Rila - Malyovitsa

It rises in southwestern Bulgaria, surrounded by high and low valleys and fields.

Its boundaries are:  The west - along the Struma river;

The south: river Gradevska and Predel Saddle /1295 м / separating it from Pirin Razlog Valley;

The east: River Mesta’s Valley, Abram saddle /1295 м/ , separating it from the Rhodopes, river Banska, Undola and  river Iadenica.

The north: the Dolnobansk field, the Borovesk saddle /1305 / , the Samokov Plain, river Cherni Iskar, the Klisura Saddle /1025 м./ , separating it from Verila , river Dzherman and the Stankedimitrovsko field. Within these limits, it covers an area of  2629 square km, as its average altitude is 1487 meters, therefore it belongs to the high mountains and it is with highly alpine character.

Rila is the highest mountain in Bulgaria and the throughout the Balkan Peninsula.

Most of the mountain  formed  the national park: Rila . Park was proclaimed in February 24, 1992 The National, total area of the park is 107 923,7 hectares. On October 15, 1999 it is categorized as a national, with an area of  81 046,0 hectares. Part of it is re-categorized in the Natural Park "Rila Monastery:

http://www.bg-parks.net/main.php?act=parks&park=rila 

Climbing

Rila is often called "the cradle of Bulgarian alpinism". Already in 1921-22 after the creation of youth Tourism Union,

Junior members of the tourist company in Samokov town began to organize the first mountain trips. Then shortly after they begin paving and more difficult - alpine routes. In the moment there are over 300 routes of different types (alpine, traditional, ice, rock climbing, bouldering)

They are concentrated mainly in Malyovitsa share.

Malyovitsa

Malyovitsa  is a peak and ski resort in the northwestern part of the Rila Mountains in southwestern Bulgaria. It is 2,729 m high and is one of the most popular tourist regions in the mountain. The Rila Monastery is situated at its southern foot, and Malyovitsa Ski Centre — with two downhill tracks and two ski drags — is to the north. The main starting point for treks in the region is Malyovitsa Hut (at about 2 hours walk from the top of the summit).

The Malyovitsa region is the cradle of Bulgarian rock climbing and mountaineering. The first organized expeditions were made in 1921-22 by tourists from the town of Samokov. The imposant north wall of the summit was first climbed in 1938 by Konstantin Savadzhiev and Georgi Stoimenov (about 200 m, grade UIAA V+). That was the greatest success of Bulgarian climbers for its time and is deemed as the date of birth of Bulgarian mountaineering. Later other walls in the region were climbed too with the most difficult routes being made in 1970s. In the last 15 years, Malyovitsa region has become very attractive rock-climbing district with the possibilities it gives for mountaineering and sport rock climbing.

Other interesting walls and summits are: Zliya Zab (200 m wall with one of the most famous climbing routes in the country — Vezhdite), Dvuglav (a 450 m high wall, with climbing routes often over 500 m long), Iglata, Dyavolski Igli (several aretes with the hardest climbs in the region), Ushite and others. A wall that is available for not so experienced rock-climbers is "Kuklata". It is situated across Malyovitsa hut, 10 minutes walking, and the main part of its tours is bolted.