Parangalitza

Parangalitza is a biosphere reserve in the Rila mountains covering roughly 1500 hectares within Rila National Park. The area is dominated by old spruce forests and stretches from 1480 to 2485 meters elevation with various pine species present.

The area was protected by the Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture in 1933, making it the second oldest nature reserve in the country.

The name comes from Greek and means protected place, a reference to its importance during Ottoman times when entry required special permission from authorities.

The reserve sits in Blagoevgrad Municipality and is accessible via marked trails from Bodrost Hut or the village of Bistritsa. Summer and early fall are best for visiting when the trails are easiest to follow.

The reserve holds some of Europe's oldest spruce forests with trees ranging from 120 to 380 years old. These forests also harbor roughly 290 species of flowering plants and diverse wildlife.