Orpheus hut is located in the Topliya Izvor area, near the village of Borino in the Western Rhodope Mountains. I visited it a few days ago, and the pleasant feeling from my stay there has stayed with me.
The hut is situated within the Kastrakli Reserve at an altitude of 1,190 meters. The reserve is known as the "Kingdom of Butterflies," as over 400 species can be found within its territory. It is nestled among majestic, centuries-old trees and features a vast meadow that is also suitable for camping.
The hut was built in 1941 as a forestry station. For a brief period, it also served as a military barracks. Today, the facility comprises three buildings with a total of 40 beds. Each building is equipped with indoor bathroom and toilet facilities.
Building 1 - This is my favorite part of the hut, which is built primarily from materials found in the forest. The host smiles as he recounts how he used to tell the carpenter back in the day: "Come on, let's go into the forest to gather the beds." Authentic woodworking techniques were used to craft the beds, without the use of metal nails.
I was particularly struck by the bedside lamps. They were crafted from small branches with lanterns perched upon them. The host explained that the idea was to evoke the atmosphere of sleeping outdoors鈥攁s if you had reached your bed in the forest, hung your lantern on a nearby tree, and drifted off to sleep.
A large terrace offers a beautiful view of the meadow, the surrounding Rhodope ridges, and the forest.
Building 2 - Single-story building with an attic.
Building 3 - A two-story building housing a traditional tavern.
The mountain hut has a kitchen, a dining room, and a snack bar.
The hut has a small pond with a wooden platform in front, which is used for raising trout.
The hut lies along the route of the international E-8 hiking trail.
The host shared plans to build a "soaking pool"鈥攁 small pool where guests can relax outdoors. He has even marked out its shape with stones. We look forward to seeing how he goes about it.
Thank you for stopping by!
sourse: forgottenbulgaria.com