Belogradchik

The town of Belogradchik is situated in the north-west part of Bulgaria, near the border of Serbia. The town is situated at a distance of about 170 km from Sofia.
The first pieces of evidence of the settlement in the region are from the early Middle Ages. Multiple finds of this age have been found in the region of the Belogradchik Rocks and the highest part of the Belogradchik Fortress – the Citadel.
During the 14th century and the existence of the Vidin Kingdom (1371 – 1422), Belogradchik turned into an administrative and cultural center. In 1396, the Belogradchik region was conquered by the Ottomans.
The town gained global fame by being included in the vote for the new Seven Wonders of the World.
The Belogradchik Rocks are a natural phenomenon aged more than 200 million years. They cover a territory of 30 km length and about 6-7 km width. Due to its unusual forms, the rocks have various names. The most popular ones are The Horse Rider, The Maiden, The Castle, Adam and Eve. The rocks called Erkyupriya and Borich are situated to the west of Belogradchik. One can get there by an asphalted road suitable for motor vehicles. Remains of constructions and walls are visible in many places.
Another group of rocks is also situated at a distance of about 4 km from the town – in the region of Latin Kale and Lepenishka Cave. The last rocks from the rock group are situated around the villages of Gyurich and Belotintsi, which are at a distance of about 40 km from Belogradchik.
The Belogradchik Fortress which had played an important role during the defense of the region for centuries is situated close to the town, in the region of the rocks.
The Astronomical Observatory of the Astronomy Institute of the Bulgarian Science Academy is situated at a distance of 100 meters from the Belogradchik Fortress. There are three telescopes in the observatory, by which the visitors can watch the night sky. If you visit it during the daylight, you will be able to examine the telescopes and the observatory equipment, as well as pictures of interesting night objects. Night visits are performed upon a preliminary request and only during clear weather.
The historical museum of the town is situated in the Panova House in Belogradchik, which was constructed in 1810. The exposition presents the history, style of life and rituals in the region.
Another interesting landmark is the Art Gallery, in which more than 200 canvases are stored. Among them are works of art by Vladimir Dimitrov Maystora (1882 – 1960), Yoan Leviev (1934 – 1994), Bahit Bapishev, etc.
The only Natural Science Museum in north-west Bulgaria is situated in Belogradchik. The museum was opened in 1975 and presently stores more than 3000 exponents, which present the plant and animal diversity in the region.
The Magura Cave is situated at a distance of about 20 km from the town. Multiple rock drawings dating back to various periods have been found in the cave. A unique solar calendar with 366 days was found in the cave. The Magura is one of the largest caves in Bulgaria. Galleries with a total length of 2500 meters had been found inside it. This is also one of the most visited caves in the country.
The Rabishko Lake is situated close to the Magura. This is the largest tectonic lake in Bulgaria. Its area is 3250 dca. After research, it was found that the lake is not drainable. According to a legend, a monster which wished to receive a beautiful local girl as a sacrifice was living here. The region around the lakes is suitable for camping.
Belogradchik and the region offer diverse accommodation options. Hotels, guest houses, private accommodations and apartments are available for the tourists. The catering and entertainment establishments in the town offer interesting dishes prepared according to traditional local recipes. Ecological routes start from Belogradchik. They lead the tourists to the most interesting sites in the town and the region. The tourist information center of Belogradchik offers more information about the routes and the hiring of a guide.

Tourist Information Center – Belogradchik

Monday – Friday
09:00 – 17:00

1A Poruchik Dvoryanov Str

Tel: +359 877 881 283
E-mail: tourism@belogradchik.bg
Website: www.belogradchik.bg

Belogradchik Municipality – center for services and information

3900 Belogradchik, 6 Knyaz Boris I Str. / Ground floor /

Tel: +359 877 875 978
E-mail: info@belogradchik.bg
Website: www.belogradchik.bg