Standing atop the traditional Belogradchik Fortress and feeling awestruck by huge IMAX-like vistas of pine-covered landscapes punctured by historic rock pillars, I puzzled why I used to be right here virtually alone…
Regardless of touring in Bulgaria through 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 means of a sea of selfie sticks.
Admittedly, it does take fairly some time to achieve Belogradchik, particularly should you’re venturing off the everyday journey route that runs principally by means of central Bulgaria. Nevertheless, I discovered the journey extremely price 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.
Plan your journey to Belogradchik
Is Belogradchik Price Visiting?
Sure, I feel it’s extremely price visiting! Nevertheless, some issues rely on how a lot time you’ve gotten in 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 prime of the mountain, a novel fortress was created. By way of the ages it’s been utilized by the Roman Empire, Ottoman Empire, and Bulgarian Empire.
Apart from the fortress, the city is sort of good too, and I actually loved mountaineering by means 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 feel it’s solely possibly price it. It’s fairly a protracted method to journey on a single day, so it is dependent upon your stage of curiosity and willingness to journey for it, because it might be fairly tiring to do in a rush.
You probably have the time, I like to recommend staying in a single day (see lodges right here) so you may see the fortress, go on a hike, and even go to a close-by cave with historic cave work.
When you arrive by practice from Sofia, the journey will take you thru the Iskar Gorge, so you may get pleasure from beautiful 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 best way north — in actual fact, it added vastly to the expertise.
Belogradchik is much faraway from extra well-liked vacationer locations in Bulgaria, however I feel it’s definitely worth the detour in case you have a while. It’s uncommon to search out such a wide ranging web site and have it virtually 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 get pleasure from dinner with a panoramic view of the fortress.
Wish to get a way of the grandeur of Belogradchik Fortress or the scenic practice journey to the north? Then test my cinematic vlog beneath:
How you can Get to Belogradchik
You probably have your personal automotive, then you definitely’ll have a straightforward time attending to Belogradchik. From Sofia, contemplate taking the smaller roads just like the 16 relatively than the 81 so you may view some good villages and rock formations alongside the best way.
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 complete particulars.
From Sofia by Practice
There are not any trains on to Belogradchik (it doesn’t have a practice station) however there are to the close by village referred to as Oreshets. Going by practice will take about 4 to five hours and the journey passes some beautiful surroundings, so it’s a little bit of an expertise in itself.
I may discover solely two direct trains each day from Sofia to Oreshets. From the station, it’s a 20-minute or so taxi journey to Belogradchik.
The direct trains are:
Sofia Central Station → Oreshets at 11:02 AM
Sofia Sever → Oreshets at 17:05 PM
Sofia Sever is the town’s second practice station, which is only one stopover from Sofia Central or a 7-minute taxi journey away. When researching your choices, it’s price checking each Sofia Central and Sofia Sever.
Nevertheless, it doesn’t actually matter should you get a direct practice. There are connections all through the day with a change midway in Mezdra. All of the trains should cease right here anyway. When you take a direct practice 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 practice from Sofia Central, however time-wise there may be actually no profit in it being a direct connection. It really 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 sooner.
To see all of the accessible practice 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. Notice that there’s one other Oreshets in southeast Bulgaria, which isn’t the proper one. Click on the hyperlink should you’re undecided.
Oreshets is tiny. It’s barely large enough to have a grocery retailer. When you keep in a single day in Belogradchik (which I like to recommend), make sure you contact your resort and ask them to rearrange a taxi pickup from Oreshets station for you. The journey ought to price approx. 15 BGN.
From Sofia by Bus
There’s one direct bus each day between Sofia and Belogradchik. It takes about 3.5 to 4 hours, which is somewhat bit sooner than the train-and-taxi possibility.
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 best way again is relatively early, which is why I opted to go by practice each methods. However should you can catch some sleep on the bus you would probably be saving a while in your journey that approach.
Suggestions for Visiting Belogradchik
Visiting the fortress: The fortress is open each day (Jun-Sep 08:00-21:00; Oct-Might 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 may simply stroll up the doorway, although observe that it’s a bit uphill and there are some steep stairs inside.
The place to hike: You could find plenty of trails indicated on MAPS.me. Attempt going to the fortress after which to the viewpoint close to the Astronomical Observatory. When you return a bit nearer to the fortress you may take the trail down into the forest. Alternatively, go to the Belogradchik signal on the town and head down into the little gorge. Totally 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 advocate it. A mechana is a Bulgarian conventional tavern, so this can be a great spot to have some conventional meals at a fantastic worth. When 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, certainly one of Europe’s most notable painted caves with lots 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 might have to rent a taxi for the day or be part of a tour to see them.
When you want to see the fortress from a very epic perspective, there’s the choice of taking a sizzling air balloon journey over Belogradchik. Whereas a whole half-hour journey will price over 200 Euros, there may be additionally a 10-minute possibility for 69 Euros, which is a worth I haven’t seen anyplace else in my travels all over the world. So should you ever wished to take a balloon journey (and probably do it on a finances) then right here’s your probability. The spectacular surroundings will certainly make the views price it!
How you can See Belogradchik on a Day Journey
It includes a good bit of driving, however sure, it may be completed!
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 resort in Sofia and drive straight by means of the Balkan Mountain, with scenic views alongside the best way. As an alternative of losing time with public transit connections, you’ll have the ability to 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 lodges and guesthouses. I stayed at Visitor Home Elena, which presents easy finances rooms.
An enormous a part of why I extremely advocate 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 approach. They’ll additionally decide you up from the practice station should you ask them beforehand. Staying at this guesthouse will provide you with a beautiful native expertise.
Different lodging choices embrace the Fortress View Condominium and the Resort Fort O Bel. There should not many lodges; most locations to remain are small guesthouses or residence leases.
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Posted NOV 18, 2024
