Kardzhali Province, Bulgaria

Kardzhali Province is one of the 28 regions of Bulgaria. It occupies an area of 3209.1 km2 and has a population of 149,661 people (according to express data from the 2011 census). The postal codes of the settlements in Kardzhali region are from 6600 (for the city of Kardzhali) to 6999. Its vehicle code is K.

 

Cities

Kardzhali

Perperikon

Municipality of Ardino
Avramovo, Ardino, Ahryansko, Bashevo, Bistrogled, Bogatino, Borovitsa, Brezen, Byal Izvor, Hlavnik, Golobrad, Gorno Prahovo, Garbishte, Dedino, Doirantsi, Dolno Prahovo, Dyadovtsi, Enyovche, Zhaltusha, Iskra, Kitnitsa, Kroyachevo, Latinka, Levtsi . Red rock, Chernihovo, Chubrika, Yablkovets

Jebel Municipality
Albanians, Brezhana, Easter, Vodenicharsko, Valkovich, General Geshevo, Jebel, Dobrintsi, Dushinkovo, Zhelodovo, Zhalti Rid, Zhaltika, Iliysko, Cossacks, Kamenyane, Kozitsa, Kontil, Kuptsite, Lebed, Mishevsko, Mrezhichko, Ovchevo, Prat, Plazishte, Podvryh, Polianets, Potoche, Pripek, Ridino, Rogozari, Rogozche, Rut, Rozhdensko, Skalina, Sunflower, Sofiatsi, Modren, Sipets, Telcharka, Tarnovtsi, Tyutyunche, Ustren, Cvyatovo, Tserkvitsa, Chakaltsi, Chereshka, Sterna, Yamino

Municipality of Kirkovo
Varben, Apriltsi, Benkovski, Burzeya, Bregovo, Varli Dol, Valchanka, Gorno Kapinovo, Gorski Izvor, Grivyak, Gorno Kirkovo, Dedets, Delvino, Jerovo, Dobromirtsi, Dolno Kapinovo, Domishte, Drangovo, Druzhintsi, Dryanova Glava, Dulitsa, Erovete, Zavoya, Zagorski, Zdravchets, Svetlen, Kayaloba, Kirkovo, Kitna, Kozlevo, Kosturino, Kran, Krilatitsa, Kukuryak, Kirchovsko, Kremen, Lozengradtsi, Malkoch, Medevtsi, Metlichina, Metlichka, Mogilane, Misting, Nane, Orlitsa, Ostrovets, Plovka, Horseshoe, Preseka, Priventsi, Privitsa, Plant, Samodiva, Samokitka, Sekirka, Sredsko, Elderishino, Starovo, Stomantsi, Strizhba, Tihomir, Fotinovo, Hadzhiysko, Tsarino, Chavka, Chakalarovo, Chichevo, Chorbadzhiyy, Shipok, Shoptsi, Shumnatsya, Yakovitsa, Ianino

Krumovgrad Municipality
Avren, Bagriltsi, Baratsi, Blagun, Boynik, Briagovets, Buk, Vransko, Golyama Chinka, Golyam Devesil, Golyam Kamenyane, Gorna Kula, Gorni Yurutsi, Grivka, Guliyka, Gulia, Devesilitsa, Devesilovo, Janka, Doborsko, Dolna Kula, Dolni Yurutsi . Sailors, Shepherds, Walnut, Oreshari, Padalo, Pashintsi, Wormwood, Iris, Cellar, Colonel Zhelyazovo, Potocharka, Potochnitsa, Ralichevo, Ribino, Rogach, Stream, Fairy, Sbor, Tit, Skalak, Sladkodum, Slivarka, Stari chal, Strajets Strangevo Cold Well

