Rhodope (Rodopi) Mountains are a mountain range in Bulgaria and some in Greece. Golyam Perelik -2,191 meters is the highest peak in Rhodope Mountains.
The area of the mountains is 14,735 sq.km. (5,689 sq mi), about 240 kilometers in length and about 110 kilometres wide. Average altitude is 785 meters.

Being in southern Europe, the climate is very mild and hot in the summers.

The climate in the Rhodope Mountains varies from mountain (to the West) and continental mediterranean (in the lowest and most Southern parts), with average annual temperatures from 5 degC to 12 degC and average January temperatures from -1.5 degC to -6 degC.

The highest ski resort is Pamporovo, located in a densely forested area, boasting snow sometimes till late April. Pamporovo is Europes most southern ski resort.

Recently the ancient Thracian city of Perperikon was discovered:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zducUX9njEk

They call Rhodope Mountains - the Mountain with a Soul. Enjoy a few videos to get just glimpse of what you can discover there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJspfbn9Fik

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=298&v=lcIR-tdmfns

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYwyuyy1zW8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=680&v=2BZaxL2X9dw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8ZtQmRYosk

and some photos:
https://goo.gl/5UnGJU

https://www.flickr.com/search/?text=rhodope

http://evgenidinev.com/seen/lost-in-rhodope/

Smolyan Province lies in the heart of Rhodope Mountains.  It is located in southern central Bulgaria.  Smolyan Province borders Greece and the main administrative centre is the city of Smolyan.

Smolyan province has 10 municipalities:
Banite, Borino, Chepelare, Devin, Dospat, Madan, Nedelino, Rudozem, Smolyan and Zlatograd.

Banite, Bosilkovo, Davidkovo, Debelyanovo, Dryanka, Dve Topoli, Glogino, Gulubovo, Krustatitsa, Malka Arda, Malko Krushevo, Oryahovets, Planinsko, Riben Dol, Slivka, Sturnitsa, Trave, Vishnevo, Valchan Dol, Zagrajden

Borino, Buynovo, Kozhari, Chala, Yagodina

Chepelare, Bogutevo, Hvoyna, Lilekovo, Malevo, Orehovo, Ostritsa, Pavelsko, Progled, Studenets, Zabardo, Zornitsa

Devin, Beden, Breze, Churukovo, Grohotno, Gyovren, Zhrebevo, Kesten, Lyaskovo, Mihalkovo, Osikovo, Selcha, Stomanevo, Teshel, Trigrad, Vodni Pad

Dospat, Barutin, Brashten, Chavdar, Lyubcha, Tsrancha, Zmeitsa

Madan, Arpadjik, Borika, Borinovo, Bukova Polyana, Bukovo, Churka, Diralo, Dolie, Gabrina, Galishte, Kasapsko, Koriite, Krayna, Krushev Dol, Kupen, Leshtak, Leska, Livade, Lovtsi, Maglishta, Mile, Mitovska, Pechinska, Petrov Dol, Planinsko, Ravnil, Ravnishta, Ravno Nivishte, Rustan, Sharenska, Srednogortsi, Staychin Dol, Studena, Tankoto, Tsirka, Uruchovtsi, Varba, Vargov Dol, Vehtino, Visokite, Vranintsi, Varbina

Nedelino, Burevo, Dimanovo, Dunya, Elenka, Garnati, Izgrev, Kochani, Kozarka, Krayna, Kundevo, Ogradna, Sredets, Tanka Bara, Varli Dol, Varlino

Rudozem, Boevo, Borie, Breza, Barchevo, Byala Reka, Chepintsi, Dabova, Dobreva Cheresha, Elhovets, Gramade, Ivanovo, Kokorovo, Koritata, Mochure, Ogled, Plovdivtsi, Polyana, Ravninata, Ribnitsa, Sopotot, Vitina, Voykova Laka

Smolyan, Aligovska, Arda, Bablon, Belev Dol, Bilyanska, Borikovo, Bostina, Bukata, Bukatsite, Chala, Chepleten, Chereshkite, Chereshovo, Chereshovska Reka, Chokmanovo, Chuchur, Dimanovo, Dunevo, Elenska, Elyovo, Fatovo, Gabritsa, Gela, Gorna Arda, Gorovo, Gozdevitsa, Gradat, Grashtitsa, Gudevitsa, Hasovitsa, Isyovtsi, Katranitsa, Kiselchovo, Kokorovo, Koshnitsa, Kremene, Kukuvitsa, Kutela, Levochevo, Lipets, Laka, Magardjitsa, Milkovo, Momchilovtsi, Mugla, Nadartsi, Oreshets, Ostri Pazlak, Peshtera, Petkovo, Pisanitsa, Podvis, Polkovnik Serafimovo, Poprelka, Potoka, Rechani, Reka, Rovina, Sarnino, Selishte, Shiroka Laka, Sivino, Slaveyno, Slivka, Smilyan, Sokolovtsi, Solishta, Sredok, Stikal, Stoykite, Straja, Tikale, Trebishte, Turyan, Uhlovitsa, Vievo, Vlahovo, Vodata, Valchan, Varbovo, Zaevite, Zmievo

Zlatograd, Alamovtsi, Dolen, Erma Reka, Fabrika, Kushla, Marzyan, Presoka, Startsevo, Strashimir, Tsatsarovtsi