| GARMEN
MUNICIPALITY - A POTENTIAL FOR NEW INVESTMENTS |
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Hello!
The municipality of Garmen is a small municipality in
the South-western Rhodopi mountain.We do not have big
industrial factories but we do have a lot of cultural
and historical monuments that show our region’s
interesting past.There are also unique natural resources,
fresh air and healing thermal mineral water.All this
combined with the perfect climate conditions is a reasonable
potential for the development of various touristic activities
you can invest into.The wealth of Garmen municipality
is its people famous for their hospitality and diligence,
people who have succeeded to preserve their originality
and their skills in creating beauty.
If you choose to invest in our municipality you will
take part together with us into the turning of this
municipality into an attractive place to live in and
work in and a preferred place for business and recreation.
When
you come here you will find not only excellent partners
for your business but you will also find out a picturesque
part of Bulgaria, an interesting mixture of past and
future, traditional and modern.
Welcome
to Garmen municipality!
Ahmed
Bashev - mayor of Garmen municipality
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The municipality
of Garmen is situated in the south-western part of Bulgaria
on an area of 388,5 sq km.It includes parts of the river
Mesta valley and parts of the western mountainsides
of the western Rhodopi Dabrash ridge. To the east, north
and south it borders the municipalities of Satovcha,
Bansko and Hadjidimovo and to the north-east and south-west
it borders the municipalities of Velingrad and Gotse
Delchev. The municipality consists of 16 villages with
15 114 residents. The municipality’s centre is
Garmen village
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| INFRASTRUCTURE |
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Transport infrastructure
The road network of Garmen municipality includes third-class
roads (34 km) and municipality roads (51 km). The main thoroughfare
is road III-197 Gotse Delchev-Satovcha-Dospat.
Of special importance for the municipality’s social
and economical development is the connection with road II
-19 Simitli-Razlog-Gotse Delchev-Drama which is a prerequisite
for an active economical development and makes the municipality
more attractive for the outer business. The importance of
this connection will increase with the opening of frontier
checkpoint post Ilinden.
Water-supply
3/4 of the villages in the municipality have central water-supply
laid on and 80% of the population have an access to these
public utility services. The water-supply system consists
of exterior system 40km and interior system 65 km.
Telecommunications
Well developed: the GSM operators Mtel and Globul have covered
the whole area of the municipality. All villages are connected
to the automatic telephone dialing system. The Internet access
is performed through the net built by the cable operators.
Power-supply
The electrical network is with an even distribution throughout
the municipality area and includes all villages. The network
is entirely aerial, with a total length of 144 km and 90 km
aerial main power lines. |
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| NATURAL
RESOURCES |
The
subterranean natural resources in the municipality are highly
varied.
The gneisses on the land of the villages Krushevo and Dolno
Dryanovo are of great interest- they have excellent decorative
features, they could be glazed and are weather –proof.
They are used for the covering of buildings.
On the land of the villages Baldevo and Garmen there are brown
coal finds and in Garmen-kieselguhr finds.
The water resources on the territory of Garmen municipality
are formed by surface water and underground water. The surface
water is the river of Mesta and its Rhodopi tributaries Kanina
and Dabnishka river (Varbitsa). There are 17 warm mineral
spa springs 1km to the north-east of the village of Ognyanovo
in the valley of the river Kanina.
The forestry fund occupies 26 760 de cares or 69% of the municipality’s
territory. It is comparatively rich- coniferous woods are
predominant (pine, spruce, white fur) but there are also deciduous
trees represented by beech and oak.
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CLIMATE |
The
municipality is situated in the borderline between two climate
zones-temperate continental which is the predominant one and
transitory Mediterranean which comes from the Mesta river
valley. The seasons are clearly distinguishable-a warm summer
and a moderately cold winter. |
HUMAN
RESOURCES |
Population
According to the data from the Civil Administrative Municipality
Register the population of the municipality of Garmen is
14 395 people by 31st December 2004 - 7178 men and 7217
women. The density of population is 37 people per square
km. The age structure of the population is favourable for
a demographic development-3306 people (22,48%) are in an
under-able bodied age, 8866 people ( 60,29%) are in an able-bodied
age , and 2533 people(17,23%) are unable to work.
Employment and unemployment
According to the data from the National Statistics Institute
52,6% of the people are employed in the agriculture from
which 17,7% in tobacco gowing.42% are employed in industry.
In the utility services sector the public sector is predominant-25%,
trade ranks second with 3%, and tourism-1%. Women are mostly
employed in agriculture and in textile industry and men
are employed mostly in agriculture and industry.
Unemployment
In October 2005 the unemployment level in the municipality
of Garmen is 9,5% or 725 people. Most of them are women
and 347 men.The long-term unemployed –for more than
a year are 361 people.
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THE
ECONOMIC IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF GARMEN |
Condition
and tendencies
The number of the firms registered in Garmen is 863 and the
active firms are 236. The number of the active firms is constantly
growing during the period 1999-2005. The greatest part of
the firms registered is in the sphere of public utility services
(81,82%), industry (16,06%), and agriculture (12,12%).
