Parangalitza

The reserve spans 1487 hectares within Rila National Park, featuring primary forests of Norway spruce and various pine species at elevations between 1480 and 2485 meters.

The Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture designated Parangalitza as a protected territory in 1933, making it the second oldest nature reserve in the country.

The name Parangalitza originates from Greek language and translates to protected place, reflecting its status during the Ottoman period when access required Sultan permission.

Located in Blagoevgrad Municipality, visitors can access the reserve through marked trails starting from either Bodrost Hut or the village of Bistritsa.

The reserve contains some of Europe's oldest spruce forests, with trees reaching ages between 120 and 380 years and housing 290 species of vascular plants.

Inception: December 30, 1933

GPS coordinates: 42.17917,23.58528

Latest update: March 6, 2025 16:44