Today, the Central Balkan National Park celebrates
31 October 2025
On this date in 1991, by order of the Minister of Environment, the Central Balkan was established. The declaration of the Protected Area is aimed at preserving for the benefit of society the ecosystems characteristic of the high parts of the Balkans, rich species diversity, the habitats of rare and endangered communities and remarkable landscapes.
With an area of just over 72,000 ha, it is one of the largest protected areas in our country. It covers the highest parts of the Central Stara Planina, including three parts of the mountain range - Zlatishko-Tetevenska, Troyanska Planina and Kaloferska Planina.
Within the boundaries of the Park, there are nine reserves - "Boatin", "Tsarichina", "Dzhendema", "Steneto", "Peeshti Skali", "Sokolna", "Stara Reka", "Severen Dzhendem" and "Kozya Stena", which are protected areas with the highest protection regime according to Bulgarian legislation.
Thanks to the typical mountain relief and inaccessibility, the Central Balkan National Park offers preserved virgin forests, impressive rock formations, beautiful waterfalls, rare, endangered and endemic species.
The Central Balkan National Park has won a number of international awards. The untouched old beech forests in the nine reserves of the Park are highly appreciated and in 2017 were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the serial site "Old and Primary Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions in Europe".
The national park becomes an essential part of the Central Balkan Biosphere Park - a recognition of the preserved nature and cultural identity of the region. The park, together with its reserves, forms the core and buffer zones of the Biosphere Park - the area intended for the protection of preserved nature, and the municipalities around the NP - Karlovo, Troyan, Sevlievo, Pavel Banya and Anton form the so-called transition zone, where the cultural values of the local community with their characteristic way of life, culture, crafts and traditions are preserved to this day and are developed.
Among the most significant international awards is the European Diploma for Protected Areas awarded in 2009 by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
The park is also part of the European ecological network "Natura 2000" - Protected Area "Central Balkan", declared under the Directives for the Conservation of Birds and for the Conservation of Habitats.
The management of the Park is carried out by the Directorate "Central Balkan NP" - the city of Gabrovo, with the current director Georgi Krastev. The Park Directorate is an independent legal entity supported by the budget and directly subordinate to the Minister of Environment and Water.
With an area of just over 72,000 ha, it is one of the largest protected areas in our country. It covers the highest parts of the Central Stara Planina, including three parts of the mountain range - Zlatishko-Tetevenska, Troyanska Planina and Kaloferska Planina.
Within the boundaries of the Park, there are nine reserves - "Boatin", "Tsarichina", "Dzhendema", "Steneto", "Peeshti Skali", "Sokolna", "Stara Reka", "Severen Dzhendem" and "Kozya Stena", which are protected areas with the highest protection regime according to Bulgarian legislation.
Thanks to the typical mountain relief and inaccessibility, the Central Balkan National Park offers preserved virgin forests, impressive rock formations, beautiful waterfalls, rare, endangered and endemic species.
The Central Balkan National Park has won a number of international awards. The untouched old beech forests in the nine reserves of the Park are highly appreciated and in 2017 were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the serial site "Old and Primary Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions in Europe".
The national park becomes an essential part of the Central Balkan Biosphere Park - a recognition of the preserved nature and cultural identity of the region. The park, together with its reserves, forms the core and buffer zones of the Biosphere Park - the area intended for the protection of preserved nature, and the municipalities around the NP - Karlovo, Troyan, Sevlievo, Pavel Banya and Anton form the so-called transition zone, where the cultural values of the local community with their characteristic way of life, culture, crafts and traditions are preserved to this day and are developed.
Among the most significant international awards is the European Diploma for Protected Areas awarded in 2009 by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
The park is also part of the European ecological network "Natura 2000" - Protected Area "Central Balkan", declared under the Directives for the Conservation of Birds and for the Conservation of Habitats.
The management of the Park is carried out by the Directorate "Central Balkan NP" - the city of Gabrovo, with the current director Georgi Krastev. The Park Directorate is an independent legal entity supported by the budget and directly subordinate to the Minister of Environment and Water.