Municipality of Kardzhali
Airovo, Bagra, Bachtino, Beli Plast, Blenika, Bojak, Boino, Bolyartsi, Broch, Byala Polyana, Bialka, Veleshani, Visoka Visoka Polyana, Visegrad, Volovartsi, Varbentsi, Glavatartsi, Glukhar, Gnyazdovo, Golyama Bara, Gorna Fortress, Gaskovo, Dobrinovo, Dolishte, Dolna Kresto, Duzhdino, Duzhdovnitsa, Dungovo, Enchets, Ginzifovo, Zitarnik, Zaychino, Zvezdelina, Zvezden, Zvinitsa, Zvanika, Zvenche, Zelenikovo, Zimzelen, Zornitsa, Ivantsi, Ilinitsa, Kalinka, Kaloyantsi, Kamenartsi, Kobylyane, Kokiche , Kokoshane, Konevo, Kostino, Kraino selo, Krin, Krushevska, Krushka, Kardzhali, Kyosevo, Lisitsike, Levovo, Lylyakovo, Maistorovo, Makedonci, Martino, Miladinovo, Most, Murgovo, Mudrets, Nevestino, Nenkovo, Opalchensko, Oreshnitsa, Ostrovitsa, Snail, Panchevo, Penovo, Ash, Butterflies, Rooster, Povet, Bats, Precipice, Fallen, Rani list, Carvers, Ridovo, Rudina, Svatbare, Sevdalina, Saddle, Sister's, Gravel, Cliff, Rockhead, Sorrow, Snowflake, Sokolsko, Sokolane, Solishte, Sredinka, Old place, Strazhevtsi, Strahil voivoda, Stremovo, Stremtsi, Pattovo, Topolchane, Three mounds, Hodzhovtsi, Tsarevets, Chegantsi, Chereshitsa, Black rock, Chernivtsi, Chilik, Chiflik, Shiro field, Yerebitsa, Hawk

Municipality of Momchilgrad
Austa, Bagryanka, Balabanovo, Kamenets, Bivolyane, Vrelo, Gorsko Dyulevo, Gruevo, Gurgulitsa, Jelepsko, Drumche, Devintsi, Zagorsko, Zvezdel, Karamfil, Konche, Kos, Lale, Letovnik, Manchevo, Lily of the Valley, Momchilgrad, Nanovitsa, Neofit Bozvelievo , Obichnik, Pazartsi, Piyavets, Pleshintsi, Fastnik, Ptichar, Progress, Raven, Ralitsa, Sadovitsa, Svoboda, Sedefche, Sedlari, Sindeltsi, Sokolino, Syartsi, Sence, Tatul, Seagull, Kremenets, Chobanka, Chomakovo, Chukovo, Varhary, Yunatsi

Chernoochene Municipality
Bakalite, Bedrovo, Bezodno, Beli Vir, Besnurka, Bojurtsi, Borovsko, Basilitsa, Bostantsi, Barza Reka, Versko, Vodach, Vozhdovo, Voynovo, Vezel, Gabrovo, Daskalovo, Draganovo, Dushka, Dyadovsko, Zheleznik, Zhenda, Zhitnitsa, Yonchovo, Kableshkovo, Kanyak, Komuniga, Kopitnik, Kutsovo, Lyaskovo, Minzuhar, Murga, Nebeska, Novi pazar, Novoselische, Nochevo, Panichkovo, Patitsa, Petelovo, Pryaporets, Pchelarovo, Rusalina, Svobodinovo, Sokolite, Srednevo, Sredska, Strazhnitsa, Cherna Niva, Chernoochene, Apple, Sycamore

 

Location

The district occupies the northern slopes of the Eastern Rhodopes, on an area of about 3,200 square kilometers in the southeastern part of Bulgaria. It borders to the west with Smolensk region, to the north with Haskovo, to the south and southeast with the country's state border with Greece.

The border situation of the area predetermines a very good future development. The relief of the Kardzhali region is mountainous and semi-mountainous, strongly crossed by ridges and narrow valleys. The Arda River flows through the city itself. The most fertile soils are along the valleys of the Arda River and its tributaries and on the border with Haskovo Region.

 

Climatic features

The climate of the district is generally mild and humid, influenced by the Mediterranean. Characterized by mild winters, snowfalls are usually observed in the months of December, January and February, with snow cover hardly remaining. Summer is hot and dry, with temperatures often reaching 40ºC. Spring is warm and comes early, and autumn is characterized by numerous rainfalls.

