Central Balkan Archives | Karashka

Following the trail of the wild inhabitants of Stara Planina Mountains

admin — Sun, 19 Oct 2025 10:08:51 +0000

An Unforgettable Adventure in the Heart of Central Balkan

Two hours before sunrise, while the night still embraces the valleys, we gather in front of Karashka House – our gateway to the wild soul of the Balkan Mountains. In the silence of the early morning, we follow narrow mountain roads winding through sleepy villages. The car headlights occasionally reveal the elegant silhouettes of deer crossing the road – the first sign that the wild world is already watching us.

After half an hour, the road turns into an off-road adventure – an hour and a half of climbing toward the mountain ridge, as the first blush of dawn touches the peaks. Nature awakens. From The local Hut, we continue on foot – slowly, respectfully, in harmony with the quiet rhythm of the morning. The sun rises behind us, casting a golden light over the opposite slopes. Before our eyes unfolds the majestic panorama of Stara Planina – the Balkan Range.

Among the grasses and the morning mist, shapes begin to emerge – a herd of red deer (Cervus elaphus) grazing peacefully in the valley. Along the rocky ridges move graceful chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) – the true acrobats of the cliffs.

With a bit of luck, deep in the forest shadows, we might glimpse the solitary ruler of the Balkan wilderness – the brown bear (Ursus arctos). Watching it in its natural habitat is an unforgettable experience – a reminder of the strength and untamed spirit of Bulgaria’s wild nature.

We end our journey with a well-deserved rest and quiet observation near the final point, close to Mount Rusovatets. There, above the clouds, overlooking a sea of mountain ridges, you can feel the true magic of Stara Planina – raw, pure, and eternal.

What Awaits You:

Small and intimate group – maximum of two participants plus a guide, ensuring peace and closeness to nature.
Wildlife observation: red deer, roe deer, chamois, and sometimes bears or golden eagles.
Photography opportunities at sunrise – the golden hour in the heart of the Balkans.
Professional guide experienced in wildlife tracking and safe observation.
A genuine connection with one of the last truly wild mountain ranges in Europe.

But the richness of the mountain doesn’t end there. The slopes of Central Balkan are home to rare mountain orchids, endemic flowers, healing herbs, and colorful alpine meadows. Between them flutter butterflies and rare insects, while the air echoes with the songs of mountain birds such as eagles, crossbills, owls, and warblers. For reptile enthusiasts, the warm rocky slopes hide unique and rare species, adding yet another layer of wonder to this natural treasure chest.

Contact for Reservations and Inquiries:
📧 karashkahouse@gmail.com

The post Following the trail of the wild inhabitants of Stara Planina Mountains appeared first on Karashka.

NOWHERE IS SO BEAUTIFUL!

admin — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 05:22:14 +0000

The mountain is calling: Susanne Arndt on her way to the summit of Botev in the Central Balkan National Park.

by Susanne Arndt 14.08.2025, 08:14 – 7 mins

Just let go! Nothing is better for this than a holiday home in the Stara Planina, the Bulgarian Balkan Mountains – far away from it all.

This text is from BRIGITTE. Subscribe to it—with many benefits. You can order it directly here.

“With luck, you’ll hear the jackals howling at night!” Kalin, the man from whom we rented the hundred-year-old house in the Bulgarian mountains, is visibly thrilled. Jackals? I shudder. We’ve just arrived, sitting in the garden with our host, and he tells us how he and his wife Maya fell in love with the half-ruined house on the hillside.

In the middle of nowhere

Kalin’s holiday home is located almost exactly in the center of Bulgaria, in the foothills of the Balkan Mountains, overlooking Mount Botev, the highest peak at 2,376 meters. In other words: the middle of nowhere – and that’s been my absolute dream destination ever since the state of the world has been robbing me of sleep. Photographer Florian also needed a break, so we traveled here together. After all, where better to escape the world than in the mountains of a sparsely populated country? Only around six of Bulgaria’s almost nine million inhabitants still live here. “The educated people left immediately after the fall of communism,” says Kalin, “I’m one of the few crazy people who stayed.” Kalin has worked as an interior designer in Sofia and Copenhagen. His profession is evident in the house, which he restored with style and dedication.

Beautifully hidden: Kalin and Maya’s holiday home with barn

The nowhere around us looks something like this: A few hundred meters down the road, the half-abandoned village of Selishte dozes in the sun, and before our eyes lies the Stara Planina mountain range, as the Balkan Mountains are called in Bulgarian. It means “old mountains.”

And even though we got lost on the way from Sofia and missed the supermarket, we’re well-stocked up here: The fruit from Kalin’s gnarled apple and pear trees may not be ripe yet, nor are the grapes from the vine that hugs our house at picking height, but the sweetest mirabelle plums are. A private well supplies the house with drinking water, and at 8 p.m. sharp, Lilia arrives from the village with bowls full of food—we had arranged this before the trip. There’s pork loin with porcini mushrooms from the forest, thick, fragrant yeast bread, pickled peppers, and unusually spicy garlic to nibble on.

