Vrattsata Gorge

Vrattsata is a narrow and rocky gorge, situated on the Northeast side of Vrachanska Mountain, Western Stara Planina. Vrattsata is of great interest to all local people and tourists for years. The gorge is situated only half a kilometer away from the city of Vratsa itself and is an attractive place for everybody who enjoys nature, tourists as well as alpinists. In the region of Natural Sight Vrattsata one can find the remains of a preserved Medieval fortress Vratitsa (IX-XIV century). The old fortifications have been built there, while the steep mountain slopes have been a natural gate to the Medieval village along the Leva River. It was 200 meters long and 1 meter wide. This is why the fortress Valve (lat. a two-leaved door), pointed out by Procopius Kesariyski (Procopius of Caesarea) is localized with the fortification at Vrattsata. Its purpose was to block the way of the Slavonic hordes through the gorge to Serdika and the Southwest parts of the Balkans Peninsula.

Location