Villa Gella

by Anthony Lopez-Vito
Rhodope Mountains
Rhodope Mountains Bulgaria

In all four seasons, Villa Gella is an ideal place for a family holiday or for an intimate gathering of friends, for an unforgettable honeymoon, for senior management corporate off sites or as a celebrity retreat away from the prying eye.

  • 6 bedrooms
  • 10 bathrooms
  • 15 guests

Best for: Families, friends, special occasions, corporate events.

From: €9,500/week

Amenities

  • Pool
  • Spa or Gym Facilities
  • Linen
  • Towels
  • Toiletries
  • Ironing
  • Hairdryer
  • Baby equipment

The Property

In all four seasons, Villa Gella is an ideal place for a family holiday or for an intimate gathering of friends, for an unforgettable honeymoon, for senior management corporate off sites or as a celebrity retreat away from the prying eye.

Details

View property details

It was a love affair. One day, Ivan, an engineering professor and his wife Dimka, a chemist, visited the hamlet of Gela. They were bowled over by the spectacular mountain views, the tranquility and purity of the natural environment. Finding a ruined farmhouse, they immediately made an offer. To complete the purchase and rebuild the place it took time and patience. Nothing happens quickly in the mountains - this is part of the charm.
Five years passed and Villa Gella was completed. Satisfied with their project, they decided to open the immaculate villa as a luxury retreat, authentic, family run and fully serviced.

The living space of the villa unfolds on four levels. The living and dining area, the kitchen and library are side-by-side along the North-South axis of the villa.
The main open-plan Living Area is on the Ground Floor, facing East, and comprises a large sitting area around wood-burning fireplace and a dining table for up to 12 people. The Living/Dining Room is connected via eight door windows to a large terrace with an open-fire sitting area and a large dining table.

There is another smaller dining area which seats 5 and can be used as a dining place for children and/ or as a breakfast buffet. The Kitchen is a professionally equipped and the chef is available throughout. Staff accommodation and other service areas are located in the Kitchen wing.

The wood-panelled Library with a small working area, two large armchairs, poker table, computer access, and plenty of books and magazines, is also located on the Ground Floor, North of the Living Room.

The six individually decorated en-suite bedrooms are located and include features such as log-burning fireplaces, glass or cement baths, writing desks, walk-in closets etc. 1 of the bedrooms has 2 four-poster beds and 2 large sofas making it ideal for a family with children.

2 rooms on second floor are connected via a small corridor, away from the staircase, and can form a secluded large two-bedroom suite on the Third floor.

The gardens of the villa are positioned over four terraces. The terrace on the ground level in front of the kitchen wing is used for growing wild herbs used in local cuisine. The terrace in front of the swimming pool has chaise-longs made from reclaimed wood and can be used for sun-bathing in the summer, the lower terrace has a water mirror and fruit trees, and the bottom terrace is the outdoors sports centre can be used for ball games (badminton, les boules, horseshoe throwing, basketball) and dining al fresco with its long table and BBQ.

Bedrooms Configuration

- Room 1, double bedroom on the ground floor, balcony, fireplace, en=suite bathroom (bath tub)
- Room 2 on the first floor, four poster bed, en-suite bathroom, fireplace, sitting area
- Room 3 on the first floor, under-floor heating, double bed, large sofa bed for 2 guests, en-suite bathrooms , writing desk, fireplace
- Room 4 on the first floor, largest bedroom, two four poster beds, two sofas , fireplace, en-suite bathroom with Jacuzzi and shower room, walk-in closet, writing desk. Ideal for a family of 4.
- Room 5 on the third floor, log poster bed, sitting area, en-suite bathroom with cement bath tub, fireplace, covered terrace
- Room 6 on the third floor, four poster bed, living room, fire place sitting area, en-suite bathroom with free standing bath and separate shower.
Room 5 and 6 are connected via a small corridor and can form a secluded large two-bedroom suite.

Facilities and Services

Badminton and petanque courts, Children's playground, Baby chair, Baby monitor, Baby cot, Car park, Library, Poker table, Books and Magazines in English language, Sun terrace with loungers, Well stocked wine cellar, Vegetable patch, BBQ, Under-floor heating, Sat TV, Computer, Utility and laundry room, Wood burning fireplaces in all bedrooms, Garage, Library, Blue-ray disc player
The bottom terrace is the outdoors sports centre and can be used for games – badminton, les boules, volleyball and basketball, horseshoe throwing.
Airport transfers, Day trips, History/ancient sites guide, Folklore music lessons, Botany guide, Hiking guide, Skiing instructor, Skiing equipment and snow-mobiles, Horse-back riding instructor, Landscape painting lessons, Cookery lessons, Local hunting club guest membership, Local speleology club guest membership, Massage and Facial technicians, Picnic hampers for day trips, Gala dinner (Bulgarian cuisine extravaganza), Wine-tasting representing of all five Bulgarian wine regions.

