The town of Kardzhali is located on the banks of the Arda River in the heart of the Eastern Rhodope Mountains and is one of the most interesting tourist destinations in Southern Bulgaria.

Attractions
Kardzhali is a true paradise for archaeologists, with numerous ancient monuments located nearby. Most of them are in ruins, but even in this state, they remain impressive.

One of the most interesting monuments is the sacred city of Perperikon. This complex of fortified medieval structures from the 13th century is located on a 470-meter-high rocky hill 15 km northeast of Kardzhali. It was destroyed in the late 14th century after the arrival of the Turks. The tomb of Orpheus was found beneath one of the stones of this largest fortress in the Rhodope Mountains.

Perperikon consists of four parts. The first is the impressive fortress wall, and the second is the acropolis at the top of the hill, built of gigantic stone blocks.

The third section is a rock-cut palace covering an area of ​​10,000 square meters. The fourth section is the northern and southern suburbs, consisting of a network of small streets, churches, and houses.

Another important ancient monument that has been restored is the Monastery of St. John the Baptist, founded in the 6th-8th centuries. Previously, it was a fortified monastery, the center of Orthodoxy in southern Bulgaria. The main Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Cross is surrounded by five apses and resembles a fortress. Fragments of murals are partially preserved, peeking out from under the plaster.

Many artifacts found at Perperikon and other archaeological sites are housed in the Kardzhali Historical Museum. The museum’s exhibition is divided into three collections: Archaeology, Nature, and Ethnography.