The town of Berkovitsa is situated on the northern slope of the Berkovska Stara Planina Mountain (part of the Balkan Range) along the valley of the Berkovitsa River, at an altitude of 405 m. The largest part of the area is a hilly mountain terrain, very often cut through by ravines. The lowest point above sea level is in the village of Borovtsi - 250 metres, and the highest point is the Kom Peak - 2016 metres. The neighbouring municipalities are Montana, Varshets, Godech, Vratsa and Georgi Damyanovo. The town of Berkovitsa is at a distance of 89 km to the north of Sofia, 24 km to the south of Montana, 53 km to the west of Vratsa and 25 km to the north of Petrohan Pass.With the beauty of its virgin nature, the Berkovska Mountain is a wonderful tourist site. The mild climate and the mineral waters make it suitable for rest and recuperation. The Kom Tourist Complex is 15 km away form the town and 12 km away from the Petrohan Pass. The snow cover lasts five months a year and offers good conditions for winter tourism. There are two skin runs surrounded by the age-old trees of Gornata Koriya Reserve and served by tow-lifts. The area below the Kom Summit offers opportunities for driving tourism hang gliding. It is the starting point for many tourist routes - Kom-Emine, International Walking Route E-3 from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, Kom-Belogradchik, etc.

     History

     Berkovitsa is an old settlement. This is confirmed by the remains of a fortress and a church from 4th century on the Kaleto Hill, situated to the north west of the town. The settlement is known from the reign of Tsar Kaloyan (the beginning of 13th century) as well and in the time of the Vidin Kingdom (the second half of 14th century) it is a border fortress. Berkovitsa is mentioned in written form for the first time in a Turkish document dated 1491. During the Turkish rule it developed as a crafts settlement - mainly in wood-processing and pottery. A great number of refugees from other parts of the country settled here. The inhabitants of Berkovitsa many times have raised their heads against the Ottomans. In 1403 they took part in the uprising of Konstantin and Fruzhin, in 1688 - in the Chiprovtsi Uprising, in 1836 - in the uprising under the leadership of Mancho Punin as well as in the uprising in 1837. After the Liberation in 1878 the town declined, because it remained away from the railway line passing through the Iskar Gorge, thus losing markets in the Ottoman Empire for its crafts goods. The national poet Ivan Vazov worked for a certain time in Berkovitsa as a chairman of the court.

     Landmarks:

     The Clock Tower - It was built during the period of 1762 -1764. The tower is the most distinctive architectural monument in the centre of Berkovitsa and it has been the town's symbol. Even today the tower keeps on counting the time with the clang of its copper bell.
     "Ivan Vazov" House-Museum - This is an interesting monument with an unique Bulgarian architectural tradition. It is characterized by beautiful engraved ceilings, which are pieces of work mastered by Bulgarian craftsmen. Besides its ceiling the House-Museum is famous for its authentic means of heating. The House was built during the 19th century. During 1879 -1880 Ivan Vazov - a famous Bulgarian author of poetry and prose lived there. He wrote also the first Bulgarian novel. In 1940 the House was declared as a national cultural monument.
     Sarbinska House - This is a typical one-story house from the Renaissance with an authentic balcony looking south. The house was built during the 19th century. It is characterized by fascinating door and cupboard woodcarving. Since 1992 an ethnographic exhibition has been held there. You can see some national cloths, carpets, some small things which were used by our old grossmothers and grossfathers.
     "Birth Of The God Mother" Church - The Church is a contemporary of the Bulgarian Renaissance, a center if men's and girl's schools, as well as a spiritual source for the people of Berkovitsa. The church was reconstructed in 1843. The icon stills are skillfully made by the woodcarving master from Samokov - Stoycho Fandakov and the icons are painted by Dimitar Zograff.
     "St. Nikolai Chudotvorets" Church - The temple was built by Georgy Dzhongar in 1871. Later the building went through a couple more reconstruction periods, which improved its architectural forms. It is assumed that the icon still, the bishop's stall and the pulpit are made by Dimitar Fandakov, and the icons are painted by Konstantin Angelov and Daniel Shtipliata.
     Antique and Medieval Fortress "Kaleto" is used to be the headquarters of diocese in Christian Byzantium. That is why in one of the two basilicas there is a synthrone for the priests and a throne for the bishop. "Kaleto" stands up immediately atop the town. It is a place for relaxation and a glance in every destination.
     "Krasteva" House was built during the middle of 19th century. It is characterized by the typical Bulgarian Renaissance architecture. There is a balcony on the south side of the house. In 1986 the house has been entirely reconstructed keeping the unique architectural style. Today the house functions as a restaurant-club.

