Incontestable generosity of nature
“Here it is, surrounded by high hillocks and rocky ridges, to the west and to the north, it stands on the border between the Balkan Mountains and the plain, resting its back against the Balkan Mountains and facing Tracia...”
Konstantin Konstantinov
The generosity of nature toward Sliven is incontestable. The rocky massif "Sinite Kamani" (The blue stones), the fresh air, the abundance of water, the temperate climate, the mineral springs, the fruitful valley of the Tundja river and the plain of Sliven are only a small part of her gifts.
The “Blue Stones” Nature park
The “Blue Stones” Nature park (area 11380,8 hectares), connected with the town by a local road and a lift, is a magnificent place for tourism and rest. It has excellent conditions for delta planner gliding, tourism orientation, alpinism, as well as climatic-prophylaxis and climatic treatment. The specialized paths “Path of health” and “Training and ecological pathway” offer good preconditions for various kinds of tourism.
The information Center for Visitors, built on the way in the Park, offers information services and consultations, guided excursions and recreation routes, promotional materials.
Diverse flora and fauna
The “Blue Stones” Nature Park has a beautiful flora, numerous plant species – more than1000 plant species, 36 of them are enlisted in the Bulgarian Red Book of protected species.
The fauna is represented by more than 244 species of higher animals, including 176 species of birds, 25 are species of rapacious birds, which are threatened with extinction, 21 of which are enlisted in the Bulgarian Red Book. There are more than1110 species of insects, and the butterflies are about 830 species (more than 50% of the butterflies known in Bulgaria are distributed in the region of the Park).
„Koutelka”Reserve
“Koutelka” Reserve (area 708,9 hectares) is planned to protect the Miziyski beech and the species, enlisted in the Bulgarian Red Book. There are rock residences of the bearded vulture, the Egyptian vulture, the peregrine falcon, the seeker falcon and the buzzard, which are of international significance.
The area of „Selishteto”
There are the remains of the ancient fortress „Marino gradishte”, the remains of one of the 24 monasteries, famous as the „Sliven Aton” – „St. Spas”. There is also „Todorovata Ayazma”, favourite place for recreation and tourism of the people of Sliven.
The area of „Ablanovo”
There are one of the first nursery-gardens established in the country (1888), the stock-breeding farm for moufflons of the State Forestry – Sliven and the „Path of health.
The protected territory “Golyam Jendem”
in the region of the „Blue Stones”Nature Park
It is for protecting the rock formations which are of international importance because they are residence of the birds of prey: the bearded vulture, the Egyptian vulture, the peregrine falcon, the seeker falcon and many other insects and invertebrates.
The area of „Daula”
The area is one of the most outlying, but quiet and tranquil areas, situated amongst centuries - old beeches, on about 1000 meters altitude. It attracts skiers, because of the tow-lift and good conditions for recreation.
The area of „Karandila”
It is the most famous, the most visited area in the Park, situated amongst high rocky peaks on about 1050 meters altitude. There are many hotels, holiday houses, sports outfit, the Karandila Lake. There is the TV relay-station built on the “Kulata” Peak and the hang gliding runway.
„Peschenik” Cave
It is situated in the West part of the peak of the same name. It is a small cave on two floors. One of them looks like an eremitical cell, with stalactites and many holes in it. The other one is like an arch, at about two meters beneath the first one, where rebels hid.
„Zmeevi doupki”
The largest and the most remarkable cave in the East Balkan Mountain, 150 meters long, 1 hectares area, situated about 4 kilometers away East from Sliven. It is very interesting for its numerous rock formations. There is a river, flowing in its depth, and there are bats-rare species, which are protected by the laws of nature protection, hanging on the walls of the cave
There were evidences found like stone axes, bones, teeth etc., which show that the cave was inhabited in the New Stone Age by cave dwellers
„Halkata”
The phenomenal rock formation “Halkata” is one of the symbols of Sliven. It is one of the symbols of Sliven – eight meters high rock in the shape of a ring, formed as a result of a destructive weather processes. There are many legends about it. It is near the lift.
„Koushbounar”
It is a high mountain spring, situated about 1050 meters altitude in “Karandila” mountain area, amongst centuries-old beeches and coniferous trees. It is a very picturesque place, famous for its healing virtues from Thracian times. According to one of the legends about it, “Koushbounar” has the virtue to make younger old eagles and made strong the young ones.
Thermal springs.Sliven spa
The water is particularly valuable in the treatment of gastro-intestinal and hepato-biliary disorders, diseases of the skeletal and muscular system and the peripheral nervous system. There also are: mineral baths, balneotherapy sanatoriums, holiday houses, hotels, and swimming-pools.