Incredible quiet. Just the murmur of a river, delicate bird songs and soft midge buzz. Pure mountain air says tangibly “hello” to your lungs... Where I am taking you now, each season draws its unique picture. There you go back a century in time. You see gorgeous wattle and stone houses with slate roofs, built on the hillside. Some of them are nearly ruined, others are restored and shining, still others can only be imagined as they are lost in the embrace of time. You touch the walls and colour images rush in your mind. You become aware of inspiration in the air, you feel an urge to draw, to write verses, to sing or simply laugh for no reason. This inspiration is called Dolen village.

It is situated in the Southwestern Rhodopes at the border with Pirin Macedonia, having a slight influence from the Aegean. The Glen is tucked away in this mix of warmth, pines, fragrant herbs and crystal air. First you reach the town of Gotse Delchev, then you take off in the direction of Dospat Reservoir. Several kilometres before Satovcha watch out for a brown sign pointing to the left. A winding asphalt road will take you to the village (3 km). Pass by the new quarters and half a kilometre down from the central square you will come to the daydreams you came all the way here for.

Dolen is an old settlement that went through fire, plague and flood. Nowadays the village has about 500 inhabitants, but they claim there are Dolenites even on the Moon. The village, arousing the curiosity of many Bulgarians and foreigners, was proclaimed a historical monument in the mid 20th century.