Pripek is a village in Southern Bulgaria. It is part of the municipality of Dzhebel, Kardzhali region.

In Bulgaria there are two more villages with the same name - in the municipality of Ruen, Burgas Region and in the municipality of Aksakovo, Varna Region.

It is located at 15 km south-west of Dzhebel, 37 km in the same direction of Kardzhali, 33 km south of Momchilgrad and about 277 km south-east of the capital Sofia city.

The village is located on the border between the Rhodopes and the Eastern Rhodopes, on the south-eastren slopes of Zhalti rid at an altitude of 820 m. Pripek is very close to the border of Kardzhali Region and Smolyan Region. The climate is mountainous with Mediterranean influence. Winters are soft and snowy, summers are cold and wet and the autumns are long and hot.

Here live about 830 people.

The village has a very good infrastructure, the main streets are paved and lighted, there are water supply and electricity systems. All mobile operators have coverage. Regular bus transport connects it to the municipal center and the neighbouring villages.

There are a functioning town hall, community center, primary and secondary schools as well as a kindergarten here. In Pripek operate one GP and one dentist. General hospitals you will find in Momchilgrad and in Kardzhali.

Landmarks and tourism

Each year in May the traditional fair of the village is held here. Lots of folklore groups from the surrounding villages take part in the fest.

Only 3 km in the north-east is situated the Medieval fortress Ustra. It was built in the X century - supposedly during the reign of Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus - 913-959. The fort had three protective towers, which had three floors and internal staircases (some of which are still preserved). Many metal objects, pottery and copper coins were found during archeological excavations of the site.

At the foot of the Ustra fort are located the famous Swan Lakes, formed as a result of earthquakes. They are natural landmark with significant landscape value. Natural wild water lilies and other rare plant species grow in the lakes.

10 km in the same direction, in the close proximity of the village of Vodenicharsko, can be visited the Mal Asra fortress. It is located on a not very high rocky and needlepoint peak. It was built in the VI century and later, in the XI century was additionally built.

Again in the village of Vodenicharsko is located the interesting geological phenomenon the Broken Mountain. It represents a tall, interrupted in the middle hill on the road to Vodenicharsko, shortly before the "Chamlak" protected area. The left side of the hill is shifted and sank compared to the right, at a distance of about 600 m. The difference in the altitude is about 80 m. The break is the result of tectonic shift.

Remains of the "Asar" fort can be seen about 16 km north of Pripek, near the village of Zhaltika.

Sources: http://www.dzhebelbg.com, http://bg.wikipedia.org, http://bg.guide-bulgaria.com
Photos: Internet