Bulgaria's Momchilovtsi Included in 100 Tourist Sites List

The picturesque Rhodope village Momchilovtsi was included in the 100 National Tourist Sites List of the Bulgarian Tourist Union (BTU), reports news.bg.

According to the executive secretary of the BTU Ventsislav Udev, quoted by the Bulgarian National Radio, this year the organization considered the nominations of 12 sites across the country. The updating of the 100 Tourist Sites List happens in accordance with strict criteria.

The guide from the Momchilovtsi tourist center Elena Peeva told BNR that the village boasts an old church in the centre of the village, built with the volunteer work of all residents, 26 chapels around the village and a spring, whose water reportedly has healing properties. 

Around the village there are hiking trails, ski and snowboard and rock climbing facilities.

The goal of the 100 National Tourist Sites List, which was set up in the 1960s, is to promote the most prominent tourist sites in Bulgaria, including buildings, museums, archaeological sites, natural phenomena, historical sites, geographical areas, etc. The BTU issues handbooks with the complete list, where the visitors can collect a stamp from each site.

The prizes are commemorative badges (bronze for 25 sites, silver for 50 and golden for 100 sites) and an annual raffle for the badge holders with prizes such as excursions in Bulgaria and abroad, bicycles, camping gear, etc.