Climate: The climate in the region is temperate continental. The average yearly temperature is 13-15?C and the yearly temperature amplitude is 21.1?C. The winter in Batak is not cold and the average temperature in January varies from 3 to 5?C. In spring and autumn the mists flow down to the defile of the Stara Reka River but above the town itself the sun is shining. The summer is cool. In the region prevail north and north-east winds with average speed of 1.2 m/sec.
The yearly amount of the rainfalls is 685 mm/sq.m. which imposes the rational use of the existing water reserves. The snow in winter detains from 3 to 5 months.

History: The land of Batak has been inhabited in pre-historic era. Later it has been inhabited or crossed by Thracians, Romans, Byzantines, Slavs, proto-Bulgarians, Ottomans and Bulgarians and still preserves the heritage of these civilizations. In the region of Batak are registered 20 Thracian, Thracian-Roman, Byzantine and Slav fortresses, over 10 churches and monasteries, many Thracian tombs, Roman bridges, mines, water-mills and other archaeological objects. Until the conquest of the Balkan Peninsula by the Romans (I century B.C.)

North Thrace and the West Rhodopi Mountain have been inhabited by the warlike Thracian tribe besi. Due to the ancient Hellenic historian Herodotus the people of besi had the eminent sanctuary of Dionysius, the god of Spring and the wine. This holy place of the besi becomes famous after these lands are being crossed by Alexander Macedonian and the father of the great Roman emperor Octavian Augustus – Guys Octaves. In the time of the Slavs’ invasion Byzantine loses its stable direct control over the West Rhodopi Mountain though it still holds the strategic roads in the north and south foots of the mountain (from Thessalonica through White Sea coast to Constantinople). When the power of the Ottoman Empire commences to dominate the Balkans the mountain villages such as Batak attract many disobedient Bulgarians who settle here to preserve their Christian credo. This fact stimulates the material and spiritual development of the settlement.

The domestic handcrafts are being promoted such as logging, wood-processing and commerce. In 1871 in the region have been registered 283 “charks” (wood-processing workshops). The quality local wood material has been used for ship-building by the Empire and the Batak merchants go round all the markets.
These links of Batak with the world stimulate the freedom-loving spirit of its inhabitants. In the time of the April Uprising against the Ottoman yoke in 1876 - after a two week unequal battle against the Ottoman troops of many thousands – five thousands (of totally six thousands) people from Batak perished and the whole town was burned to the ground.

Two thousand people who gathered together in the Saint Nedelia church three days long defended bravely their honor and belief and all of them died after it has been burned down. Thanks to the great self-sacrifice of Batak people before the altar of the mother country the world heard about Bulgaria and its will for liberation.

Tourism: The natural datum (undestroyed natural environment, varied landscape, the presence of reserves, natural landmarks, water resources, the rich flora and fauna) and the attractive location itself of Batak are ideal conditions for the development of hunting, fishing, rural, alpine and hobby tourism as well as of winter and water sports. Recently also a photo-hunting is being practiced. There are many opportunities for short-term picnics in the surroundings of Batak during the warm days of the year – the dam lakes of Goliam Beglik and Beglika and the countryside of Shiroka Laka. Tourists’ trips could be arranged to the countryside of Djenevra, Beglika, Petrovo Bardo, the Snezhanka cavery and the Foten Waterfall.
Connoisseurs of oldies have the opportunity to observe the remains of Thracian, Roman, Byzantine and Slav fortresses, tombs, bridges and other interesting archaeological spots in the region. There are 9 operative chapels in the realm of Batak.
Surrounding Areas: The Yazovir Batak resort is located close to the town in the Tsigov Chark countryside in the lap of Rhodopi Mountains. It is a perfect spot for relaxation in each season of the year because of its well developed basis (10 000 beds) of each category. Here also is built the Batak ski-track which has two directions: alpine (1200 m.) and running (20000 m.). The alpine ski-track is equipped with three rope-lines of 600 m. longitude.
The future plans comprise the building of four more ski-tracks, a snow-board and motor sledges tracks and a rope-line – all of them form the most important project of the municipality. The conditions in Batak ski-track allow the snow-cover to hold on from November to April and unbelievable scenery to Batak Dam Lake is being revealed from the utmost point of the rope-line. Tourism in the municipality is considered to be the priority of complex activity which includes also additional production processes, services, transport and specialized education.
A wide net of vacation bases is built around the Batak, Shiroka Poliana, Goliam Beglik and Beglika dam lakes – prophylaxis centers, departmental holiday houses, students’ camps, hotels, camping sites and private villas. The capacity of the basis is 7292 beds. The vacation houses are managed by specialists with good qualification.
Transport: The route net in the municipality of Batak is comparatively well built and organized. The transport infra-structure of Batak and the resort Yazovir Batak is linked with the Trakia international high-way and is only 6 km. away from it. Batak is also situated near other attractive resort towns such as Velingrad (20 km.) and Peshtera (15 km.).
The routes in the Rhodopi Mountain are quite scenic because they meander along the defiles in parallel to the rivers.

Accommodation: We recommend the following vacation sites in Batak and the region which could satisfy even the most refined requirements if the visitors.
Orpheus hotel has 63 beds and separately 5 luxury apartments. It also has 2 conference halls with 30 seats each. The restaurant has 120 seats, a banquet hall, a day-time bar, a lobby-bar and a summer place of entertainment – barbeque.
Bulstrad hotel has 8 apartments, sauna, tangentor, fitness-hall, restaurant with 40 seats and a tavern. In addition to the complex there are built an open pool and a summer bar with open-air table with a terrace.

Panorama hotel has 58 rooms plus 4 apartments, sauna, solarium, fitness hall with physiotherapy, lobby-bar, panoramic bar and large conference hall. The Discovery discotheque is located in the hotel part of the complex. Villa Tangra has a stylish bedroom basis, a tavern, a winter garden and a sauna. Siniya Zaliv hotel is situated in the Beglika countryside. It has luxury apartments, a restaurant, a lobby-bar with a panoramic terrace and also it offers wonderful opportunities for arranging hunting and fishing tourism.
Orbita complex is located in the Yazovir Batak resort in the Tsigov Chark countryside. It has a hotel, gambling-house, sport complex, tennis courts in the open area and covered as well as a water basis. The complex offers trips in the country and abroad with tourist buses, business and congress tourism, route and bicycle tourism.
Elite complex is an alpine tourist complex situated at 1650 m. above sea-level among age-old pine trees. The snow cover in the region is guaranteed to last minimum 5 months and the duration of the sunshine is above the average for the country.

Kaval Tepe complex is an alpine basis situated in the countryside with the same name at 40 km. away from Batak. It has 53 beds, 13 single family Finnish houses, restaurant with 60 seats and a day-time bar.
Catering: In the town tourists could taste the traditional local dishes and specialties in the Porto Rico restaurant and the Yoanna tavern. And in the neighborhood culinary surprises are offered by the Ostrova tavern which is located in the Yazovir Batak resort.