Designed by nature for more than 20 million years, the Belogradchik Rocks are one of the most beautiful phenomena in Bulgaria. Various in shape and size, the rock formations around Belogradchik extend over a length of 30 km and reach an altitude of up to 20 m. They are divided into several groups: Central - "The Madonna", "The Horseman", "The Monks", "The Schoolgirl", "The Dervish", "The Lion", "The Bear", "Adam and Eve", "Haydut Velko" ("Velkova Glava"), "The Castle" , near Borovitsa village - Borov Kamak and Pchelen Kamak, and in Falkovets locality - Gemini, Momina Skala, Eagle Stone.
photo: Ventsy Dyankov
photo: Ventsy Dyankova
photo: Ventsy Dyankova
Viewed from a different angle, the rocks take unusual shapes and resemble different objects and animals, giant mushrooms and huge obelisks. So the people gave them proper names, associating them with bizarre legends and myths.
Such as the story that centuries ago there was a maiden and a male monastery between the rocks. The beauty of one of the nuns, Valentina, captivated the Roman Antonio and soon had a baby. Because of him, the young woman was anathematized and banished from the monastery with her child. Then from the hill of a white horse came Antonio, unaware of the cruel sentence of his beloved. And a miracle happened - a storm howled, a thunderstorm fell, the earth shook, and the monastery collapsed and everything fossilized around - the Horseman, the Monks and the Valentine, which became the Madonna with the child in her arms.
Another legend tells of the Eagle Stone figure. The place was home to all kinds of animals and majestic eagles until a tribe settled in the area, which began to hunt wild birds. The leader of the tribe soon had a dream that great misfortune would befall his people if they did not stop killing beautiful creatures. However, he ignored the warning. Thus, one day, when the young men went hunting again, the arrows aimed at the flock were turning and killing the men. After long prayers for forgiveness, the old eagle god reconciled with the tribe, but said no more eagles would appear in the sky above the rocks. Only the Eagle Rock remains a memory of the mighty birds that humans have driven from their lands.
photo: Ventsy Dyankova
photo: Ventsy Dyankova
The Twins tell of the family of Radul and Blagun - rich but very generous and dedicated people who, however, could not have children. One night, an old woman begging for food and shelter knocked on their door. Radul and Blagun generously sheltered her, and after finding out about their problem, she gave the young woman special herbs. Just a few months later, Blaguna became pregnant and three twins were born soon - Kamen, Stamen and Dragoi. Big and healthy men grew up, but envy covered three of their settlers. With the help of Radul's brother, they killed the whole family. At that moment, the Twins Cliffs stood nearby, reminding the villains every day of what they had done. Not long after, the killers became crazy about this sight and remembered it, and the Twins still rose proudly over Belogradchik.
The Velkova Glava rock derives its name from the legend of the bold haidutin Velko. The Turks sat meditating in the village cafe and bragged about how he had wounded the Bulgarian hero. Delighted in fairy tales, they did not notice the newcomer, who quickly approached and showed the bleeding wound of a self-righteous disguise covered with clothes that Velko himself had done earlier. With fear, the bey fell to the ground and the rest of the Turks fled in the face of a haidutin and his wife. So great and brave was Velko.
The story of a pretty Bulgarian girl is at the heart of another folk story - the one about love between Latin and Milotin. In an effort to separate them, Dervish's mad passion for Abdia met the young bride. She escaped to the nearby cliffs where the bear-like stubble lived, preferring death rather than giving it to a Turk. As she ran, Latin prayed for a miracle, and the miracle happened - everything around turned to stone. This is how the "Schoolgirl", "The Bear" and "The Dervish" appeared, and Milotin long mourned the loss of his first libido.
This and other legends gave birth to our ancestors captivated by the beauty and fabulous shapes of the rocks around Belogradchik.
It is no coincidence that in 2007 they were nominated in the international competition "The New Seven Wonders of the World" and took one of the leading positions. In 2008, the city was selected as a national winner in a competition for an excellent tourist destination, thanks to its impressive nature and its rich Thracian heritage.
