Kirkovo

Kirkovo (Bulgarian: Кирково, Turkish: Kızılağaç) is a village in Kardzhali Province, southern Bulgaria, near the Greek border. It is the administrative centre of Kirkovo Municipality. As of 2021 the population stood at 685 residents. The village lies in the Eastern Rhodopes at an elevation of 339 m.

By Plane

The nearest airports are in Plovdiv (about 120 km north) and Sofia (about 260 km northwest). Both are served by international flights.

By Train

There is no direct rail service to Kirkovo. The nearest railway station is in Kardzhali, about 35 km north, with connections to Plovdiv and Sofia.

By Car / Road

Kirkovo is accessible via regional road III-507 from Kardzhali and III-508 from Krumovgrad. The village is about 35 km south of Kardzhali and 20 km from the Greek border crossing at Makaza.

The village centre of Kirkovo is compact and walkable. Local buses connect the main districts and nearby villages. Taxis are available from Kardzhali.

The Veykata mountain top, the southernmost point in Bulgaria, is in the Kirkovo region. The Gyumyurdzhinski Snezhnik massif is a protected area covering 9.26 km², conserving ancient forests of beech, fir, and sycamore — home to golden eagles, black woodpeckers, and species in the Red Data Book. Old stone bridges built by local craftsmen are preserved in nearby villages Drangovo, Shumnatitsa, Gorski Izvor, and Tihomir.

Hiking in the Gyumyurdzhinski Snezhnik massif and to Veykata peak is the main activity. The reservoir at Mazhentsi offers fishing tourism and recreation with four bungalows nearby.

A restaurant is planned near the Mazhentsi recreation area. For more variety, the town of Kardzhali offers additional dining options.

There is a mineral spring near Kirkovo with water temperatures of 22–24°C, low in minerals but containing potassium, sodium, and magnesium. The water is used for bottling and soft drinks as well as therapeutic purposes.

The Mazhentsi recreation area has four bungalows near the reservoir. More accommodation options are available in Kardzhali.

Daily groceries and essentials are available at local shops in the village centre.

• Kardzhali — the provincial capital, about 35 km north
• Momchilgrad — a historic town with Ottoman heritage, about 40 km east
• Makaza Pass — border crossing into Greece