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www.danube-bike.eu ‘ Danube velo route Dec - February 2011 Edition 3 The Belogradchik Rocks A Fairytale of mystic wonders When you are planning your cycling trip along the Danube you have to know that only 50km South of Vidin there's a place where nature left its unique imprint. This is the Belogradchik rocks. A place everyone should see in his life. A white-horse rider heads to the Stronghold “Kaleto” The cycling route Vidin - Belogradchik - Lom will take you to the magnificent Belogradchik rocks, the natural stronghold “Kaleto” and the “Magura” cave, which are attracting thousands of tourists every year to Bulgaria. Read more on page 2 AT A GLANCE P.2 - The Magura cave The Schoolgirl P.3 - Belogradchik fortress “Kaleto” P.4,5 - The Belogradchik rocks a Fairytale of mystic wonders P.6 - Parc Romanescu, Craiova P.7 - Nature parc Zaval P.8 - The legend of the Mermaid and the Torlak Cyclists from all countries discover the Danube December 2010 - February 2011 DANUBE VELO ROUTE | 2 The Magura cave So, when you leave Vidin say goodbye to “grandma” Vida /as the castle Baba Vida is called/ and head South to the Belogradchik rocks. There's some traffic on the E-79 route, so be careful. Once you reach Dimovo follow the signs to the Magura cave a 90 minutes walk through magnificent cave formations will be perfect to take your breath together and cool off at a temperature of 12 degrees Celsius kept constant throughout the year. The cave is situated in northwestern Bulgaria, 17 km. of Belogradchik. It's one of the largest caves in the country with a total length of galleries about 2500 m. It consists of one main gallery and three side branches. The cave is rich in formations of different shapes and sizes, stalactites and stalagmites. Besides its beauty and impressive size, don't miss the "Big Stalactone" - tall over 20 meters and thick 4 meters in diameter and the "Fallen Pine", which is the largest stalagmite in all Bulgarian caves with a length of 11m. The “Big Stalactone” According to geological studies, Magura cave began its formation about 15 million years ago and in fact in one of the halls were discovered prehistoric drawings carved into rock and decorated with bat guano. The figures represent dancing women silhouettes and hunting men, disguised men, large variety of animals, stars, tools, plants. The drawings date from different eras Eneolith, early Bronze Age. You can taste some wine in the cave or in the winery nearby. Now you're ready to go on to Belogradchik An impressive cave gallery resembling a city at dawn December 2010 - February 2011 DANUBE VELO ROUTE | 4 The Belogradchik Rocks a fairytale of mystic wonders The Belogradchik Rocks rocks stretch from west to east from Mount Vedernik around Belogradchik to the Borovitsa village. They have a length of about 30km. and width of 6-7 km. Among the famous cliffs you can recognise - Rider, Madonna, Dervish, Adam and Eve, Mushrooms, Lion, The Monks, The Bear, The Castle, The Little Shepherd and many others. The second group is located west of the city. The most famous rocks Zbegovete, Erkyupria, Borich. You can reach these rocks on foot or mountain bike. Belogradchik rocks, these amazing stone structures are sculpted by nature over 200 million years ago. At the end of the Paleozoic era here were deposited sandy rocks that were later flooded by the sea, at the bottom of which wild rivers of landslides from the surrounding heights, huge quantity of gravel, sand and clay mixed together. As time slipped materials were cemented by silica or sand-clay. This is how thte stone wonders were formed. colored with iron oxide, acquired a reddish coulor. Due to the folding of the Balkan Mountains this area became land. At its highest poitns cracks appeared, which started demolishing because of the water, winds and temperature fluctuations. So were created a variety of shapes and sizes, unique rock formations that resemble animal figures, human heads, some of them rising more than 100m. medieval castles and towers. Over 100 caves were formed in sandstone and limestone Close to the end of this magnificent stone chain is the Borovitsa winery, where some of the most awarded wines in Bulgaria are produced. 3 | DANUBE VELO ROUTE December 2010 - February 2011 Belogradchik fortress “Kaleto” the Turks conquered it. They placed a garrison to protect the western part of the country and to suppress the uprisings of the Bulgarians. The Turks reinforced and made new walls. Belogradchik fortress “Kaleto” When you reach this small hilly town full of strait red-roof houses climb to the highest point and enter the Stronghold “Kaleto” In 1850, the fort played a negative role in the defeat of the uprising of Belogradchik. When the rebels fighting for freedom were captured they were taken out through a tunnel out of the castle and beheaded there. Today, close to the place of execution rises a monument in memory of those warriors. The fortress was used as a military facility for the last time during the Serbian-Bulgarian War in 1885. Then it was declared a cultural monument of national importance. From the highest part of the fortress known as the First floor there's a spectacular view. To the South you can see the folded ridge of Stara Planina, the peak Kom and Vrashka Chupa to the west. This is one of the most important historical monuments in Belogradchik. This old fortification was built among the inaccessible rocks at a time when the Bulgarian state was not yet established and the Balkan Peninsula was still within the limits of the Roman Empire - in the III century. The Romans tried hard to build a strong defense system and pave the road. The fortress controled the road from town Ratsiaria (near the present village Archar, Vidin district). The