How one can Go to Belogradchik, Bulgaria’s Most Underrated Sight

Standing atop the traditional Belogradchik Fortress and feeling awestruck by huge IMAX-like vistas of pine-covered landscapes punctured by historical rock pillars, I puzzled why I used to be right here virtually alone…

Regardless of touring in Bulgaria throughout the summer season excessive season, I shared this epic sight with solely a handful of different guests. It jogged my memory simply how off-path Bulgaria nonetheless is. Wherever else, a sight of this caliber would absolutely have you ever wading by way of a sea of selfie sticks.

Admittedly, it does take fairly some time to achieve Belogradchik, particularly when you’re venturing off the everyday journey route that runs largely by way of central Bulgaria. Nonetheless, I discovered the journey extremely value it, not in small half as a result of the journey north from Sofia is so extremely scenic.

Let me share precisely go to Belogradchik, together with some detailed transport data that I couldn’t discover on different websites.

Is Belogradchik Value Visiting?

Sure, I believe it’s extremely value visiting! Nonetheless, some issues rely upon how a lot time you’ve gotten on your journey.

The primary sight in Belogradchik is certainly the traditional fortress. Located on the north slopes of the Balkan Mountains, it was constructed by making use of the various pure rock formations that exist right here. By integrating the rock pillars on high of the mountain, a singular fortress was created. By means of the ages it’s been utilized by the Roman Empire, Ottoman Empire, and Bulgarian Empire.

Moreover the fortress, the city is kind of good too, and I actually loved climbing by way of the forests that encompass it.

You may go to Belogradchik Fortress as a part of an organized day journey from Sofia, however on this case, I believe it’s solely perhaps value it. It’s fairly an extended technique to journey on a single day, so it is dependent upon your stage of curiosity and willingness to journey for it, because it may very well be fairly tiring to do in a rush.

If in case you have the time, I like to recommend staying in a single day (see motels right here) so you’ll be able to see the fortress, go on a hike, and even go to a close-by cave with historical cave work.

In the event you arrive by prepare from Sofia, the journey will take you thru the Iskar Gorge, so you’ll be able to take pleasure in attractive mountain surroundings for a giant portion of the journey. For me, this made it really feel under no circumstances a chore to make all of it the way in which north — actually, it added massively to the expertise.

Belogradchik is much faraway from extra common vacationer locations in Bulgaria, however I believe it’s definitely worth the detour in case you have a while. It’s uncommon to seek out such a panoramic web site and have it nearly to your self.

Though the fortress most likely doesn’t take longer than an hour or two to take a look at, it’s also possible to discover the broader space or take pleasure in dinner with a panoramic view of the fortress.

Wish to get a way of the grandeur of Belogradchik Fortress or the scenic prepare experience to the north? Then verify my cinematic vlog beneath:

How one can Get to Belogradchik

If in case you have your personal automotive, then you definitely’ll have a straightforward time attending to Belogradchik. From Sofia, take into account taking the smaller roads just like the 16 quite than the 81 so you’ll be able to view some good villages and rock formations alongside the way in which.

As for public transportation, there are literally many connections between Sofia and Belogradchik all through the day. This was not what I’d been led to consider from studying different blogs! Let me share with you the total particulars.

From Sofia by Practice

There are not any trains on to Belogradchik (it doesn’t have a prepare station) however there are to the close by village known as Oreshets. Going by prepare will take about 4 to five hours and the journey passes some attractive surroundings, so it’s a little bit of an expertise in itself.

I might discover solely two direct trains day by day from Sofia to Oreshets. From the station, it’s a 20-minute or so taxi experience to Belogradchik.

The direct trains are:

Sofia Central Station → Oreshets at 11:02 AM

Sofia Sever → Oreshets at 17:05 PM

Sofia Sever is town’s second prepare station, which is only one stopover from Sofia Central or a 7-minute taxi experience away. When researching your choices, it’s value checking each Sofia Central and Sofia Sever.

Nonetheless, it doesn’t actually matter when you get a direct prepare. There are connections all through the day with a change midway in Mezdra. All of the trains should cease right here anyway. In the event you take a direct prepare to Oroshets, it’ll pause for quarter-hour at Mezdra in addition to the locomotive will get switched to the opposite facet.

The change at Mezdra is tremendous simple. It’s a tiny station, so that you simply should stroll over from observe 1 to 2 or vice versa.

