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Legend:
 sport,  boulder,  DWS,  alpine/traditionnal,  ice
Vitosha is the most visited Bulgarian Mountain. It rises immediately above Sofia and is one of the symbols of our capital. Vitosha Mountain is the most significant part of the Plana-Zavala Mountain system. With its highest peak - Cherni Vrah (2290 m.) it occupies the fourth place among the Bulgarian moun- tains. Vitosha is the cradle of hiking tourism in Bulgaria.
Clockwise, the borders of the mountain are as follows: to the North and Northeast - the Sofia Plain, to the West - the Egulo-Palakari Saddle (1195 m) separates the mountain from the Plana Mountain; to the South it reaches to the Samokov Plain, and the Buka Preslav Saddle (1090m) separates it from Verila, the next to the west is the Pernik Plain, and to the north- west the border with the Lyulin Mountain passes through the Vladaya Saddle (860m above sea level). Vitosha has an area of 278 sq. km - 18 and 20 km in length and width. In spite of its expressly compact nature, the mountain is conditionally divided into 4 main ranges - Northern, Eastern, southwestern and northwestern. The slopes of the Northern range descend steeply to the Sofia plain above which dominates the Kamen Del Peak (1862 m) after which this range is also called the "Kamendel range".
In its turn it is divided into four parts: Vladaya (without expressed peaks, but one of the most popular tourist sites - Zlatnite mostove is located here), Knyazhevo (here the highest peak of the sector is Lavcheto - 2052 m, as well as the peaks - Sredetz (1969m), Chernata Skala (1869m), Kopitoto (1348m with the TV- tower), Dragalevtsi -with the two-headed al- pine peak - Kominite (1620), Ushite (1960), Kamen Del and others) and Simeonovo. There is a Gondola lift to the Aleko challet. The Eastern part, also called Kupenski, borders the Plana Mountain.
Some of the highest and well known peaks are here - Golyam Rezen (2277 m - the second after the Cherni Vruh), Malak Rezen (2191 m), the interesting Golyam Kupen (1930). The eastern edges of the Rezen peaks are particularly expressive - they offer a site for Alpine rock climbing. Under this crown of peaks spreads the reserve "Bistrishko branishte". The well-known Vitosha resort and ski centre Aleko is located in the Eastern part as well. The southwestern range is the largest but least visited in the mountain. It borders the Verila Mountain. It is subdivided into three parts - the Vetren part is the most Eastward with the high peaks Skoparnik (2226 m), Kupena (2195), Siva Gramada (2003); The middle part - Petruska which is the lowest with its peak Petrus (1454); and to the West end is the Bosneshka part with its flat, and low watershed, where the highest peak is Krasta (1561 m); the longest cave in Bulgaria - Duhlata is located here as well as the interesting Karst water spring - Jivata voda.
The area of Aleko chalets Besides on foot, from the villages and quarters mentioned above one can reach Aleko by car - 16 km on a road starting from quarter Dragalevtsi, or by regular bus line No 66 starting from quarter HIadilnika; by chair-lift "Bai Krustyo-Goli Vrah, whose first station is above Dragalevtzi and can be reached with bus line No93 starting in quarter HIadilnika, or bus K° 64 and then 20 minutes walk from the central square of Dragalevtsi; by a sophisticated cabin elevator Simeonovo, starting in the village of Simeonovo, to which one can take bus line 122 from HIadilnika and 123 from Durvenitsa. Zlatnite Mostove (Golden Bridges) is the other popular tourist centre, located at an altitude of 1400 m. above sea level in the Vladaya part of the Northern range of Vitosha.
There are signs showing all tracks, and occasionally - information boards. Besides on foot from Sofia quarters Knyajevo and Vladaya, to Zlatnite Mostove one can also drive along a 14 km road, starting in Sofia quarter Boyana. A city bus line No 61 and 261 is also available starting in Sofia quarter Ovcha Kupel (by Stadium Slavia). Geological characteristics Растителността на Витоша е твърде богата и разнообразна. В нископланинския пояс се простират смесени широколистни гори в които има разнообразни дървестни видове - летен и зимен дъб, благун, цер, габър, липа, дива череша, бреза, леска и др. По-нагоре е поясът на буковите гори, а над тях са иглолистните - смърч, бял бор, бяла мура, ела и клек. Твърде богата е и цветната украса на планината. Срещат се редки видове. Под закрилата на закона са поставени: витошко лале, петров кръст, алпийска незабравка, жълтата тинтява, росянката, жълтият планински крем, витошкият нарцис и др. Живата украса на планината, поради усиленото посещение, е чувствително намаляла. Но все пак разнообразие не липсва. Срещат се сърни, елени, диви свине, муфлони, мечки, лисици, лалугери, белки, златки, яребици, пойни птици и макар рядко - глухари. Изследователите изнасят данни за 200 вида пеперуди, 40 вида мравки, голямо разнообразие оттвърдокрили насекоми. От влечугите се срещат смокове, пепелянки и усойници. The rocks from climbing point of view На Витоша могат да се практикуват почти всички видове катерене (без DWS:-) - алпийско, традиционно, спортно, боулдър и ледено...
Алписко катерене се практикува главно на Резньовете, Комините и Боянския водопад.
Традиционно катерене - на Резньовете, Комините, Вълчата скала, Боянския водопад.
Спортно - на Комините.
Ледено - на Боянския водопад.
