ABOUT VITOSHA
Vitosha is the most visited Bulgarian Mountain.
It rises above
Sofia and is one of the symbols of our capital.
With its highest peak
Cherni Vrah (2290m) it occupies the fourth place among the Bulgarian mountains.
A unique natural phenomenon are the so-called “stone rivers” (moreni)-piles of huge rounded granite stones on many of the river valleys reaching up to 2 km in length and 50 m in width. Especially expressive and beautiful are the “Moreni” in the areа of
Golden bridges.
CLIMATE
The average monthly temperature for January is minus 8.3oC, for July is 9oC. There is an interesting phenomenon – the inversion. When
Sofia is covered by thick fog and cold, the Vitosha Mountain shines in sun and warmth. This happens at an average of 15 days per year.
The winter in the high parts lasts between 5 and 7 months, and truly summer months are only July and August. June is the rainiest month while September has the lowest precipitation figure. The biggest snow coverage is formed in March.
BORDERS AND LANDMARKS
To the North and Northeast – the
Sofia plain, to the West –the Egulo-Palakari saddle, to the South it reaches to the Samokov plain.
Vitosha has an area of 278 sq.km and it is divided into 4 main ranges.
All tourist chalets in Vitosha offer lodging and tasty dishes from the Bulgarian cuisine.
There are a number of valuable historical monuments, the most popular among them are: the
Boyana church, the
Dragalevtzi Monastery, the
Church of Saint George.
The thermal waters of the springs are popularly known for their curative powers such as the one at Knyazheno (22-31.5 C) as well as at Rodartsy, at Boyana, and at Simeonovo.
One of the most beautiful natural sights within Vitosha is the
Boyana Waterfall. At an altitude of 1200 m on the
Boyanska River, the waterfall drops 15 m and is the most impressive on.
The longest and biggest river taking its rise from the Vitosha mountain is
Struma. There are no lakes here.
The year 1934 saw the establishment of
National Park Vitosha.
There are two main tourist centers-
Aleko and
Zlatnite mostove.
PARTS
The most popular sites in the
NORTHERN range are:
Zlatnite mostove,
Knyazhevoand
Simeonovo. There is a cabin cableway to the
Aleko chalet.
EASTERN PART
It borders the
Plana Mountain.
Some of the highest and well-known peaks are here –
Golyam Rezen (2277),
Malak Rezen (2191),
Golyam Kupen (1930). The eastern edges of the Rezen peaks offer a site for alpine climbing.
Under this crown of peaks spreads the reserve
Bistrishko branishte. The well-known Vitosha resort and ski-centre
Aleko is located in the Eastern part as well.
SOUTH-WESTERN RANGE
The largest but least visited in the mountain. It borders the
Verila Mountain .
The longest cave in Bulgaria –
Duhlata is located here, as well as the interesting Karst water spring –
Jivata voda.
The "Zhivata voda (live waters)" karst spring is in the vicinity of the Vitosha village of
Bosnek. A 17th century legend has it that the village s Brink of Happiness would give water to the pious only, running dry for the sinful.
The
NORTH-WESTERN PART borders the
Lyulin mountain.
Description
