Route Description
Start-Final
Hotels in
- Near Bistro Omega is Bistro Kalina and for more luxurious stay try: http://windyhills-bg.com/ For cheaper offers, group (SVS) discounts, reservations, etc. call the organizer Lazar: lazarus@slivenbg.net
Detailed Description of the Route and Control Points
1. stage: Sliven – Kazanlak – Plovdiv
From Sliven to Kazanlak: A flat section. 110 m to climb from km 24 to km 28: first risk for “heavier” riders to drop behind. Kazanlak is at km 85. We arrive there between 6:40 and 7:00 and usually do not stop unless if you need refreshments, or need to call the mechanic. The route is well maintained. The last 10 km are new and perfect.
From Kazanlak to Kalofer pass: Gradually going up from km 85 till km 114 (114 m). Then it becomes a little bit steeper with 153 m to climb between km 114 and 123. A very precipitous descent with sharp turns, going down 170 m in 3 km., but the road is well wide and perfectly maintained.
From Kalofer pass to Plovdiv: from km 126 to km 170 it is a very pleasant gradual descent (262 m), full of coffee bars, mini markets etc. Do not miss the two left turns to Plovdiv (km 130 and 138). The pleasures end after km 170: till the crossing of the motorway (km 178) you are on a narrow uneven road with heavy traffic! The last 7 km before the control at OMV station are in the city of Plovdiv, but no heavy traffic at all.
Expected arrival at Plovdiv: between 10:00 and 11:00. It is time for a good breakfast at the OMV Viva bistro&market.
1. Stage Strategy: Try to make maximal use of the relatively flat terrain and of the early hour, and try to stay as long as possible in the big bunch /at least till Kazanlak/, all this in order:
1. To reach Belovo and the mountains before the afternoon heat.
2. To save time and to try to pass the dangerous Arabakonak downhill just before sundown.
2. stage: Plovdiv – Borovets – Pancharevo
From Plovdiv to Pazardzhik: 35 km of flat road, slightly going up. Not a perfect surface, a little bit rude. Wide enough to feel protected from the heavy traffic. You can use alternatively the ring road in Pazardzhik. It may result in more kilometers on your computer, but you will avoid the city centre.
From Pazardzhik to Belovo and Kostenets: no more heavy traffic after Pazardzhik! Little by little the heat will rise. Fortunately there are many roadside shops and bistros. The road slowly goes up:
From Kostenets up to Borovets and down to Samokov and Pancharevo:
The first big hill and this will be the biggest. The heat is rising, so do you… Fortunately there are deep shadows and water fountains. Some cars are running fast between Samokov and Pancharevo and you will not have good visibility. The traffic will increase as approaching Sofia. The control is in a restaurant /Kokalyansko hanche/. Nearby there is a small hostel.
2. Stage Strategy: Try to survive the expected heat and elevation without spending too much efforts. During the gradual descend to Pancharevo there is a chance to gain time.
3. stage: Pancharevo – Arabakonak - Monastery
From Pancharevo through the ring road of Sofia to Sarantsi and Arabakonak:
The big question is to calculate whether you will reach the dangerous Arabakonak descent before the dark /21:30/. Heavy traffic expected on the ring road if you pass earlier in the day. It will be quiet before dawn. If you are fast and reach the Monastery in time, starting before dawn will bring you to the potholes at km 5-8. They are not so dangerous especially if you will use strong lights, or will wait till dawn in order to start. It is my general advice to use strong lights in Bulgaria.
From Arabakonak to Botevgrad and the Monastery:
You can use the ring road in Botevgrad, but I recommend passing through the centre, no traffic at all and you can even pass through the plaza and enjoy the quiet city centre. Speak gently to the dogs you may encounter on the hill before the Monastery.
3. Stage Strategy: Calculate well where to sleep. If it will be the Monastery, don’t lose much time and try to reach Arabakonak pass before the dark.
4. stage: Monastery - Troyan – Dryanovo - Veliko Tarnovo – Popovo
From the Monastery to the Shipkovo pass and Troyan:
If you have slept well and are running out of time, just take your breakfast into your pocket and hurry. After the first hill you will find plenty of coffee bars and food shops in Teteven and Ribaritsa. It is good to take a deep breath before the second big mountain of the ride. Calculate some minutes to enjoy the scenery on the top. Watch for road repairs or sand on the downhill and two dangerous grills just before Shipkovo village. In Troyan you have choices: to stamp only at some gas station and not to enter the centre, or to go inside the city and to eat something in the self service, or in the food shop. If their stamp is missing by any reason, keep the receipt. Here and in Veliko Tarnovo only you can stamp your cards where you like, or use shop receipts instead.
