Berkovitza

The town of Berkovitza is situated at the Northern foot of Berkovski Balkan (Western Stara Planina). It is at 89 km North of Sofia and 25 km North of the Petrohan Pass. Berkovitza is an ancient settlement. There are remains of castle walls and churches and buildings dating back to IV century AD situated on the Kaleto Hill. The town is mentioned for the very first time in 1491. Craftsmanship develops during the Ottoman rule – mainly woodworking and pottery. Famous monuments of culture are the Ivan Vazov’s house, which itself represent fabulous building with extraordinary inner architecture. The clock tower has remarkable size and very beautiful upper part. The mechanism was built in 1762 and is one of the oldest in Bulgaria. The Northern slopes of Berkovski Balkan are famous for their branchy chestnut forests, which are among the few natural ones in the country. Kaleto is a woody, 515 m high, hill in the Northwestern part of the town. It is a natural forest park and protects Berkovitza from the Northern winds. The remains of the Roman fortress lie there. The Ashkilar Region is a romantic side, very suitable for recreation in the open air. Berkovitza is a starting point for many eco-routes to the Stara Planina Mountain.