Nature Reserve of Kastrakli

The Nature Reserve of Kastrakli is located in the Western Rhodopes mountains, at the territory of Borino municipality, west of the village of Borino and 20 km away from town of Devin. It is situated at a high valley with altitude from 900 to 1290 meters. The area of the reserve is about 130 hectares.

Kastrakli was declared a nature reserve in the beginning of 1968 in order to to be preserved the ancient forest of pine trees, older than 200 years. There could be found also many beech and hornbeam trees, and more than 330 plants, including many rare and endemic species (as wild orchids) and many medicinal plants.

At the territory of the reserve there was developed a small pond (about 35 acres and a depth of 18 meters), which is filled by an underwater spring which is an interesting tourist attraction too.

Another interesting fact about the reserve is that here is the second place on the planet where, during the period May-July can be seen the largest gathering of more than 450 butterfly species - more than half known on the Earth. This is the reason here to be created a specialized museum of the butterfly.

Kastrakli area is a preferred destination for tourists and by several mountain trails they can go to the hut "Orpheus" and to the sight-seeing The Kemera bridge.