Troyan – Sevlievo – Dryanovo - Veliko Tarnovo:
Pleasant ups and downs follow on good quiet roads – now you can gain some time, if the daily heat will allow it… This year we will avoid the main road from Sevlievo to Veliko Tarnovo. In the new control of Dryanovo there is a buffet in the chalet and beds in the case someone will need an afternoon nap in the middle of the heat. Nearby is also a restaurant, just outside the walls of the famous Dryanovo monastery.
In Veliko Tarnovo you have choices: near the Poltava cinema here is a pizzeria, a non-stop self service restaurant and a mini market. If you use the ring road instead of entering the city, you will run into a nasty tunnel, and which is most important, will miss one of the most unique cities in Bulgaria.
Veliko Tarnovo – Draganovo - Popovo:
The section from km 2 to 14 is on the main road to Ruse – heavy traffic and heavy trucks! Ride carefully! The award you gain is approx. 170km of very quiet and picturesque roads till and after Isperih. The control in Popovo is in a cozy and coquet motel, called “Kati”.
4. Stage Strategy: The profile of the ride changes after Troyan for a third time. We had about 230 km of flat section in the beginning of the ride, followed by some high passes: big hills and fast descents – much like the rides in North America /BMB, RM/. Now a PBP-like section follows – small /and some medium/ hills all the time. That is the essence of SVS: you have 3 different types of riding and it is very important to quickly adapt yourself and to choose the right pace for each section.
5. stage: Popovo – Isperih – Madara: second sleeping control
Popovo – Razgrad - Isperih:
The Popovo - Razgrad road is perfect even for night riding, except inside the villages of Lomtsi and Blagoevo. So, if you sleep at Popovo, you can count on an early start in the morning. Razgrad is a big city, suitable for having strong breakfast. There are many kilometers of potholes in the middle on the road from Razgrad to Isperih. So, if you have decided to reach Isperih for a second sleep, try to reach the half of the distance before the dark, or use strong lights. Isperih is a tourist chalet, without a restaurant section, so you will get SVS sandwiches there. You can also visit the Lukoil shop before entering the city.
Isperih – Samuil – Madara:
The new section of the road, it has proved to be suitable for night riding as well. After 39 km we will join the main road from Ruse to Varna. Not a heavy but fast traffic. Small sections of road repairs expected. Km 73 and 74 are perfect for having nice breakfast. There also a secret control can be expected. After the right turn into the road to Madara, only nice quiet roads will follow till Varna. Madara is a tourist chalet, the SVS staff from the monastery will be there preparing some food. There is a motel nearby – for more an optional /paid/ comfortable sleep.
5. Stage Strategy: Calculate where to sleep, taking into account the described road condition.
6. stage: Madara – Varna – Rudnik - Kraymorie: third sleep in Rudnik or Kraymorie if needed
Madara – Varna:
Finally the sea! The control is in a hotel complex and restaurant with a beautiful view to the gulf. Descend carefully in order not to miss the right turn to the control. We have there 250 m of unpaved road to Hotel Rositsa. If you miss that turn don’t worry, after reaching the main road, you have to turn right and to climb the stairs leading to the hotel part of the complex.
Varna – Rudnik - Burgas – Kraymorie:
It is a slow section, you will lose time while getting through Varna with all that beautiful views. From Varna to Rudnik there is a hilly but fast section. In Rudnik there are limited sleeping opportunities. Use them in order to avoid climbing Dyulino pass in the night. You will encounter plenty of scenery, but also narrow and dangerous descent. No traffic here, but you can be surprised by a car or even by some heavy truck: it is very narrow and no visibility at all! Nasty potholes in the villages of Gyulevtsi and Orizare will follow. You can see on left the panorama of some of the most famous sea resorts of Bulgaria.
6. Stage Strategy: Try to reach Dyulino pass before the dark, or stay to meet dawn in Rudnik.
7. stage: Kraymorie – Yambol – Sliven
The road surface is rude between Burgas and Yambol, and perfect between Yambol and Sliven. Some potholes still may stand between Sredets and Yambol. It can be ridden in the dark.
7. Stage Strategy: If you have survived till now, you will have no major problems reaching the final! Just think of the enormous icy beer tankard waiting for you…
Historical Sites
Sliven
Sliven is a comparatively large town with 110,000 inhabitants (the 8th largest in Bulgaria). Sliven is famous for the many Bulgarian hajduks from the area who fought against the Ottoman Turks in the 19th century. The current mayor of the city is former football star Yordan Letchkov.
In 1834 Dobri Zhelyazkov established the first factory in Bulgarian lands, thus starting the industrial development in Bulgaria. Sliven was one of the biggest industrial centres in Bulgaria, which played very important role during the Bulgarian National Revival, a town with long-lived traditions in the textile industry, machine building, glass making, the technical аnd food industry.
