Crossroad House did not start as a guest house.

Host & Caretaker

Veselin Georgiev · Host & Caretaker

Our story begins in Ivaylovgrad – a small town in the heart of the Eastern Rhodopes, close to the borders of Greece and Turkey. This is where my family's roots lie. Some of our ancestors carry the legacy of the Asia Minor Bulgarians – refugees who left their homes and started their lives anew. Perhaps that is why I have always believed that home is not just a place, but a bond that stays with us, even when we are far away.

The house was built in the 90s by my grandparents with a lot of hard work, perseverance, and help from relatives. Back then, this was not uncommon – many families built their homes themselves, brick by brick. But as life often goes, it takes different directions, and part of the house remained unfinished for years.

My childhood and youth were spent in Ivaylovgrad. Here I found friendships that last to this day. Together with close friends, we became part of the town's theater life. In a small town, opportunities are not always abundant, but the community creates its own. The theater, the cultural center, the festivals, and the people keeping traditions alive taught me how precious the connection is between people and the place they call home. Over time, life took me to Sofia. I returned less and less often, but I never lost my connection to this region. I continued to come back for holidays, to meet friends, for theater performances, and for all those small occasions that remind you of where you started.

The idea for Crossroad House came completely unexpectedly. During one of those returns, I went up to the unfinished second floor of the family house. The space had remained almost unchanged over the years – filled with memories, belongings, and traces of time. As I walked around, I realized that this place was waiting for its next life. Initially, the dream was very simple – to create a place where I could return. A place to finish what was started by my grandparents. Gradually, however, this idea began to grow. I realized that if this place could help me reconnect with my roots, it could give the same feeling to others as well.

And so, Crossroad House was born. Not as a tourism project. Not as an investment. But as an attempt to continue a family story and, at the same time, to give something back to the place that has given so much to me! I believe that Ivaylovgrad has a future. I believe in the people who live here, preserve traditions, and create cultural life despite all challenges. I believe that tourism can help more people discover the beauty of this region – its nature, history, peace, and hospitality. Crossroad House is our small contribution to this idea! A place to rest. A place to return. A place at the crossroads of countries, stories, and human destinies. And perhaps a place that will make you slow down and feel at home for a while.