Smolyan Province

The Oblast Smolyan ( Bulgarian Област Смолян ) is a political-administrative county in the south of the Republic of Bulgaria. Administrative center is the city of Smolyan, 1010 meters above sea level ( the highest town in Bulgaria ).

The district is bordered by Greece and is located in the Rhodope Mountains. The name dates back to the early Slavic people of Smoljanen in southern Bulgaria. By 1912, the region belonged as an administrative unit Ismilian to the Ottoman Empire and still is one of the centers of Islam in Bulgaria.

Population

87 % of the population in the province identify themselves as Bulgarians, 4.4% Turks, and more than 7% give no details.

About 42 % of the population account for Muslim Bulgarians ( Pomaks ), although speak Bulgarian, but are often confused with the Turkish minority. In religious terms have 2001 58.800 of 140.000 inhabitants as Muslims, but only 6,200 known as Turks. The settlement area of ​​the Pomaks is made across the border as far as Western Thrace continued on the Greek side.

About 30 % of the population are Christian Orthodox Bulgarians and 28 % of the population be no religion.

In addition to Smolyan ( 32,000 inhabitants, in the early 1990s still 40,000 ) includes the District seven other cities:

Communities

The Smolyan Oblast is divided into the following municipalities ( общини / obtschini ) to:

Tourism

The district is a popular tourist destination in the winter and summer months. The winter sports area of Pamporovo has grown rapidly in recent years. In the summer there are very good conditions for hiking tourism. In January 2010, the border crossing Slatograd -Thermes on the Bulgarian- Greek border was opened.

Every four years in August takes place the traditional Rozhen Festival of Bulgarian folk music.

The district capital is the home of the football club Rodopa Smolyan.