President Radev at Cherni Vrah for 130th anniversary of organized tourism

President Rumen Radev will join the culminating festivities marking the 130th anniversary of the start of organized tourism in Bulgaria. The head of state, whose patronage supports the jubilee celebrations of the Bulgarian Tourist Union (BTU), will participate in the hike to Cherni Vrah — the same destination that inspired the first organized climb more than a century ago.

According to an announcement from the BTU, President Radev will take part in one of the three branches of the hike. He will begin his route at 10:25 AM from Aleko Hut, thereby setting an example and showing his support for the initiative. From there, he will head to the foot of Cherni Vrah, where he will greet the hike participants who have gathered from all over the country to mark the historic date.

As part of the event, the head of state will honor key figures and organizations from the tourist community. In a show of gratitude for his long-standing work and contribution, Radev will present the President's Badge of Honor to the chairman of the BTU, Ventsislav Venev. Furthermore, as a sign of distinction for their important contribution to the development of the organized tourist movement in Bulgaria, tourist associations from Ruse, Stara Zagora, and Veliko Tarnovo will be awarded the golden medal "Aleko Konstantinov". The news was announced by the press secretariat of the head of state, which underscores the official nature of the event.

The day's program is packed with various events that will attract thousands of enthusiasts. The culmination will be the traditional National Tourist Gathering on Cherni Vrah, which will begin at 12:00 PM. The BTU expects thousands of tourists to gather at the peak, reaching it via three main routes: from the village of Zhelezntisa, the Zlatni Mostove area, and "Aleko" Hut. The sight of the mountain filled with people will be a powerful symbol of the resilience and popularity of tourism in Bulgaria.

While the hike participants move towards the peak, other accompanying events will take place in the area of Aleko Hut.

• At 11:00 AM, representatives of the Sofia City Library will open a specialized stand with a "Bibliobus", which will offer visitors the chance to experience literature outdoors.
• A little later, around 11:15 AM, the first competitors from the "Vitosha Run 2025" mountain marathon are expected to arrive, finishing after an exhausting climb from the National Palace of Culture (NDK) to Cherni Vrah.

The National Tourist Gathering itself will include a rich program aimed at celebrating the achievements and spirit of Bulgarian tourism. It will begin with an awards ceremony for deserving tourists and associations, followed by a prize drawing for registered participants in the National Movement "Conquerors of the 10 Mountain Peaks". The atmosphere will be complemented by concerts by tourist choirs from all over the country and a diverse musical and artistic program.

The celebrations for the 130th anniversary began on August 27. Then, in a sign of respect for the founders of organized tourism, a solemn laying of flowers took place at the memorial plaque in front of the Ivan Vazov National Theater. This is the place from which the first organized hike to Cherni Vrah departed, led by Aleko Konstantinov himself. Later that same day, the official opening of the jubilee program took place at the Military Club in Sofia, kicking off a series of events that led to today's major celebration.