Orpheus peak - Hiking

The Rhodopes mountains have rich cultural heritage, including ancient Thracian sites, medieval castles, churches, monasteries. Picturesque villages with traditional Bulgarian architecture from the 18th and 19th centuries. In fact the mountain range gives its name to the terrestrial ecoregion Rodope montane. The mixed forests that belongs in the temperate broadleaf and mixed forests biome and the Palearctic realm.
Also the area is especially remarkable for its karst areas with its deep river gorges, large caves and specific sculpted forms.

Orpheus Peak is (2188 m – 7178 ft) above sea level, it is the second highest in the Rhodopes. The summit Orpheus is extremely panoramic and can be reached relatively quickly and easily from The village of Gela.
The village of Gela is located at the foot of the most majestic peaks in the Rhodopes – Golyam Perelik peak, Orpheus peak and Turlata peak. this small village with a population of 98 inhabitants has gathered centuries of history and beautiful legends. The legend said that the village of Gela to be the birthplace of Orpheus.

The name of the mythical Thracian singer is associated with many legends here – about the Devil’s Throat cave, about the lands around the village of Gela. The nearby peak bears his name, as well as a flower that grows only in these places. The history of the village of Gela begins more than 3300 years ago. It is considered one of the cradles of European civilization and was inhabited in ancient times by the richest members of the Thracian tribe Bessi.

In Roman times, the village of Gela was an important cultural, commercial and defense center. Mount Turlata was a fortress, the remains of which can still be seen from the top. And everywhere around the village you can see ancient Roman roads that connected the Aegean cities with the Upper Thracian lowlands.