In Babyak as in Switzerland - the story of an extraordinary Rhodope village

published on 1/22/24 1:32 PM

Photo: BNR-Blagoevgrad

Its inhabitants call it the "Little Switzerland of the Rhodopes" because of the incredible nature that surrounds it and the good living conditions. Babyak is not the typical remote and deserted Bulgarian village, but an example to follow. Therefore, the locals do not want to leave it. On the contrary, they want to live there and raise their children there.

"Come and see! Even in Sofia, they don't have such sewage and such infrastructure as here!", Shemedin Baskov, who is the second-term mayor of the village, located about 15 km from the municipal center of Belitsa, cannot contain his pride. In an interview for Bilyana Slavcheva from BNR-Blagoevgrad, he explains more:

"This is the only village in the Republic of Bulgaria from which not a single person moves out. Our village is very nice, the infrastructure was built thanks to the municipal mayor. Where can you find this - to live between Pirin, Rila and the Rhodope Mountains? People choose peace and tranquillity and we are lucky to be born in this picturesque village. I just can't describe it!"

There are over 730 residents in Babyak. The village has a kindergarten and even something increasingly rare for small settlements in Bulgaria - a school full of pupils. And the number of children in Babyak is constantly rising:

"Our kindergarten is currently attended by about 25 children. It is a mixed kindergarten. But there are only 14 beds, it is not enough. Our group is from 3 to 6 years old. And the children attend until noon, because they have nowhere to sleep. And in our village we already have 10-12 newborns. That is why we are now applying with a project for a new kindergarten and if we are lucky, we will get one. There are about 100 children studying in our primary school "St. Cyril and Methodius". Some of them are transported by bus from the neighbouring villages," says Shemedin Baskov.

Part of the residents of Babyak are seasonal workers who go abroad in the winter, and when the warm weather comes, they return back to their hometown. "Our people are hardworking, we live together, we help each other," says Shemedin Baskov.

Two years ago, a small workshop for 15-16 seamstresses opened its doors in the village, which is yet to develop. "We also want to develop rural tourism, as in the neighbouring village of Ortsevo, where they have guest houses. But our people need support from the state," says the mayor of Babyak.

Certainly, tourism can turn out to be a "gold mine" for Babyak. Nearby lie the remains of Thracian sanctuaries, a late Iron Age burial mound, and a mediaeval necropolis. And another curious thing - it is claimed that there are gold deposits under Babyashka Chuka peak and that gold was mined here 2,500-3,000 years ago by the Bessi tribe.

Will Babyak become the new Klondike? One thing is certain – the beautiful nature and local cuisine are an important asset for attracting tourists. As well as the presence of enterprising young people open to new ideas. "We have young people starting families, but we also have bachelors who haven't settled down yet, and I'm even thinking of imposing a bachelor's tax on them to get them to finally start families!" the mayor jokes and adds:

"In the evening, when the weather is nice, you will see how many mothers with strollers there are here! And we have named our center "Little Switzerland in the Rhodopes". Because there is no such big and nice center even in the cities! The community center and everything else is located in a very nice place, it simply shines!" concludes the mayor, Shemedin Baskov.

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