One of the most significant cultural centres during the Bulgarian National Revival, Sliven has preserved and enriched the cultural heritage and today offers to its citizens and visitors a lot of opportunities for cultural life. A birthplace of many prominent Bulgarians who contributed to the enlightenment, Sliven gave Bulgaria many authors, scientists, intellectuals like Hadzhi Dimitar, Dobri Chintulov, Evgeniy Chapkanov, Ivan Siliminski, Ivelina Momcheva and many others.
The famous rocky massif Sinite Kamani (Сините камъни, "The Blue Rocks") and the associated national park, the fresh air and the mineral springs offer diverse opportunities for leisure and tourism.
Kazanlak
Kazanlak lies at the eastern end of the world-famous Rose Valley. With a population of approximately 70,000 people, it is located near the geographical centre of the country. The area is abundant with traces of ancient life from as far back as 2000 BC.
The landscape is picturesque, with mid-height mountain ranges on opposite sides, and is especially marvellous in May when rose fields blossom and the fragrance is unparalleled. The beautiful celebrations for the blossom of the roses there takes place in the first week of June. The whole week is filled whith different attractions every day. That week is also interesting, because there is a beauty pageant and on the last day of the celebrations, the most beautiful girl in the city is chosen. They call her "The Queen Of Roses". According to The Ultimate Visual Encyclopedia, Bulgaria is the major supplier of a certain type of rose oil in the world and Kazanlak's rose gardens are the largest rose gardens in the whole world. It is the ONLY place in the entire world that can grow this certain rose.
Close to the town is the Thracian Tomb (4th century B.C), a vaulted brickwork "beehive" (tholos) tomb with painted murals representing a Thracian couple at a ritual funeral feast, a UNESCO protected World Heritage Site. The tomb is near the ancient Thracian capital of Seuthopolis.
Hissarya
Hissarya (also spelled Hisar or Hisarya) is a small resort town. Because of the mineral springs, the town was founded thousands of years ago. Some pre-historic remains have been found in what is now the town centre. Later, it became a Thracian city, and when Thrace fell to the Romans and became a Roman province, Hissar became a Roman town - one of the three most important towns in the province. At various times it was called Augusta, Diocletianopolis (after emperor Diocletian) and a couple of other names. It was a famous resort even in those times, which is proved by the fact that emperor Septimius Severus himself visited the city.
Many Roman ruins are still visible everywhere - public buildings, a small amphitheatre, the barracks of the Roman garrison, the foundations of a couple of the oldest churches in Bulgaria, as well as the best preserved Roman fortress in Bulgaria. The southern gate is known as "The Camels", because it had broken in the middle and looked like two camels facing each other, before it was partially restored in the late XX century.
Plovdiv
Plovdiv is one of the oldest cities of Europe, being older than Rome, Athens, and Constantinople. The first traces of civilization at the place date from the Mycenaean period. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plovdiv
Sofiahttp://www.sofia.com/history/
Pravets Monastery "St. Theodor Tiron"
It is believed that the Pravets monastery has its origin back in ancient times, when the place was occupied by a Thracian sanctuary. During the rule of the Assen and Peter brothers, it was transformed into a Christian cloister. During more or less its entire existence, the monastery has remained in the shadow of the nearby Etropole monastery, located about 10km away from it. There are no historical records of St Theodor Tiron regarding its existence during the early Ottoman rule. It is only known that during the so-called raids of rebel groups, named Kurdzhalii, in the 18th century, the monastery was entirely destroyed – only to be rebuilt shortly afterwards. Close to the present-day church, once there used to lie a chapel. At present, there is no trace to be found of this chapel, even if the place remains of interest to treasure-hunters.
The monastery complex consists of two buildings – a church and a residential part. The church is entirely made of stone and brick layers, and represents a massive building. The iconostasis was created by painters from the famous Teteven school. The St George’s icon, painted in 1869, is particularly impressive. Regretfully, another icon depicting St Theodor Tiron is almost completely destroyed. Two bas-reliefs with two-headed eagles, placed just above the entrance of the church, are also of interest.
Troyan Monastery
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troyan_Monastery
Dryanovo Monastery
Location:
The historical Dryanovo monastery, St Archangel Michael, is situated about 4km away from Dryanovo in the picturesque gorge of the Dryanovo river where limestone rocks rise high on all sides of the gorge as inapproachable forest walls.
