Natural and historical Natural and historical sites in Bulgariasites in Bulgaria

Developed by: Bojidar SavovDeveloped by: Bojidar Savov

Marvelous Bridges Marvelous Bridges The "bridges" were formed by the The "bridges" were formed by the erosive activity of the once high- activity of the once high-

water river. It transformed the water river. It transformed the marble cl cleefts into a deep water fts into a deep water cave, the , the ceiling of which whittled up through time and collapsed, allegedly ceiling of which whittled up through time and collapsed, allegedly

during an earthquake. during an earthquake. Geologists suppose that the water carried the suppose that the water carried the debris away.debris away.

As a result, the two remaining bridge-shaped boulders remained. The As a result, the two remaining bridge-shaped boulders remained. The large one (situated upstream) is 15 metres at its widest and 96 metres large one (situated upstream) is 15 metres at its widest and 96 metres

long, and shaped by three vault arches, the largest of which is 45 long, and shaped by three vault arches, the largest of which is 45 metres high and 40 metres wide. The metres high and 40 metres wide. The Erkyupriya River flows under the flows under the middle-sized arch. The large Wonderful Bridge is passable under the middle-sized arch. The large Wonderful Bridge is passable under the

vaults where birds nest in the marble clefts. The smaller bridge is vaults where birds nest in the marble clefts. The smaller bridge is located 200 metres downstream. It is unpassable, 60 metres in length, located 200 metres downstream. It is unpassable, 60 metres in length, with a total height of 50 metres, 30 metres at the highest place of the with a total height of 50 metres, 30 metres at the highest place of the

arch. A third, very little and hardly reachable bridge-like formation arch. A third, very little and hardly reachable bridge-like formation follows, constituting the entrance of a follows, constituting the entrance of a pothole cave where the river cave where the river

waters disappear underground, and show back up after 3 km.waters disappear underground, and show back up after 3 km.

Pictures of Marvelous BridgesPictures of Marvelous Bridges

Belogradchik Rocks Belogradchik Rocks The Belogradchik Rocks (Bulgarian: The Belogradchik Rocks (Bulgarian: Белоградчишки скали, Белоградчишки скали, Belogradchishki Belogradchishki

skaliskali) are a group of bizarrely shaped ) are a group of bizarrely shaped sandstone, , limestone and and conglomerate rock rock formations located on the western slopes formations located on the western slopes

of the of the Balkan Mountains ( (Stara PlaninaStara Planina) near ) near the town of the town of Belogradchik in northwest in northwest Bulgaria. The rocks vary in color from . The rocks vary in color from

primarily red to gray to yellow; some of the primarily red to gray to yellow; some of the rocks reach up to 200 m in height. Many rocks reach up to 200 m in height. Many

rocks have fantastic shapes and are rocks have fantastic shapes and are associated with interesting legends. They associated with interesting legends. They are often named for people or objects they are often named for people or objects they are thought to resemble. The Belogradchik are thought to resemble. The Belogradchik

Rocks have been declared a Natural Rocks have been declared a Natural Landmark by the Bulgarian government Landmark by the Bulgarian government and are a major tourist attraction in the and are a major tourist attraction in the

region.region.

The The SevenSeventhth Rila Rila’s’s Lakes Lakes Each lake carries a name associated with its most Each lake carries a name associated with its most characteristic feature. The highest one is called characteristic feature. The highest one is called SalzataSalzata ("The Tear") due to its clear waters that allow visibility in ("The Tear") due to its clear waters that allow visibility in

depth. The next one in height carries the name depth. The next one in height carries the name OkotoOkoto ("The ("The Eye") after its almost perfectly oval form. Okoto is the Eye") after its almost perfectly oval form. Okoto is the deepest deepest cirque lake in Bulgaria, with a depth of 37.5 m. lake in Bulgaria, with a depth of 37.5 m.

