Samokov

Understand

With a population of about 24,000 (2021), Samokov is the center of Samokov Municipality, which is a part of Sofia Province (Oblast). The ski resort of Borovets is up in the mountain, 10 km (6.2 mi) to the south-east. Samokov lies in the Samokov Hollow, a high-altitude valley between the mountains of Plana to the north and Rila to the south. Right next to Samkov, on it eastern side, rises the relatively lower Shipochan ridge (1,100–1,300 m (3,600–4,300 ft) above sea level), a part of Western (Ihtimanska) Sredna Gora. The Iskar river - the longest river that runs entirely in Bulgaria - passes through Samokov in an almost perfectly straight line, south to north, before flowing into the largest artificial reservoir in the country, the Iskar Reservoir (15 km (9.3 mi) north of Samokov). Samokov's center and oldest parts are on the east bank of the river; the west bank has newer neighbourhoods and industrial objects. Samokov's name hints to its distant past as a town of iron-workers and craftsmen - it refers to the large water-powered trip hammers that were used to crush iron ore from the surrounding mountains and then forge the refined iron into bars for trade (translated literally, samo-kov means something like "self-[moving] forger"). You can see a few of the huge hammer-heads and a scale model in the local history museum, and there's also a full-scale reconstruction of such a forge in a local park.

Zahari Zograf Zahari Hristov or Hristovich (1810-1853) is one of the most celebrated icon-painters of the Bulgarian Revival period (the epithet "zograf" refers to his profession, from the Greek zográfos). He was born and died in Samokov, and both his father and his older brother were also painters of icons, part of an art movement later dubbed the "Samokov School" by scholars. Zahari Zograf's work can be seen in a number of churches and monasteries in Bulgaria (including the Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Transfiguration Monastery in Veliko Tarnov

Getting there

By bus There are multiple buses daily between Sofia and Samokov, but they start at the tiny and not very tourist-friendly Bus Station South (signs are in Bulgarian, the staff doesn't speak English). The line is served by a number of small private companies, so intervals between buses can be as short as half an hour. Travel time is around an hour, depending on traffic.

1 Bus Station (directly north-west of the pedestrian main square (Zahari Zograf Sqr)). Also the starting point of an hourly shuttle bus to Borovets. (updated Mar 2024)

By car From the north (Sofia): head east from the city centre on the large Tsarigradsko Shose Blvd. In the city outskirts, after passing through the large junction that leads to the airport, look on the south (right) side for an exit with signs to Samokov and Borovets. Follow Samokovsko Shose Rd south-east. On crossing the Sofia Ring Road it turns into National Road 82, which will take you to Samokov after passing by Lake Pancherevo and the Iskar Reservoir. Drive carefully - it's a mountain road and rockfalls are possible. Distance is about 60 km (37 mi), but it may take an hour depending on traffic and how carefully you drive. From the east (Plovdiv and Pazardzhik): if you are in Plovdiv, your options are either Motorway A1 (Trakia), or the old National Road 8 which also passes directly through Pazardzhik - both lead to Sofia via Ihtiman (Ихтиман, 90 or 100 km (56 or 62 mi) from Plovdiv). If you chose Road 8, you will face another choice when you reach the small mountain town of Kostenets (Костенец, 85 km (53 mi) from Plovdiv) - you can either proceed north to Ihtiman, or get off onto the high-altitude Road 82 to Borovets and Samokov. In Ihtiman, the other option is Road 822, which runs at a lower elevation, merging into Road 82 north of Samokov. From the west (incl. North Macedonia and Serbia): Road 62 connects Kyustendil to Samokov (80 km (50 mi), passing through Dupnitsa and its junction with Motorway A3 (Struma), which also pr

Getting around

It's not a large town, so moving on foot is perfectly viable. There's only one urban bus line (№1), and both its schedule and route are somewhat irregular (page in Bulgarian on the Municipality website, it runs Monday-Saturday).

See

The town itself is attractive in and around its centre but there's a few ugly tenement blocks that remind you of the communist past. The town is nicely isolated from the surrounding villages which include Dospei, Reliovo, Rayovo, Shipochene, Beli Iskar, Govedatsi and the spa village of Belchin Banya.

1 History Museum, ul. "Prof. Vasil Zahariev" 4 (you may have to ring the doorbell). Tu-Sa 08:30-12:00, 13:00-17:30 (closed Su M). Exhibitions include ancient and medieval artefacts, Samokov's past as metalworking and artisan centre (incl. glassmaking), early 20th century military history, an ethnographic collection of folk costumes and 19th century city clothing, and the Samokov Art School. It also has another, less-touristy website, but it's in Bulgarian. There's a statue of Zahari Zograf in front of the museum. The other sites managed by the museum are the Bayrakli Mosque, the town's Art Gallery, and the Petar Esov House (modern art gallery/atelier in an old house). Single site (e.g. the museum): adults 6 лв, children (6+ yrs) and pensioners 4 лв; daily pass for all sites (incl. Internet-based audio guide to Samokov sights): adults 8 лв, children and pensioners 6 лв; tour/lecture in "foreign language" (English?): 20 лв. (updated Feb 2024) Chitalishte-Monument Otets Paisiy (right in front of the museum) - the building was built between 1919 and 1923 to house the town's chitalishte (reading room/library/community centre), but also as a war memorial for the soldiers from Samokov and the surrounding villages who fell in the Balkan Wars and the First World War. The main facade is decorated with militaristic sculptures (eagles and medieval warriors), on two of the sides there are large slabs listing the names of the fallen in the specific battles. The name ("Father Pah-ih-see") refers to the monk Paisius of Hilendar, whose Slavo-Bulgarian History marked the beginning of the Bulgarian National Revival. Monument to Chakar Voyvoda (on the southern side of the chitalishte) - 1

Do

Motocross Circuit Ski Fishing, boating and other lake-related activities on the Iskar Reservoir Play golf in Ihtiman

Hiking Borovets is the starting point of one of the routes to Rila's highest peak, Musala (2,925.42 m (9,597.8 ft) above sea level), which is also the highest peak in Bulgaria and on the Balkans.

Buy

A daily fresh produce market and a big Monday market selling clothing, hardware, bric a brac, hooky watches and designer gear are well worth going to.

Eat

The town is well served with restaurants serving traditional Bulgarian cuisine such as Kavarma which is a delicious mildly spicy meat stew with peppers and onions.

Old House. Sonata.

Sleep

There are a few hotels and other lodgings in Samokov itself, but the real hotel concentration is in Borovets and the oth