Devin – the “city of mineral water” is located in one of the most picturesque regions of Bulgaria - the southwestern part of the Rhodopes, along the Vacha River. Dozens of natural and historical landmarks are located in its vicinity and the mineral water there is famous for its excellent qualities. That is why tourists from Bulgaria and abroad come here all year round. If you happen to come to this heavenly corner of Bulgaria in the second week of August, you have the chance to join the Festival of Devin and Mineral Water. This year it will be held from August 8 to 10 and the local authorities have planned a rich program.

"The program is diverse,” the deputy mayor of Devin, engineer Nikolay Yurukov says. “It includes sports competitions, as on Friday (August 8) we will hold a cycling race for children and on Saturday a swimming tournament. These competitions are aimed at children aged 7 to 18, divided into different categories. On August 9 and 10, a men's football tournament will be held at the city stadium, in which 150 football players and a large audience will participate," the deputy mayor says and adds that on Saturday there will be a special program for the youngest. A rich musical program is also planned, of course, focused on local folklore.

But not every day is a holiday, so we also focus on the challenges, the economic and demographic situation in the city, which is establishing itself as a year-round SPA destination. Tourism is one of the main livelihoods in the region and the local authorities report that 151 tourist sites with 2236 beds are registered in the municipality, Eng. Nikolay Yurukov told Radio Bulgaria.

"Most of the tourists who visit our municipality are Bulgarians, but about 10% are foreigners. We welcome guests from Israel, UK, Germany, Greece, Belgium, Italy, Romania, the Netherlands, France. There were also guests from Russia, the USA, Turkey, Ukraine, almost from the whole world. In recent years, Devin has established itself as a tourist and SPA destination, thanks to the mineral waters, the sights we have, the natural features. And, of course, thanks to the infrastructure that has been built to welcome these tourists – hotels, eco-trails, panoramic platforms and many other places to visit", Yurukov says.

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Although a relatively small town, with 6016 permanent residents according to the last census, Devin and its surroundings is a place where tourists thirsty for experiences cannot get bored:

"For a week or 10 days you can visit places without repeating them - caves, eco-trails, villages. Shiroka Laka, Pamporovo, and the Devil's Throat are near. Devin is located in a central place in the Western Rhodopes, four parts of the mountain meet here, as well as all the large rivers in the area - an attractive place for tourism."

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However, what is the economic and demographic situation in Devin - the third largest city in the region of Smolyan?

"The main employers are in the tourism sector and the large bottling companies. Around them there are also many accompanying activities - transport and repair companies and others that help with the bottling and transportation of mineral water to all places in Bulgaria. Thanks to these plants, many people have stayed in Devin. This means that more children remain in school, but there is a need for more commercial facilities. It can be said that over the years the plants have had an extremely good impact on the city's economy and demographic policy," the deputy mayor of Devin says.

In addition, there are several sewing factories in the municipality, a factory for metal and wood parts and quite a few people work in the forestry and hunting farms in the area, as well as in public institutions. There are also many livestock breeders, as well as several dairies. In addition, Devin is also home to a specialized rehabilitation hospital.

Devin is a kind of small oasis in the heart of the Western Rhodopes, which has preserved both its population and livelihood, as well as its rich natural resources. And the tourists to this Bulgarian mountain leave enchanted by the local traditions, by the green slopes and majestic forests, by the delicious food and hospitality of the local people.

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Author: Ivan Gergov

Publication in English: Alexander Markov

Photos: Devin Municipality, Pixabay, personal archive, Veneta Nikolova, devin.bg