Rila Monastery Nature Park Management Plan - part - usaid

February 2004
Rila Monastery Nature Park
Management Plan (Draft) – Appendices
2004 - 2013
391
Appendix № 23
Description of the Recreation Facilities in the Rila Monastery Nature Park
The area with the highest concentration of human impact is along both banks of the
Rilska River between Pastra village and the Kirilova poliana locality. Most
communications (roads, power lines and telephone lines), and tourist facilities,
monuments of culture and holy places are concentrated there.
The development of this area concerns completely or partially the objectives of three
zones and is based on the following guidelines:
1. consideration of the admissible loading levels;
2. priority – protection of nature and of monuments of religion and culture;
3. minimum damage of the ecosystems;
4. balance between revenue generating activities and nature conservation;
5. creation of employment for the local communities;
6. efficient control on the tourist flow and its impact.
The area indicated above contains a range of territorial and functional complexes,
some of which comprise individual sites. The vision about the purpose, image and
composition, and about certain other characteristics of the complexes and sites are
described as follows.
Description of the Brichebor Complex
The Brichebor complex will be built near the confluence of Rilska and Iliyna Rivers.
Provisions are made for a new parking site to take most of the vehicles and, therefore,
reduce traffic around the Monastery. During the busy summer days and weekends
park automobiles will travel to the Monastery and to the sites further along the valley
towards the Kirilova poliana locality. A visitor center and an ethnographic complex
will be constructed near the parking lot for the following:
(1) The visitor center will present information about the nature park and about
its specific cultural, historic and religious values. It will illustrate the
history of the Monastery and its role in the history of Bulgaria and in
preserving the orthodox faith and values. The center will provide visitors
with information about the nature in the Park, about tourist trails and
night-time accommodation.
(2) The ethnographic complex will present the local cultural heritage,
traditions and crafts. Suitable crafts will be presented, animal farming
examples, and the visitors will be able to take part in traditional rural
practices.
The Brichebor complex will also be a transport center for access to all other parts of
the nature park. It will provide various types of transportation such as horses, carts,
bicycles, automobiles, or the visitors can use the hiking trails starting there.