Shiroka Laka
Shiroka Laka (Bulgarian: Широка лъка, "wide meander") is a village in the very south of Bulgaria, located in Smolyan municipality, Smolyan Province. It is a proclaimed architectural and folklore reserve and lies in the central Rhodope Mountains, 23 km northwest of Smolyan, 16 km west of Pamporovo and 22 km southeast of Devin.
The dominant and traditional religion in the village is Eastern Orthodox Christianity and the population is 573 (as of September 2005[update]). Shiroka Laka lies at 1,206 m above sea level, at 41°41′N 24°35′E / 41.683°N 24.583°E. The mayor is Aleksandar Kavroshilov. The village has existed at this place since the 17th century and was founded by Bulgarians fleeing from the forcible Islamization conducted by the Ottoman authorities of the time in the Rhodopes.
Shiroka Laka is famous for its authentic Rhodopean houses set in tiers on both banks of the local river. The old houses were designed in the characteristic architectural style of the Rhodopes by the noted local building masters, and feature two storeys, oriels, built-in cupboards and a small cellar with a hiding place. The thick white walls hide the yard from the outsiders' eyes. The yard is small and slab-covered and has a typical stone drinking fountain in the middle. Some of the most famous houses are those of the Zgurov, Uchikov and Grigorov families.
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