With the contribution of the first advocates for the conservation of the natural riches of Pirin 61 years ago, on November 8th, 1962, National Park "Vihren" was established under the management of the Central Forestry Department of Bulgaria.

Years later, after the adoption of the Protected Areas Act at the end of 1998, the Ministry of Environment and Water was tasked with the management of the Pirin National Park. To this day, the staff of the Directorate carries out this task with dedication and daily care to preserve for the future generations the unique biodiversity and remarkable natural formations of the majestic Pirin Mountain.

The presence of Pirin National Park on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1983 is a confirmation of the exceptional value of this protected area.

Pirin National Park is also part of the Natura 2000 network, having been declared a protected area under the two nature conservation directives of the European Union.

The scientific community in Bulgaria, in partnership with the park administration, has made a significant contribution to the conservation of this unique natural complex.

The Directorate of Pirin National Park celebrated the 61st anniversary of the protected area by launching a festive exhibition. The exhibition "Through nine mountains into the tenth" shows the best children's drawings from the competition under the same name, selected from 1200 works. The exhibition will be open to visitors until 8th December at the Pirin National Park Visitor Centre in Bansko.

More information about the national park can be found HERE.