Romans built the highest part of the fortress called the Citadel. In 395, when the Roman Empire devided in two, the Balkan lands entered the borders of Byzantium. In VI century the Slavs began their raids but were forced out by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I (527 -565) The fortification was destoyed and rebuilt several times. However, the combined pressure of Slavs and Bulgars couldn't be resisted and in VII century the right of existence of the new Bulgarian state was won. In XIV century the Bulgarian ruler Ivan Sratsimir expanded the existing fortification but at the end of the century The Mushrooms - reachable from a path from the central square 5 | DANUBE VELO ROUTE December 2010 - February 2011 The guests of Inn “Madona”, village Falkovets are often met with bread and salt according to the old Bulgarian tradition A couple of kilometers down the road you can see the rock “Torlaka” and have a rest at the Madona inn a place where the spirit of Bulgaria and the typical for the region 'turlak” atmosphere can be sent. Besides the traditional dishes there's a huge yard, arranged with picnic tables from massive wood and a nice lake with water lilies. Rolling down the valley in a big “Zorbing” ball December 2010 - February 2011 DANUBE VELO ROUTE | 6 "Nicolae Romanescu" Park - Craiova "Nicolae Romanescu" Park in Craiova is the third largest natural park in Europe. The park covers an area of 96 hectares and was developed since 1900 at the initiative of then mayor of Craiova, Nicolae Romanescu. It is the largest and most famous park in the city. Located in the south of Craiova, it is known as Park Bibescu because it is located on land purchased by the City of Craiova in 1853, from Iancu Bibescu, brother of Grigore Bibescu and because in the middle of the park was situated the house of one of the ruling families, called Casa Bibescu. Park "Nicolae Romanescu" hosts one of the oldest zoos in the country, opened in 1906. Animal collection includes the first few species: Carpathian bears, deer and peacocks. In the '60s the zoo in Craiova was populated with lions, monkeys and ostriches. A small Romanian boy looking for fish among the water lilies 7 | DANUBE VELO ROUTE December 2010 - February 2011 History on bike - nature parc Zaval We propose a tourist route along the Danube from the Natural Park Zaval, situated near the place where the river Jiu flows into the Danube represented by an old forest having a naturally dominated by oak and ash tree, sand dunes and other habitats. Legend says that the water from this well-spring is attributed to intensify the virtue of love couples, to join those separated. An old custom is that brides and grooms go down to the source of the underground spring after the wedding, taking the miraculous water and drinking it for a relation that will be for eternity. Forest Zaval is appreciated by cyclists because of the possibilities of thermal waters with therapeutic qualities presented here at the disposal of all of turists from the camping area. Being near the Danube is favoured the creation of wetland ponds, fishing representing a permanent occupation for residents. Fountain remains, despite the lack of popularity, as of exceptional archaeological importance, an enticing call to the fulfillment of love and thirst for life Continuing the incursions along the Danube at a distance by 60 km is Corabia with it's diamond Sucidava Dacian fortress. Here you can see a secret underground fountain that is still functional today, a Paleochristian basilica, Roman baths, an ingenious system of underfloor heating with hot air and the pier of a Roman bridge built across the Danube. This fountain is also called "spring love" and is one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the ancient city. The Cyclist Rob in Zaval The Danube - as magnificent as it is December 2010 - February 2011 DANUBE VELO ROUTE | 8 The Legend of the Mermaid and the Torlak God has created that place when he was in a very good mood and made it for his own pleasure. It was a long, long time ago as long as the Belogradchik fortress was built. One young maiden fell in love with a Torlak from the nearby village. Unfortunately, she was desecrated by the fortress commandant. She couldn't bear the shame. So she climbed up the rock overhanging the river at the end of the village and jumped in the river. At that same moment the rock changed into the form of her beloved-“The Torlak”. The cool waters embraced her and carried her along the stream. Her heart was praying to God to take her but her long mermaid-like hair got caught on the willow roots at that far end of the village. So the maiden turned into a mermaid. Every night at the deepest and darkest hours she gets out of the waters and silently cries looking at her Torlak lover. The big clear teardrops that run down her beautiful pale face have made a small lake. At daytime we admire the water lilies that the mermaid collects and plaits in her hair, at night the crickets accompany her quiet sighs. That way she reminds us for the pure real love that lives within us all. This beautiful recess with the mermaid and the Torlak will soon become popular and people all over the world will come to enjoy it. Agency for regional development and Business center Vidin, Bulgaria Address: 77 Hristo Botev Street, Vidin, Bulgaria Phone/fax: 00359 94 600 0017; 00359 94 600 0018 E-mail: [email protected], Web: www.bcvidin.org Investing in your future! Romania - Bulgaria Cross Border Cooperation Programme is co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund Project title “Danube Velo route” Editor of the material: Agency for regional development and Business center Vidin, Bulgaria March 2011 The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. www.cbcromaniabulgaria.eu