Hello, Today we continue our journey along the coast of Bulgaria and now we are going to get acquainted with the most beautiful tourist places that can be visited in a short distance from the resort of your choice. [music] In the previous video We have planned our holiday in Bulgaria.

We compared the best resorts on the Black Sea coast and visited the most beautiful ancient cities. But, our sea vacation does not end there. The adventure is just beginning 😉 In this video we go in search of the most amazing and exciting locations in Bulgaria.

From the stone desert to the devil’s bridge, from the ancient rock monastery to the magnificent Cape Kaliakra, we will explore incredible natural and historical wonders that will not be difficult to reach for a tourist who does not want to travel far from the sea coast.

I will show you the seven most beautiful and unique places that tourists most often go on excursions, and also tell you how to get to them outside of the excursion tour, which will allow you to diversify your vacation and save some money while traveling. Brew a cup of coffee and sit back,

We are going on an unforgettable journey through the most beautiful locations in Bulgaria! [music] And we will start where we finished the previous video, in the city of Sozopol. Having moved away from the city literally five kilometers away, the coastal nature changes a lot. Outside Sozopol, green parks end, and

The surroundings become completely deserted. And suddenly… in the middle of the sands on the horizon there is a magnificent medieval castle with towers, knights and fountains. Do you think I have a mirage? Nope. We just got to Ravadinovo Castle. [music] The castle is located in the small village of Ravadinovo on the outskirts

Of Sozopol. If you wish, you can get here by taxi or even on foot 😉 There is no direct public transport to the castle, but you can shorten the path a little by using the bus in the direction of Sozopol – Burgas.

I will leave a link to their schedule in the description under the video. The building is a unique monument of the region. It has gained fame among tourists due to its unusual fabulous shape. The first thing that comes to mind when you see the castle – Urgently

Google what kind of fairy-tale king lived here. And then BAM… It turns out that the castle is quite young. He is only 20 years old. Are you shocked too? So…let’s figure it out. The history of the construction of this fabulous castle is not at all buried in centuries.

It was built by Georgi Tumpalov, a former policeman, sportsman, and now a successful businessman who loved castles since childhood and, after leaving the service, devoted a lot of time to studying them. In Ravadinovo, he decided to make his childhood dream come true – to build a fabulous family nest surrounded by greenery.

The castle came out not only beautiful, but also an insanely romantic place. And the Creator gave the name to his creation to match the image – In love with the wind By the way, the choice of a place for the construction of the castle was not based on chance,

But taking into account a curious natural phenomenon. The stronger the summer sun bakes here, the more pleasant cool wind blows on the estate. It is probably due to this phenomenon that the building got its name. The castle is decorated with a special stone and they say that it

Has different shades at different times of the day. In the morning, it has a pink hue, during the day it is white, and at night it is shining … In love with the wind, it has the shape of a cross. According to legend, Tumpalov began construction personally with his family.

He came to the land and drew a large cross on the ground, describing the shape of the future building. The castle is being built without a specific plan and drawing. The customer himself is also the main architect of the complex. Well. I have to admit, it turns out he’s not bad at all.

I wouldn’t have planned something like this for sure. The attention to detail in the castle is simply amazing. But at the entrance to the castle we will be met by a huge three-headed dragon, and behind the walls, dressed in knightly armor and a sword cast in stone, the modest owner of the estate.

Tumpalov created the castle, surrounding it with an amazing green park, decorated with fountains, grottoes and luxurious ponds, on which swans gracefully swim. The castle comes alive with beautiful flowing paths and graceful bridges leading to exotic garden structures. True, it is worth considering that the construction is still not completed, so you

Will not be able to get inside the castle itself. But the truth is that there are many interesting locations outside . To date, the following are already operating on the territory of the castle: – a lake with swans and pavilions – a wine cellar and a mysterious

Dungeon with a throne room – an elegant and richly decorated chapel – an observation tower with a panoramic view – a small zoo with a variety of peacock – agricultural animals – and many others beautiful places for photos. You can even rent dresses for a photo shoot =)

Well, in case you get hungry, there is a small but cozy cafe on the territory. At first it seems that there are a lot of locations, but in reality the castle came out quite compact. Therefore, I would not lay more than an hour or two on this walk .

Perhaps one day a beautiful hotel or spa will open in the castle. )) That’s when anyone can spend the whole day here and feel like a real princess waking up in such an amazing place. Until the end, it is not known for what purpose this castle was built.