Болдъринг - в района на платото между Черни връх и Резньовете. На Витоша има още 2 боулдър масива. Единият е Златните мостове, който има добър потенциал (започна да се разработва през 2004г), защото е по ниско и дори при лошо време може да се посещава. Другия е добреизвестния ни Боянски камък.
Това е мястото на което ще се почувствате различни!!! Обикновено на останалите катерачни обекти няма много несвързани с катеренето хора, поради трудния достъп. Тук обаче катеренето се развива в ЦЕНТЪРА, даже бих казал на трапезата на класическия ТУРИСТ, който в най-общия си вид е човек (мъж или жена) над средната или клонящ към напредналата възраст, нямащ никакво отношение или познание за съвременните екстермни спортове. А повярвайте ми на Витоша ТУРИСТИТЕ са много ;-))). Тук ще се сблъскате по пътеката с хора, които обсъждат някой парапланерист като "Онуй, там с хвърчилката..." или ще бъдете често питани "Вие да не си носите тез матраци за спане?" (имат се предвид крешпадовете), а често ще се сблъсквате и с невежеството и неразбирането на злонамерени хора, които мислят, че катеренето по някакъв начин вреди на ТЯХНАТА планина. Не се спичайте, на Витоша има място за всички. Bouldering today. like there is no tomorrow!! The date 27 August 1895 is considered to be the beginning of the organized tourist movement in the country. After the invitation of the renowned writer and democrat Aleko Konstantinov 300 men and women then climbed Cherni Vrah - something incredible and unbelievable in those times. Since then thousands of hikers climb the peak every year on this day. Vitosha is a typical dome-like mountain - one of the few in Bulgaria. It has a slightly pro- longed profile from the northwest to the south- east. It consists primarily of granite rocks, but there are Karst rocks as well especially in the Southern part. A unique natural phenomenon are the so-called "stone rivers" (moreni) - piles of huge rounded granite stones on many of the river valleys reaching up to 2 km in length and 50 m in width. Especially expressive and beautiful are the "Moreni" in the area of Golden bridges (Zlatnite mostove). Similar phenomena can be seen in other Bulgarian mountains too, the Vitosha Moreni however being unique. They are the symbol of the mountain.
Since 1935 a meteorological station has been operating on Cherni Vrah, with many posts, mostly in the chalets.
There are a number of valuable historical monuments here, the most popular among them being the Boyana Church (1259), the frescos in which are the best of their kind in Europe retained from these early times. The church is included in the list of UNESCO of most valuable works of arts. It is open from 9 to 12 a.m. and from 1 to 5 p.m. with a lecture Tuesday through Saturday. Phone: 02/68 74 34. It is in the centre of Boyana (bus line W 64).
The Dragalevtzi Monastery was founded under the reign of King Ivan Alexander in the middle of the 14th century. During the Turkish yoke it was a centre of culture and dissent. Vassil Levski was often sheltered here and a secret revolutionary committee was established in the monastery in 1873. It is located 3 km. above the village of Dragalevtzi, on the road to Aleko. It is 30-40 min. walk from Dragalevtzi. It is open to visitors every day of the week.
Even though it is smaller in area than the other high mountains in Bulgaria, Vitosha has a lot of attractive advantages - high and beautiful peaks, thick woods, many tourist sites, sufficient snow fall ensuring stable snow cover, pure air, hundreds of kilometers of well marked tracks, numerous lodging places and restaurants, comparatively well preserved nature, clean potable water, wonderful ski facilities, rich history. Adding to all these closeness to the biggest city, which is the capital city of Bulgaria - this explains why is this mountain visited and loved so much.
Aleko is also the starting point for climbing the highest peak of Vitosha -Cherni Vrah. The steep climb, at a difference of altitude of approximately 500 m. typically takes 1,5 hrs., and for those who think it is difficult, there is an elevator to the peak Malak Rezen, from where they can proceed along a flat route and reach the dreamed peak in 30 min. only. All routes to the peak are marked by high metal pickets or pass by ski facilities, thus reducing to the maximum the possibility of one getting lost. Still it is not recommended to climb the peak in bad weather!
On the peak itself, besides the meteorological station and the base of the Mountain Rescue Brigade (phone: 02/967 11 28), there is a tourist station where one can find shelter in bad weather (no beds however). Tea and cold food are also offered. Marked hiking tracks start from Aleko: to Zlatnite Mostove (2-3 hrs., passing through the Plateau, chalet Bor, chalet Tintyava, Chalet Momina Skala, chalet Septemvri), to the student base Akademic (1.5-2 hrs.), to the village of Bistritza (1.5-2 hrs.), to Sofia quarter Simeonovo (1.5-2 hrs.), to quarter Dragalevtzi (1.5-2 hrs.).
There are two stations of the Mountain Rescue Brigade in the area of Zlatnite Mostove - near chalet Tintyava (phone: 02/ 957 47 03) and in the area called Ofeliite.
Another, smaller tourist centre is the Kopitoto (1350 m. above sea level). - in the Knyajevo part of the Northern range with a TV tower, newly built hotel-restaurant, shops, etc. The cabin elevator starting from Knyajevo reaches this place, bus line 62 from Ovcha Kupel is also available. It takes 1,5-2 hrs. walk from Knyajevo and about 1,5 hrs. from Boyana to reach the area. Marked tracks to Zlatnite Mostove start here (1 hr.).
Цанко Бангиев, "Алпийските стени в България", София, 1956 г. |
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(Text in bulgarian)