Chepelare is a small town and ski resort in the southern part of Bulgaria. It is located in the Smolyan province, about 10 kilometers north of Pamporovo. It features long slopes, about 20 kilometers with different levels of difficulty. The 9 minute ride on the ski lift will take you up to a height of 2700 meters, near the Mechi Chal area. The only ski museum in Bulgaria, opened in 1998, is found in Chepelare. The museum exhibits the development of winter sports in the city and country. The pictures on the walls are dedicated to the success of the best Bulgarian skiers, such as Ekaterina Dafovska, Borislav Kiraikov, Mitko Harzheev and many others.
Also in Chepelare is the Museum of Karst Topography in the Rhodopes, the only one of its kind in the Balkan peninsula. There you can find unique minerals, crystals, the lower jaw of a jaguar that lived in the area in the distant past, and the skeleton of a bear 4.5 meters tall. The Church of Athanasius the Great, built in 1834 in only 40 days is also found in Chepelare, as well as the Olympic Square, which offers a pleasant atmosphere for relaxation.