Culmination of the Rose Festival took place in Karlovo

The culmination of the Rose Festival took place in Karlovo on May 25. This is one of the most beautiful festivals in the sub-mountain region of the Balkan Mountains and is dedicated to the oil-bearing rose that spreads the glory of Bulgaria around the world.

For the first time in recent history, the celebration started outside Karlovo - in the rose gardens above Klisura. To the sound of bagpipes, the newly elected Queen of the Rose welcomed the guests and together with all the participants in the competition, they reenacted the rose picking ritual.

"BNT: Why is the celebration so significant for Karlovo and all the residents?

- Because it is a symbol of Karlovo and because it symbolizes the traditional oil-bearing rose that we keep here, that we keep in the Karlovo gardens," said Anna-Maria Vrazheva, a 16-year-old student, who was elected Queen of the Rose.

The Rose Festival continued with processions through the streets to the central square of the town of Karlovo. As part of the tradition, the mayor of the municipality presented the Queen of the Rose with a 24-carat golden rose, a symbol of timelessness, sustainability, beauty and respect for the traditions.

"It is significant because in the past decades it has become one of the emblems of Karlovo and Bulgaria, we have been invited to Japan at Expo 2024 and precisely to show our traditions and customs," said Dr. Emil Kabaivanov - Mayor of Karlovo.

This year, a record high number of tourists from four continents came to Karlovo.

"We are from Singapore.We are here to enjoy the festival and the dancing. We are very happy, it is exciting. We like rose products very much - rose oil and rose water."

During the festival there were demonstrations of essential oil extraction in 150-year-old copper vessels.

Images by BTA