Uzana

Tucked among oak forests about 22 km from Gabrovo, Uzana marks the country's geographic centre. It is a small, modest place, but one with a fittingly symbolic draw.

The "Geographic Centre" hotel stays full year-round, and the region holds another six or seven hotels in good condition. It remains little known for lack of promotion — a rare natural beauty still waiting for its audience.

Uzana — gentle skiing in the heart of Bulgaria

Uzana is a small ski area in the Stara Planina (Balkan) mountains, set right by the geographic centre of Bulgaria above the town of Gabrovo. It is not a major resort but rather an open mountain plateau, popular with Bulgarian families and beginners — a weekend spot rather than a week-long destination. Anyone after long runs and serious vertical will be disappointed; anyone wanting first turns, sledging and clean mountain air will be happy.

The numbers

The area offers roughly 3 km of pistes spread across 8 short runs, served by 10 lifts (mostly drag lifts and beginner conveyors). Altitude runs from 1220 m at the base to 1350 m at the top, giving a vertical of only about 130 m — gentle gradients, ideal for learning. The season runs roughly from December to April depending on snow; at this modest elevation, cover varies a lot from winter to winter. There is no night skiing and no terrain park.

Practical

Access is by car from Gabrovo on a mountain road; coming from southern Romania, the route is via Ruse and then south. Equipment rental and ski schools are generally available on site in season, though the offer is modest — check ahead. The most reliable months for snow are January and February. Uzana works best as a day trip or combined with a visit to the nearby Etar open-air museum and the Sokolski Monastery.