It became a town in 1960 after unifying three villages- Smolyan, Raykovo and Ustovo.
Numerous houses and churches from 17th-19th centuries have been preserved up to the present day. Some of them are: "Pangalov_fs house" (1860), "Sgurov_fs house" (1866), "Alibeev_fs town- hall" (1751), "Kelev_fs house" (1860), etc.
The architectural and ethnographic reserve called Cheshitska mahala is located in the district of Raykovo.
There is a planetarium, an ethnographic museum and an art gallery.
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Every year you can to visic International ETHNO-JAZZ festival "JULY JAZZ Smolyan " - in JULY. The festival meeting diferent art and crafts. Famous artists, young musicians and interpretators come to Smolyan to join in the festival. Wotk-shops: music, thetre, drama, dance, painting, crafts and iconograpfi. CHILD ART CAMP - "Work-shop for little 'big' people" started in 2008 and art and social pratform for discus for young people. Don't hasitate - come here! www.julyjazzbg.com
Tourists can be accommodated in two big and a great number of small private family ones.
Smolyan is a starting point for many mountain routes. The Smolyan lakes and the Smolyan waterfall are located not far from the town.