Situated in the foothills of the Vrachanska Mountains, with the river Leva calmly crossing the town and creepy rocks, hanging above, Vratza is one of the most picturesque cities in Bulgaria. The town of Vratza (69 423 inhabitants, 380 m above sea level) is situated 116 km north of Sofia, 41 km south-east of Montana, 80 km and 74 km south of Kozlodoui and Oryahovo, respectively, 57 km and 17 km north-west of Botevgrad and Mezdra, respectively. Vratza is the largest town in Northwestern Bulgaria. Its nature, history and culture form a unique combination. It is a regional administrative centre.

     History

     There are several views concerning the origin of the population in our lands in the Bronze and the Iron Age. The most plausible one, is that the Thracians, who were one of the most numerous Indoeuropean people in ancient times, inhabited the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. It it still uncertain who were the oldest Thracian tribes that inhabited the territory of nowadays Vratza and the adjoining districts since these tribes were constantly moving and fighting with each other. Some such articles were already recovered in the region of Vratza, among which a bronze axe dug up near the village of Zgorigrad and a bronze axe, found near the Leva River in 1970.
     Several decades prior to the Ottoman invasion on the Balkan Peninsula, the Bulgarian state was divided into three "tzarstva"(kingdoms) that easily fell victim to the Ottomans. It is known that in the years following the division of the Bulgarian state the town of Vratisa was part of the Turnovo kingdom and stood on its border with the Vidin kingdom. The scanty evidence testifying to the struggles of the Vratisa people against the Ottoman oppressors is largely legendary. That makes it hard to a certain the exact year when the Ottomans tore down the town and subjected its population to a yoke that lasted almost five centuries. The deposition of a regular Turkish army in Vratza coincided with the arrival of a report saying that a cheta (military detachment) was being formed in Rumania and it was to make its way to Vratza. Soon after that a letter came to Vratza, written by the immigrants D.Todorov and M.Tsvetkov and it informed the conspirators that the cheta (band) was led by Hristo Botev and the town should rise in revolt on the day of its passing through. On 20th May (1st June, new style) 1876 the cheta reached the Vratza mountains and engaged in battle with the numerous enemy. At nightfall the commanding staff held a meeting under the Kamarata Highs. Just when Hristo Botev rose to speak a shot came - the voivode, who was also a poet genius and a revolutionary, was mortally wounded. The days following 20th May were days of celebration for the Turks. They drove around town the impaled heads of insurgents and members of Botev's cheta.

     Landmarks

     The Town Museum of History is famous for its extremely valuable golden Thracian treasuries, its original samples of the well-known Vratza goldsmith school and numerous exhibits and a lot of information about the life and last days of the poet and revolutionary Hristo Botev. There is an impressive monument of the poet in the central town square named after him.
     Great interest rouses the Ethnographic Complex of the Bulgarian National Revival, named after the prominent patriot, St. Sophronii, bishop of Vratza. Here, on a vast area, in the natural town's surroundings, are situated the Ascension Church, a school and beautiful houses of the Bulgarian National Revival period - historical and architectural monuments of culture. A great variety of objects, typical of the traditional way of life, customs and occupation of Vratza people are displayed here: sericulture, goldsmith's trade, pottery making, wine producing and phaeton making. These crafts are the town's pride and they definitely fix its place among the first cities having laid the basis for capitalist manufacturing inter-relations.
     The tower of the Meschii is located very close to the north east from the main square of Vratza. Its large compact volume and its shape make it an attraction for most tourists. It occupies three times the area that the Kurtpashova tower does, it is twice its height and it has some definite defensive features. Its shape is that of a regular prism, it is built with rocks and is 13 meters (about 40ft) high. In the end of the 19th century it was made into a town clock. The base floor was used for storage, and the upper 3 floors were used for housing. It is believed that the tower was built in the 16th century.
     Kurtpashova tower is located in the natural park "Vrachanski Balkan" in the western part of the main town square of Vratza. It is close to the Historical Museum, The Arts Gallery and the Drama theater. Its original and interesting shape gives the impression that it is being an ancient fortress, in spite of its relatively small size. It is one of several similar towers that were present during the Turkish rule of the area. It was originally a secured home of a local feudal land owner. It was built during the 17th century, but its elements and the way it was built show influence by the Bulgarian manner of building forts and towers during the 16th century. The Romans immediately assessed the geographical and strategic location of the lands around the defile and turned them into an impregnable stronghold which, in fact, controlled, the shortest way southwards and westwards from the Danube, as well as to the rich ore deposits, situated, high in the mountains, Over the ruins of the fortress the Slavs` built up a settlement, which they called "Vratitza" - a citadel that played a very important role during the Second Bulgarian Kingdom.
     The "Saint Apostles" Cathedral - The mural paintings are very well done. The figured compositions are done in a Christian orthodox-Byzantium style and the colour combinations make up a fine nuance that brings sentiments of the past. Two of these compositions are the paintings depicting the saint Apostles, St. Paisii Hilendarski and St. Sofronii Vratchanski, the archbishop of Vratza. In the spring of 1989 there was a uniquely special celebration in honour and memory of Sofronii Vratchanski and the 250 anniversary of his birth. Participants were the main prelates of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, prelates of orthodox churches abroad and numerous foreign guests.
     Metropolitan church "St. Nikolai" - The church was built at the place of an older church and with permission from the sultan. He issued a firman on December 6th in 1858; the building process started in 1965 and ended on July 21st, 1867.
     There are no records about the church's sanctification, but it probably happened immediately after the building was finished. In 1874 new icons were given to the church, their painter was Stanislav Dospevski. In 1887 a new iconostasis was installed, its author was Anton G. Stanishev from Debar - Macedonia.
     The mural paintings depict the saints Cyril and Methodius, St. King Boris and Reverend Paraskeva. The painting on the dome's ceiling is of God, and beneath are the 4 evangelists. The 8 wall church bell tower was built in the year 1908 and is still there today. A one room narthex was added at the north entrance in 1930 and later it was modified to become a chapel. In the year 2000 the church was reconstructed, fixed and repainted under the "Beautiful Bulgaria" project. In it are the relics of the prelate of Vratza from the time of Vratza's liberation from Ottoman rule. That's why it is called a Metropolitan church.

