valley of roses

Rose oil is a major export from Bulgaria. Roses are grown in fields In the Valley of Roses and they are harvested in May and June. The first weekend in June brings out the joy and pride of the people who live and work with these beautiful flowers. The major Rose Festival is celebrated in the city of Kazanlak, but there are also other celebrations in the area. My family and I enjoyed meeting everyone at a small festival held in a rose field along a rural road. Such fun with singing, dancing, food and the aroma of a crown of roses in your hair or a rose lei around your neck!

Harvest season in the Rose Valley is May-June so visiting during that period you are assured of lots of activity and a beautiful smelling environment. Our small tour group stopped and visited a rose field as the roses were being harvested--the men working were friendly and allowed lots of photos as well as the opportunity to walk in the field. We then went on to Skobelevo where we visited the rose oil plant (Ethnographic Complex Damascena) and saw how the rose oil is produced. They provide a short tour through the production plant and a small museum area. It happened to be their opening day when we visited and we were invited to join a celebration with snacks, drinks, music and dancing...a nice time! The operation includes rose gardens, a gift shop, a stream coming down out of the mountains and a pond with swans and other birds.

The valley is filled with rose fields all in blume and diligent workers (if you visit in the right season). When there make sure to visit a local distillery. There you can learn a little bit about how rose oil and rose water are made from the Damascus rose grown in Bulgaria and even pick up a souvenir or two.

This is soemthing which is not very much publicised , but if you have the time, then do not miss this. Thoroughly enjoyed the trip

In Bulgaria, the valley of Roses is near the town of Кazanlak and it is the place where roses of a special kind are grown. At the end of Маy/beginning of June. the roses are gathered early in the morning, and sent to be made into oil which is used in the cosmetics industry. The ritual of gatherings the roses is an old Bulgarian ritual, people are wearing folklore garments, there is an orchestra playing folk music and it is full of excitement for the visitors.We were there beginnning of June 2012 and were welcome by young girls dancing and singing, we were given a lot of gathered rose petals and garnished with whreaths. At the end we had a small amount of rose liqueur to dring and rose jam to taste and all was delicious|ZAfterwards we visited the museum of roses where we all bought a few bottles of liqueur and a lot of creams made with rose oil -an unforgettable experience

カザンラクのバラ祭りに訪れました。バラ祭りの時期のカザンラクは、非常に多くの観光客宿泊するので、宿の確保はかなり前に済ませたほうがいいと思います。カザンラクのインフォメーションでバラ祭りのスケジュールをもらうといつどこで何が催されるのかわかるので、まずはインフォメーションに行って情報収集をしてください。最後の数日は町中が民族衣装を着た人であふれているので華やいでいます。

バラ祭りの時に訪問しました。摘み取りや、ダンスが行われる会場へはカザンラクからバスで行くか、タクシーで行きます。期間中カザンラクではフォークロアダンスコンテストがあったり出店がたくさん出たり夜には花火が上がります。最終日には大々的にパレードがあり盛り上がります。祭りの期間中はホテルがいっぱいになるので早めに予約したほうがいいです。中心にある観光案内所のスタッフはとても親切です。一言では言いえないくらいお世話になり感謝しています。バラの香りに包まれて優しい気持ちになることができます。