The Rocks of Lakatnik

Lakatnik is situated in the Iskar Gorge of the Stara Planina mountain, about 50 km away from Sofia down the railway section connecting Sofia and Mezdra. It is located at an altitude of about 400 m. Tourists and mountain climbers call the steep, almost vertical rock massifs of Lakatnik “Lakatnishki Rocks”. Besides mountain climbers, Lakatnik is also a very popular place among cave fans. The lime here is cut by many caves, entrances and galleries. The most famous one is the cave Temnata Dupka (The Dark Hole), with total length of the galleries of about 1750 m. There is an underground river beneath it. Its waters come to the surface in the form of a swift-flowing carst spring, which goes into an artificial lake. The canyon of the Petrenitza river is extremely beautiful. Temnata Dupka is not adapted for mass visits, although it is often visited by tourists.