2024-07-23 08:06:45
Thousands of people gathered over the weekend in the Malyovitsa resort complex for the first edition of the National Tourist Festival, organized by the Bulgarian Tourist Union.
At the famous “Mecha Polyana”, representatives of tourist associations, mountain choirs, participants in the movement “Know Bulgaria – 100 National Tourist Sites”, young and old mountaineers created a real celebration. Two specially organized multifunctional campsites welcomed the guests, and an educational mountain camp was organized for dozens of children.
A four-year-old girl made the first ascent of the 2,729 m high Maliovitsa peak on her own, for which she received the applause and congratulations of all the participants.
Within the framework of the festival, the second annual meeting of the holders of “Gold Badges” – the enthusiasts who managed to visit the 100 national tourist sites – was held in the “Alpinist” hotel. Many courses and hikes were also organized in orienteering, mountain running, first aid, safety measures in the mountains, getting to know and protecting plant and animal species in the area of Rila.
For everyone’s good mood, there was a rich festive program, and its presenter was the famous singer Vesela Boneva. The famous words of one of the founders of the tourist movement in our country, the writer Aleko Konstantinov, were recalled as the motto and meaning of the festival.
“Bulgarian, wish me life and health, so that I can lift the curtain that separates city life from the enchanting charms of our wild nature, and you will fall in love with this nature, as no youth has ever loved anyone. You have worked six days and dishonored your daily bread for the week. On the seventh day, don’t stop by the cafe or the pub. Aren’t you tired of the monotony: the smoke of cigarettes, the silly rattling of dice and billiard balls, the vulgar banter, the yawns, and that eternal feeling of some kind of dissatisfaction, and this frozen inertia, and this musty apathy—don’t you get tired of it? Listen to me: devote one of the summer and holiday days to nature, and if you go with me, I assure you, you will not stay in the city for a single good holiday day”
For the guests of the festival special culinary care was taken by chef Angel Angelov, who for three days prepared delicious and traditional dishes in his Yunashki tigan, also known as the largest Bulgarian pan.
The first National Tourist Festival of Maliovitsa became a true celebration of the mountain spirit and the love and care for nature. The event not only strengthened the tourism community in our country, but also created unique memories and many new friendships.
Its success portends that this festival will become an important tradition, and everyone who has glimpsed the wonderful beauty of Maliovitsa asks themselves the famous question of Aleko Konstantinov from his essay dedicated to the Bulgarian mountains – “What? Is it Switzerland?…”