THE VILLAGE OF SLIVAROVO

Area Descriptions

Slivarovo is the smallest village in Natural Park Strandjawith only 11 residents according to data of 01.02.2011.

The old name of the village is Kladara – probably from the local "klada" – a thick old tree, which is carried down by the river. In a narrow place of the river it gets stuck between the two river banks and starts being used as a bridge. In 1951 it was renamed Slivarovo.

It is located among centuries-old, virgin forests, above the picturesque meandering Rezovska River.

As it used to be behind the wire enclosures, the former border fences, the village was deserted and the houses started crumbling. The few preserved houses with the typical of Strandja nineteenth century architecture, render the unique character of the reserve.

South of Slivarovo there is a picturesque view of the deeply indented valley of Rezovska River which is one of the few natural habitats of the endemic plant soapwort. The meadows around the village are a resting and feeding place for large flocks of storks during their migration.

ST. PANTELEYMON CHURCH

It was built in the late nineteenth century on the foundations of an old church. It is a basilica with a nave and two aisles, with a female ward and an open narthex. Of the old icons, painted by icon painters from Tryavna, Lozengrad and Strandja, today there is only one in the church. The belfry has a stone plinth and a wooden superstructure.

SILVER THRACIAN TETRADRACHM TREASURE

In the area ofSlivarovo are the ruins of a Thracian fortress on the left bank of Rezovska River. Here was found a treasure of Thracian tetradrachms, including rare tetradrachm of the Bizian King Kotis which read "Stamp of Kotis." Two of them are kept in Burgas Archeological Museum.

Otherplaces worth visiting in the area of the village are the stolnini (domiciles) St.Panteleymon - at the southern end of the village in Noviya Vris area and St. George – 1 km southeast of the village chapel St. Bogoroditza and St. Mina – odarche (wooden structure) about 1.5 km south of the village in Shafariytsa area.

Some of the most interesting tourist routes in Strandja start from Slivarovo – the pilgrim’s routes – to the cave-sanctuary of St. Marina (about 12 km east of the village); to the Big ayazma (holy spring) in Vlahov dol; and to the consecrated ground Indipasha.

Near the village is located Rudenovo Protected Area – old beech forests with Caucasian whortleberry; Pontic Rhododendron of Strandja, oak forest formations, eastern oak and Oriental beech; and the Uzunbudzhak Biosphere Reserve.

UZUNBUDZHAK RESERVE (2581.5ha)

It was declared a reserve in 1956 and is the largest and most representative reserve in Strandja. It is entirely behind the border facility, along the border with Turkey. When it became a reserve it was first known under the name "Uzunbudzhak" but later (during socialism) in scientific literature it was referred to as "Lopushna".

The topography of the reserve is mountainous and encompasses various geographical forms, soil and rock types. Its altitude is from 25 meters (at the point where Lopushnitsa flows into Rezovska) to 282 m in the western part.

The rocky slopes on the left bank of Rezovska River are decorated with interesting rock formations, abysses and caves in andesite, rhyolite and limestone cliffs. In the deep ravines the common rocks are schists and they are unsteady at greater depth which has lead to the formation of large landslides contributed to by the mountain roads which go across the slope.

"Uzunbudzhak" is a typical forest reserve, practically completely covered with forest trees and bushes. Oak forests prevail (60%), but the beech formation (35%), with large areas occupied by Pontic Rhododendron of Strandja is also very impressive. Here are the largest areas of old primary beech and mixed beech-oak forests, that are rarely found in other parts of the park. Of exceptional value are the over 200 years old mixed Sessile – Hungarian oak forests growing on the flat ridges in which the trees are 30-35 m high and over 1 m in diameter. Some of them were cut down during the Ottoman rule in the late 19th century for the production of charcoal. The reserve is particularly popular with its forests with evergreen undergrowth of Pontic Rhododendron of Strandja. Common here are the rare and protected species: cherry laurel, Black Sea holly, scarlet firethorn, Caucasian whortleberry, large-flowered St. John, valerian, ox tongue, etc.

The reptiles are represented by European legless lizard, Balkan gecko, Montpellier and leopard snake, and the mammals – by wild boar, roe deer, deer, fox, jackal, wild cat and wolf.

Until the 1930s lynxes lived here too, but with the encroachment of man into the recesses of Strandja, the beautiful and mysterious predator disappears.

RUDENOVO PROTECTED AREA (15.3 ha)

It is located east of Slivarovo behind the border facility, above the valley of Rezovska River. It was declared a protected area in order to protect the well preserved habitat of Caucasian whortleberry, located in an old beech forest with Pontic rhododendron of Strandja.

The village fair of Slivarovo is on August 9, the day of St. Panteleymon.
When traveling to the village of Slivarovo Border Police officers checked people’s IDs.