Dobrinishte is a small resort town surrounded by 3 mountains – Pirin, Rila and Rhodopes. The mountainous location and the presence of an invaluable natural resource – mineral water – make it an attractive center for tourism. Choosing a hotel in Dobrinishte, you can combine the pleasure of spa relaxation with mineral water and mountain activities.
In winter, you can take advantage of the ski slopes in Bansko, which is only 6 km away. from Dobrinishte. The ski slopes in Dobrinishte provide an excellent opportunity for winter sports, especially biathlon.
Spring, summer and autumn are extremely beautiful and attractive in this picturesque mountain town. Dobrinishte becomes the starting point of many mountain routes along well-maintained mountain eco-trails in the Pirin Mountains.
Here are some ideas for interesting places and eco-trails, with which you can give a new dimension to your full vacation in Dobrinishte.
Monastery “St. Pantaleimon’
Spiritual purification, emotional delight and a toning walk – this is how the eco-trail to the fondly called “Obidim monastery” – the monastery of “St. Pantaleimon” near Dobrinishte. The holy place is 4 km away. distance from the last houses in the direction of Gotse Delchev hut. The intersection on the left of the road is surprisingly steep. You can go by car. The forest road is good. But if you really love nature, get ready for a picnic and a whole day in the Pirin forests. The monastery is closed during the winter and transitional seasons: spring and autumn, but in the summer it is a magical place.
The monastery is revered by the two villages: Dobrinishte and Obidim, which share their village feasts here: residents of Obidim celebrate on the summer Athanasov Day /July 5/ and Assumption /August 15/, and those of Dobrinishte on Nativity /September 8/. The temple feast of St. Pantaleimon is on July 27.
The monastery was built on a road, on a naturally fortified place on three sides, elevated and with steep slopes above the Retiže River. This is the old foothill road leading to the White Sea, traced by the ancient Romans. It leads to Obidim – a very old settlement built on a plateau in Pirin. The root of the word is Old Bulgarian “obvidya” and means to inspect, inspect. In the extremely lively local dialects, the verb “offend” is understood as to visit, to see. The word “retige” itself is also interesting. It is a Turkicized form of the Old Bulgarian word “ratitsa”, with the root “rat” – fight, battle, destruction and also diligent, fast, agile, violent. The word absolutely fits a mountain river, breaking through between rocks, descending headlong down to the waters of the Mesta River.
Before the monastery there is a spring with clear mountain water under the thick shade of beech trees. A large wooden gate opens to a wide courtyard, in which are located a house and a three-story building for the accommodation of pilgrims, benches and tables for sitting, a small church.
The sanctuary of the monastery is the icon St. Mother of God “Worthy est- Omilenia”
She herself finds the way to the newly built monastery “St. Athanasius of Alexandria”, although it was intended as a donation for another temple. In the frosty winter of 1909 an Athenian monk carrying the icon finds a final resting place in the monastery. Thus, “by the favor of the Queen of Heaven and the wonderful image”, the holy icon remains as a “free gift” from the Russian Svetogorsk desert dwellers who sent it.
“Worthy Eat” is a hymn of praise to the Virgin, an angelic song miraculously sent through Archangel Gabriel to the Athenian monks. The original icon of the Mother of God is worthy, whose holy copy is in the temple of the Obidim monastery, today it is located in the altar of the temple “Protast” in Kareia, Athos. The church holiday “Eat Worthily” is celebrated on June 11.
You can visit in Dobrinishte also the temples: “St. St. Peter and Paul”, “Assumption of St. Virgin”, “St.St. Cosmas and Damian”, “St. Marina”.
The local people are Christ-loving, which is reflected in recent years in the gilding of the domes of the central church and the restoration of the old church “St. The Virgin”. In the church “St. St. Peter and Paul” has another shrine: the icon “Holy Virgin Gatekeeper”, opening the doors to God, guide and protector.
Obidim village
From the monastery of St. Pantaleimon can be walked to the village of Obidim through the forest. The distance is 11 km. And from there on an asphalt road to go down to the village of Mesta and the main road to Dobrinishte. In this case, you might really need a car, but for a dirt road. The village is picturesquely elevated above the surrounding moors. It is famous for its unwavering and fighting spirit, for which it paid a heavy price in the past. The sanctuary is the church “St. Nikolay the Miracleworker”. Obidim still has natives. Due to the difficult livelihood, many of them live in Bansko, where they are known as extremely hardworking people. As a genotype, they are quite different from the surrounding villages, which is why they arouse great interest. They are large and stocky, with light blond to reddish hair, light eyes.