Near the village of Kirkovo, in the "Varnitsi" area, there are several deposits of mineral water, one of which has been studied and captured.

 

Economy

Economically, the district has well-developed mechanical engineering, mining, non-ferrous metallurgy, tailoring, knitting, furniture, food industry, tourism and services.

The main crop for the district is oriental tobacco with an area of about 53,200 decares, which is also the main livelihood of the population in the region.

Logging is also very well developed in the District. The wood material is exported to the interior of the country and abroad, and the wood is not extensively processed in the region. There are several wood processing enterprises on the territory of the Region, which, with greater initiative and a favorable business environment and investments, have a real opportunity to expand their production, since the necessary raw material base exists.

The implementation of cross-border infrastructure projects and cross-border cooperation projects - especially after the opening of the "Makaza" border crossing point - will reveal new opportunities for intensive development of international tourism in the area. Employment in Kardzhali region is mainly in the field of industry, construction, trade, transport and services.

 

Education

Kardzhali region has a good network of educational institutions. The following number of kindergartens and educational institutions are functioning:

Kindergartens - 102
All-day kindergartens - 126
Primary schools - 12
Primary schools - 102
Secondary general education schools - 17
High school with teaching of foreign languages - 1
Professional schools - 14
Special schools - 2
Higher education institutions - 1
Home for raising and educating children deprived of parental care - 1

 

Recreation and tourism

The "Kardjali" dam is one of the three dams, along with "Studen Kladenets" and "Ivaylovgrad", which accumulate the tributaries of the Arda River. It is the second largest, and its construction is unique for the Balkan Peninsula.
Its wall is located 3 km from the city of Kardzhali and is one of the few that tower over the city itself. The dam is primarily used for generating electricity.

"Kardzhali" and "Studen Kladenets" are excellent places for rest, sports, tourism and entertainment. Many villas, restaurants and other amenities have been built there. Behind the wall of the "Cold Well" dam is the narrow canyon of the Arda River, called the Devil's Bridge.

The accelerated development of tourism in the future is determined by a number of favorable prerequisites - the beautiful and ecologically clean nature; the significant potential – especially for water sports of the attractive water areas of the dams in the district; the rich historical heritage; the suitable conditions for organized hunting tourism and others.

There are the excavations of Perperikon - an ancient sanctuary with a unique architecture, towering with its thick stone walls above Kardzhali. Throughout the mountain region there is an excellent network of tourist routes, including mountain huts and rest stations.

With the opening of the new Makaza border crossing point, new opportunities for intensive development of international tourism in the region will be revealed.

 

Transportation

Main road arteries in the district cover the following main directions. In the north-south direction passes the first-class road I-5, which is part of the international road E-85. There are two third-class roads in the direction of Haskovo and Ardino. The opening of the Makaza checkpoint will be of key importance for the district.

On this basis, it is expected that Corridor No. 9 through the Makasa Pass / the road Kardjali - Momchilgrad - Podkova - Xanthi /Greece/ will become a corridor of general regional importance in the Southern Balkans. It will connect Kardzhali with the town of Xanthi /Greece/, with the town of Alexandroupolis and other towns in the northern part of the Republic of Greece.

The district has an airport for helicopters, built in the eastern part of the town of Kardzhali. The airport has well-developed transport links with the railway. the train station, the bus station and the city itself. With successfully implemented infrastructure projects, the airport could play the role of an important transport hub, especially for the delivery of cargo shipments. It can be actively used in the implementation of projects of national importance - the high-mountain construction of the "Upper Arda" cascade and the construction of the road network along the European corridor No. 9.

In general, bus transport in Kardzhali region is not in good condition. The reasons for this are the outdated and depreciated vehicle fleet, the lack of sufficient financial means for maintenance, repair and purchase of new means of transport, as well as the poor condition of the road /municipal/ network, which leads to the rapid depreciation of the means of transport.