# Belogradchik

Belogradchik (Bulgarian: Белоградчик) is a small town in North Bulgaria, in the foothills of the Balkan Mountains. It's famous for the unique rock formations that surround it and the fortress nested in them. Nearby is also a famous cave open to visitors.

## Understand

With a population of about 4000 people (2021), Belogradchik is the second largest settlement in Vidin Province after Vidin itself. The stress falls on the last syllable of the name - beh-lo-grahd-CHIK, which means something like "little white town".

## Get in
### By bus

From the Central Bus Station in Sofia, direct buses run to Belogradchik about once a day. (Trip time: 4 hours) The town is most easily reached by bus from Vidin, 50 km to the north. Regular buses run between Belogradchik and Vidin throughout the day. (Trip time: 1 hour) The bus station in Belogradchik is conveniently located just below the main street.

### By train

Trains on the Sofia-Vidin line (leaving from the Sofia Central Railway Station) stop at the village Oreshets, which is about 10 km to the east of Belogradchik. On the way to Mezdra, the train crosses a mountain range and travels through the Iskar Gorge, and is described by some as one of the most scenic trains in the Balkans. People may tell you there is a bus service connecting the train station to Belogradchik. If you find one, great, but count on taking a taxi, many of which wait at the station for every train. A fair price is 6 leva or 3 leva if at least 3 people are in the taxi. To return, get the taxi number from the Tourist Office and call them long in advance (sometimes you may receive a negative answer and miss your train back to Sofia), or ask in the bus station.

### By car

Belogradchik lies just off the main road between Montana and Vidin. From Sofia, the trip time by car is about 3 hours.

## Get around

Belogradchik is a small town and is easily and most enjoyably experienced on foot. Limited taxi service is also available.

## See

* Belogradchik Rocks, Bulgaria's most spectacular rock formations covering an area of 90 km². Some of the best views of the rocks are from the main square, the top of the fortress, the town park or along one of the many hiking trails. Belogradchik Rocks is a nominee for the New7Wonders of Nature
* 43.62333322.6772221 Belogradchik Fortress. Open daily: Jun-Sep 08:00-21:00; Oct-May 09:00-17:00. Built into the towering rocks on the hilltop overlooking the town. The fortress, also called Kaleto, was begun by the Romans in the 1st-3rd centuries, continued by the Bulgarians and later completed by the Turks in the 19th century. From the top of the fortress, there are spectacular views of the surrounding hills and rock formations.
* There is a defunct Ottoman Mosque nearby to and easily visible from the fortress. It was supposedly built in 1751. It's not in the best repair these days and the building itself is not very remarkable, but the minaret and Arabic artwork above the door are beautiful. Worth taking a bit to admire.
* History Museum, in town center on the main street. M-F 09:00-12:00 & 14:00-17:00. A small museum containing exhibits of local history and folklore. The museum is housed in a well-preserved national revival period home (c.1810).
* Art Gallery, in the town center on the main street. M-F 09:00-12:00 & 14:00-17:00. A small gallery featuring the work of local and regional artists. Its collection includes over 180 paintings and drawings.
* 43.624222.6772 Natural History Museum, ul. "Colo Todorov" 35, 3900 Tsentar (in the town park). M-F 08:00-12:00 & 14:00-17:00. A small museum featuring wildlife native to the region. (updated Mar 2022)
* 43.726722.58233 Magura Cave, Rabisha (25 km northwest). Daily 10:00-17:00. One of the most important European painted caves with some 750 paintings, which date back to the Neolithic of 8000-10,000 years ago. The cave is 2.5 km long, with multiple galleries. 5 Лв. (updated Mar 2022)

## Do

* Hike. Spend a day exploring the area's unique rock formations on one of the many marked trails through the surrounding hills. Ranging in length from 4 km to 24 km round trip, the trails are perfect for a leisurely afternoon stroll or a full day adventure. They offer beautiful views of the surrounding hills and rocks and opportunities for viewing local wildlife and exploring local caves. For trail maps and information about local guides visit the Visitor's Center on the main square.

## Buy

In the center, there is a small souvenir shop which offers the typically selection of trinkets, pottery, embroidery and knickknacks. For a more unique purchase, try the wine shop next door which features wines and spirits from the surrounding region.

## Eat

* Tavern Madonna, ☏ +359-936-5546. It offers traditional Bulgarian cuisine and features many local and regional specialties.
* Restaurant Skalite, ☏ +359-898-733-818. Standard Bulgarian fare.

## Drink

There are numerous small cafes and bars located along the main street of town. Most of these only serve drinks or occasionally a light snack. In the summer, a small outdoor cafe just off the main square provides the perfect spot to relax in the shade and offers one of the best views of the Belogradchik Rocks.
For a taste of the local drinks, try a bottle of Magura wine made in the neighboring village of Rabisha. Or for something stronger, try a shot of domashno rakia, homemade brandy, the national drink of Bulgaria and always a source of local pride.

## Sleep

While several larger hotels are under construction, the only available accommodations are smaller family-run businesses.
* Hotel Dalia (Hotel Dalia), 1 Saedinenie Bul (Belogradchik), ☏ +359 888 641 528. 2 apartments and 6 rooms, each with satellite TV and a separate bath, Wi-Fi Internet.
* Hotel-Tavern Madonna, ☏ +359-936-5546. 11 beds in 5 rooms, each with satellite TV and a separate bath.
Visitors can also find accommodations in a number of private "guest homes" which typically offer 2 or 3 rooms for tourists.

## Go next

* Visit the village of Chiprovtsi, located about 35 km to the south, which is famous for its hand-woven carpets.