Bulgarian lands preserve remnants of a millennia-long history—of ancient civilizations, battles and invasions, the spiritual quests of our ancestors, and the deeds of great heroes. Often, however, these traces of the past remain hidden—tucked away in the depths of the mountains, far from the usual tourist routes. In her new book, Eli Ivanova—author of the blog “Paths in Words” and the travel guide “52 Eco-Trails for Everyone” — she highlights a number of little-known, incredibly beautiful places and routes connected to the history of our lands.

This is not a guide to Bulgaria’s most famous historical landmarks. It is a journey through magical places where history and the beauty of nature blend in harmony. Places that have inspired historical figures and preserved history within themselves. Places of glorious battles and heroic resistance; places shrouded in legend. Places where our ancient ancestors sensed the divine, and places where people still seek God today.

Eli Ivanova travels through fortresses and ruins, medieval churches and ancient sanctuaries, past prehistoric caves that sheltered the first people in these lands, and along paths once trodden by our revolutionaries, poets, and kings. And on her way to these places, she also takes in the timeless beauty of Bulgarian nature—the waterfalls and cliffs, the breathtaking views, the lush meadows, the clear, cold springs, the secluded sea coves, and the hidden forest trails.

As in her previous books, Eli Ivanova offers travelers useful advice, precise coordinates, and information on the accessibility and difficulty of the routes.

Contents:

The Rhodopes:

1. The Kalyata Fortress near Yakoruda in the picturesque Mesta Valley
2. Alabashka Meadow and Milevi Rocks: In Search of the View
3. The Impenetrable Fortress of Tsepina: The Domains of Despot Slav
4. The Sitovo Waterfall, the Mysterious Inscription, and the Thracian City of Shudgrad
5. An ancient rock sanctuary near the village of Nebeska
6. The Thracian Fortress and Sanctuary of Asar Kaya near the village of Zhenda
7. The Kara In Rock Tomb in the White Rock near Pchelari
8. The Rodostitsa Fortress in Baluk Dere: Hidden, Unknown, Mysterious

Rila and Pirin:

1. Climbing Mount Mechit in the Rila Mountains—Following Ferdinand’s Trail
2. Shishmanovo Kale Fortress: The Predecessor of Today’s Samokov
3. The St. Mina Rock-Sanctuary Complex near the village of Mechkul
4. St. Marina Shrine near the village of Senokos
5. Popovo Lake, the largest and deepest lake in the Pirin Mountains

The Stara Planina Mountains and the Pre-Balkan Region:

1. The Razboishki Monastery on Both Banks of the Nishava River
2. The Bench with the Platform Above Godech
3. The Heart: Another Wonderful Panoramic Spot Above Godech
4. Malomalski Monastery in the Chepan Mountains
5. Grado Peak in the Ponor Mountains
6. The Haidushki Waterfalls near Berkovitsa
7. The Cave with the Tree and the Gradishte Fortress near the village of Botunya
8. Vazov’s House near Bov: A Place of Inspiration from Days Gone By
9. The White Rocks Nature Trail to Lyutibrod
10. The Pešta Rock Sanctuary near the village of Oslen, Krivodol
11. The Vodnata Pech Cave near the village of Lipnitsa
12. Battenberg Alley and the Bukhovski Monastery of St. Michael the Archangel
13. Gyaur Bair near the village of Vrabevo: a view you’ll never forget
14. The Krusta Nature Trail in Apriltsi: A Journey Through the Town’s History with a View of the Balkans
15. Futova Cave and Futov Göl, Devetashko Plateau
16. The Fortress of Grad near the village of Kramolin
17. The “Twisted Wall” Nature Trail—Hike Across the Strazhata Plateau
18. The Nature Trail Near the Village of Iglika: For People of All Ages
19. “Roman Road” Nature Trail from Bozhentsi to the village of Iztochnik
20. The Kipilovsko Kale Fortress in the dense forests of the Kotlen Balkan

Vitosha and Plana:

1. The “Living Water” Spring Near the Village of Bosnek
2. Manastirishte Peak: A Reminder of the Former Zheleznishki Monastery
3. Alinski Monastery and Alinska Fortress

Sredna Gora:

1. The Monastery of Saints Peter and Paul in Dolno Pasare and the Revulia Fortress
2. Spasova Mound: With Hope for Healing
3. Krasen Fortress: An Important Link Between the North and the South
4. Bansko Fortress: Another Link in the Sredna Gora Fortification System
5. The Virgin Mary’s Footprint: A Holy Site and Area Near Stara Zagora

Danube Plain:

1. Kale Shirokovo: an impressive structure that has withstood the test of time and invasions
2. A rock-hewn church near the village of Tabachka
3. Route from the village of Tabachka to the Water Cave
4. Nature Trail from Ovech to Shashknite above Provadia

Sakar and Strandzha:

1. The Bukelon Fortress in the village of Matochina in the Sakar Mountains
2. From Beglik Tash to St. Paraskeva Bay
3. Kastrich Bay between Sinemorets and Rezovo

End:

1. The Cave Monastery of St. Nicholas of Myra, not far from Zemen
2. From the Gigin Monastery to Tumba Peak
3. From the Ruen Monastery to Boboshevski Peak, Ruen
4. The village of Vukovo: two churches with a history spanning nearly five centuries