Either the owner will live here himself, or it will be a hotel. Well, for now it’s just a popular tourist attraction. In its short history, In Love with the Wind has already received a dozen prestigious international awards and is deservedly included in the list of the most beautiful castles in Europe.

Ravadinovo is definitely worth a visit during your holidays in Bulgaria, especially if you arrived on the coast in the company of children. They will definitely like it, as the exterior strongly resembles fairy-tale buildings from the world of Disney. Probably because of this similarity, Hollywood chose the castle

As a location for the filming of the film Sleeping Beauty. In fact, we didn’t even have to make decorations, everything needed was already present in the castle. In love with the wind – a very beautiful place. The castle seems to have descended from the pages of a fairy tale and encourages us

To open its mysterious gates. Be sure to take a look. True, pleasure is not cheap. A ticket for an adult will cost 15 euros. Visiting an art gallery, wine tasting and even a ladies’ room will require you to fork out extra. By the way, catch a life hack.

When ordering a ticket online, you get a 10% discount, and when buying a ticket at the box office, you get a 20% discount on visiting the neighboring Neptune Water Park. It is curious that none other than the son of the owner of the castle built it.

Apparently, they have building talents in their blood … And where does such wealth come from? Looks like I didn’t study for it. It was necessary to get a job in the Bulgarian police in the 90s =) The water park is certainly interesting, but we will not go there.

We looked at a similar one literally in the next video when we visited Sunny Beach. Today we are waiting for excursions, adventures and treasure hunts. 😉 Which of us did not dream in childhood to find a precious treasure, Ali Baba’s cave, or at least Aladdin’s lamp?

Perhaps today you will have such an opportunity… According to ancient legends, one of the most famous rock monasteries in Bulgaria still hides countless treasures that were hidden by the monks in its vicinity. [music] We arrived at the ancient monastery of Aladzha, which is located near the resort town of Varna.

The monastery is so ancient that no one even knows its real name. Only its Ottoman name has survived to this day. – Aladzha, which in Turkish means motley. Most likely because of the colorful frescoes that previously adorned the stone walls of the monastery. Archaeological excavations show that these rocks

Were inhabited as early as the 4th century. In those days, people lived here mainly in the catacombs, which, according to legend, were later connected to Aladzha by underground tunnels. The legend says that before the Ottoman invasion, 11 nearby monasteries collected all their relics and delivered them

To Aladzha, where they were safely hidden in an endless dungeon. Today, the Aladzha Monastery is located on the territory of a modern natural park, which is surrounded by greenery, and therefore it will be quite comfortable to walk here on a hot day. On the territory of the complex are located:

– the monastery itself – the Aladzhi Museum and – the entrance to the underground catacombs. True, the latter are only partially accessible for inspection. Most of them are closed to tourists. The entrance to the monastery is paid, but the price is not high – 5 lev. Please note that Aladzha Monastery is

Not open all year round. The rock complex can be visited from March to November. Getting here is not very difficult. If you go from Varna by car, then go to the E87 highway, about 15 minutes along a good road and you are there. If you are planning a trip by public transport,

You can use a direct bus from Varna. Well, the easiest way to get here is if you are relaxing on Golden Sands. In this case, you can simply walk 3 kilometers through a small forest along beautifully equipped paths. This monastery, surrounded by rocks, is a symbol of strength and reverence.

It has its roots in ancient times, when some of the first Orthodox followers of Bulgaria created this refuge in the rocks, seeking to get closer to heaven and truth. Passing through the ancient gates of the monastery, you will come across majestic rock caves filled with holy prayerful breath.

In front of the rock there is a small green lawn with equipped seats for lectures and concerts. And at the entrance tourists are met by a very nice lecturer who will tell you about the architecture of the rock monastery. It is difficult to determine the style of its architecture, because it is

Carved into the rock, and the rock is almost sheer. It is difficult to hit it, and it is almost invisible from the outside. Among all the sights of Bulgaria, the monastery is one of the oldest objects. The time of its foundation is considered to be the 4th century.

