A five-century-old Scots pine attracts visitors in the Rhodope village of Pchelarovo

In the village of Pchelarovo, nestled among the slopes of the Eastern Rhodopes, there is a legend that ancient oak forests and walnut trees once thrived in the area and that wild bees inhabited their hollows. Beekeeping has long been a livelihood for the locals, as the name of the settlement itself indicates. A five-century-old Scots pine attracts the attention of visitors. It stands nearly 25 meters tall, has a trunk circumference of 3.50 meters, and was declared a protected natural site in 1984.

The ancient tree is marked with a sign and the local municipality has taken initial steps to enhance the area, said BTA. The pine is one of the tourist attractions in Pchelarovo. Another local pride, the church of "St. Petka’’, is located about 50 meters away from the pine tree. It was built in 1876 and was declared an architectural and artistic monument of culture on May 19, 1992.

Photos: BTA