Pavolche: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

Pavolche is located in Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park, in the foothills of Vratsa Mountain and on rugged terrain. Anyone wishing to rent a holiday apartment in Pavolche can then continue their accommodation search.

Nature

Three waterfalls are recorded in the area around Pavolche. Shopkata is described as the largest of the three waterfalls in Pavolche and is 77 metres high. Near Shopkata, rock formations resemble human and animal figures; those mentioned are Sloncheto, Alyosha, Maykata and Dyado Yancho. The area also contains a porous limestone deposit known locally as bigor.

Pukoya is described as one of Bulgaria’s deepest caves and has a depth of 156 metres. Kelerer's Centranthus grows below Vezhdata; its occurrence is reported worldwide in only two places: Pavolche and Pirin National Park. Above Pavolche, a natural beehive lies in a rock niche.

Paths

On the way from Pavolche towards Okolchitsa, you reach the Krushovski Spring after about one kilometre on almost level ground. A path marked with a red arrow leads from the centre of Pavolche to the summit of Okolchitsa in about 1.5 hours. From the Krushovski Spring, the left-hand path reaches the Okolchitsa Monument in about 20 minutes.

History and Culture

The Kopana Mound revealed a Thracian warrior burial with weapons. The remains of a large medieval settlement and its necropolis were found in the Selishte locality. There is a Thracian burial-mound necropolis in the Pavolche area. A monument to those who fell in wars stands in the courtyard of the Church of St Ivan Rilski.

The Church of St Ivan Rilski was reconsecrated on 30 May 2002 and reopened to Orthodox Christians. It is described as being open to visitors to Pavolche. Pavolche also maintains a St Elijah kurban tradition associated with protection from hail. A second kurban in Pavolche is held for the feast of St Ivan Rilski for the health of local residents.

Pavolche is connected with the route of Hristo Botev’s detachment. At the place known as Kravavi Kamak, a memorial plaque commemorates three fallen members of the detachment; flowers are laid there during the annual Botev commemorations.

Local Character

A recipe from Pavolche calls for dried peppers filled with finely chopped beans and seasoned with savory, parsley and salt. For travelling there, Pavolche is described as accessible from Vratsa by car and from Vratsa Bus Station by bus.

For comparison with another place, you can continue to Sgorigrad.

For the higher-level travel overview: Vratza.