A walk in Dobrinishte along the riverbed of the Disilitsa River
Few guests of Dobrinishte know about the river Disilitsa. It starts from an incredibly beautiful place – Lake Disilitsa, hidden high in Pirin between Bezbog, Polezhan and Disilitsa peaks. The clear waters of the river rush towards the valley between rocks and squats, between banks overgrown with the most delicious lingonberries and through pine forests. Avid anglers love this river, rich in mountain trout. The Disilitsa River crosses the town in the eastern part.
If you want to feel the life along the river, we recommend a walk along the long street behind the “Kiril and Methodius” primary school in Dobrinishte. It runs along the stone-built riverbed of Disilitsa. You can feel the freshness, and the small gardens with flowers and vegetables of the local people attract curious glances.
Before leaving the town, a large wooden washhouse has been built on the river for washing woven rugs, fringes and blankets. Old walnut trees provide thick shade, and fans of homemade lemonade can pick from the most fragrant and large elderflowers in early June. The walk can continue after the bridge over the river along the asphalt road to Ribarnika / for about an hour’s walk/. The fishmonger has existed since 1939. and is associated with the story of Ivan Kozarev, known as the first partisan in Bulgaria. Today it is a nice fish restaurant with pools for mountain trout, through which the waters of the Disilitsa River pass. Fishing and takeaway fish available.
A place for the best picnic
Once you’ve stocked up on fresh trout or the popular meat sudzus, kravavica, smenka, steaks and meatballs, there’s nothing left for you to do but organize the perfect picnic. The place is remarkable, built by the town hall in Dobrinishte. It is located to the right of the asphalt road before Gotse Delchev hut. On a wide meadow, open to the east and shady at noon, there are 4 beautiful gazebos, a fountain and a large grill. There is a place to park cars and for children to play. A mountain stream flows nearby. The picnic is free to use, but with the great commitment that everyone cleans up and leaves no litter.
In the month of July, there is one of the largest deposits of mountain herbs (oregano and St. John’s wort) and bellflowers (wild strawberries).
Route Dobrinishte – Hut Gotse Delchev
With the convenience of cars, modern man simply forgets what it’s like to move with both feet in a given direction. Walking is an opportunity for greater connection with nature, with the environment and with the people with whom we share our path. At the same time, it is psychotherapy, stress prevention and a lesson in personal relationships. Apparently, many guests of Dobrinishte do not have this patience, which is why the old footpath from the town to the area of Logovete has already been lost. But still, for convinced mountain tourists, we give information that the route lasts about two and a half hours.
The Nameless town near Dobrinishte
The Nameless town is one of the sights of Dobrinishte that is worth visiting.
It is located 4 km. southeast of Dobrinishte in the direction of Bansko, in the “St. Nikola” area.
Accidental excavations during the restoration of the “St. Nicholas” chapel revealed amazing facts – in this place, on an area of 25 decares, there was a rich and populous settlement that existed for more than 3500 years.
The discovered skeletons with impressive dimensions for their time – about 2 m., suggest that it was there that the Thracian tribe Dai lived, described by Homer as brave and majestic warriors, attracted as allies in the Greek polis during the wars.
The discovered coins from the II – XVII century period and glass vessels testify to material prosperity, and the many artifacts, ornaments, tools and weapons – to an active social life.
There are no legends, lore or historiography about the city’s existence, so it remains known as the “Nameless City” – a place without a name but full of history.
Walking routes from Gotse Delchev hut
We recommend hiring a local guide as they are not marked, although easily located and along a forest road.
- To the Swamp
- To Ivan Kozarev’s fountain
- Next to Harami well
- To Shirokata Polyana and the spring area
- To Dzhunjur fountain – the coldest spring in Pirin
- To the Bezbog hut along the serpentines of the ski road
For more information, follow the link:
https://ruskovets.com/marshruti-ot-dobrinishte-do-hizha-gotse-delchev/
Do not miss to enjoy the freshness of nature near Dobrinishte. Eco-trails and green beauty, clean mountain air and healing mineral water are good reasons to choose Dobrinishte for your dream holiday.