Initially, people used these rocks, pierced by a chain of natural caves, exclusively as dwellings. But later, in the 13th century, the rock began to transform. In those days, Christianity was just beginning to gain momentum in Bulgaria. Orthodox monks were not held in high esteem among

The population, so they tried to lead a secluded life in such monasteries. The limestone rock was easy to process, and therefore the complex expanded rapidly. The monks carved new rooms in the rock and gradually strengthened the old ones. To get to the cells and the dining room of the rock monastery,

Follow the spiral outer staircase. As you climb the steps, you have amazing views of the surrounding nature and the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. But the real beauty is hidden inside the monastery. At various rock levels, you can admire what remains of the monastery church, chapel, kitchen and

Dining room, as well as enjoy fragments of preserved frescoes. You can sit in the narrow monastic cells and imagine the life of the former inhabitants of the Aladzha monastery. To this day, the monastery has not retained its former grandeur. Having existed for only one century, already in the 14th century it

Was plundered by the Ottomans. Well, for the next 7 centuries, time worked on it, which gradually destroyed the fragile ceilings of Aladzhi. Today, the rock monastery has reopened its doors, but already as an ancient landmark. A reliable spiral staircase was attached to the rock,

And the remains of ancient frescoes were carefully removed and transferred to the local museum, where, thanks to models and expositions, you can imagine what Aladzha looked like in the years of its greatness. There are almost no artifacts left in the monastery itself.

The walls are decorated with several paintings, and the niches and the cell are complemented by coins left by tourists. There are not many old photographs of Aladzha preserved in the archives, but even they are enough to appreciate how time has changed the structure.

Due to its uniqueness, Aladzha was included in the list of 100 national tourist sites in Bulgaria and came under the protection of a separate law. By the way, if you still don’t know what kind of list this is, then I recommend revisiting my previous trip to Bulgaria. I told everything in detail there;)

It is worth considering that the monastery, although unique, is not very large. After all, it is hollowed out in the rock, and therefore it is much inferior in scope to its religious counterparts. Of course, he is far from the Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia.

An hour is usually enough for tourists to see the monastery, so the guides usually combine a trip to the monastery with another local attraction … True, our next hero will be a little older … well , just a little … about … 50 million years =)))

In 12 km to the west of Varna, something truly unique will be waiting for us. There is only one ssssssssssssssssssssack… To get to this location, we have to cross the desert… [music] The stone forest is a unique natural phenomenon that has only one analogue in the world, yes, even in Australia.

What a blessing that we didn’t have to travel so far… We arrived in a mysterious valley bearing the poetic name “Stone Forest” which is often called the Bulgarian Stonehenge. Where such a wonderful name came from, we will understand a little later. Well, for starters, let’s tell you how to get here.

If you plan to travel by public transport, then look for a bus ticket to Synchevo or Devnya. It will not take you directly to the place, but it is quite possible to shorten the lion’s part of the route. Well, if you are traveling by car, then turn onto the

A2 highway, 15 minutes drive and you are there. I want to draw your attention to the fact that today the entrance is paid and is 5 leva for an adult and 2 leva for a child. There is no parking as such, but you can park your car along the road .. or

On the site, they equipped a small one there … a favorite place for priestesses of love … and representatives of this ancient profession in Bulgaria earn not only by providing services, but also by elementary robbery. Be careful. By the way, when I talked about the desert, it was

Not a metaphor or an exaggeration. Bulgaria has one of the two natural deserts in Europe. Therefore, if you are going to come here in the summer, then it is better to take care of water supplies and protection from the sun. As a rule, a walk through the stone forest takes

A couple of hours, so if the sky does not please you with clouds, then during the walk you can burn well =) Of course, you can object to me. Like, what kind of desert is this. There are trees growing all around. But still you will be wrong.

The desert here is the most natural, but the trees are just imported. The thing is that back in 1937, this place received the status of a nature protection zone, and in order to stop the process of erosion that gradually destroys stones, it was decided to curb the desert, for which

Green vegetation was planted around the perimeter. The space between the stones remained untouched. Somewhere among the sand there are lonely bushes, and on the stones – moss and lichen. The fauna is more diverse, includes lizards, ground squirrels and even snakes. Later, an information

Center pavilion was built at the entrance where you can buy entrance tickets and souvenirs, as well as listen to an interesting story about the local stones. The Stone Forest is an amazing place where modernity merges with the archaic beauty of nature, and the stones,

Towering above the ground for thousands of years, have acquired mysterious mysterious forms, as if created by the magic of antiquity. For the first time, we received a detailed description of the stone forest only from the letters of Viktor Teplyakov, who in 1828 searched for exhibits here for the Odessa Archaeological Museum.

