VRATZA

Vratza - a picturesque city
Situated in the foothills of the Vrachanska Mountains, with the river Leva calmly crossing the town and creepy rocks, hanging above, Vratza is one of the most picturesque cities in Bulgaria. The town is a starting point for the routes to Vratzata gorge and Ledenika cave.

Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park
The nature park "Vrachanski Balkan", near the city, offers wonderful opportunities for hiking. Here is the richest cave region in the country - more than 500 caves and karst precipices.

Rare species
Within the limits of the park lies the reserve Vrachanski karst. It covers an area of 1,453.1 ha, situated along the northern stone cliff slopes of Varchanska Mountain. The territory of the reserve is inhabited by rare and endangered species of Egyptian vulture, peregrine falcon, short-toed eagle, long-legged buzzard, 8 species of bats etc.

Nature landmarks
Nature landmarks and protected territories in the park worth visiting: - Vratzata - the highest vertical limestone cliffs on the Balkan Peninsula, and in Europe at this altitude; - Ledenika – the first urbanized cave in Bulgaria with the first registered cave inhabitant; - Skaklja - the highest waterfall in Bulgaria; - Lakatnishki Rocks - with the richest and most well-studied cave fauna in Bulgaria. There are remnants of numerous cultural monuments, witnesses of events and facts of the human history over the centuries on the territory of the park.

Just south of Vratza is Okolchitza Peak, where Hristo Botev, one of the most romantic figures in Bulgaria's struggle for liberation, met his death. Revolutionary leader as well as a poet, known for his patriotic verses, Botev formed a cheta (band) to lend assistance to the April Rising in 1876. Botev's men marched south to the Balkan Mountains from Kozlodui on the Danube, but were constantly harried by Ottoman forces. After days of running battles, Botev finally perished along with the remnants of his cheta on Okolchitsa on June 2.