Introduction
Smolyan is a town in the far south of Bulgaria near the border with Greece. It is the administrative turist and industrial centre of the homonymous Smolyan Province. Smolyan is famous for ski resorts.
In the Middle Ages it acquired its name from the Slavic tribe, the Smolyani, who settled in the region in the 7th century.
The modern town of Smolyan was formed by the merger of three existing villages — Ustovo, Raykovo and Ezerovo — in 1960.
Co-operation between cities started in 2004 and collaboration with National Bulgarian Minority Self-government so efficiently.
The biggest Planetarium with public observatory in Bulgaria opened its doors in the town of Smolyan, in 1975. The Planetarium is the town's most frequently visited place of interest.
The Cathedral of Saint Vissarion of Smolyan is an Eastern Orthodox church inaugurated on 2 July 2006. It is the third largest church in the country and the largest church in southern Bulgaria.
Population is approx. 30,000.
website:
www.smolyan.bg