Seeing the stones, he thought that these were the remains of some ancient temple and ordered the soldiers to dig out one of the columns. After several hours of futile landscape work, Teplyakov was greatly surprised. The end and edge of the column was not visible.

They were able to dig it out more than 2 meters, but at a depth the shape of the stone did not change a bit. He still rushed with an ideally cylindrical rod somewhere deep into the bowels of the earth. And it’s good that they didn’t dig even deeper.

According to some sources, the Stones reach a depth of a hundred meters. It is because of this feature that the Bulgarians called the place Pobiti kameni, which means stones driven into the ground. During the Ottoman rule, the stones were called differently – Dikilitash. From Turkish – broken stones.

Due to such an abundance of different names, tourists often get confused. But in fact it is correct to separate these concepts. We have now arrived at the most popular part of the stone forest – the Dikilitash group. This is a narrow strip of desert about 600m long and

About 7 square kilometers in area. Here the density of the pillars is the highest. Some of them rise to 6 meters or more, and reach a width of up to 2.5 meters. Most of the columns are almost perfectly round or oval in cross section. Some are hollow inside like bamboo, others

Are solid cylinders. Where they came from is difficult to answer. This natural phenomenon is still not fully understood. There are more than 15 different theories about the origin of the forest. Someone believes that these are petrified trees, someone that the remains of an ancient temple of a forgotten civilization, and someone does

That this is a coded message from aliens. Were there aliens or not – I do not dare to decide. But the entourage here is really cosmic. The place is kind of out of this world. Well, just the spitting image of Tatooine.

At least now take it and shoot here a new series of Star Wars. [Darth Vader breathing] Of course, there is a beautiful legend here. A long time ago, a talented young man lived on the seashore to whom God appeared and told his name.

According to legend, the one who knew the true name of God gained immortality. Once the young man fell in love, but the evil Titans kidnapped his beloved, demanding that the young man tell them the name of God. The guy did not want to break the oath and eventually figured out

How to save the bride without saying the name. He lined up the titans on the shore in a certain order, and when everything was ready he said I told you the name, it is now written on the ground by your bodies. The angry god, seeing the inscription from heaven, punished

The titans by turning them into stone. The beauty of legends is that, as a rule, in addition to folklore, they also carry a grain of truth, being passed down from generation to generation. So we smoothly move on to the scientific theory of the origin of the forest.

50 million years ago there really was a sea here. Scientists suggest that deposits of methane formed at its bottom , which gradually rose up in streams. The process of oxidation gradually passed along this “path”, as a result of which calcium carbonate formed along the perimeter, which “cemented” rock particles and microorganisms

Around the channel through which methane comes to the surface. This is how our columns were formed. This theory became the most convincing and received widespread support after recent discoveries in Denmark, where similar formations were found at the bottom of the Baltic Sea. Which theory to believe is up to you.

Many believe in the mystical origin of the place and endow the forest with supernatural properties. Stones are assigned separate names and properties. It is believed that each stone has its own special magical power. There is a stone in the shape of a heart – you touch it and you will find

Love, there is a stone in the shape of a throne – you sit on it and you will gain wealth, and here is the most popular stone – phalos. Mmmm… perhaps I won’t tell you what power it gives… google it yourself =) Well, the mystical circle, which is located at the very end

Of the Stone Forest, is considered the center of power. They say that in order to touch his magic, you need to go through the forest, make a wish and then go to the center of the circle so that your wish comes true. … Just don’t tell it to anyone, otherwise you won’t die;)

Personally, I’m more to the soul of a scientific theory. Skeptics will appeal. Like, if the pillars formed deposits of methane, then why did it come out from the bottom only in this place on such a small patch? … Actually, not only here. In fact, the entire area was built on a stone forest.

Most of the stone pillars are deep underground, and therefore we simply do not see them. But in some places, like our desert, wind and erosion over the years have removed the top layer of sand and exposed the tops of stone pillars. In fact, there is more than one such place.

To date, 13 such clusters of stones have already been discovered: 7 large and 6 small ones. The place where we are now is Dikilitash, and all the groups together are called the Stone Forest. How is that, you ask? Why, then, do all excursions take tourists only here?