We expect that the opening of the frontier checkpoint post
Ilinden will contribute for the economical growth and will
influence the business development by attracting Bulgarian
and Greek investments.
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Forestry
enterprise
The timber resources on the territory of the municipality
of Garmen is 270 270 decares or 69,6% of the municipality’s
territory.97,92% of the forestry area belong to the state
forestry fund, 1,74% are private property, 0,23% belong to
religious organizations, and the remaining 0,11% are municipality
property.
Agriculture
Garmen municipality is situated in a hilly region where the
local economy is strongly dependent on agriculture as a source
of incomes and employment. 52,6% of the employed people work
in farmyards.
The main part of the arable land is occupied by tobacco (6535
decares) and maze (1200 decares). There are perennial plants
too (1200 decares).
The stock-breeding has got a smaller share in the agricultural
production. Cattle-breeding and sheep-breeding are dominating.
There are some positive results in the field of bee-keeping-three
registered bee-keepers and 83 apiaries.
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Industry
Garmen municipality is not strongly industrialized, theris
not an industrial production to worsen the environmental parametres
and the percentage of industry employed people is 41,4%.
The light industry is represented by boot-and shoe industry
and clothing industry as well as food industry- its production
is released in the municipality region-bread and non-alcoholic
drinks etc. The growth potential of this sector is strongly
dependent on the agricultural growth.
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Tourism |
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The
municipality of Garmen is very favourably situated to develop
its tourism. The touristic sector has got a significant growth
potential and is of big importance for the local economy.
The execution of PHAR project for trans-frontier cooperation
– the rehabilitation of road II-19 Razlog-Gotse Delchev-Drama
will improve the access to the municipality and will increasw
the number of tourists visiting our region.
Up to now there are 15 shelter utilities's with the capacity
of 650 beds in our municipality.
The municipality of Garmen has got an enormous potential to
develop various touristic supply-spa-tourism, historical,
cultural, rural and eco tourism. |
Touristic
eco-paths: Kovatchevitsa- Skrebatno- Osikovo- Ribnovo;
Kovatchevitsa- Dolen and Garmen- Kovatchevitsa can bring you
closer to the preserved nature of the Rhodopi mountains and
they are an excellent resource for the eco tourism development.
Architectural reserve Kovatchevitsa(23 km away from Gotse
Delchev) can be a prerequisite for the development of historical
and cultural tourism.
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It
is an architectural and historical phenomenon acknowledged
a unique architectural testimony together with the architectural
building school in the southwestern Rhodopi with its centre
and most outstanding representative – Kovatchevitsa.
Most of the houses are restored (keeping the old tradition)
and are ready to receive visitors. Out of these houses the
more famous ones are: Bayatevata kashta (Bayatev’s House),
Zherevata, Kapsazovata, Milchevata, Velchevata kashta (all
Houses).
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A
precious resource for the tourism’s development in Garmen
municipality are the archeological and natural objects situated
in the village of Garmen. |
Archeological
objects:
• “NIKOPOLIS AD NESTUM” – an ancient
Roman city situated in the southern suburb of Garmen village.
It occupies an area of 13 hectares. As a result of the excavations
in 1980 280 meters have been cleared out. Judging from the
typical shape of the towers and the building of the fortifications
as well as the findings discovered here we can say that the
fortress dates back to the 4 century and it probably was destroyed
in the end of 6th century or the beginning of the 7th century.
This city was created by emperor Trayan. We must say that
during the excavations there have been discovered findings
from other historical periods. This fact leads us to the conclusion
that the city have been inhabited for more than 14 centuries.
• “BASILICA” –it is situated 2,5 km
to the south-east of “Nikopolis Ad Nestum”in the
“Gramadeto” area. As a result of the excavations
held in 1978-1979 there was discovered a basilica with a nave
and two aisles of the Elinistic type with an average length
24,71 m.
Natural objects:
• Rock formations “Koziya Kamak”(The Goat’s
Stone”)(0,6 hectares)- with an ancient astronomical
map and “Chernata Skala”(The Black Rock)- approximately
15 km away from Kovatchevitsa village, declared landmarks
with order 1187( 09.04.1976 of the Ministry). The point of
departure for the rock formations is Forestry “Beslet”.
• “Kayaliyskite Skali”(Kayaliyski Rocks)
– they could be a rival to the famous Belogradchik Rocks-
approximately 20 km away from Kovatchevitsa village.
• A well-kept reserve “Tamnata Gora”(The
Dark Forest)– declared a reserve with order 2811(10.10.1962)
of Main Forestry Board. It is situated in the western Rhodopi
Dabrash ridge on the territory of Kovatchevitsa village, its
altitude is 1500-1700m and its area is 30,2 hectares.It is
made to preserve the age –old spruce-beech-pine tree
forest.
• The Deep canyon by the river of Kanina in the area
“Siniya Vir”(the blue pool) is approximately within
1,30 hour walking distance from Kovatchevitsa.
