Sarnitsa, city in Sarnitsa municipality, Pazardzhik oblast, Bulgaria
Sarnitsa is a small town in the Western Rhodopes situated at about 1250 meters elevation. The town sits in a green mountain region with dense forests of pines and spruces, along with the nearby Dospriat Reservoir. A river called Dospriat flows beside the town and carries its water into the dam.
Sarnitsa was originally a village under Devinska administration before briefly gaining independent municipality status in the 1970s. The town received its official status as an independent town in 2003, marking a significant turning point in its development. The construction of the Dospriat Dam in the 1960s was a major event that shaped the region's economic development.
The name Sarnitsa comes from a local legend where early visitors compared the place's beauty to the French city of Nice. The inhabitants are predominantly of Bulgarito-Muslim origin and maintain their traditions through customs passed down across generations, such as leaving fountains or gazebos as inheritance. The town features three mosques built through voluntary contributions from the community.
The best way to explore Sarnitsa is on foot through quiet streets with local cafes and shops. Several hiking trails lead into the surrounding mountain landscape, including the Sarnitsa Eye Ecopath, which leads to the summit with panoramic views and is best visited in the morning.
Visitors can discover a phenomenon called Pobity Kamak, a roughly four-meter-high stone column that mysteriously protrudes from the ground and puzzles scientists to this day. Another fascinating feature is the Frog Stone, a rock formation shaped as if stepping into the river.
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