But what about the rest of the stones? There is no change. It’s just that tourists are lazy creatures, and a convenient asphalt road goes only to this location. Here the guides do not bother. =) Although our location is the most beautiful of the whole group,

But in fact it is far from the best to understand the full scale of this natural phenomenon. Three kilometers to the west you can find another interesting place – Heaven’s Gate. If on our site the stone pillars were exposed by the wind and we

Can only see their tops, then here the forest can be observed in a vertical section due to the convergence of a whole layer of earth rock … You can only estimate the height of these giants. Just an amazing sight… They say that the stone forest is a place of power…

I can’t argue, I’m not an expert in magic. But still there is something mystical in this forest. During the day, a light haze of a desert mirage appears over the hot sand , and at night, according to rumors , dense fog envelops the stone pillars…

I really didn’t spend the night here, but it’s good for you that this quest has already been done by no one else, but Jason Mamoa =) Remember, in that video where we traveled through the caves, I told you that in Devetashka and the cave of the Eyes

Of God they filmed the film Conan the Barbarian?… So… It was also filmed in the stone forest. Hollywood seems to know a lot about beautiful places;) Of course, I would still take a walk here. But still, you can’t wander long in the desert during the day.

The sun began to bake, the camera overheated. It looks like this is a sign and it’s time for us to move somewhere closer to the sea, where the warm sea breeze will drive away the summer heat… [music] Welcome to Cape Kaliakra – a magical corner

In Bulgaria, where the soul meets the infinity of nature and history. And the cape is one of the first protected areas in the country. The Bulgarians declared Kaliakra a natural monument back in 1941 and have been developing its tourist attraction ever since. Panoramic views of the Black Sea coast

From the cape are simply breathtaking. Cape Kaliakra is truly the epitome of beauty and grandeur nature. Literally, the name translates as a beautiful cape. And yet, this is the longest cape of the Bulgarian coast, it protrudes into the sea for as much as two kilometers.

From all sides the cape is framed by majestic cliffs, the height of which in some places reaches 70 meters. The shores have a pronounced reddish tint; according to legend, the rocks absorbed the blood of the defenders who died during the destruction of the local fortress.

But the reality is of course less poetic, the brown tint of the rocks gives a high content of iron oxide. This cape is not only a natural wonder, but also a witness to history. Here you can find traces of ancient civilizations, feel the breath of time and feel the greatness of the past.

The architectural ruins scattered across the cape recreate a picture of distant eras, evoking a sense of peace and deep respect for the heritage of ancestors. Entrance to the cape is paid – 3 leva per adult. As a bonus, we get free parking, near which the first attraction will be waiting for us

– a memorial monument to Rear Admiral Ushakov, who defeated the Ottoman armada at the cape. The monument is a statue of the admiral erected in the middle of a semicircular arch, decorated with 18 bells with the names of the ships that participated in the battle.

Bells sway in the wind, reminding of that historical battle. By the way, the wind is not a rare guest on the cape. This region is considered the windiest in Bulgaria. Just because of this phenomenon, a whole forest of wind turbines was placed nearby.

Stopping at the cape, it is impossible not to admire these snow-white titans, who, like magical guardians, protect the coast from mighty winds. Only one path leads deep into the peninsula, at the beginning of which ubiquitous stalls with souvenirs and magnets will be waiting for us, but immediately after them the ruins

Of the fortress and ancient Roman ruins begin. The history of Kaliakra begins in the 4th century, when the first Thracian settlement arose here. They called Cape Tirisis. Sheer cliffs served as a natural protection for its inhabitants. Gradually, life on the cape gained momentum and subsequently a real fortress arose here, which

Was later destroyed. Those remains that we see today are just a piece of modern reconstruction. To date, only the gates have been fully restored, which is why they are so strikingly different from other structures on the cape. Historians are still arguing how accurately they recreate

The ancient fort, but in general, as in my inexperienced tourist opinion, the masters did a good job. On the territory of the cape, you can also find the remains of Roman baths, an old well and the foundations of various buildings of the ancient city.

They were poorly preserved, yet the cape survived more than one battle and was completely plundered several times. If you are interested in the history of the region, then I recommend that you look into the local Kaliakra Museum, since it is completely free for tourists. Inside you will find many exhibits, found

Coins, arrows, maps, as well as a miniature of the cape itself. In general, the museum will be difficult to miss, as it is located opposite the only restaurant on the cape. The place is popular, in addition to delicious dishes, the institution is also able to please tourists with beautiful views of the coast.