Babreka ("The Kidney") is the lake with the steepest shores Babreka ("The Kidney") is the lake with the steepest shores of the entire group. Bliznaka ("The Twin") is the largest one of the entire group. Bliznaka ("The Twin") is the largest one

by area. Trilistnika ("The Trefoil") has an irregular shape by area. Trilistnika ("The Trefoil") has an irregular shape and low shores. The shallowest lake is Ribnoto Ezero ("The and low shores. The shallowest lake is Ribnoto Ezero ("The

Fish Lake") and the lowest one is Dolnoto Ezero ("The Fish Lake") and the lowest one is Dolnoto Ezero ("The Lower Lake"), where the waters that flow out of the other Lower Lake"), where the waters that flow out of the other

lakes are gathered to form the Dzherman River.lakes are gathered to form the Dzherman River. The Seven Lakes The Seven Lakes chalet are a main tourist attraction in are a main tourist attraction in

Bulgaria because of the inspiring natural beauty of the Bulgaria because of the inspiring natural beauty of the place. The lakes are located one above the other and are place. The lakes are located one above the other and are

connected by small streams, which form tiny waterfalls and connected by small streams, which form tiny waterfalls and cascades. You can find tourist accommodation in the lakes' cascades. You can find tourist accommodation in the lakes' vicinity. It lies on the northeastern shore of The Fish Lake, vicinity. It lies on the northeastern shore of The Fish Lake,

at an elevation of 2,196 m. at an elevation of 2,196 m.

Pictures of the Pictures of the SevenSeventhth Rila Rila’s’s Lakes Lakes

Tsarevets Tsarevets HistoryHistory

The earliest evidence of human presence on the hill dates The earliest evidence of human presence on the hill dates from the from the 2nd millennium BC. It was settled in the 4th century . It was settled in the 4th century and a and a Byzantine city, tentatively identified with city, tentatively identified with Zikideva, was , was constructed near the end of the 5th century, on the grounds constructed near the end of the 5th century, on the grounds of which the construction of the Bulgarian stronghold was of which the construction of the Bulgarian stronghold was

begun in 12th century. After the begun in 12th century. After the Vlach-Bulgarian Rebellion and and the establishment of the Second Bulgarian Empire with its the establishment of the Second Bulgarian Empire with its

capital in Veliko Tarnovo, the fortress became the most capital in Veliko Tarnovo, the fortress became the most important one in Bulgaria, often compared with important one in Bulgaria, often compared with Rome and and

Constantinople in magnificence. In 1393, the stronghold was in magnificence. In 1393, the stronghold was besieged by by Ottoman forces for three months before finally forces for three months before finally being conquered and burnt down on 17 July, which marked being conquered and burnt down on 17 July, which marked

the fall of the Bulgarian Empire.the fall of the Bulgarian Empire. It has three entrances. The main entrance is located in the It has three entrances. The main entrance is located in the

easternmost side of the hill. The castle complex is located easternmost side of the hill. The castle complex is located in the centre, surrounded by an internal stone wall, two in the centre, surrounded by an internal stone wall, two

battle towers and two entrances - north and south .It battle towers and two entrances - north and south .It consists of a throne hall, castle church and the king's consists of a throne hall, castle church and the king's

chamber. The restoration of the fortress Tsarevets began in chamber. The restoration of the fortress Tsarevets began in 1930 and was completed in 1981 in honour of the 1300 1930 and was completed in 1981 in honour of the 1300

anniversary from the establishment of the Bulgarian state. anniversary from the establishment of the Bulgarian state. Kings Petar, Asen, Kaloyan and Ivan Asen the second lived Kings Petar, Asen, Kaloyan and Ivan Asen the second lived

there.there.

Pictures of Tsarevets

Peak ShipkaPeak Shipka• The Shipka Memorial (Bulgarian: ) is on Stoletov

Peak near the pass, reached by a flight of steps or a short road. It is a memorial to those who died for the Liberation of Bulgaria during the

Battles of Shipka Pass in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78. It was opened with a ceremony in

1934 and designed by architect Atanas Donkov and sculptor Aleksandar Andreev. The

monument is a 31.5-metre (98-foot) high stone tower in the form of a truncated pyramid. A giant bronze lion, 8 m (26 feet) long and 4 m (13 feet) high, stands above the entrance to the tower,

and a figure of a woman represents the victory over the Ottoman forces. A marble sarcophagus housing some of the remains of the Russian and Bulgarian casualties is located on the first floor. There are four other floors where one can find

replica of Bulgarian military flags and other relics, and the top of the tower reveals a

panorama of Shipka Peak and the surrounding area.