SmartBirds
Nature Conservation Centre Eastern Rhodopes
Plan a day | Directions | Shop | What can I see | Activity | Contacts
Dear friends, due to unforeseen circumstances, the Eastern Rhodopes Nature Conservation Centre will be temporarily closed for some time.
During this period, we will carry out necessary improvements and renew the exhibition in order to offer you an even more engaging experience when we reopen.
Only group visits to the exhibition hall will be possible during this time and must be arranged in advance by phone at +359 878 599 385.
Thank you for your understanding and support!
Plan a trip to our Nature Conservation Centre Iztochni Rodopi…
…and get a stamp for your The 100 National Tourism Sites collection.
In case you have nothing planned but you need to go on a trip for a day or two, do not forget that the Eastern Rhodope Mountains can always surprise you with many exciting experiences and unforgettable sights. Explore the amazing volcanic rocks along both banks of Arda River. Get to Ivaylovgrad Reservoir by land or by water. And all that – surrounded by the pristine animal and plant life of this spot of the wild in Bulgaria.
The Eastern Rhodope Mountains are the region with the highest biodiversity in Bulgaria. Exploring its treasures can start with the birds – the griffon and Egyptian vultures, the black storks and the passerine birds. Then you can move on to the mammals – wolves, foxes, jackals, otters, rare species of bats, deer. And you can finish with the orchids that can be found at very few places in the wild in Bulgaria, one of them being the Eastern Rhodope Mountains.
Opening hours:
Temporarily closed.
Visits to the exhibition are possible only by prior arrangement over the phone.
Admission fees:
- Adults – €3.06 | BGN 6
- Children – €2.04 | BGN 4
- Groups of more than 8 people – €2.55 per person | BGN 5 per person
How to get there?
Iztochni Rodopi Nature Conservation Centre is located close to the town of Madzharovo, on the main road leading to it, directly after the bridge over Arda River.
If you come from the town of Haskovo or Harmanli, make a left turn immediately after the bridge over Arda River and you will be on the parking lot of the Centre.
If you come from the town of Svilengrad or the village of Lyubimets, you need to pass through the village of Borislavtsi. After you turn left on the main road to Madzharovo and the village of Senoklas (follow the signs), you will cross the bridge over the river. Make a left turn immediately after the bridge and you will be on the parking lot of the Centre.
Shop with a Cause
Visitors to the Nature Conservation Centre can explore a small gift shop offering souvenirs inspired by the protected area, including badges, magnets, T-shirts and singing plush birds. The shop also offers books that will help you discover more about the nature and wildlife of Bulgaria.
What can I see right now?
Summer is a magical season in the region of Madzharovo, home to the Eastern Rhodopes Nature Conservation Centre. The Eastern Rhodopes are among the areas with the highest biodiversity in Europe. During the warmer months, Griffon Vultures, Black Vultures and Egyptian Vultures can often be seen soaring above the cliffs along the Arda River valley, together with Black Storks and Peregrine Falcons. The region is also home to six species of eagles and many other fascinating birds that attract visitors from all over the world.
In addition to its remarkable birdlife, visitors can discover spectacular volcanic rock formations, rare plants, butterflies, tortoises and other wildlife typical of the Eastern Rhodopes. The Arda Valley offers excellent opportunities for photography, nature walks and wildlife observation.
The Centre features an interactive exhibition dedicated to vultures, as well as binoculars and spotting scopes for birdwatching. Our colleagues on site help visitors learn more about the rare species of the region and the efforts to protect them.
What can I do there?
stay at the hotel at our nature conservation centre
have a tasty meal at our restaurant with garden above Arda River;
stay at our camping site, if you prefer to be closer to nature;
observe and photograph birds from our three specialized hides that are open all year round;
observe vultures and other species of birds with binoculars and a spotting scope that are at your disposal at the nature conservation centre;
visit the interactive exhibition room where you can learn more interesting facts about the wildlife in the Eastern Rhodope Mountains and its most famous members – the vultures;
visit some of the most impressive protected areas in the area – the nature site Kovan Kaya and Patronka, Momina Skala, Chernata Skala, and Gyurghena Protected Areas.
go to the beach on the banks of Arda, or go fishing.
Contacts:
E-mail: bspb_hq@bspb.org