     Surrounding areas

     Major attraction is The national park "Vrachanski Balkan" which includes the biggest part of Vrachanska Planina in order to preserve it's unique speleologicl aphenomenon. This is the most cave - rich area around the country - more than 500 caves and Karst precipices. On the park's territory occurs one of the most beautiful Bulgarian caves - "Ledenika", proclaimed for Natural sight and tourist object with international importance. The cave impress with great sizes, and during the winter grabs the visitor with it's fine ice decoration, where from come it's name. The first chamber is the Predverieto (Antechamber). It's the lowest part of the cave. In winter and spring this chamber is enchanting with it's crystal icicle decoration. That gave the name of the cave. For several metres a man should lower down while moving in the pass Plaznyata (Sliding) to reach the Little Hall, which is round-shaped. There is another narrowing after that and you enter the Big Hall called the Concert Chamber. Everything is majestic and unique. You can see the Crocodile, the Giant's Head, the Falcon, Father Christmas with the sack full of presents, the house of the Witch Yaga and many others. If we go on the right, we could reach the little Sinter Lake. It's depth is 0,50 centimetres and it is believed that it's water is magical. From the Big Chamber, going along metal bridges we pass over the Little and the Big Chasms, through the corridor Zaveskite (the Draperies) and we come to the beautiful White Chamber. Here we can see the Mother-in-law's tongue, the Wife of the Giant, the Elephant, the Bathing Girl and other figures.
     The highest point of the Ledenika cave is called the Seventh Sky and it is within the capacity of the most ambitious tourists. The Ledenika cave was opened for the first time in 1961. In 1962 it was proclaimed for a natural landmark. The temperature in the cave varies from -7° C to -15° C (in winter in the Antechamber) and to 8° C in the inner parts. The moisture of the air is 92%. The animal variety can not be rich in these conditions: bats, cave beetles, wood lice, little spiders.
     The most resourceful and large, from any point of view, place for Rock climbing in Bulgaria is the Vratza area - called "Vratzata". National and international alpine-style climbing competitions are held there. It has an imposing vertical wall (over 400 m tall), where more than 116 alpine tracks of Level 4 difficulty are traced.
     Nearby is located The Vrachansky Karst - first category scientific and natural reserve - including beautiful rocky forms of the Vratza Mountain.
     Worthy seeing as well are The Gods Bridges - a natural rocky bridge and the karsts spring in the Liliache village region; The Borovanska mogila - an ancient Thracian fortress; The Botev pat memorial; and The highest waterfall Skaklia - height 141 meters.
     The existing mountains and forests are suitable for the development of different tourism types - hunting and fishing, skiing, spelaeological, delta-gliding, photo-tourism, etc.
     Good opportunities exist for exercising different sport activities such as mountaineering, bicycle sport and for those who enjoy being thrilled can go for delta and paraplaner, or set out for carting, buggy and motocross racing tracks.
     Excellent conditions are provided for rest and entertainment - children's and adults` pools, water cycles, discos, bars, restaurants, excellent hotel facilities and good service.
     Hristo Botev National Park in the area of Okolchitsa (located about 20 kilometres south-east of the town, in the very heart of Vrachanski Balkan). In the beginning of June 1876 this place witnessed the last drama that put an end to the heroic epic of the detachment of Hristo Botev. The detachments's voivoda (leader), as well as the majority of his men, were killed and the rest of them were either caught or scattered in the Balkan. The heart of one of the greatest and most ingenious Bulgarians, who left to the generations the example of his heroic life, his unsurpassed political journalism and some 20 poems, which are a majestic peak in Bulgarian poetry, ceased beating. And he was just 28 years old... In 1937-1938 a 35-metre monument with a volunteer's crest was erected at Mt. Okolchitsa (it can be seen from a long distance far away in the plain and the mountain) to honour the heroism of Botev and his detachment forever. In the valley of Yolkovitsa, on a natural crag the place of death of the poet and revolutionary is marked. Each year on 2nd June the area hosts national celebrations in honour of Botev and all those who fought and gave their lives for Bulgarian freedom. All participants in the national tourist march along the Botev's trail from the Kozlodoui bank on the Danube River arrive on the day before the celebrations and a large campus town is erected. Besides the Botev's trail, this is the final destination of many other marked hiking tracks.

     Transport

     Vratza connects to the villages and town within the region and throughout the country by bus and railway transport. There are regular bus lines to Sofia, Montana, Kozlodoui, Oryahovo, Mezdra (at short intervals), as well as to the smaller villages, scattered around the town. The bus station is located on the way between the railway station and the centre of the town. Vratza is an important railway station along the railway route Mezdra - Boichinovtsi - Broussartsi - Vidin (Lom). The town connects to the national railway network through the railway station of Mezdra. The railway station is located in the northeastern part of the town. There is regular bus transport within the town.