14th FEPTO Conference
Tallinn, Estonia, 17th – 19th of May 2019
Mindful Action for Development –
Learning of Individuals and Groups
Information will be uploaded as soon as possible.
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From the last FEPTO conference:
13th FEPTO Conference
Pravetz, Bulgaria, 11th – 13th of May 2018
The Tree of Life: Tradition and renewal
PRAVETZ, CITY HOST OF THE CONFERENCE
PRAVETZ (Bulgarian: Правец) is a small town in central western BULGARIA with population of 4,500 people. It is located approximately 50 km from capital Sofia and 40 min from the airport.
For the participants in the FEPTO Conference will be organized transportation from the Sofia airport.
The history and name of Pravetz (=straight road) are closely related to the surrounding mountain passes. Two roads of strategic importance passed through the territory of the small village. The population of the entire village near some important pass was involved and responsible for guarding this roads, bridges, fords or mountain passes. And they have been assigned with special status in exchange for tax exemptions. This gave a privileged position to the inhabitants of the village during the difficult historical times.
On the threshold of 80s Pravetz is known as home town of the first microprocessor factory in Bulgaria and the first personal computers named also Pravetz. This has a major impact on the economic and cultural development of the city.
Among the Bulgarians the town is known as birthplace of Bulgaria’s longtime (35 years) communist President Todor Zhivkov.
Today, the town is most famous for its schools. Computers and technology systems high school which prepares students for the Technical University in Sofia, and allows for direct admission to the University to its top students.
A language high school which prepares many students who continue their undergraduate education in Bulgaria, England, the USA, Germany, and France.
And International business school which offers campus education and online education.
During the school year, the town is filled with students from different towns and villages.
Nowadays Pravetz is a calm and pleasant place for holydays. Mountains surround it, which allows for a mild climate with rare winds. In the outskirts there is a small lake used for fishing and recreation. Right on the shore of the lake is situated RIU Pravetz resort, distant enough from the daily stress of the big city.
THE VENUE
The hotel provides a quiet and cozy atmosphere for relaxation or work. RIU Pravetz Resort offers its guests breathtaking views of the lake and the golf course, as well as the picturesque slopes of Stara Planina.
It is a luxury Resort with a total of 251 units – 108 double rooms with lake view,104 double rooms with mountain view, 10 Junior suites with lake view, an Executive floor with 13 executive studios, offering all features and services to satisfy the most demanding requirements of the leisure and business traveler. It features a host of modern spa, swimming pools, numerous entertainments and sports facilities.
Do you play golf? NO?
Here You can take your first lesson with a professional instructor at the Golf Academy.
ARRIVING TO PRAVETZ
Hotel RIU Pravets Resort is located 50 km away from Sofia – easily accessible, only 45 minutes drive on Hemus highway. You can choose to travel by taxi – directly to RIU Pravets Hotel or use public transport.
Click here for a better resolution > Pravetz map
1.Coming by taxi:
For your comfort and safety, we recommend the services of the taxi operator OK Supertrans ( Bulgarian: OК СУПЕРТРАНС ) as contractual partner of Sofia Airport. Taxi will cost you around 40 – 45 euros.
You can request the service:
- At the offices of OK Supertrans in the Arrivals of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.
- Trough the phone: +359 2 973 2121
- On-line: www.oktaxi.net
- Follow the floor markings in yellow, they will lead you to the taxi stand area.
IMPORTANT: We recommend that you do not use taxi services offered outside the office of the taxi operator or in front of the terminal to avoid the risk of abuse.
2. Coming by public transport:
If you choose to use public transport, the travel costs will be around 15 Euros. The bus to Pravetz can be taken from Central Bus Station. From Airport to Sofia Central Bus Station you can travel by metro. Sofia Metro Line 1 connects Sofia Airport to the city.
The metro station at Sofia Airport is located in the eastern part of Terminal 2. You can reach it by following the floor markings in blue at the public area of Terminal 2.
In case you arrive on Terminal 1, Sofia Airport provides free-of-charge transportation between Terminals at every 30 minutes between 07:00 and 19:00 local time, with no intermediate stops on the route. The shuttle bus stops located in front of the terminal buildings are designated by signage and pavement markings.
