Belogradchik is picturesquely spread over the western part of the Balkan Range, at 545 m above the sea level. Well laid out, and welcoming, Belogradchik is one of the most attractive national tourism sites of Bulgaria. The unique nature and rich history make it one of the most interesting and desirable tourist attractions.

Lots of amaizing karst forms
The region is studded with lots of underground and ground karst forms - caves, vertical slopes etc. More than 100 caves have been discovered and completely or partially explored in the Belogradchik region so far. Most of them are rich in beautiful secondary formations - stalactites, stalagmites, stalagtons, cave pearls, “cave milk”. The precipices are a challenge for the devoted admirers. The water caves are of special interest. Great parts of them have not been properly studied.

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Magura Cave - the “Pearl in the Crown”
The so called “Pearl in the Crown” is the Magura Cave. It is near the village of Rabisha, 25km northwest of the town of Belogradchik. The cave is hollowed out in the Rabisha hill (461m above sea level). It is a small monocline, which is part of the Belogradchik anticline. The cave formation started 15 million years ago. The Torton River hollowed out in the limestone strata impressive halls and galleries.The total length of the galleries, discovered up to now, exceeds 2,000 m. There is a good asphalt road to the Magura Cave. It is one of the first well laid out caves in Bulgaria -with lighting, paths, and safeguard fittings. The cave and its surrounding area have been declared a National Tourist Sight.

The Rabisha Lake
Next to the Magura Cave is the Rabisha Lake - the largest inland lake in Bulgaria. It is up to 35-40m deep. The Rabisha Lake is of tectonic origin. It offers perfect conditions for surfing and swimming. The lake is also an attractive place for hunting and fishing. Lake birds, carp and sheet-fish can be found in it.

The Belogradchik fortress - a historical and architectural monument
Another famous tourist site near Belogradchik is the Belogradchik Fortress. The Bulgarian architects Diakovich and Dobrouzki made the first hypothesis for the ancient building at the end of the 19th century. In the period between 100 - 300 AD, there was an ancient fortification built on the highest point of the rock massif. It used to guard the Roman road stretching north from Ratsiaria (on the Danube), passing through the Balkan Mountains and continuing south to Nis, Skopje and Rome. The road was used mainly for military purposes. Communication was established with smoke signals during the day, using giant fires by night and, when there was fog, by pounding giant drums. 150 meter deep pits surrounded the fortification and the only access to it at that time was a 25-meter ladder cut directly into the rock.

Amazing Forms
The fortress amazes us not only with its history but also with its aesthetics. The castle walls are decorated with columns, niches and reliefs with stylized images of plants and animals. The arches of the entrances are decorated with a combination of red and white rocks. (The text about the Belogradchik fortress is by Marusia Todorova, historian.)