Balgarianovinite.com The 131st anniversary of the beginning of organized tourism in Bulgaria was marked on Sunday with a National Tourist Gathering on Cherni Vrah Peak, the highest peak of Vitosha Mountain.
The event was organized by the Bulgarian Tourist Union (BTU), the country’s oldest non-governmental organization, together with the Sofia – European Capital of Sport Foundation, the Marathon Association, Vitosha Nature Park and Sofia City Library.
The event began with a hike to Cherni Vrah along the route taken by Aleko Konstantinov and Dr Nikola Tantilov together with 300 nature enthusiasts in 1895. The hike had four starting points: the village of Zheleznitsa, Kumata Hut, Aleko Hut and Golden Bridges.
At the same time, the 20th anniversary edition of the Vitosha Run 2026 mountain race started from the National Palace of Culture (NDK) in Sofia, with Cherni Vrah as the finish.
The festive programme began with flowers being laid at the bas-relief of Aleko Konstantinov on Cherni Vrah to the sound of the Planinarska Pesen Choir.
BTU Chair Ventsislav Venev said that 131 years ago the “miracle called Bulgarian tourism” was founded there. He noted that many people today take pride in tourism in Bulgaria, but few actually do practical work to support it.
The winners of Vitosha Run 2026 were also awarded during the programme and presented on stage by skier Petar Pankov.
Hristo Tsvetkov won the men’s race, followed by Nikola Kondarev and Emil Yanchev. Bilserin Suleyman won the women’s event, with Maria Nikolova finishing second and Miryana Ivanova third.
Venev greeted the tourists and visitors to the National Tourist Gathering by recalling Aleko Konstantinov’s appeal 131 years ago for Bulgarians to devote part of their time to the “enchanting beauty of our wonderful nature”.
Vitosha Nature Park Directorate Director Sevdalina Dimitrova also addressed the gathering, saying it was both an honour and a responsibility for her and her team to share the celebration with visitors and representatives of tourist societies from across the country.
She stressed the continuous bond between people and nature and wished participants health, strength and determination to preserve the tradition and their love for nature, Vitosha and Bulgaria.
A congratulatory address from Tourism Minister Ilin Dimitrov was also read during the programme.
The event also honoured hikers who have climbed Bulgaria’s ten highest mountain peaks, while certificates were presented to tourist societies.
The National Tourist Gathering on Cherni Vrah was the culmination of three days of events marking the 131st anniversary of organized tourism in Bulgaria. The programme also included laying flowers at the monument to Aleko Konstantinov in Sofia and at the commemorative plaque in the garden in front of the Ivan Vazov National Theatre, from where the first organized hike to Cherni Vrah set off in 1895.
National Tourist Gathering on Cherni Vrah Peak Marks 131 Years of Organized Tourism in Bulgaria 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-08-30 13:06:00
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БЪЛГАРИЯ НОВИНИТЕ – ИНФОРМАЦИОННА АГЕНЦИЯ 2009-2026 2026-08-30 13:06:00