Choose a legal recreation zone, expect cold water and fast weather changes, and verify fishing or camping rules.
Stays 
Chech Explorer · CC BY-SA 3.0Places · Dospat and Sarnitsa
Dospat Reservoir
Язовир Доспат
A long high Rhodope reservoir reflects conifer forests, rounded ridges and the towns of Dospat and Sarnitsa.
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Visiting advice
Photos & short video
Bulgarian food
Local food →Local food
patatnik · klin · Smilyan beans · Rhodope kachamak
K kapustin / Wikimedia CommonsRegional · vegetarian
Patatnik
A fragrant Rhodope potato dish with onion and herbs, crisp outside and soft in the middle.
What's in it Grated potatoes, onion, mint or savory, salt and sometimes cheese.Yeasted pancakes
Katmi
Soft, slightly tangy pancakes traditionally cooked on a clay sach and served with sweet or salty fillings.
What's in it Flour, water or milk, yeast, eggs and salt; sometimes yogurt.
Wikimedia Commons contributorsWhole-roasted lamb · feast
Cheverme
A whole lamb turned slowly over wood fire for a communal Rhodope celebration.
What's in it Young lamb, salt and sometimes a simple herb or butter baste.
Wikimedia Commons contributorsDry-cured sausage
Lukanka
A flattened, air-dried sausage with a dense texture and warm spice, sliced thin as a meze.
What's in it Pork and beef, salt, black pepper, cumin and curing cultures in a natural casing.
Viktorija N. Ivanov / Wikimedia CommonsSalad · vegetarian
Shopska salad
The classic first order: tomatoes, cucumber and peppers under a generous snowy layer of white brined cheese.
What's in it Tomatoes, cucumber, roasted or fresh pepper, onion, parsley and sirene cheese.
Biso / Wikimedia CommonsBreakfast · pastry
Banitsa
Crisp filo layers wrapped around eggs, yogurt and white cheese—a warm Bulgarian breakfast staple.
What's in it Filo pastry, eggs, yogurt, sirene cheese and butter or oil.NEARBY
Public transport
Доспат и Сърница
© OpenStreetMap contributors · Open Database License · availability depends on local mapping
Map
Directions
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Directions
Buses and trains
First reach Dospat, Sarnitsa or Velingrad by train or intercity bus. Confirm the local bus in advance; when it does not match your return time, pre-book a licensed taxi for the last kilometres.
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Nearby places
Artkostov · CC BY-SA 4.0Shiroka LakaShiroka Laka
Широка лъка
Arched bridges, stone houses and the sound of kaba gaida preserve a living Rhodope village culture.
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Evgeni Dinev from Burgas, Bulgaria · CC BY 2.0TrigradTrigrad Gorge & Devil's Throat
Триградското ждрело и Дяволското гърло
Vertical marble walls funnel the road toward a cave where an underground waterfall roars.
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Gogotoooo · CC BY-SA 4.0YagodinaYagodina Cave & Eagle's Eye
Ягодинската пещера и Орлово око
A long decorated cave and high viewing platform reveal both the underground and panoramic Rhodopes.
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