Kipilovo and Balkanstone a review by Ceri Hirst
In February 06 my husband and I spent a week in Kipolovo viewing properties with Stephan Dimov and Krysia, Balkanstone’s aspiring directors. In one week they had assisted us in setting up Bulgarian bank accounts and a company, including legal declarations before a notary, toured us around the whole area showing us great countryside, impressive houses, and the best food I have had outside Normandy’s Michelin five star zone at a fraction of the price. They even discussed and explained renovation prices and showed us available bathroom fittings, lighting accessories, heating alternatives and tile shops. This was an experience not to be missed and at current house prices if we had had the funds we’d have bought a few homes through them.

Kipilovo itself is beautiful and while the grey render on many of the houses would look better a traditional Bulgarian blue, (Stefan has this in hand with his own masterfully restored 18th century home) it seemed to us a fabulous find. It is tucked away from the collapsed industry that blights the country’s wealth creation yet surprisingly fails to blot the landscape. Kipilovo really is a town in the country. The streets are paved and the infrastructure sound, but traffic non existent. Almost every lived in house has its own slightly incongruous garden, sporting hens, donkeys, pigs, rabbits and goats a legacy of the self sufficiency necessary to meet the shortfalls of state planning, but an organic food lovers delight. Huge barns accompany many properties, beautiful in their medieval Shakespearian appearance although in need of some TLC. We were tempted by the barns alone as a painters’ delight.

We were more than welcomed into the village and picking up a few polite words of Bulgarian from Stefan, definitely surprised and pleased the locals. Cosy corner shops with wood burners, serving espresso for 10pence and locally produced spirits were not in short supply and their keepers welcomed our visit.

The tree lined mountains surrounding the village looked the part for skiing and hiking and evidently, for the daring may be the place to ski off piste or to trim the thighs with the cross country variety. The river snakes through the village and the gardens of some properties complete with fruit trees slope down to its edge. This is no resort but a traditional Bulgarian village complete with part wood traditional houses and more recent homes, large andsmall, in red brick. These homes are available at ridiculously low prices, for now at least, as a younger generation heads for the towns and cities and desert their rural heritage in search of jobs.

As Stefan grew up in Kipilovo he is the ideal representative for interested buyers, his English is great and local knowledge exceptional. He also knows his trade and is well able to organise purchases and a step by step renovation at a fraction of UK costs. We plumped for what is in effect a 5-7 bedroom dilapidated mansion for £15000 with a huge garden, a 3/4 million pound property in London at least.

A business breakfast in Sliven		Ceri and Andy meet the Mayor and Stefan translates

Sliven, the nearest big town (about 50km) is cosmopolitan with well stocked supermarkets and wines to die for, restaurants, bars, street side cafes and galleries. With only an hour and half drive to the sea Kipilovo and Sliven are well placed for holiday makers. It has the makeings of a haven for those wanting to escape the bustling black sea resorts and enjoy a more peaceful yet fascinating break or a hearty hiking, fishing, walking, painting affair or for me a lazy reading holiday. We were there in the snow and can’t wait to get back their in the summer when temperatures can top 40 C . Next stop get a pool put in and buy a horse.

Part of me would like to keep this unique find a secret but on the other hand Bulgarians welcome the investment, these houses are standing empty and this place has the wow factor for discerning foreigners. A few more in the village mingled with Bulgarian hospitality can only make it an even more enjoyable, affordable get away.