But, the most beautiful views open up to us only when we get to the end of the cape. Here we will find several monuments, a shipping lighthouse and a weather station. True, tourists are more attracted not by modern buildings, but by a small old chapel located below.

And there is a legend associated with it. Remember we saw the statue of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Nessebar? So. A long time ago in these parts, St. Nicholas fled from the Ottomans. Seeing the chase, he rushed to the sea and then God decided to help him.

The Almighty began to redraw the shore and raise the earth under the feet of the fugitive. But after some time, the Ottomans still caught up with the saint and beheaded him. In the place where he fell and this chapel arose. Well, even lower is the most popular point of the cape.

Small but very nice stone balcony. Favorite place for instagram and photos. As a rule, a whole string of girls is formed here, who hand their iPhone to the gentleman and turn on the photo model mode. The place is very beautiful. Rocks, waves, steps going into the depths of the sea…

But not only the beautiful view, but also its name, the Gate of 40 Maidens, makes the place popular . And this name came to us from another legend… A long time ago, during the time of the Turkish conquerors, 40 Bulgarian beauties were kidnapped and locked up here.

The girls were strong in spirit and preferred death to captivity. They tied their braids, and together they jumped into the depths of the sea. The girls died, but they retained their honor, and today in memory of them there is a monument on the cape – a snow-white stele with girls

Nestled in the blue sky of Bulgaria. By the way, if you are lucky, in addition to the landscapes, one more local attraction can get into your photos … These are dolphins, which often frolic along the coast and love to swim in a race with fishing boats.

Kaliakra is a place where the sea and the sky merge in a harmonious dance, creating a unique atmosphere. This is truly a magical location, so I strongly recommend that you look here while traveling. The best time for a walk is in the evening. Watching from the cliffs at the enchanting sunset is insanely

Nice. Well, if you come to the cape during the day, you can appreciate one more of its zest – Bolata Bay. In a stunning semi-circular bay on the eastern edge of the cape, the only sandy beach in the region lurks, which is extremely popular among tourists during the season.

Due to the lack of modern buildings, the bay looks like an untouched island of nature, which captivates not only tourists, but also filmmakers. Guess how the movie was filmed here? ;))) … Okay, let’s leave our Conan alone. He has his adventures and we have ours. 😉

Well, next to the cape there is another natural and historical reserve Yaylata, which in Turkish means a high pasture. The most interesting in the reserve are the remains of the cave city and the early Byzantine fortress, which was built in the 5th century AD on vertical rocks.

Some of the towers and remains of the walls have been preserved from it. In 2015, the fortress was partially restored, although disputes regarding the expediency of these works are still ongoing. The cave city also did not live up to our times. 7000 years ago, the first people settled the local caves,

Connecting them with underground paths. In the Middle Ages, the caves began to be used as a monastic complex. Now the complex is known as the city of 101 caves. But local beauty does not end at the ancient ruins. In fact, this entire region, from Rusalka beach

To the village of Tyulenevo, is a continuous steep rocky coast dotted with beautiful grottoes and caves. There is even such a beautiful bridge. I probably won’t even stutter what Hollywood movie was shot here =) So, something tells me that I’m already pretty tired of you with a rocky coast.

Well, let’s change the subject and get a little deeper into the depths of Bulgaria, where the Ardo mountain river flows among the Rhodope peaks. Of course you might find fault. Mol. Masha, you promised to show us the beauties of the coast only. But there is a nuance here.

Few people know, but in fact, the Bulgarians have two seas =) One is Black, where we just walked, and the second is Thracian and it is located in neighboring Greece, where we are going;) The thing is that both Greece and Bulgaria members of the European Union,

And therefore the border there is very conditional. Therefore, at a time when we like to drive for the weekend on the coast of the Black Sea, the Bulgarians at that very period prefer to rush to Greece to swim there in the clear Thracian waters. Fortunately, they are literally at hand here.

For example, the journey from Burgas to Greece will take some three hours, and from Sofia it will take two hours. And here, not far from the border, near the cute town of Ardino, our next two locations lurk. In the depths of the Rhodope Mountains, in the middle of a high-mountain

Gorge, a very beautiful bridge rises, frightening with legends and deceiving with its beauty, which bears the mysterious name Shaitan Kupriya, which in Turkish means the Devil’s Bridge. [music] There are many medieval bridges in the world that fit the name of the Devil’s Bridge, but the one that

Crosses the Arda River is one of the most ancient and amazing, both in its beauty and in its legend. Most of these stone bridges have long passed into the status of historical monuments and are closed to the public. But our today’s hero is still acting.

