In part 1 of our article on natural landmarks around Gabrovo we introduced you to three of the emblematic areas around the city, we will now reveal three more places worth seeing.

Curved rocks

The Curved Rocks are impressive curved rocks that start from the village of Yavorets and reach Gabrovo. Also known as the Wall, this flat, curved limestone wreath impresses everyday people traveling between Sevlievo and Gabrovo. The rocks are 702 meters high and great view in all directions reveals at their top.

The view can be admired appropriately in any season of the year. The main route to reach the site is a 22 km long eco-path, but a great barbecue area on ​​the rocks themselves can actually be reached with an off road vehicle. Regardless of the length, the whole trail is not difficult and it is worth the effort. Such recreation areas, with the possibility of great picnics in ancient forests, are built along the entire route.

The area has historical significance as well. In the caves of the rocky wreath, the primitive people have been sheltered and left fragments of vessels, bones and other objects in them. On the uneven back of the rock, the Thracians have built a fortification of stones lined with mud. During the II century, during the Roman Empire, the fortified Thracian settlement became a significant point of protection for the nearby road coming from the Danube. The Roman-Byzantine fortress survived in the 4th and 6th centuries until the arrival of our ancestors - Slavs and Proto-Bulgarians - to become a feudal-boyar center during the Second Bulgarian state XII-XIV c.

Bacho Kiro Cave

 The first cave publicly open for tourists in Bulgaria. The local tourists prepared and opened the cave to the public way back in 1937. It was declared a natural landmark in 1962. The cave, which is located 3 km. from Dryanovo and 14 km. from Gabrovo attracts a large number of people. The proximity to another local landmark is also convenient - the Dryanovo monastery "St. Archangel Michael".

Bacho Kiro is a complex labyrinth of galleries and branches. It is about 3600 meters long. The options for a tour are a short and a long route. The long route is 700 m and takes around 70 minutes to finish. It is here that you can see the full splendor and diversity of the cave. However, for safety reasons, you can only visit it with a guided tour with a group of at least 15 people. The short route is open to the public all the time and takes about 20 minutes.

The cave is very well lit, which allows detailed exploration of the whimsical and bizarre rock formations. All the interesting places inside are smartly named - "Stone Flower", "Medusa", "Lone Stallonecton", "Elephant", "Rain Hall", "Concert Hall" and "Reception Hall" are among the halls you can explore.

In the area of ​​the cave and monastery, there are also several remarkable pedestrian and bicycle routes. They take between 4-6 hours and take you along some places with beautiful views. The most famous path from the monastery leads to the architectural reserve Bozhentsi.

Nature Park "Bulgarka"

 Most natural beauties around Gabrovo are located in the mountain named both male and female. Balkan or Stara Planina is inhabited since ancient times and is inextricably linked with countless Bulgarian legends and stories. Centuries-old forests, lush meadows, secret caves and high peaks continue to excite today as well as in the past. Bulgarka Nature Park immerses you in the complete beauty of the mountain.

Natural parks are protected areas, including diverse ecosystems with a diversity of plant and animal species and their habitats, with distinctive and remarkable landscapes and objects of non-living nature.

The park has an area of ​​21 772 ha. was designated as such in 2002, in order to protect the ecosystems as described in the above definition. It is situated on the ridge parts and northern slopes of the Shipchenska and Tryavna Mountains and parts of the adjoining Forebalkan. Nearly 80% of its area is a forest. The territory includes the sources of the Yantra River and the main tributaries at the top. The park includes settlements from the municipalities of Gabrovo, Tryavna and Maglizh.

With an average altitude of 940 m, the park covers parts of the Shipka National Park - Buzludzha, Ethnographic Open-air Museum "Etar", the protected areas "Sokolski manastir", "Muchchenitsa - Yovovtsi", "Studen Kladenets" "And the natural landmarks:" Rocks "," The rock called "," Natural Thysko Deposit "and" The Big Beech ".

There are more than 1300 plant species in the park, 32 of which are listed in the Red Book of Bulgaria. Nearly 70% of Bulgarian medicinal plants are found here. A large part of the animals that meet Bulgaria are also found in "Bulgarka". These include rock eagle, small hawk, woodcock, bear, otter, wolf, wild boar, red deer, roe deer and others.

All the things listed above are not just figures and statistics. The nature park is an attraction for all types of tourism. The options for transportation are also plenty. By car or bus from Gabrovo, Tryavna and Plachkovtsi you can reach many starting points of pedestrian, cycling and eco routes. A railway line passes through the park, which can also be used as a starting point.

These places will surely satisfy all the friends of nature. The locals and guests of the city have long visited these places to get closer to nature or have a picnic outdoors. This article proves that, despite the controversial glory of cheap people, the Gabrovians share their natural sights. Just carry your own provisions 