The Town of Smolyan (altitude above sea level between 800 and 1000 m) occupies the larger part of the valley extension of the Cherna River, known as the Smolyan Hollow. The town is surrounded with green meadows and age-old forests. In 1960 the three neighbouring villages of Smolyan, Raikovo and Ustovo merged into a town, which was named Smolyan. The construction of the new town centre was completed in 1983. Buildings like the Planetarium, the Post Office, the Town Hall, and the Rhodopean Dramatic Theatre make up the core of the town.
     This mountain town combines modern construction with traditional Rhodope architecture. Smolyan is about 260 km south-east of Sofia, 103 km south of Plovdiv, 87 km west of Kurjali, 46 km south-east of Devin and 15 km south of Pamporovo Resort.
     Almost the whole area falls into the temperately continental climatic area, but the climate is considerably varied because of the relief's influence (altitude above sea level and orographical barriers, exposure of the slopes). The winters are soft and snowy, there are no long and severe cold spells, which is due to the fencing slopes on the west and the north. The summers are cool and damp, and the autumns are long and warm. The winds are very important for the formation of the climate. The east winds prevail, but in the transitional seasons and the winter the warm winds lodos and white wind are not an exception.
     The mountain character of the region favours the growth of Middle European plant species. The highest-situated forest belt is of spruce, Scotch pine and beech with an underforest of whortleberries. The hollow is occupied with herbaceous vegetation, which is strongly changed and cultivated. A landmark of the region is the old plane-tree, which was brought from the Aegean region in 1720. Hares, foxes, roes and wild boars live in the forests. The rivers in Smolyan's surroundings are full of trouts and barbels.
     There are numerous cultural and historical or merely attractive objects in Smolyan region. Chinar Nature Reserve (sycamore tree) - a 250-years old tree. The Planetarium is the biggest in Bulgaria. The Museum of the History of Mid-Rhodope Mountains, houses more than 150 000 exhibits. The Town Art Gallery accommodates thousands of masterpieces of artists and sculptors. In Raikovo Quarter: Pangalov's House - valuable architectural monument of culture dating back to 1860, Alibeev Konak - an old residential and agricultural complex in the upper part of the quarter. The Cheshitev's Housein the Cheshitska area - housing interesting typical Rnodope houses from the Revival Period in Doino Raikovo.
     Memorial and Charnel-House in honour of the inhabitants of Raikovo, who died for freedom. St. Nedelya Church (1836 e.) has a rich collections of icons. Mazolev's Drinking-Fountain bears the inscription, evidencing the first mention of the village. In Ustovo Quarter: Mednikarska Charshiya (the old coppersmith marketplace), Hadzhiivanov's House, which provided shelter to the headquarters of the Russian troops in the region during the War of Liberation (1877- 1878). The Sheremetev's, Takov's, Hadzhi- chonov's Houses are also within this area. The Kelyav's House bears the inscription of sergeant Parhomenko, which informs that some Cossacks from the First Squad of the II Regiment stayed there. St. Nikola Church is remarkable with its plentiful, rich wall paintings and original architecture. The new, modern centre of the town is a skilful combination of local traditions and existing environment. Its construction was completed in 1983. The town is also a university centre - it houses the Pedagogical Faculty of Plovdiv University "Paisii Hilendarski".

     Surrounding areas

     15 km to the north, up above the town is one of the biggest Bulgarian winter resorts - Pamporovo (refer to Rhodope Mountains related chapter herein). 10 km west of the centre of the town is the region of Smolyan Lakes, known as the "emerald eyes of the Rhodope Mountain". They totalled 20 in number, but presently there are only 7 lakes. The largest one of them - Bistroto Ezero, the so called "clear lake" - is also the deepest and the most beautiful. The whole region forms a natural park of forests, meadows, hotels, a chalet, chapels, lanes, chair lift to Mt. Snejanka (Pamporovo), picturesque vertical rocks. Smolyan Waterfall - on Kriva (Curved) River, which is the left tributary of Cherna River. The waterfall is 20 meters high and is in the immediate surroundings south-west of the town. 27 km south of Smolyan, in the valley of Arda River is the village of Mogilitsa. It has beautiful Revival Period houses, but the most interesting building is that of the Agoushev's Konak, built in 1843. It was intended for all the year round living (in opposition to the summer Agoushev's Konak in the Chereshovo Area). It has 221 windows, 86 doors and 24 chimneys. It is artistically decorated inside and outside, with wood-carvings on the ceiling, cupboards, railings and shelters. The Konak tower is flower- painted, and the internal and external architectural design, all in pine, walnut and cherry-wood is splendid piece of art of an unknown Rhodope master. According to the legend, his right hand was cut by Agoush, the owner of the Konak, to make sure that the master will not build another similar masterpiece of art. This is the only preserved medieval feudal castle on the Balkan Peninsula. There are some 20 caves in the vicinity of the village, the most interesting of them being the Ultsata (Uhlovitsa) Cave (3km east of the village) noted for its miraculous cascade lakes. The cave is easily accessible. 10 km north of the town is located the extremely interesting village of Momchilovtsi. Its authentic Rhodope architecture, the local historic-ethnographic museum, the interesting habits and traditions, its mild and pleasant climate in all seasons, the delicious local culinary gourmets, its fantastic nature, the availability of a number of family type of hotels and other appealing features turn the village into a special site of domestic and international tourism. At the middle of the road connecting Smolyan and Roudozem (28 km) is located Mt. Srednogorets (1262 m), called the Rhodope Mt. Shipka. In 1934 a 16-metre high magnificent memorial charnel-vault was erected in honour of the soldiers of the 21s' Sredna Gora Infantry Regiment commanded by the legendary Colonel Vladimir Serafimov. During the Balkan War, the above mentioned military unit, jointly with the population from the neighbouring villages led a heroic battle against the numerous regular Turkish troops, which were times more than the Bulgarians. Colonel Serafimov disobeyed the order of the Chief Command Unit to withdraw, declaring: "I will never betray to the enemies the villages, which have welcomed me as a Liberator just one day ago!" St. Atanas Monastery and the legendary peak of Kralyov Kamuk are located to the south in the Rhodope Ridge of Kainadina. Smolyan serves as a starting point for a number of tourist routes in the neighbouring hills and ridges of Western Rhodope Mountains (refer to the Rhodope Mountains related chapter herein). The town is also a centre of the emerging national recreation and tourist complex Orpheus, enclosing in its boundaries a significant part of the most beautiful Western Rhodope landscapes.