The town of Ardino is located in the west part of East Rhodopes, 300 km away from Sofia and 92 km away from the regional centre Haskovo. 
     

     History

     The first written source about the town of Ardino is the notes of the French research worker Ogjust Vickenel from 1847. The old name of Ardino is Egri-Dere - called after the name of the little river, which runs through the settlement. During the Ottoman rule district Egri-Dere covered central geographic lay in the sultan's land Sultaneri. After the Russian - Turkish war it was joined to the newly created Gyoumyourdjinski region, Vilayet Odrin. At the end of the 19th century Egri-Dere is a little settlement with several sheds at the market and a mosque (preserved up to the present), with a small narrow bridge over one of the gulches. According to information from the Turkish salname from year 1898 the population of Kaza (district) Egri-Dere was 34 338 inhabitants. 
     After the First World War it was included in region Mastanli. After year 1934 it passed over to region of Stara Zagora. In year 1934 the name of Egri-Dere was changed into Ardino. Together with ten villages: Davidkovo, Leniste, Bial Izvor, Petkovo, Doino Prahovo, Zagrazden, Rusalsko, Ladja, Bezvodno and Tchamdere, it formed the district of Ardino.
     Ardino was announced for town in 1960.
 
     Historical Places

     The region of Ardino is rich in historical monuments and places. The ancient road passing along Arda River and through Ksantiyiski Pass (Eledje) was used during the Middle Ages and connected the interior of the Thrace with Aegean region. 15 km away from Ardino is the Devil's Bridge, built at the beginning of the 15th century. Up to the present it stands the pressure of the waters of river Arda. 2 km away from the town are situated the so called Eagle's Rocks. 500 meters away from the Eagle's Rocks is the Thracian stronghold Kaleto. It is fully destroyed. In 1979 it was announced a historical monument. 
  
     Tourism

     The region of Ardino disposes of wonderful conditions for tourism. On its territory there is a considerable number of holiday houses suitable for eco and country tourism. The tourist complex Silver Birches is 7 km away from the town of Ardino, on the road Kardzhali - Smolyan. It is a natural birch reserve with total area of 3 680 decares. There were built eight modern chalets with places for amusement and relaxation. The air in the complex heals pulmonary and allergic diseases.
       Another interesting tourist sight is the natural phenomenon Hladilnika. It is a karst cave form. Its name comes from the unusually low temperatures even in the hottest summer months.
     Splendid for development of tourism is the countryside round the river valley of Arda - Kardzhali Dam. The favorable transitional Mediterranean climate, the rarely combination of pine-tree, silver birch, spruce, beech-tree, oak tree and horn beam, the natural game farms for breeding of deer, roe deer, mouflons, wild boars and the rivers full of fish, make the village of Ardino a little paradise for the nature fans.