Belogradchik Rocks and Fortress

The Belogradchik Rocks consist of sandstone and conglomerate and reach heights of up to 200 m. Their colours range from red to yellow; the rusty tint comes from iron oxide dating from the Jurassic. The formations are divided into five groups and have names such as "the Madonna", "the Schoolgirl" and "the Bear". They have been a natural monument since 1949 and have been on UNESCO's Tentative List since 1984.

The fortress uses the rocks as natural protection. It was built in Roman times, extended under Tsar Ivan Stratsimir in the 14th century and enlarged after the Ottoman conquest in 1396; in the early 19th century, elements by French and Italian engineers were added. The walls are up to 12 m high and enclose three courtyards covering around 10,000 m². Allow one to two hours and wear sturdy footwear; in the late afternoon the light looks especially warm on the red rock.