Pool and Spa

Indoor pool. 10x3.5m with jet.
Spa and wellness area, steam room.

Special Touches

Under the supervision of the expert in-house Chef, kids can learn how to make home-made yoghurt, real popcorns and butter.

Below the ground floor is the spa area with a 10m in-door swimming pool with a jet, a steam room, a massage table.

Good to Know

Come and stay at Villa Gella between August and December, during the wild boar hunting season. The decoration of the villa, under the guidance of renowned interior designer Marja Walters, seamlessly combines traditional and modern features, selected pieces from the owners’ collection of antique (Bulgarian, Chinese, Indian) and modern art (Liu Dong, Craigie Aitchison, Dale Chihuly), as well as photography and artefacts from the owner-family’s history.

Photos

Video

Location

The property is located 220Km from the capital city of Sofia and 100Km from Plovdiv. Flights are available from major European cities to Sofia on a daily basis and from London to Plovdiv bi-weekly. Nearest international airports: Sofia, Plovdiv, Istanbul and Thessaloniki (Greece). Private helicopters can be rented for private transfers and sightseeing.
How to get there

Villa Gella is located in a small hamlet in the Rhodope Mountains, in the Village of Gela.

Areas of special architectural interest, UNESCO heritage sites, vineyards, the Devil's throat and Strawberry Cave, the astronomical observatory at Rozhen can all be reached in day trips.

Hiking trails abound in the area including the Dospat and Smolyan lakes, the Devil's Throat and its canyon, Mount Perelik and Mount Orpheus.

Hikers have an opportunity, through guided tours with game and botany experts, to observe rich wildlife and flora, unique in Europe.

Visits to the caves Devil’s Throat, Yagodinska Peshtera and Uhlovitza offer challenging and memorable hikes underground.

Pamporovo ski resort (the second largest in Bulgaria) with more than 50km of downhill and cross-country ski runs for all levels of skiers is only 17km away.

In the winter, a horse-drawn or a dog sleigh could offer an unforgettable fairy-tale experience. An exciting way to explore the mountains and villages around Villa Gella is by bike or on horseback.

A local stud farm offers rides in its paddocks and treks along mountain trails. Mountain ranges, mirror lakes and ancient woodlands are an inspiration for professional and amateur painters and photographers alike throughout the year, as the changing seasons allow for multiple takes on the same landscape.

The in-house professional Chef will be delighted to serve you breakfast and lunch or dinner and afternoon tea in the comfort of your villa.
Meals are freshly prepared every day on site using organic, locally sourced ingredients, often from the villa's own vegetable garden and nearby barn.

The milk is churned into butter at home. Fresh yoghurt and cheese are also made by the resident Chef.
Bread is baked daily and eld trout comes from the brooks nearby.

Herbs and fruit grow in the meadows and orchard all around.

The Rhodope region is home to a centuries-old culinary tradition, characterized by fresh local ingredients: meat (lamb, beef, game, and sausages) and fish (mainly mountain river and lake trout), breads and pastries, and fruits (plums, apples, pears, and mountain berries). Yoghurt, curd and local cheese (known as branza) are made from locally sourced sheep or cow’s milk.
Notable local dishes include patatnik (a mixture of potatoes, cheese and eggs baked on a hot stone or in a frying pan); klin (boiled rice and eggs in filo pastry baked on a hot stone); lozovi sarmi (a mixture of rice and minced meat wrapped in pickled cabbage leaves and steamed); palneni tchushki (a large capsicum pepper stuffed with a mixture of rice and minced meat or vegetables and baked or steamed) and pitka (home made bread).

The dishes of the resident chef are complemented and enhanced by a selection of the wines of Terra Tangra - the most exciting and the best internationally recognized new generation Bulgarian winery.

he area is a paradise for both summer and winter sports.

Hiking
Horse-back riding
Fishing
Mountain Biking
Mountain climbing
Caving
Boating
Bird and Game watching
Tennis
Foraging
Wine tasting
Wild boar hunting
Skiing and snowboarding
Horseback riding
Hiking
Fishing
Biking
Skiing
Skidoos

FESTIVALS:
Kukeri: pagan ritual - first weekend in March
Ilinden: bagpipe competition - first weekend in August
Perelik: international jazz - second half of July
Rozhen: folkore - second half of August

Booking Enquiry

Booking details

Additional Information

Booking Conditions

View what's included
Rates from €8500/week.
Rental fee includes half board accommodation (breakfast and dinner), daily cleaning, Laundry services. Breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner are included. Lunch can be served at an additional rate. Min 7 nights stay.

Terms

A non-refundable deposit is required in order to secure a booking. The balance, together with any security deposit, will be requested 60 days prior to your check-in.

Although calendars are updated daily, they may not reflect the latest availability. Always contact Passepartout Homes to discuss availability for your chosen properties.

Rates may vary without prior notice.

Request Callback

If you are seeking the perfect holiday property or special occasion venue and have not found it yet, let us help. We promise – we are as picky as you are.