Mirela, www.wikipedia.org, http://bg.guide-bulgaria.com
Photos: http://www.panoramio.com, http://www.sabori.bg, Internet