Rzhana Mountain

The Rzhana Mountain is a small separate ridge of Western Balkan Mountains. The Iskar gorge separates it from the Vratsa mountain, and the rivers Gabrovnitsa and Milkovitsa – from Golema Planina (Big Mountain) and Mourgash. Once, in Roman times, the very important road connecting the Danubian Plain and the Sofia kettle passed through it. One of the most famous sights in the Balkan Mountains is situated here – the Osenovlaski monastery Saint Holy Mother, also known as the Seven Thrones Monastery because of the seven chapels of the monastery church. The story tells that seven boyars established seven settlements near the monastery. The legends connect the monastery with the name of Petar Delyan as well and his rebellion in 1040 against the Byzantine rule. The legend says that Petar Delyan ended his life here and was buried in the monastery church. Another story tells that the prominent Valchan Voyvoda lived in a nearby village. He left his herd and became a rebel. His band managed to seize huge wealth from the Ottomans and dug it somewhere in the Balkan. Even today nobody knows where the treasure lies.

Location