Lakatnishkite rocks

Lakatnishkite rocks are located on the left slope of the Iskar defile in Stara planina mountain. There are situated in Svoge municipality between the rivers of Proboinitsa and Dolo, against the village of Gara Lakatnik. 

The Iskar defile is situated on an altitude of about 400 m and just 50 km southwest of Sofia. The name of the rocks like that of the whole area in which there are situated are derived from the name of the turn that Iskar river makes and is with form of bent elbow - in Bulgarian is Lakatnik.

Lakatnishkite rocks are made of red sands and limes and the plasters of the rocks are almost perfectly vertical. The rocks at some places are up to 250 m high above the waters of Iskar river. As a result of the impact on the outer relief powers of the Lakatnishkite rocks there are formed different rock formations like pyramids, towers, cusps etc.

Near the Lakatnishkite rocks is located the karst spring Zhitolub. Around the spring there are small restaurant and artificial lake. Here there are many karst caves. Among them Temnata dupka, Arzhishka dupka, Svinska dupka, Vraza dupka etc.

The rocks are declared natural landmark in 1966 and after 1989 there were also declared for protected area. Also in 1989 the rocks were included in the area of the natural park Vrachanski Balkan.
On the rocks is developed the alpine climbing. These rocks are one of the most visited and popular climbing destinations in the country in Bulgaria.

The extreme beauty and excellent conditions for tourism, climbing and speleology make them attractive for tourists, climbers, explorers and people that like nature. The area is crossing point of many touristic routes.

On the rocks there is built small house one of the symbols of the rocks. In was made in 1938 by the most active climbers in that time Konstantin Svadzhiev, Georgi Tsenev, Georgi Stoimenov and Todor Bozhkov. It is accessible only by rope and is about 300 m above Iskar river. The alpin hut is named Orlovo gnezdo or Eagle's nest.

Another symbol of Lakatnishkite rock is solid monument of stone slabs and was made in honor of the fallen in 1923 September rebels.
In proximity there is 10 meters high iron cross that was constructed in 2001 in memory of the fallen mountain climbers and alpine climbers.

Tourist routes

To the village of Lakatnik you can go by car on the road Sofia - Mezdra through the Iskar defile and also by train. Both times to distance takes about one and a half hour.

There are a couple of ways to go these natural objects one is from the village of Gara Lakatnik and the other is from the village of Milanovo. 

In the first case the routes are two - one of them goes after the turnout for Proboinitsa neighborhood and goes to Alpine meadow just to the west end of the hut. The other route starts at the restaurant on the road "Peshterata" and the karst spring Zhitolyub and at its beginning there is a map of the natural park Vrachanski balkan. It also leads to the Alpin meadow. From there to the other routes leads only one path - just go higher. From Milanovo village you can go by car to the monument.
In the area work group of the Mountain Rescue Service.

Sources: bg-tourism.com, bgizlet.com, bg.wikipedia.org
Photos: Mirela, Internet