Information about Peshtera

Municipality Peshtera is located in West Rodopi Mountain. In the gorge of the river "Old River" goes the road that connects the e municipality with the villages on the east - Biaga, Isperihovo, Novo Selo and Plovdiv, the southeast Bratsigovo and to the west by the towns of Batak, Velingrad and Dospat and the famous lakes "Batak", "Beglika", "Shiroka Polyana" and "Dospat".
1 km from the town in the northeastern direction is the road to transport links with settlements –Radilovo and Kapitan Dimitrievo.
Peshtera town is located 20 km from Pazardzhik, 40 km from Plovdiv and 125 km from Sofia.
16 km from the town is located holiday resort "St. Constantine", known for its pleasant climate and beautiful scenery. There built ski lifts enable the development of winter sports and the nearest lake "Batak" - for sunbathing and fishing.
The predominant soil types in the municipality are maroon forest and alluvial -meadow, which favors the development of vegetable growing, fruit growing, tobacco and livestock.
Of the total area of the municipality Peshtera about 40% is occupied by forests, which reflects favorably on the environment , contributes to the development of logging, processing and hunting tourism.
The climate is temperate in the municipality, no sudden temperature fluctuations. The average altitude of the city is 461 m. The average annual temperature is 12.6 degrees. Rainfall is fairly good - from 670 to 680 l/sq m a year.
On the territory of the municipality there are eight gravity springs with a minimum rate of 20 1/8 and a maximum flow rate of 42 1/8, wells with flow rate 30 1/8 and a karst spring flow 12-30 1/8. Water resources in the Municipality are sufficient to supply 100% of the population needs.
Its territory have combined unique climate, natural phenomena, geographic location, species, historical heritage and natural attractions.
The conditions and climate are favorable for recreation, winter sports, tourism, hunting and fishing, caving.
In vicinity of Peshtera were found remnants of ancient culture: pots, sarcophagi, fragments of pottery, building materials, coins, jewelry, religious objects, roads, bridges, castles and more. There have been studies and excavations at several site :
Fortress "St. Petka" - located on the eponymous hill.
Mound "Banyata" is located 1.5 km west of the village K. Dimitrievo.
The Thracian fortresses "Kievo kale", "Perun", "Tumbra", "St. Nicolas","Gagovo dere" near Peshtera are disclosed for research in 1973.
Interest are found and researched findings in the cave "Snejanka". In one of the halls were discovered archaeological remains from the life of the Thracian tribe Bessi - bronze pin, pottery, water vessels decorated with incised lines, dating from the Bronze Age.
In Peshtera there are 40 architectural sites announced by the National Institute of Culture and the Ministry of architectural monuments of local importance. In 2002, the "St. Dimitar" - built in the period from 1825 to 1831 was confirmed as a cultural monument of national importance - recognition for architecture and building school in Peshtera.
The remarkable Renaissance monument and clock tower was built between 1650 and 1710. It is the second in age in Bulgaria after the tower of "Sahat Tepe" in Plovdiv and its construction is related to the needs of the guild and the need to know the time for the craft and commercial workshops and shops.
The condition of roads and road markings in the municipality are maintained all year round and in very good condition. Accessibility of settlements is provided by regular bus services from Pazardzhik, Plovdiv, Sofia and neighboring municipalities, and Cave - by train from Plovdiv.
Peshtera is a town with a very old and interesting history. The earliest traces of human presence are dating back to the Neolithic era. For millennia, this region was inhabited by the Thracian tribe Bessi, testing the Macedonians, Romans and Byzantines.
The emergence of the settlement in the valley happened in the second half of the fourth century BC. Most lasting interaction later was three ethnic groups: Thracians, Bulgars and Slavs. Evidence of this is found around the remains of ancient culture - pots with charred corn, building materials, weapons, tools, coins, jewelry, religious objects, sarcophagi, remnants of cobblestone roads, bridges, ruins of fortresses "Kievo Kale", "Perun", "Tamrash", "St. Nicholas", "St. Petka" and others. Several are the assumptions about the name of Peshtera (means Cave), but overcomes the fact that there are many caves in the vicinity.
In the Renaissance there was a lot of building of churches, bridges, fountains, houses, schools by the Peshtera masters of architecture and building. Their work is monumental churches "St. Dimitar", "St. Petka" and "Virgin Mary" in Peshtera "Marina " in Plovdiv, " Virgin Mary " in Pazardzhik and the clock tower.
The first Bulgarian secular school was established in 1848 in Peshtera, and the theatre "Nadezhda " - in 1873. The prominent Renaissance teacher Zaphirov – who was also teacher of Ivan Vazov, Hristo Botev and Vasil Levski comes from Pesgtera.
Peshtera was saved from the turks in the Russo-Turkish War of 1878.
One of the most beautiful Bulgarian caves with the name Snejanka, is located in Batak Mountain, near the town of Peshtera. It is relatively small (only 145 meters long), but rich in magnificent cave formations.
The cave was formed about 3.5 million years of Novomahlenska River in fine-grained marble with dominant snow-white color, hence the name. Both entrances to the cave are under 6 -foot cliff in old beech forest, about 380 meters above the river. The new entrance hall leads to the udder, often called the Hall of Chinese lanterns.
In the Great Hall are Obelisk and fabulous Choir dwarves, and the left one is the Stone Forest. In the small Music chamber numerous stalactites hollow ring with crystal clear tones tapping. The warmest room of the cave is Srutishteto.
Mysterious narrow passage (25 m long) with flamboyance of white marbel bizarre stalactites leads to the most beautiful - Magic Hall, enchanting underground kingdom of Snejanka (Snow white) and the Seven Dwarfs. It is small (only 180 square meters), but offers plenty of fine sinter formations, among which white crystal figure of Snow White fairy snow white canopy bed, neat table, harp and other details of the interior of the beloved fairy tale.
In the five larger sinter lakes glistening cave pearls on their hands with tiny calcite crystals. Remarkable is the Hall of udders with odd shaped stalactites. At the old entrance is the Hall of beards. Marble layer above it is only 1.5-2 m thick - this allowed the roots of old trees to reach the room through the cracks. Due to favorable temperature and high humidity they evolved into original strands that hang from the ceiling like dark brown beards, covered with dew.