I took the 11:02 AM direct prepare from Sofia Central, however time-wise there may be actually no profit in it being a direct connection. It truly makes an hour-long detour across the east of Sofia earlier than heading north. Different connections that embrace a swap in Mezdra may very well be quicker.

To see all of the out there prepare connections, go to Google Maps, faucet Oreshets Station (not the city itself), and choose Instructions and also you’ll see a great deal of choices. Word that there’s one other Oreshets in southeast Bulgaria, which isn’t the right one. Click on the hyperlink when you’re undecided.

Oreshets is tiny. It’s barely large enough to have a grocery retailer. In the event you keep in a single day in Belogradchik (which I like to recommend), you’ll want to contact your lodge and ask them to rearrange a taxi pickup from Oreshets station for you. The experience ought to value approx. 15 BGN.

From Sofia by Bus

There’s one direct bus day by day between Sofia and Belogradchik. It takes about 3.5 to 4 hours, which is slightly bit quicker than the train-and-taxi choice.

Sofia Central Bus Station → Belogradchik at 4:30 PM

Belogradchik → Sofia Central Bus Station at 6 AM (besides Sundays when it goes at 3 PM)

The bus departure on the way in which again is quite early, which is why I opted to go by prepare each methods. However when you can catch some sleep on the bus you might doubtlessly be saving a while in your journey that method.

Suggestions for Visiting Belogradchik

Visiting the fortress: The fortress is open day by day (Jun-Sep 08:00-21:00; Oct-Could 09:00-17:00). I visited on the finish of the day which gave me some superb sundown views. Entrance is 8 BGN (4 EUR) per individual. The fortress is adjoining to the city so you’ll be able to simply stroll up the doorway, although word that it’s a bit uphill and there are some steep stairs inside.

The place to hike: You’ll find quite a few trails indicated on MAPS.me. Strive going to the fortress after which to the viewpoint close to the Astronomical Observatory. In the event you return a bit nearer to the fortress you’ll be able to take the trail down into the forest. Alternatively, go to the Belogradchik signal on the town and head down into the little gorge. Completely different rocky peaks have their very own names on the map, such because the Goddess Mom and the Gorilla Rock.

The place to eat: I ate at Mechana Markashnitsa and suggest it. A mechana is a Bulgarian conventional tavern, so it is a good spot to have some conventional meals at an incredible value. In the event you’d wish to dine with an expansive view of the fortress, head over to Mislen Kamak.

Different issues to do: Contemplate a go to to Magura Cave, one in all Europe’s most notable painted caves with tons of of work from the Neolithic period, relationship to about 8000 to 10000 years in the past. Venetsa Collapse flip is notable for its spectacular pure formations. Neither cave is near the city nor simply accessible by public means although, so you could have to rent a taxi for the day or be part of a tour to see them.

In the event you want to see the fortress from a really epic perspective, there’s the choice of taking a sizzling air balloon experience over Belogradchik. Whereas a whole half-hour experience will value over 200 Euros, there may be additionally a 10-minute choice for 69 Euros, which is a value I haven’t seen wherever else in my travels around the globe. So when you ever needed to take a balloon experience (and presumably do it on a finances) then right here’s your likelihood. The spectacular surroundings will certainly make the views value it!

How one can See Belogradchik on a Day Journey

It includes a good bit of driving, however sure, it may be performed!

The journey from Sofia is actually fairly lengthy to do that in a single day although. In case your time is proscribed and also you don’t need to miss visiting Belogradchik, then I strongly counsel doing it by organized tour (akin to this tour on GetYourGuide).

You’ll be picked up out of your lodge in Sofia and drive immediately by way of the Balkan Mountain, with scenic views alongside the way in which. As an alternative of losing time with public transit connections, you’ll be capable of make it there and again in a single day.

The place to Keep in Belogradchik

Go searching on Reserving.com and also you’ll discover a vary of small native motels and guesthouses. I stayed at Visitor Home Elena, which presents easy finances rooms.

An enormous a part of why I extremely suggest this guesthouse is the nice and cozy and welcoming couple who run this place. They don’t converse English however they’re extremely adept at utilizing hand gestures and Google Translate that will help you out in any method. They’ll additionally decide you up from the prepare station when you ask them beforehand. Staying at this guesthouse gives you an exquisite native expertise.

Different lodging choices embrace the Fortress View Condominium and the Resort Fort O Bel. There should not many motels; most locations to remain are small guesthouses or condo leases.