If you are fortunate enough to find yourself off the beaten path in Bulgaria, congratulations! Now that you’re here, you should definitely plan to pay a visit to the mysterious fortresses of Belogradchik. This is easily one of the coolest places to visit in Bulgaria, and it must not be missed. Here’s a complete guide on how to visit Belogradchik.
Introduction
Belogradchik, translates to “white construction” in Bulgarian. It is located in the northwestern part of Bulgaria, not far from the Balkan Mountain Range.
While Belogradchik is now the name of the small town located in the area, a visit here generally refers to the entire surrounding areas. This area is characterized by gravity defying rock formations, and the stone fortresses built into them. It isn’t certain who originally built these fortresses, but historians generally agree it was during the Roman Empire.
A visit here is an opportunity to discover the best of both the history and nature that Bulgaria has to offer.
When to Go
You can visit Belogradchik year round, but in winter it is possible that it will be under deep snow.
I went in late December and there wasn’t any snow on the ground. However, temperatures are very cold this time of year. If you plan to visit in the colder months, wear appropriate clothing.
What to Bring
To fully experience Belogradchik, you will likely do some hiking in the canyon. Most fortresses aren’t reachable by car, and you will definitely want to explore the unique landscape here.
Some parts of the hike, will involve walking on the rock formations themselves. For this, I would advise bringing the following:
Hiking shoes: I did the trip in tennis shoes, but there were a few times I felt unsafe. It’s best to bring shoes with some traction, for when you are climbing up the rocks.
A winter jacket: I made the mistake of bringing just my city coat. While the temperature was comfortable during midday, later in the afternoon it got really cold.
A backpack: You will do some light climbing up and down the rocks. You will want your hands free, and nothing swinging in your way. Bring a backpack for all your gear, instead of a purse.
A hat: No matter the season you go in, if the sun is out, it will be strong. A hat will be helpful to keep the sun off your face.
How to Get There
By Car
Before you visit Belogradchik, you may consider renting a car. If you plan to travel around Bulgaria, it’s probably wise to have one, since the train connections don’t take you everywhere. Plus, while there are train connections throughout the country, they are not entirely reliable, and many routes run infrequently.
From Sofia, it is a 3 hour journey to get to Belogradchik.
By Train
If you plan to do this as a day trip from Sofia, you will need to start early and make sure you don’t miss the train. There are few connections that will take you here, and if you miss one, you will likely screw your entire day over.
From Sofia Station, book a train towards Vidin. If possible, go to the station the day before, and check the train schedule. Normally, there is only one train departing in the morning at 7:06 AM, that would get to Belogradchik at a decent time. If you miss this train, the others will get you there too late to do anything, and you’ll need to stay overnight.
If you go to the station early, you can also opt to buy your tickets early to save you the hassle in the morning, when there could be a line. You can tell them you want to go to Belogradchik, and they will book you a train to Oreshets.
The journey takes about 3 and a half hours. The train in Bulgaria is not the most comfortable in the world, but not the worst. There is no wifi or any food cart, so bring your own snacks. At the very least, in winter the heat works well.
Taxi from Oreshets
Once you arrive in Oreshets, you can take a taxi, or hitchhike to Belogradchik. I was fortunate enough to make a friend on the train, who drove me to Belogradchik.
If you don’t want to potentially waste time by hitchiking, you can book a taxi in advanced. It’s best to have someone local book the taxi for you, as the operators rarely spoke English when I called. I had my hosts number on viber, and he was ready to call a taxi for me, had I not found a ride.
If you plan to head back to Sofia by train the same day, again be mindful of the train schedule. The last one likely leaves in the late afternoon, so you’ll need to plan your trip back to Oreshets before that.
What to do There
Belogradchik Fortress
This is definitely the main attraction of the area, and likely a highlight in all of Bulgaria. This fortress can be seen even from the town, and will be the first stop on your hike through the area.
It’s one of the best preserved fortresses still standing in Bulgaria, and by far one of the most impressive. The fortress was built into the natural rock formations, which gave the advantage of built in protection, with minimal building efforts.
It was used as a lookout tower initially, until it came under the control of the Ottomans. The last time it was used militarily was in 1885 during the Serbo-Bulgarian war.
Today, you must pay to enter the fortress, but it’s well worth the visit. You can climb above the rocks and get a great idea of how it was used in the past.
Entrance fee : 3 BGN ($2 USD)
The Belogradchik Rocks
These comprise of the area surrounding the fortress, which are considered to be part of the original structure.
From a natural standpoint, these rocks are nothing short of natural wonders. They tower into the sky in a gravity defying manner. The entire canyon used to be part of the seabed, which explains its unique appearance.
You can hike the area, and visit the many lookout points and fortresses along the way.
My favorite point of interest is the Gorilla Rock.
A hike through the area will take maybe 2 – 3 hours to fully enjoy.
History Museum
In town, there is a history museum, located in a historic home built in renaissance style. Here you can learn more about the history of the Belogradchik area from the 1800s.
Visit the Caves
One advantage of coming by car, is that you’d have easy access to the surrounding areas and caves.
Two popular ones are Venetsa and Magura Caves.
Magura Cave is estimated to be over 15 million years old. While an impressie cave in itself, it also features some well preserved prehistoric cave drawings.
Venetsa Cave is definitely the more impressive natural formation. The cave is huge, with stalactites and stalagmites all throughout its numerous tunnels.
Where to Eat
Pri Van: A really nice and clean restaurant serving all types of food from pizza, to local soups, to pasta.
Markashnitsa: An unassuming, but authentic tavern. This place serves up authentic Bulgarian dishes such as shopska salad and chorba (soup).
Мислен Камък (Mislen Kamŭk): A restaurant with a terrace with a view, near the panoramic viewpoint deck. Here, you can get a snack or drink, and enjoy the view of the entire Belogradchik canyon.
Where to Stay
Belogradchik Fortress and the immediate surroundings can easily be enjoyed as a day trip. However, if you are a nature enthusiast, this is probably one of the top natural wonders in Bulgaria. You could opt to stay overnight to have more time to hike and explore the area and surrounding caves.
Hotel Skalite: The most high end hotel option in the area. This four star hotel offer restaurants and spa services onsite to make for the most comfortable stay.
Guesthouse Geto: Likely the best budget friendly option in the area. This simple accommodation is located just a 5 minutes walk from the entrance to the fortress. It includes an outdoor hot tub and fireplace, and starts at $28 USD a night.
And there you have the complete guide on how to visit Belogradchik. What’s your favorite place in Bulgaria?
Renata Green says
Bulgaria is totally underrated. It used the be one of the few spots for people living behind the ‘iron curtain’ to get to the sea. But there is so much more than just the beaches. I haven’t even heard of the place you are introducing here – but will definitely bookmark it.
Carol Colborn says
We were in Razlog and Bansko in the south. Bulgaria is really underrated. Too bad Belogradchik, with the rocks, the fortress, and the caves, is truly a sight to see. You captured it well!