
Okolchitsa – National Park of Hristo Botev
The Okolchitsa peak (1,048 m) is situated in the Vratsa Balkan Mountain, in close proximity to the village of Chelopek, about 20 km from Vratsa. A monument in honor of the deed of the revolutionary Hristo Botev and his detachment, who died in 1876 for the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman Dominion, is raised on the top of the peak.
The place for the raising of the monument was selected in 1901 by a special committee in which 9 people from the Botev detachment participated. The place was selected to be accessible and as close as possible to the place of the last battle of the detachment in 1876.
The monument was raised in 1926 and represents an army cross made of reinforced concrete. It is placed on Kolova Meadow, presently known as Boteva Meadow. In 1947 a decision was made to transform the cross into a five-pointed star, and in 1991 it was restored to its original appearance.
The monument is 26.60 meters high, and the chapel “St. George” is situated at its foot. It is included in the list of the 100 National Tourist Sites. The beautiful nature around the monument and the rich history of the region attract multiple tourists and guests of the country and abroad.
A national worshipping is conducted every year on the 2 July at the foot of the monument, which is attended by state leaders and thousands of worshippers of Botev. Here the national tourist march along the way of the Botev detachment – Kozloduy – Okolchitsa – ends. It has been conducted every year since 1946.
The Okolchitsa peak is a favorite place for hang-gliders from the country and abroad and a preferred place for relaxation during the weekends.
Opening hours
The Vratsa Balkan Information Center organizes guided trips along eco paths. The prices depend on the number of people in the group and the chosen route.
15 June – October: trips are conducted on Saturday and Sunday, until snowfalls.
Opening hours of the center:
April – September: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm, works every day,
October – March: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm, days off – Saturday and Sunday.
Contacts
Contacts with Vratsa Balkan Information Center
27-29, Pop Sava Katrafilov Str., Vratsa
Tel: +359 92 660318
e-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.vr-balkan.net
You can reach the peak along a well-maintained road; for the hikers there are paths from the village of Pavolche and the village of Chelopek.
The Vratsa Balkan Information Center organizes guided trips along eco paths. Guided tours are conducted in Bulgarian language by licensed guides at the Vratsa Balkan.
TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER – LOVECH
Contacts
Tel./Fax: +359 68 604218
Tel: +359 68 604248
Tel: +359 68 600997
e-mail: [email protected]
e-mail: [email protected]
2 V. Karakonovski Str., Varosha residential section, town of Lovech, 5500
Services
Offered services: tourist information about Lovech and the region, tourist guide servicing for the tourist sites located in the Architectural and Historical Reserve “Varosha”.
TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER – SOFIA
Contacts
Tel: +359 2 4918344
Tel: +359 2 4918345
e-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.info-sofia.bg
Sofia City, the underpass of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”
Services
The basic task of the Tourist Information Center department is:
Information and advertising activity, aiming to popularize the tourist destination of Sofia by means of:
providing free information and advertising materials about Sofia City to Bulgarian and foreign tourists
providing up-to-date and detailed information about current and upcoming events of the cultural and business life of the city
collecting, processing and providing general and specialized tourist information, which facilitates the orientation of the city guests and assisting their choice of places for relaxation, tourism or entertainment.
development and distribution of image and product advertising materials
maintenance and updating of the information and the advertising applications, installed at the public kiosks, located in the Cultural and Information Center – Sofia.
playing of advertising movies about Sofia on a video board, installed at the window of the information center
Virtual map
Pictures
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