Stays
Област ВрацаI-Vaylo · CC BY-SA 3.0
Western Balkan

Vratsa Province

Област Враца

Vertical limestone cliffs, caves, waterfalls and monasteries rise immediately behind a compact regional city.

9 Landmarks10 Municipalities122 Mapped placesStays · Vratsa →Start with the provincial city: Vratsa →
Archaeology · 2 →
01

Start with the provincial city

Врацаbg:User:Ultra green · CC BY-SA 1.0
City guide

Vratsa

Враца

Vratsa places museums, towers and a walkable centre directly below one of Bulgaria's most dramatic mountain walls, making culture and outdoor travel easy to combine.

  • Vrachanski Balkan
  • Thracian treasures
  • Towers and mountain gateway
City guide →
Черепишки манастир / Cherepish MonasteryBiso · CC BY 3.0

Local characterМестен характерLokaler CharakterL’esprit des lieuxCarácter localCarattere localeIdentidade localLokaal karakterLokalny charakterMístní charakterSpecific localΤοπικός χαρακτήραςYerel kimlikМестный колоритМісцевий колоритЛокални духLokalni karakterHelyi arculatالطابع المحليאופי מקומיस्थानीय पहचान地方特色

Cherepish MonasteryЧерепишки манастир

A serene monastery wedged between forested cliffs and the Iskar River in a dramatic gorge.

Explore the placeРазгледай мястотоDen Ort entdeckenDécouvrir le lieuExplora el lugarEsplora il luogoExplore o lugarOntdek de plekOdkryj to miejsceProzkoumat místoDescoperă loculΕξερευνήστε τον τόποYeri keşfedinОткрыть это местоВідкрити це місцеИстражите местоIstražite mjestoFedezd fel a helyetاستكشف المكانגלו את המקוםइस जगह को जानें探索此地
02

Explore the province

Проход ВратцатаI-Vaylo · CC BY-SA 3.0Vratsa

Vratsata Pass

Проход Вратцата

Monumental limestone walls frame the road into Vrachanski Balkan just above the city.

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Пещера ЛеденикаMartin Marinov · CC BY-SA 3.0Vrachanski Balkan

Ledenika Cave

Пещера Леденика

A show cave of sculpted chambers high in the Balkan above Vratsa, cool even in summer.

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Водопад СкакляIliana Teneva · CC BY-SA 4.0Vratsa

Skaklya waterfall

Водопад Скакля

A seasonal high waterfall drops from the cliffs above Vratsa and is most dramatic after rain or snowmelt.

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Черепишки манастирBiso · CC BY 3.0Lyutibrod

Cherepish Monastery

Черепишки манастир

A serene monastery wedged between forested cliffs and the Iskar River in a dramatic gorge.

Read the guide
Екопътека Боров камъкI-Vaylo · CC BY-SA 3.0Zgorigrad

Borov Kamak eco-trail

Екопътека Боров камък

A wooden-bridge trail follows a mountain stream to a tall waterfall above Zgorigrad.

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Искърски проломRaina Kamenova-Rorie · CC BY-SA 4.0Mezdra–Lakatnik railway corridor

Iskar Gorge

Искърски пролом

The Iskar cuts through the Balkan Mountains between limestone walls, railway tunnels, villages and monasteries.

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Скалният феномен РитлитеVassia Atanassova - Spiritia · CC BY-SA 3.0Lyutibrod

Ritlite rock formation

Скалният феномен Ритлите

Four narrow limestone walls rise like cart sides above the Iskar near medieval remains and the historic Rashov Dol area.

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Връх ОколчицаMartintzvetomirov · CC BY-SA 4.0Vratsa Balkan above Chelopek

Okolchitsa Peak

Връх Околчица

A high cross and open ridge commemorate Hristo Botev's detachment amid broad views over the western Balkan foothills.

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Photo awaiting verificationСнимката предстои да бъде проверенаFoto wird noch geprüftPhoto en attente de vérificationFoto pendiente de verificaciónFoto in attesa di verificaFotografia a aguardar verificaçãoFoto wacht op controleZdjęcie oczekuje na weryfikacjęFotografie čeká na ověřeníFotografie în curs de verificareΗ φωτογραφία αναμένει επαλήθευσηFotoğraf doğrulama bekliyorФотография ожидает проверкиФотографія очікує на перевіркуФотографија чека проверуFotografija čeka provjeruA fénykép ellenőrzésre várالصورة بانتظار التحققהתמונה ממתינה לבדיקהफ़ोटो का सत्यापन बाकी है照片待核实Zimevitsa and Iskrets

Ponora karst area

Карстова местност Понора

Sinkholes, dry valleys, springs and caves create one of the most characteristic karst landscapes west of the Iskar Gorge.

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03

City, town or village

04

Municipalities

05

Directions

Public transport

Buses and trains

Vratsa and Mezdra are on the rail network and have buses from Sofia. Village and trailhead services are much thinner.

Bulgarian food

Local food

Local food →

Vratsa-style banitsa · lamb dishes · mountain honey · local wine

BanitsaBiso / Wikimedia Commons
Breakfast · pastry

Banitsa

Crisp filo layers wrapped around eggs, yogurt and white cheese—a warm Bulgarian breakfast staple.

What's in it Filo pastry, eggs, yogurt, sirene cheese and butter or oil.
Shopska saladViktorija N. Ivanov / Wikimedia Commons
Salad · vegetarian

Shopska salad

The classic first order: tomatoes, cucumber and peppers under a generous snowy layer of white brined cheese.

What's in it Tomatoes, cucumber, roasted or fresh pepper, onion, parsley and sirene cheese.
TaratorSumit Surai / Wikimedia Commons
Cold soup · vegetarian

Tarator

A cooling yogurt and cucumber soup served cold—simple, fresh and especially popular in summer.

What's in it Yogurt, cucumber, garlic, dill, walnuts, water and a little oil.
KavarmaJeroen Kransen / Wikimedia Commons
Slow-cooked main

Kavarma

Rich meat and vegetables slowly cooked with paprika and savory, often arriving sizzling in a clay pot.

What's in it Pork or chicken, onion, peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms and spices.
KebapcheBiso / Wikimedia Commons
Grill · street favorite

Kebapche

Seasoned minced meat shaped into long rolls and grilled over high heat for a smoky crust.

What's in it Minced pork or mixed meat, cumin, black pepper and salt.
SarmiBiso / Wikimedia Commons
Home cooking · seasonal

Sarmi

Small vine or cabbage leaves wrapped around a savory rice filling, with or without minced meat.

What's in it Vine or cabbage leaves, rice, onion, herbs and optionally minced meat.
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Public transport

Враца

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