Lilia spoils us every evening with home-cooked meals

Waking up every morning is so wonderful

And then I sit in our garden with a beautiful mountain view and just stare at my phone again, consuming messages. Relaxing is hard, and digital detox is even harder. But after a while, my mobile data is gone. Good thing, now I have to get clean: To outsmart each other, Florian and I turned off the Wi-Fi.

We go to sleep with the sun, and I rise with it. It’s not even six o’clock when I walk barefoot into the garden with my coffee. It’s like a large clearing, a hill overlooking the garden all to ourselves. But I’m never alone: the village dog Murjy, whom Kalin had already introduced us to, usually sits next to me. Together we allow ourselves to be hypnotized by the morning sun, which warms my feet, still cold in the dewy grass; sheep bells jingle; a rooster crows. Waking up every morning is so wonderful now.

Dive in and switch off

Much time passes reading, dozing, and eating. But because our minds, accustomed to distraction, crave stimulation, we occasionally leave our refuge to escape elsewhere. For example, at the Orthodox Batoshevski Monastery on a nearby mountain: The morning light falls gently into the cave-like space of the monastery church, and the colorful carpets absorb our footsteps as we admire the frescoes and icons. It is reverently silent until the old man, who let us in without a word, turns on the radio. Why on earth is he doing that?

Better than a ball pit: sunflower fields as far as the eye can see

Another time, we drive through wooded hills and sunflower fields to Devetaki Cave, where people sought shelter from the world 70,000 years ago. Stepping out of the blazing sun, we enter the vast cavern and are greeted by the chirping of thousands of swallows. So much sunlight streams through the openings in the cathedral-like cave rooms that not only birds nest inside, but even trees and flowers grow inside.

Sylvester Stallone and Chuck Norris fought in the spectacular Devetaki Cave for the film

– Expendables 2

There’s even more going on at the cascades of the Krushuna Waterfalls, where we want to cool off. But it’s forbidden to swim in the rock pools – instead, people are queuing up in front of an Instagram hotspot to photograph their loved ones through a curtain of water. It’s all way too much for me. Luckily, we discover the Rossitsa River at the end, where we swim and dive all by ourselves, its mini waterfalls massaging our shoulders before we lie down on the rocks in the sun.

At night, I sleep like a log. And during the day, our garden increasingly reminds me that you can learn a lot without Google, just by observing: that chamomile flowers close at night, for example, and open again in the morning. Or that fat stag beetles can fly, preferably at sunset. I’m thrilled to discover that I can even fall asleep under a tree when the buzzing of the insects drowns out the humming in my tinnitus-plagued ears—along with the rustling wind in the leaves.

I have never been so close to heaven

After countless hours of staring at the Botev from our viewing hill, Florian finally asks the inevitable question: “Do we want to go up?” Why not? We agree to hike the one-hour climb to the Pleven Hut and then see what’s next. We stock up on provisions at the market in the nearby small town of Apriltsi, where lace lingerie and bear traps are sold amidst melons and blackberries. But from the hut, with its socialist look, the summit looks so close and tempting that we absolutely want to continue.

Snack station: The Pleven Hut in the Central Balkan Nature Park

The ascent through beech forest and wildflower meadows, over hill and dale, is quiet, steep, and varied. Still below the summit, I climb a conical rock, spin around, breathe in the fantastic mountain scenery around me, and gaze up into the blue sky. Directly above me hangs a perfect little cloud, seemingly whispering to me: “Hold on tight, I’ll take you with me!” It’s truly close enough to touch, and I stretch out my arms to it.

When Florian shows me the photo that captures this moment that evening, I can’t believe it: “Seriously? The cloud was that far away?” He laughs: “Well, it was just in the sky.” I still maintain: I’ve never been as close to heaven as I am here, in the middle of nowhere.

Our travel tip for Bulgaria

Getting there & around

Fly to Sofia, then take a rental car to Selishte in the Gabrovo Oblast region (about three hours). The “Karashka” holiday home is located a few hundred meters above the village.

Stay overnight

Kalin’s rustic and very tastefully furnished house ” Karashka ” near the Central Balkan National Park has two double rooms and one single room (min. 2 nights approx. 200 Euro/night, Gabrovo, Selishte, Tel. 08 98 / 76 70 05)

karashka.com

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Photo hide for observing and filming songbirds and mammals.

admin — Sun, 21 Sep 2025 18:30:16 +0000

Imagine a place where time seems to stand still, and every breath is filled with the silence of the mountains. In front of you unfolds a mirror – a crystal-clear surface of water reflecting the sky, peaks, and trees. This water is alive, flowing and fresh, always luring the thirsty inhabitants of the forest. It is a stage where the still life changes every minute – sometimes a vibrant palette of autumn leaves, sometimes the gentle greenery of spring, sometimes the golden glow of sunset.

