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Panichishte Ski village is located in the Rila mountains (Southwest Bulgaria) at 1,400 m above sea level near the town of Separeva Banya. Ski Panichishte for a quieter and cheaper ski experience than nearby Borovets. With new investment in modern lifts and high end accommodation in the form of Seven Rila Lakes resort and others, Panichishte will set the standard for sohpisticated ski and mountain tourism. Regular transportation is available from Sapareva Banya and departs from the Tourists Information Centre. The village has hotel options to suit all types of tourist, many with fine bars and restaurants. Be sure to visit the Rila National Park Visitors Center located in the resort. The resort operates all year round. There are Alpine ski-tracks for sleigh contests.
Ski Lifts and pistes are as follows: |
"Bekyara" - for mountain skis. 470m. equipped with a drag lift with a capacity of 280 people/hour. Base located directly across from Restaurant Eleniite.
"Ajdena" - Ski slope of 400 meters and drag lift with a capacity of 250 people/hour. Includes the children`s baby ski run.
From Pionerska Lodge: 400 meter ski run with drag lift of 350 people/hour capacity. Natural sledding run of 1,130meters.
From Severn Lakes Lodge: 300 meter ski run with baby lift with 250 people/hour capacity.
From Rila Lakes Lodge: 950 meter ski run with a drag lift with 700 people/hour capacity.
Under construction is the new 2 person chair lift which will start operation for the 2008/2009 ski season. With a total length of 2,200 m and capacity of 960 persons per hour it runs from the Pionerska chalet to Rila Lakes hut.
Further lifts are at planning stage which will include initially one lift from Sapareva Banya town up to the Panichishte ski region
Cross Country Distance Training Run is located just below the Dry Lake training area. This run will soon is equipped with shooting platforms for biathlon training.
Ski and snowboard equipment rental and tuition from qualified ski instructors are available at the resort.
The Rila National Park Visitor’s Centre in the Panichishte Resort
This was created with funding from the PHARE Program of the European Union under the direction of the Ministry of Environment and Water. It is designed after some of the most famous visitor centres found in reserves and national parks around the world. It is the first such park centre created in Bulgaria.
As Panichishte is the largest natural gateway to the heart of Rila Mountains the visitors’ centre is very well located. Many of the most popular hiking trails on Rila start or pass through Panichishte. Trails to the Seven Lakes, Skakavica Reserve and Waterfall, Malyovitsa, Borovets and the most spiritual and cultural monument in Bulgaria, the Rila Monastery. For more details on hiking routes please go to that section on this site.
The focus of the visitor's centre is to offer visitors all the information they may require on the National Park Rila. It also serves to educate visitors on the rich variety of plant and animal species that live on the mountain through educational materials, programs and events connected to the surrounding nature. The centre also helps to promote ecologically sensitive tourism and awareness of activities within the park boundaries. The centre blends in with its location and reflects the natural contours of the mountain.
At the Rila National Park Visitor’s Centre you can arrange discussions concerning the local flora and fauna, watch films, find necessary information regarding tourism trails on Rila, organise mountain guides, make reservations or simply have a coffee or tea on the terrace cafe. Maps, postcards, souvenirs, film and toiletries can be purchased in the small store on the first floor. Newspapers and magazines are also available here. The visitor's centre is simply the heart of Panichishte and should not be missed.
Quick facts about Village of Panichishte :
In Bulgarian Alphabets: Паничище
Location: South-West Bulgaria
Altitude: 1,350m above sea level
Province: Kyustendil District
Municipality: Sapareva banya Municipality
Population of Village of Panichishte: 7 inhabitants (as of 01/01/2007)
Phone code of Village of Panichishte: 0707 from Bulgaria, 00359707 from outside
Other villages and resorts in Sapareva banya municipality: Village of Ovchartsi, Village of Panichishte, Village of Resilovo, Town of Sapareva banya, Village of Saparevo
Panichishte resort offers accommodation in several hotels and hostels. Go to hotels section for details.
Panichishte stunning location makes for the largest natural opening to the heart of Rila Mountain. Many of the most popular hiking trails start or pass through Panichishte. On the Rila Mountian range there are hiking trails to the Seven Lakes, Skakavitza Reserve and Waterfall, Maliovitza, Borovets and The Rila Monastery.