The bridge has been standing here for 6 centuries and has never even hinted at the fact that it needs repair … Yeah. They don’t build like that these days. The bridge is really very beautiful. It stretches between two 400-meter cliffs, the slopes of which are tightly wrapped in a coniferous green blanket.

But getting here is not very easy. No Uber, no public transport. The best option for a tourist is to rent a car or book an excursion. Without a car, at best, you will be able to find a bus to the city of Ardino, but then you will have to stomp 10 kilometers

Through the mountains … The road will lead us along the gorge, winding up and down. In 2013, it was restored and now a narrow, but still paved road leads to the bridge . However, I do not advise you to go on it quickly. Warming up on the mountain with only one lane

Is still a pleasure. At the end of the route, free parking is equipped, souvenirs are sold, there is a restroom and security. The approach to the bridge itself is separated by a fence, the entrance fee is 5 lev. Behind the park, a winding path begins, which

Will allow you to climb the bridge and go to the other side. But even before that, I would recommend that you go down closer to the water. Here the river spills as widely as possible, due to which a small lake with pure mountain water has formed behind the bridge.

It is very pleasant to walk here on the pebbles, soak your feet in cold water or just sit on the shore looking at the local beauty. Devil’s Bridge – the bridge over Arda was built in the 16th century on the site of an ancient Roman bridge on the road

That connected the Gradofrakian lowland and the coast of the Aegean Sea. Several legends are associated with the construction of the bridge , and there is still something otherworldly in them. The idea to build a bridge across a stormy mountain river was

In the air a couple of thousand years ago, but no one could realize the plan. For the first time, the bridge was built only by the Romans, who had tremendous experience in the construction of such structures. But even their creation could not resist, and over time, the movement

Across the river was again disrupted. In the 16th century , the local sultan Selima I laid an unbearable burden on his shoulders. According to legend, the architect could not figure out how to create a sufficiently reliable and durable bridge structure for a long time, until one night the devil appeared to him.

Who said that he would share the secret of how to build a bridge if he could fit his face into the structure. Yes, and so that he was both visible and not visible at the same time. And judging by the fact that the bridge has been towering

Over the river for more than 5 centuries, the idea arises that he managed to create the task, although according to legend, this did not benefit him. Shortly after the completion of construction, the architect died. The second legend tells of a slightly later period. In those years, a beautiful girl lived in Ardino.

One day the Sultan wanted to take her to his harem. The girl ran from the Ottomans to the bridge and wanted to jump down, but they suddenly stopped and rushed back in horror. In the water, they saw the threatening face of the devil, which saved the girl…

And here again the legend tells us about the demonic appearance… So why don’t we see it then? Maybe it’s all fiction? Not really. This part of the legend is true. Simply, seeing the devil without a clue is not so easy. Come here around noon.

To complete the picture, just lie down on the shore… and the devil will definitely come to you . The Devil’s Bridge is 56 meters long and 3.5 meters wide. It is three-arched, with small arches on both sides at the ends, allowing water to drain on those days when the river is overflowing.

The height of the central vault is 11.5 meters; a small stone parapet has been preserved along the edge . In front of the bridge for travelers, there is a cozy wooden gazebo with a barbecue, where you can organize a halt and refresh yourself. Well, a small forest path begins behind the bridge.

Also, if you wish, you can go down to the water and walk a little along the stone gorge of the river. In general, the whole local area is very beautiful and picturesque, and therefore you will surely enjoy walking in these parts. Well, if you decide to explore the area in more detail,

Then of course it is better to do it from a bird’s eye view . And in order to climb so high, we will probably move on to our next location … I have never heard that in Bulgaria there is something so ancient and mystical that it can

Compete in beauty and history with the famous Stonehenge or the pyramids. So it was before I first heard about the Thracian sanctuary – Eagle Rocks. [music] You will have to get to the sanctuary as well as to the bridge by car.

And if earlier a flimsy dirt road led to the top of the mountain , then today the situation has changed dramatically. Eagle Rocks, like the Devil’s Bridge, fell under the European Program for the Development of the Tourism Industry in Bulgaria. For this money, asphalt was laid here, a parking lot was equipped,

And the entire trail was slightly cultivated. In general, instead of an extreme trip, now the visitor gets a comfortable tourist walk. Which actually made me really happy. There will be a turnstile waiting for us at the parking lot. The ticket will cost 5 lev.