     Surrounding areas

     The northern slopes of the Berkovski Balkan at the foot of which Berkovitsa is situated are famous for their chestnut woods - one of the two natural finds of tame (mordant) chestnut in Bulgaria (the other one is in Belasitsa Mountain, above the town of Petrich). Berkovitsa is a main point of departure along marked tourist tracks through the Berkovski Balkan (refer to the Stara Planina Mountain related chapter herein). Kaleto - a woody hill (515 m) to the northwest near the town. It is a natural forest-park and a protector of Berkovitsa from wind. Here are the remains of Roman and medieval Bulgarian fortresses built in three belts in terraces. Of interest are the two late antique Christian churches that date back to 4th-5th century. The Ashiklar Area (the valley of the singers in love) is a romantic neighborhood to the south of the town, spreading out to the chestnut woods. A favorite place for recreation in natural environment.
     Vurshets Resort (18 km to the southeast) is a balneological centre of national importance and is the biggest in Northeastern Bulgaria. It is nestled in a small valley, surrounded to the south by the main ridge of Stara Planina and to the east by the Vratsa Balkan. Since 1860 its thermal waters (temperature from 32.6° to 36.4°_) are used for healing rheumatic, cardiovascular, gastric-intestinal, nerve and other diseases. There is a great number of sanatoriums, holiday houses, villas. The resort is a point of departure of marked tourist tracks in the Vratsa Balkan - to the Byalata Voda Chalet (1.30 hours along a blazed track and 7 km asphalt road), to Parshevitsa Chalet (about 8 hours on foot), and to Proboinitsa Chalet (4.30-5 hours on foot). There is a regular bus transport between Varshets and Berkovitsa.
     The Klissoura Monastery "St. St. Ciril and Metodius" (about 10 km to the south east of Berkovitsa and 12 km to the west of Varshets) was founded in 1240. It was many times burned and restored in times of the Ottoman Rule it remained a real fortress of Bulgarian national spirit in this region. It has a striking outlook. The walls are not painted. One is attracted by the beautiful wood-carvings of the iconostasis, made by Stoicho Fandakov from Samokov and the marvellous icons of the famous icon-painter Nikola Obrazopisov. One can spend the night there against minimal payment.
     The village of Burzia - 6 km to the south of Berkovitsa. Mountain and balneological resort of local importance. All buses going through the Petrohan Pass stop there.
     Petrohan Pass (1444 m above sea level, 25 km to the south of Berkovitsa) is on the Stara Planina ridge and is a boundary between the Berkovski Balkan (to the west) and Koznitsa and Ponor (to the east). This is the road from Sofia to Berkovitsa, Varshets, Montana, Lom, Vidin. It received its name after the Petrov's Inn, which had many years served those who passed by it (it is not preserved). There is a motel-restaurant, gas-station and a chalet (Petrohanski Prohod Chalet) and another big Chalet (Petrohan Chalet) to the east 30 min on foot. A point of departure for tourist routes along the ridge of the Balkan - to the west: Mt. Kom (2016 m, about 3 hours), the new Kom Chalet (3.30 hours), the old Kom Chalet (3.00 hours), the town of Berkovitsa (about 6 hours) and to the east (except to the Petrohan Chalet): to Mt. Todorini Kukli (about 2.30 hours), Proboinitsa Chalet (5-6 hours), Lakatnik railway station (7-8 hours), etc. All buses going through the Petrohan Pass stop ther. The Haidoushki Waterfall is situated 9 km to the southwest from Berkovitsa in the lovely valley of Goliama Reka where the water goes down with roar on the two falls. The neighborhood district is very beautiful. One can walk to the waterfall in 1.30-2 hours.

     Transport

     Transport- Auto and rail transport connect Bercovitsa with the rest of the world. There are regular bus lines to Sofia, Montana, Lom, Varshec and many others small towns in the region.The northern slopes of Berkovski Balkan are famous for its chestnut forests- one of the few natural fields for chestnuts in Bulgaria. The town is a starting position for marked tourism routes in the Berkovski Balkan range.

     The Municipality of Berkovitsa has a project for its development and Its turning into a tourist destination

     The project includes the construction of an attractive complex for relaxation in the region of "Kom" peak. By the realization of the project, a tradition in the resort activities, spa centres, sports and tourism will be regenerated in the Municipality. For all who are fond of winter sports and tourism there will be a wonderful ski track with the needed facilities to it, as well as a tourist complex. The prerequisites for such a project are the local natural resources. There are ski tracks of good quality - an alpine one and one for ski-running. There is a ski trailer available as well. There are enough qualified cadres and personnel. The infrastructure of the area is favourable for this kind of a project. There is a convenient road connection to all parts of the country. Except for that there are unique natural riches and conditions for this purpose.
     The expected investments which should be made for the realization of the project are at the amount of 3 118 000 BGN. But its fulfillment will definitely contribute to the development of the region and to the attraction of local and foreign investors. The project will lead to improvement in the infrastructure and rational usage of the resources.
     For the fulfillment of this task, the Municipality of Berkovitsa is already making some improvements, such as modernization of the material technical base, renovation of the road network, renovation of the water-supply system for the region of Kom, purchasing of equipment for renovation and maintenance of the ski tracks, etc.
     With the realization of this project, the Municipality of Berkovitsa will become an attractive place for spa and balneology treatment, relaxation, sport and tourism with developed social and night life and it will be attractive either for local and foreign tourists.