To reach Sofia Central Bus Station, you must change trains from Line 1 to Line 2 at Serdika Metro Station and travel 2 stations to Central Railway Station. Next, on the east side you will see the building of Central Bus Station. The trip will take around half an hour.
The metro trains on the route to the airport operate from 5:30 a.m. to midnight on weekdays and weekends/holidays.
3. Tickets and luggage
Ticket machines for metro tickets are located at Sofia Airport Metro Station. The ticket machines accept Bulgarian banknotes and coins, and one of them accepts credit cards as well.
Important: Passengers with regular transport documents can carry up to 2 pieces of hand luggage, with a sum of length, height and width for each one not exceeding 140 cm. Luggage with dimensions exceeding the specified ones must be charged with a separate single trip travel card or a card with vouchers for 10 single trips.
For further details on the routes, timetables, and tariffs of the public transport, please refer to Sofia Urban Mobility Center or Metropolitan Sofia.
Tickts from Pravetz from the central bus station: You can buy tickets from the terminal desks, on site or on-line, in advance. We recommend buying in advance to ensure your seat on the bus. Please follow the link, for on-line ticket.
From Pravets Bus station you must take a taxi to RIU Pravets Resort.
Download file > Arriving to Pravetz
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EXCURSION
Nature and tranquility is what you will find in Pravets, a lovely municipality 60 kilometers near Sofia. The pretty green meadows and rolling hills that surround it invite you to enjoy a relaxing getaway or an active holiday for hiking or cycling or playing golf.
Seeing the incredible landscapes and interesting places in the area is essential during your holiday in Pravets. If you enjoy hiking, we suggest exploring places like the St. Teodor Tiron Monastery, from which various well-marked trails depart, or visiting the Stara Planina Mountains to enjoy the marvelous trails that cross forests and streams. Another place we recommend visiting, if time permits, is the Rila Monastery. From the outside, its sober walls conceal an unimaginable beauty on the inside, where various levels of arches and balconies enclose a large inner courtyard. The complex is splendid and represents a possible stop.
You can also discover other places, like the picturesque town of Koprivshtitsa and its house-museums showing the development of the Bulgarian Renaissance of the 19th century. Those who don’t know Bulgaria should take advantage of the trip to see its capital: Sofia. Its historic center consists of elegant avenues and ornate churches, city parks, a large central market and the Presidential Palace. You can also see the Church of St Nicholas, Sveta Nedelya Square, Borisova Gradina Park and Boyana Church, Sofia’s best-known and most cherished monument.
Bulgaria’s capital has a lot of stories to tell, and each historic attraction will give you a new perspective on Sofia’s complicated past. Take the churches here that have spent several centuries of their existence as mosques, the overbearing soviet architecture or the Roman history that is still being uncovered and blends with the modern city. More > 15 best things to do in Sofia
Download > Sofia excursion
VISA
Bulgaria is a Member-State of the European Union but not in the Schengen Agreement. Citizens traveling inside the E.U. just need to display their police I.D. Card without the need of a passport. However, a passport is necessary for a number of other transactions.
Visas are not required by citizens of Member-States of the Schengen Agreement. A foreigner may enter the Republic of Bulgaria if he/ she is a holder of a regular foreign travel document or another equivalent document as well as a visa if required.
A foreign citizen wishing to apply for a Bulgarian visa shall hold a regular travel document that meets the following requirements:
- its validity expires at least 3 months after the intended date of departure from the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria or in case of multiple visits – after the last scheduled date of departure from the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria;
- contains at least 2 blank pages for visa purposes;
- has been issued within the last 10 years.
For more information: http://www.mfa.bg/en/
CONTACT
For all questions about the arrangement or accommodation, please contact the Local Organizing Committee (LOC):
Secretary of the Conference: Milena Mutafchieva
E-mail: feptopravetz2018@gmail.com
Tel: + 359 888 266 377
LOC coordinator: Katerina (Ina) Ilieva
mailto: katherinailieva@gmail.com
Tel: +359 898 464 770