Behind the turnstile, the path forks and you have a choice. Either follow the short path straight to the rocks, or turn left and walk along the eco-trail through the forest. The ecotrail is slightly longer. Walking along it will take about 20 minutes. True, this route has its own bonus.

On the way you will come across curious wooden signs with phrases in Bulgarian. This path is also called the “Way of Ardian Poetry”, as the tablets contain poems by various poets from Ardino. I must admit, it was a very romantic idea 😉 The second way is much shorter, which is why the location

Is perfect for visiting both adult tourists and families with children. The ascent is not very difficult, but there is a nuance … It is worth considering that we have now climbed one and a half kilometers above sea level and continue to climb over the cliff along a narrow

Path with not very strong soil … In general, it will not be superfluous to look under your feet here. You can walk the trail in 5 minutes, but taking into account the magnificent views that open up along the way, I spent a little more on the ascent =) But, we didn’t climb here

For the sake of the views, for them it’s probably better to give up on the Rila Lakes. Today we conquer the mountain with a completely different goal – in order to unravel the mystery of the Thracian heritage. The sanctuary represents itself as a volcanic rock about thirty meters high, on which

Numerous trapezoidal niches are carved… To be more precise… Exactly 100 niches were found here. But to date, only 97 of them have survived. The Turkish name for the complex is Kuzgun Kaya, which translates as a crow’s stone. During the Ottoman Empire, crows liked to nest on the rock, hence the name.

But, after the departure of the Turks, the sanctuary was returned to its historical name – Eagle Rocks … The largest number of niches is located on the western side of the rock. At first glance, there is no pattern in their location , but most of them are located on the western slope.

In size, all holes are similar to each other, about a meter in height and up to half a meter in depth. The exact age of the sanctuary is not known, but judging by the fragments of burnt ceramic vessels, some rituals were performed here as early as 2500 years ago.

Fuel to the fire of this strange story is added by the fact that niches of this kind were found not only here, but throughout southern Bulgaria. At the moment, archaeologists have been able to find more than one and a half thousand identical niches, which indicates the massive

Use of such sanctuaries by the Thracians. Eagle Rocks is the largest of these complexes, so the main attempts of scientists to understand the purpose of these mysterious sanctuaries were made here. In science, the prevailing opinion is that niches are funerary structures – urns with the ashes of the deceased were placed in them.

The second, a theory similar to this one, defines niches as a portal between the world of the living and the world of the dead, since their shape resembles the silhouette of a hanging bat. According to ancient beliefs, it was bats that carried the souls of the dead to the afterlife.

Supporters of other theories in their criticism rely on the fact that the niches are located too high for parting with the dead. Climbing a rock every time without cars and tools in those years would have been too burdensome. Therefore, in their opinion, it is more likely that the niches were used

For other purposes. Perhaps some rituals were held here in honor of important but rare events. For example, on the occasion of the beginning or end of the war. Well, or the Thracians sent a signal to their buddies into space… =) In any case, there is no one to ask anymore =)

Of course, such a mystical place has its own legends. According to the most popular rock, this is actually the abode of a dragon that guards countless treasures here. At night, in the depths of these niches, you can see the reflections of his fiery breath.

Whatever it was, no matter what rituals were performed here, but the place is really very specific, riddled with secrets and mysteries. A visit to the Eagle Rocks and the Thracian sanctuaries will give you the opportunity to see amazing architectural structures, feel the spirit of antiquity and feel the grandeur of these places.

This is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in history and discover the world of the ancient Bulgarian and Thracian civilizations. Well, this concludes our trip to Bulgaria . If you liked these locations, then be sure to write which ones and why. Well, I will round off and summarize.

I think Bulgaria is really worthy of the attention of tourists. Perhaps she loses to neighbors such as Croatia and Greece in architecture, but at the same time Bulgaria is not deprived of natural beauties and attractions. If you want to uncover all the secrets of Bulgaria, then on

My own I recommend not to reduce the trip exclusively to a beach holiday, but be sure to set aside a few days for trips to Beautiful places. And then Bulgaria will definitely be remembered by you for a very long time … [gloomy silence =) ] If you liked the locations from today’s video,

Then be sure to write to me in the comments which ones and why. Well, my journey continues, see you in Greece =) [music]

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