Belogradchik Rocks
Towering red sandstone formations with a fortress built in among them.
About
Red and orange rock pillars, some more than 200 metres tall, rise in jagged rows above the small town of Belogradchik in north-west Bulgaria. Wind and rain have carved them into shapes that locals call by names such as the Monk, the Schoolgirl and the Horseman.
The Kaleto fortress is built into the rocks, with walls and gates joining the natural stone, and visitors can climb to terraces for views over the countryside. Walking trails run between the formations, and the nearby Magura Cave has prehistoric paintings.
History
The sandstone and conglomerate of the rocks formed over many millions of years, and were then lifted, cracked and eroded into the shapes visible today. The Romans first built a fort here in the first to third centuries AD, taking advantage of the natural cliffs. The Bulgarians extended it in the Middle Ages, and the Ottomans rebuilt it much larger between 1805 and 1837, with help from foreign engineers, to control the region and suppress uprisings. The fortress was last used in the Serbo-Bulgarian War of 1885. Local legends tie many of the rocks to stories of monks, lovers and shepherds. Today the area is protected as a natural landmark and is one of the most visited sights in north-west Bulgaria.