"The Path of Health" is a route easy to cover situated on the land of Koprivshtitsa. Specific here are the sport facilities like horizontal bars, parallel bars, rings, etc. placed all over the route. The terrain is suitable for jogging without very steep parts so distances between the facilities can be passed with running. Everyone who wants can use this route not only for walks but for sport exercises. Of course it depends on the aim and preparation of the tourists.

The “Path” starts from Naiden Gerov’s house which is at 20m from “20th of April” Sq. You have to go on the left side of the house and on the first crossroad you need to go on the right street – Doganova Str. It leads to a small square with Doganov houses – an architectural ensemble, one of the sights of Koprivshtitsa. From this square you take the left street to another little square with beautiful fountain called Rainovets. This place is called "Zhupa" and based on one of the theories for the town’s origin, at this place were made the first houses of Koprivshtitsa. There is one nice yellow house at the far away part of the square which can be a reference point for the correct direction. You need to go on the right side of this house and take a slightly assented street. When you reach next crossroad go to the left street which leads in forest direction. This part of the route is not marked. The marking starts at the end of the town, when you pass by the last houses and reach the foot of a small hill. Here you have two options – to keep by the marking and walk around the steep hill on a not very trampled path or go directly on the hill taking the big but steep forest road. Both options lead to a same place – the area Voivodenets with the meadows where the National Folklore Fest takes place. This is also a cross point of two routes – “ On Haidouk Paths” and “The Path of Health” both marked with signs.

“The Path of Health” goes in right on a cutting in the forest. This part it is marked and easy to follow. Along the path, at the right you will see a nice forest and at the left wide meadows with the stages where the National Folklore Fest takes place. The path continuous on a level terrain, in a forest and will reach a marking sign with short explanation of how to use all sport facilities along the route. Here the path turns right and after the bend is the first facility. After it there are some stairs at the right and the direction is marked with an arrow showing right. You have to take the stairs and go in the direction you’ve already been. After the stairs you have to take left and walk parallel on the path you’ve just came. Actually the distance between both pats is few meters so you need to be very careful and keep close to the markings at the left. You will reach a small resting area with wooden benches and tables. After it the route separates from the path you’d first came and goes into a high pine forest. The direction is marked with an arrow. The path is also well marked and it leads to the second facility. After it there is a marking sign and the path continuous with a slight climb to the third facility.The route goes on a small cutting sloping through the forest. If you decide to use this part for running you need to have in mind that the path is sandy, strewn with cones, spines, and dry branches and after a while it goes down and becomes steep. At the end of this steep part is the forth facility. After it, you have to go right, the path goes through a pine forest, after a while the forest becomes mixed and there is the next facility. After this one the path starts to go up and the forest becomes more loose and sunny. After a short ascent the path goes down and reaches the next sport facility. The path continues into a thicker forest where another sport facility is situated and after it continues to the meadows in Voivodenec area. There is a sign “Koprivshtitsa” and the path goes right. After a while you will reach a wide cart-way. By its right is a forest, at the left are meadows and at the road to the railway station of Koprivshtitsa can be seen from there. You’ll enter Koprivshtitsa on a coble-stone road and have to take Ralcho Voivoda Str. It will lead you to already known places from the route start.

In case you decide to take the route only for walk without using the sport facilities it will take about an hour to finish it. You can see squirrel and falcon, also white fir and spruce along the route.

Nevena Zhekova
2008