• “Tchinarite”(the plane trees) in Garmen-venerable
tres nearly 600 years old declared landmarks with orders 17
and 96 from 08.06.1968.
• Centuries –old white poplars in Dabnitsa
• The cave “Manolova Dupka”(Manol’s
hole) near Osikovo village-the longest cave in Dabrash.
Historical
places:
“Kara tash”(order 357 from 09.02.1973) 3,1 hectares
area and “Partizanski most(gurilla’s bridge)-
order 3962 from 20.12.1973, 3,2 hectares area have been
declared historical places in the municipality of Garmen.
The rural
tourism is one of the most important and leading tendencies
in the touristic supply. It is well developed in Leshten(
a country house village).
Country house
village “Leshten”( 15 km away from Gotse Delchev)-
there are 15 reconstructed old Rhodopi style houses for
a rural tourism. They have got telephones, TV sets, kitchenettes
and modern bathrooms and WC's available- a perfect combination
of Bulgarian tradition and modern life utilities.The two
taverns available for the guests offer delicious Bulgarian
dishes and are supplied by the owners’ farms. We can
offer to our guests a lot of options for leisure activities-hunting,
fishing, riding, going out for a walk to the mountain by
jeeps or carts, herb or mushroom collecting.
The balneotherapy is connected with the thermal mineral
springs in Ognyanovo(12 km from Gotse Delchev) which have
got a favorable effect on a number of diseases. The beautiful
nature and the thermal mineral water turn Ognyanovo into
a most preferred spa resort for a lot of tourists from Bulgaria
and abroad.
There are two groups of thermal mineral springs 1km away
from each other. The first group consists of 14 springs
known as “Gradski bani” (town’s spa),
situated in the valley of Kanina river, and the second group
consists of 3-4 springs-the so called”Selski bani”(village’s
spa) is 1km to the north-east of Ognyanovo-hence-“Ognyanovo
spa resort”. The mineral water here is clear, without
any odour and pleasant to drink. The temperature of the
thermal mineral water varies between 39° and 43°.
The Ognyanovo thermal water has got a healing effect on
some gynecological diseases, helps the functioning of the
kidneys; it has got a septic effect on the peripheral nervous
system, it also has got a healing effect on rheumatism and
neuralgia, renal calculus (stone in the kidney) and biziary
calculus (gall-stones).
There are three spas in the first group and two spas in
the second group of springs.
The Ognyanovo mineral water spa resort, situated in the
valley of Kanina River can offer you a good vacation within
the whole year. The coniferous and acacia foreste surrounding
the spa, as well as the clear water of Kanina river make
this region more attractive. You can enjoy a magnificent
view from the nearest slopes to the peaks of the majestic
Pirin mountain. The Ognyanovo thermal mineral water spa
resort can offer very good conditions for the development
of different kinds of specialized tourism. The favourable
geographical position, the wonderful climate conditions
and the healing effect of these thermal spas attract a lot
of tourists from the region, the country, and from Greece.
There are several resorts in the area whose capacity is
approximately 500 beds.
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Hotels
and restaurants |
In
Ognyanovo village-phone
code 07523:
1. Hotel «Victoria» telephone: 31 82
2. Spa resort «Mineral springs» telephone: 21
38
3. Hotel «Elis» telephone: 20 65
4. Villa «Mary» telephone: 21 68
5. Hotel «Bohema» telephone: 31 18
6. Villa «Paradise» telephone: 20 58
7. Hotel «Delta» telephone: 20 05
8. Complex «Petreliyski» telephone: 0888 846993;
0898 564942
9 . Hotel «Chinara» telephone: 0887 791421; 0887
472387 |
In
Marchevo village- phone code 07523: |
1.
Hotel «Cherniya Kos» telephone: 30 82
2. Hotel «Meiz» telephone: 21 67
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Country
House Village Leshten: |
telephone:
0751/2 91 07; 07527/522
telephone /fax: 07527/448
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Kovatchevitsa
village: |
1. Spasov’s
House telephone: 02/24 30 83
2. Zhechev’s House telephone: 02/986 47 70; 07527/461
3. Kapsazov’s House telephone: 07527/443; 048 902
122; 048 969 676
4. Bayatev’s House telephone: 07523/30 44
5. Milchev’s House telephone: 07527/445
6. Velchev’s House telephone: 07527/482
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The
potential for tourism development on the territory of the
municipality of Garmen is connected with the creation and
promoting of ecotouristic products, rural and cultural routes.
The perspectives for the tourist business are connected with
the exploitation of the cultural and historical resources
available and the promoting of a regional tourist product
in cooperation with the other municipalities from the south-western
touristic region. |
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Municipality
Administration Address: |
2960
Garmen village, district Blagoevgrad
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telephone:
07523/20-40, 20-47 |
| fax:07523/31-79 |
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A
person to contact with:
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Violeta
Boulgurova ”EU programmes and administrative register”
expert
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Telephone:
07523/20-40 and 20-47/ 117
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GSM:
0887 612338
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