SOFIA - BELOGRADCHIK ROCKS AND VENETSA CAVE FULL-DAY TOUR BY CAR AND A DRIVER

The rock figures are remarkably varied and picturesque. They are astonishing, not only with their age of over 230 million years, but also with the dozens of legends for the bizarre natural forms named after many of the rock formations. Examples include The Madonna, The Monks, The Horseman; The School girl, The Dervish, The Bear, Adam and Eva, The Fortress, The Cuckoo, The Leo, The Camel, Orpheus, and the petrified wedding procession, as well as many others.|

For millions of years, nature has molded these rock sculptures of mythical creatures, people, animals, and different objects. The prevailing reddish color of the rocks is due to the ferrous oxides and hydroxides. In the sandy and calcareous rocks, more than 100 caves have been developed.

The rock formations create a natural fortress with a high defensive potential that has been used by humans for ages. Between the first and third centuries, Romans built their first fortress here. This site was reconstructed and enlarged in 1805-1837 for the last time and the fortt has been preserved in this form until now. Special historic and educational value has also the cool mining gallery in the property, which is the first of its kind in Bulgaria.

The colorful LED lighting brings life and magic into the glory of the cave, revealing it all to the tourist, astonished by its beauty. 5 huge halls have been revealed so far and the overall length of the corridors is some 300 m. There are corals, crystals, stalactones, stalagmites, stalactites, and the semi precious onyx stone that forms a large number of the formations inside.

The feeling is like watching a National Geographic production on the creation of the Universe, or a Hollywood movie for aliens. Anyone sees whatever his or her imagination pictures in the semidarkness of the cave. At the same time the formations have their official names, such as 'the pelican's head', 'the night lamp', 'the tulip' 'God's hand' etc.