And then comes the moment – the thrill every photographer and nature lover longs for. Just three meters away, with hesitant steps and no trace of fear, a roe deer or wild hare approaches. Or perhaps the thirsty beak of a blackbird, jay, starling, or green woodpecker touches the water’s surface, leaving ripples that spread like waves of magic. You are there – so close, and yet completely invisible, hidden behind the special reflex glass that conceals every movement within the hide.

Seated comfortably on chairs with backrests, you watch the world as it rarely reveals itself to humans – intimate, pure, and unspoiled. Every morning and evening, the stage is different. Sometimes the greenfinch appears with its shy presence, other times the wood pigeon spreads its powerful wings. Among the frequently seen feathered visitors are the great tit, blue tit, coal tit, middle spotted and green woodpecker, nuthatch, blackbird, jay, starling, and bunting. With a little patience, rarer subjects may surprise you – a sparrowhawk, pine marten, badger, or even a doe.

The magnetic pull of this place is no coincidence – the food (sunflower seeds, corn, cat food with fish) and the flowing water sustain the rhythm of life around the hide. Nature always responds when respected and cared for.

And when you lift your gaze through the viewing slit, your eyes meet not only the forest but also the majestic panorama of the highest peaks of the Balkan Mountains. It is a double pleasure – both the closeness of the wild and the grandeur of nature’s vast beauty.

The best seasons for wildlife photography here are spring (March–May), when the forest awakens with birdsong and new life, and autumn (September–November), when the light is soft, the colors deep, and animal activity more dynamic. The light here is a true partner – it paints, shapes, and turns every image into a living painting.

Access is convenient – parking is available just 100 meters from the hide (although longer, low vehicles are better left on the asphalt in the center of Gorno Selishte, 1 km away). From Karashka House, the hide can be reached in 17 minutes on foot or 4 minutes by jeep.

The visit typically includes one morning and one evening session for up to two people – enough time to feel the pulse of wild nature and return with images that carry not only beauty but also deep emotion.

This is a place where wildlife photography is not just a hobby but a ritual of drawing closer to the wild. A place where birdwatching and animal observation turn into a magical fairytale. And every reflection in the water’s mirror is a reminder that we are only guests here, while the true hosts are those who come thirsty, drink, and then vanish back into the forest.

Contact for Reservations and Inquiries:
📧 karashkahouse@gmail.com

The post Photo hide for observing and filming songbirds and mammals. appeared first on Karashka.

A Designer’s Dream: Restoring the Spirit of Rural Bulgaria by Kalin Mihaylov

admin — Tue, 06 May 2025 17:45:24 +0000

I’m Kalin Mihaylov, an architectural designer with a deep admiration for traditional Bulgarian architecture and the quiet magic of rural life. In 2010 I discovered an abandoned house in the neighborhood of Karashka. It was built in 1921—weathered, half-collapsed, forgotten—but when I first saw it, I didn’t just see ruins. I saw a story waiting to be told again. I saw heritage that deserved to be preserved. And I saw a home.

What inspired me to buy and restore this old house wasn’t just its structure—it was its soul. As someone who works with design, I have always believed that the most beautiful spaces are those that are in harmony with nature. This house, with its stone base, wooden beams, and thick whitewashed walls, had layers of history in every crack. Bringing it back to life felt like a calling.

Karashka is not just a vacation home. It’s a place where time slows down. Where mornings are quiet except for the birds, and windows open to views of green hills of the most beautiful part of Central Balkan National Park . Where the roof is still covered in old stone tiles, and the barn now serves as a communal space for guests to share meals or simply sit and breathe.

What makes it special for guests is that it’s real. There’s no artificial “rustic style” here—it’s the real countryside. I kept very carefully the original materials and layout wherever possible, and every decision was guided by respect for the traditional way of building. Guests, especially those from places like Germany, Belgium and Spain often tell me they find something deeply grounding here. They come looking for authenticity and leave with a deeper sense of connection—not just to Bulgaria, but to a slower, more meaningful rhythm of rural life.

But it’s not just the house that makes Karashka magical—it’s the landscape. The house sits on the edge of the Balkan Mountains, and the views are simply stunning. From the garden or even through the windows, you can see endless rolling hills covered in forest. On clear days, the horizon stretches into layers of green and blue, peaceful and untouched.

The area is also full of wildlife. Deer, wild boar, foxes, and even eagles and bears are part of the natural rhythm here. If you’re lucky and quiet, you might spot them while drinking your morning coffee or walking the nearby trails. The biodiversity in this region is one of its hidden treasures, and it adds a real sense of harmony and wonder to every stay.

Being a host, for me, is not about offering accommodation—it’s about sharing a story. I welcome every guest not just into my house, but into a piece of my life’s work and passion. Each time someone sits under the old grapevine, explores the woods, or rests in the wooden barn, I feel like I’ve helped them experience something rare and honest.

Karashka is a place to disconnect, but also to rediscover. And I’m grateful that through it, I can give a second life to an old house—honoring the principles of sustainable architecture—and offer my guests a chance to feel something unforgettable.

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