Gorna Malina: Hiking Trails, Culture and Hydropark
Accommodation in Gorna Malina
Gorna Malina offers a variety of reasons to explore: an eco-trail in the western Stara Planina, the writer Elin Pelin’s memorial house in Bailovo, a historic monument and the Windmills Hydropark. Nature, culture and water activities can also be different focal points within a single trip. When choosing a holiday apartment, it is therefore worth first considering which of these aspects of the municipality interests you most.
Landscape and trails in Gorna Malina
The municipality’s elevation ranges from 584 m in the area of Dolna Malina to 1,655 m at Mount Zvezdets (Shindarnika) in the area of Stragel. These reference points give a concrete impression of the range of landscapes. The Makotsevska also flows through the municipality. It is a right-bank tributary of the Lesnovska in the Iskar basin. Parts of the municipality belong to the BG0001043 “Etropole–Bailovo” protected area.
For an outing in the western Stara Planina, there is an eco-trail from Arabakonak Pass to the source of the Bebresh. It runs through the northern part of the municipality, in the area of Stragel, and is 8,915 m long. The traditional annual hike “In the Footsteps of Elin Pelin” is a different route: it starts in the centre of Bailovo and leads to the Manastir Caves. The one-way route is 10.5 km long and takes about 3.5 hours. Its length and approximate duration give you two concrete points of reference for planning your day.
Culture and special places
In 1977, on the occasion of the writer’s 100th birthday, Elin Pelin’s preserved house in Bailovo was converted into a museum. The Elin Pelin Memorial House features the exhibition “The Life and Work of Elin Pelin”. If you are interested in literature and the writer’s life, you can plan this visit as a cultural highlight of your trip. Bailovo is also the starting point for the annual hike to the Manastir Caves—two different reasons to explore the place.
The Manastir Caves are considered a rock sanctuary and an ancient astronomical observatory. Features mentioned there include rock drawings and bas-reliefs dating from 7,000 years ago. Another place with historical character is the Russian Victory Monument “Arabakonak”, a historical monument of national importance in Gorna Malina Municipality. Art lovers can discover a different perspective at the regional art festival “Malinale” in Gorna Malina, which presents sculpture, painting, graphic art, ceramics, posters, photography and textiles.
Water activities and choosing a location
The Windmills Hydropark is located at the entrance to the village of Gorna Malina, 20 kilometres from Sofia. It has six outdoor pools, including two for children, and also includes a lake for sport fishing. A variety of water activities are therefore the focus here. If you are mainly interested in visiting the Hydropark, you can consider Gorna Malina as a search location for your holiday apartment; for the hike and the Elin Pelin Memorial House, Bailovo is a separate place name to keep in mind when searching.
More places to search
If you would like to consider other places in addition to Gorna Malina as possible search destinations, here are the places in the municipality: Sarantsi, Gorna Malina, Makotsevo, Negushevo and Bailovo.
For the broader travel overview: Sofia Province / Sofia.
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