Kovachevitsa

Like other villages in the higher parts of the Rhodope mountain, the origin of Kovachevitsa is connected to the waves of forced conversion of Bulgarians to the Muslim religion during the Ottoman yoke. People were trying to escape the almost certain death if the Muslim Religion is not accepted or the other choice is conversion. During 1623-1625 and later in 1656, Bulgarian farmers from the skirts of the mountain fled up the hills and settled in some parts of the mountain so as to escape.

About a century later, refugees from Western Macedonia, who later became famous for their construction skills, also settled in Kovacheviza to form the so-called Arnaut Neighbourhood of the village. The village took an active part in underground processes planning the liberation of the Pirin part of Macedonia from Ottoman rule and was used as a transit stop and a house for weaponry and a hiding place for Macedonian rebels. Because of its extensive activity, the Pirin part of Macedonia, including Kovachevitsa, was finally liberated from the Ottomans in 1912.

The village is named after the wife of an eminent local blacksmith, Marco, who died at an early age and left a large family to the care of his wife, known by the locals as Kovachevitsa. The woman became popular among her fellows as a wise and intelligent person, who was often asked for advice.

The village of Kovachevitsa was at its highest economic and social power in the 18-19th century but started to decay in the 50s of the 20th century with massive migration of its villagers to the neighbouring towns of Velingrad, Batak, and Pazardzhik. After the monopoly Bulgarian film studio, Boyana, discovered the beauty and authentic spirit of the village, it has shot more than 20 films there by now, which claims that village is the only such settlement in Bulgaria. More recently, the village has been also changed into a tourist spot which helped for some old houses to be renovated, putting the start of rural tourism in Kovachevitsa.