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Belogradchik Rocks and the Magura Cave
2005.05.30
The Belogradchik Rocks are a group of bizarre sandstone and limestone rock formations, reaching up to 200 m in height. They form a strip, which is 30 km long and up to 3 km wide, and are located north of the western slopes of Stara Planina, near the town of Belogradchik in Bulgaria. The formations are a product of erosion.
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The Belogradchik Rocks are a group of bizarre sandstone and limestone rock formations, reaching up to 200 m in height. They form a strip, which is 30 km long and up to 3 km wide, and are located north of the western slopes of Stara Planina, near the town of Belogradchik in Bulgaria. The formations are a product of erosion.
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The Belogradchik Fortress, is an ancient fortress close to the northwestern Bulgarian town of Belogradchik and the town's primary cultural and historical tourist attraction, drawing, together with the Belogradchik Rocks, the main flow of tourists into the region. It is one of the best-preserved strongholds in Bulgaria and a cultural monument of national importance.
The fortress' walls are over 2 m thick in the foundation and reaching up to 12 m in height. Three separate fortified yards exist that are connected with each other through gates. The fortress has a total area of 10,210 m². The Belogradchik Fortress was reconstructed to later become a proclaimed cultural monument. It is managed by the local historical museum authority.
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The Belogradchik Fortress, is an ancient fortress close to the northwestern Bulgarian town of Belogradchik and the town's primary cultural and historical tourist attraction, drawing, together with the Belogradchik Rocks, the main flow of tourists into the region. It is one of the best-preserved strongholds in Bulgaria and a cultural monument of national importance.
The fortress' walls are over 2 m thick in the foundation and reaching up to 12 m in height. Three separate fortified yards exist that are connected with each other through gates. The fortress has a total area of 10,210 m². The Belogradchik Fortress was reconstructed to later become a proclaimed cultural monument. It is managed by the local historical museum authority.
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The initial fortress was constructed during the time when the region was part of the Roman Empire. The rock formations in the area served as a natural protection, as fortified walls were practically only built from the northwest and southeast, with the yard being surrounded by rocks up to 70 metres high from the other sides.
Initially, the Belogradchik Fortress served for surveillance and not strictly defence. Bulgarian tsar of Vidin Ivan Stratsimir extended the old fortress in the 14th century, building fortified garrisons before the existing rock massifs. During Stratsimir's rule, the Belogradchik Fortress became one of the most important strongholds in the region, second only to the tsar's capital fortress of Vidin, Baba Vida.
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The initial fortress was constructed during the time when the region was part of the Roman Empire. The rock formations in the area served as a natural protection, as fortified walls were practically only built from the northwest and southeast, with the yard being surrounded by rocks up to 70 metres high from the other sides.
Initially, the Belogradchik Fortress served for surveillance and not strictly defence. Bulgarian tsar of Vidin Ivan Stratsimir extended the old fortress in the 14th century, building fortified garrisons before the existing rock massifs. During Stratsimir's rule, the Belogradchik Fortress became one of the most important strongholds in the region, second only to the tsar's capital fortress of Vidin, Baba Vida.
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During the Ottoman conquest of Bulgaria, the fortress was captured by the Ottomans in 1396. They were forced to further expand the stronghold due to the intensified hajduk and insurrectionary activity in the region.
Considerable changes to the fortress were made in the early 19th century. These changed were typical for the Ottoman castle architecture of the period, a full reorganization being carried out, as well as additional expansion. Typically European elements were added to the Belogradchik Fortress owing to the French and Italian engineers that participated in the expansion.
The stronghold had an important role in the Ottoman suppression of the Bulgarian Belogradchik Uprising of 1850. It was last used in warfare during the Serbo-Bulgarian War in 1885.
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During the Ottoman conquest of Bulgaria, the fortress was captured by the Ottomans in 1396. They were forced to further expand the stronghold due to the intensified hajduk and insurrectionary activity in the region.
Considerable changes to the fortress were made in the early 19th century. These changed were typical for the Ottoman castle architecture of the period, a full reorganization being carried out, as well as additional expansion. Typically European elements were added to the Belogradchik Fortress owing to the French and Italian engineers that participated in the expansion.
The stronghold had an important role in the Ottoman suppression of the Bulgarian Belogradchik Uprising of 1850. It was last used in warfare during the Serbo-Bulgarian War in 1885.
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The Magura cave is situated just 35 kilometres southwest of the beautiful town Vidin on the Danube river. It is 17km away from the town of Belogradchik 1,5km from the village of Rabisha. The capital of Bulgaria – Sofia is 170 km to the south.
It is hollowed out in the Rabisha hill limestone, 461m above the sea level. The Magura is one of the largest caves in Bulgaria. The total length of the galleries, discovered till now, exceeds 2600 m.
It consists of one main gallery, pointing southeast - northwest and three side branches.The cave-halls are enormous in size. Each one of them is over 200 m long, more than 50 m wide and over 20 m high.
The cave has fantastic formations - stalactites, stalagmites, stalctones, cave pearls, “cave milk”. Some of them are impressive both with their beauty and size. “The Big Stalctone” is over 20 m high and has a diameter of 4 m at its base. “The Fallen Pine” is the biggest stalagmite in the Bulgarian caves explored till now. It is over 11 m long and has a diameter of 6m at its base.
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The Magura cave is situated just 35 kilometres southwest of the beautiful town Vidin on the Danube river. It is 17km away from the town of Belogradchik 1,5km from the village of Rabisha. The capital of Bulgaria – Sofia is 170 km to the south.
It is hollowed out in the Rabisha hill limestone, 461m above the sea level. The Magura is one of the largest caves in Bulgaria. The total length of the galleries, discovered till now, exceeds 2600 m.
It consists of one main gallery, pointing southeast - northwest and three side branches.The cave-halls are enormous in size. Each one of them is over 200 m long, more than 50 m wide and over 20 m high.
The cave has fantastic formations - stalactites, stalagmites, stalctones, cave pearls, “cave milk”. Some of them are impressive both with their beauty and size. “The Big Stalctone” is over 20 m high and has a diameter of 4 m at its base. “The Fallen Pine” is the biggest stalagmite in the Bulgarian caves explored till now. It is over 11 m long and has a diameter of 6m at its base.
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Pearls of the cave are the unique paintings on stone, done in bat guano. They are multi layered and come from different epochs - The Epupaleolith, The Neolith, The Eneolith, the beginning of The Early Bronze Age.The paintings in the 'Magura' cave represent dancing women,dancing and hunting men,disguised men,large variety of animals,suns,stars,instruments of labour,plants etc. The Solar calendar from The Late Eneolith and some later additions, made during The Early Bronze age are quite accurate. Through pictures information about religous events and feasts along with their smbols and particular personages were saved.
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Pearls of the cave are the unique paintings on stone, done in bat guano. They are multi layered and come from different epochs - The Epupaleolith, The Neolith, The Eneolith, the beginning of The Early Bronze Age.The paintings in the 'Magura' cave represent dancing women,dancing and hunting men,disguised men,large variety of animals,suns,stars,instruments of labour,plants etc. The Solar calendar from The Late Eneolith and some later additions, made during The Early Bronze age are quite accurate. Through pictures information about religous events and feasts along with their smbols and particular personages were saved.