About the monastery:
It is believed that the first monastery in this place was founded some 2km to the north of the present-day buildings, in an area called The Little St Archangel. Its founders were two rebel boyars of the then-capital city of Turnovo –the Assen and Petar brothers. In the 14th century, the holy place was one of the main centres of Hesychasm and sheltered many monks. At the beginning of the 15th century, the monastery was destroyed by the invading Ottoman troops. Later on, it was reconstructed on a neighbouring site, known as the Big St Archangel, but the fate of this monastery was no happier than that of its predecessor. The Dryanovo monastery was restored anew at the end of the 17th century, this time in its present-day place. The main church of that time had a single nave and was half-hidden in the ground. It was standing very near to the present-day church; besides it, there was also a secondary shrine.
The old Bulgarian capital of Veliko Turnovo, residence of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1187-1393), the city in which 22 tsarsn succession bore the scepter of authority, was situated on three hills: Tzarevetz, Trapezitza and Sveta Gora. Tzarevetz is a natural inaccessible fortress where the royal palace, patriarchal church and a The Baldwin Tower multitude of smaller cross-domed churches once stood. The outer walls of the fortress have been restored and all archaeological finds inside are displayed intact and exhibi- ted as they were discovered. Central among them are the ruins of the royal palace with the Baldwin Tower and the patriarch's church. Many churches have been pre- served as monuments of early medieval architecture and painting.
Razgrad is built upon the ruins of the Ancient Roman town of Abritus on the banks of the Beli Lom. Razgrad has one of the dense Turkish populations in Bulgaria, with 27% of the municipality's citizens declaring to be Turks in 1998. An absolute majority of 69% are Bulgarians, with the remaining 4% being composed for the most part of Roma. Some of Razgrad's landmarks include the Varosha architectural complex from the 19th century, the ethnographic museum and several other museums, the characteristic clock tower in the centre built in 1864, the St Nicholas the Miracle Worker Church from 1860, the Momina cheshma sculpture and the Ibrahim Pasha Mosque from 1530. The mosque is the third largest one in the Balkans (excluding Istanbul).
Isperih - the Thracian tomb of Sveshtari
The Thracian tomb of Sveshtari was discovered in 1982 near a village of the same name, situated in northeastern Bulgaria, 7km away from the town of Isperih. This tomb, built in the first half of the 3rd century B.C. has a unique architectural design, colorful half-human, half-plant caryatids and impressive wall paintings. The 10 female figures carved in the walls of the central chamber and the decoration of the lunette in its vault are the only ones of their kind found in the former Thracian lands.
http://www.showcaves.com/english/bg/misc/Sveshtari.html
Pliska - the first Bulgarian Capital
Pliska was the first Capital (after 681-893) of the First Bulgarian Kingdom. Its ruins lie 3 km north of today's village of Pliska (prev. name Aboba). Its name was mentioned in many resources most si- gnificant of which are the Bulgarian apocryphal chronicle from XI c. AD as the town of Plyuska founded by Asparuh Khan, the By- zantine authors George Cedrin, John Zonara, Anna Komnina as Pliskusa. The town had area of 23 km2 and was surrounded by 21 km long defensive line built up of moat and rampart. The Inner town had area of 0.5 km2 rectan- gular shape and had 2.6 m thick and about 12 m high fortress walls, cylindrical towers at each corner, and two other towers at each wall.
MADARSKI KONNIK
The national historic and archaeological reserve Madara is one of the most visited tourist places in Bulgaria. The popularity of Madara is due most of all to the fact that it is the only in Europe rock relief, called "Madarski konnik"("Madara horseman"). Madarski Konnik (Madara Horseman) is 15 km to the east of Shoumen. It is one of the most significant monuments of the official old Bulgarian art, included from UNESCO in the list of the world cultural treasures. The remains of thousands of archaeological monuments (dwellings, vilas, temples, fortresses) and finds from six historical epochs are the reason for which Madara received the name "The Bulgarian Troy". The pre-historic cult figures and ritual tiles devoted to: The Three Nymphs, Zevs, Heracule, Dionisius, Kibela, of the Thracian horseman - hero Heros and others are an evidence that from the prehistoric and the Thracian epoch until late antiquity, the rock shelters and the springs below them served as temples for the living in the area tribes and peoples.
Varna is the third largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia and Plovdiv, with a population of 351,552(10.01.2006) . It is the capital of Varna Province and an important port in the eastern part of the country, located on the Black Sea coast close to Lake Varna. The city was named Stalin after the Soviet leader for a brief period from 1949 to 1956.
Varna, the biggest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast, is commonly referred to as the "Sea Capital of Bulgaria". The city was also the base of the Bulgarian Navy. Currently, there is a Naval Museum with a museum ship torpedo boat Drazki. The archaeological museum contains some of the finds from the so-called "Gold of Varna", a cache of Chalcolithic grave-goods which are the oldest gold treasure in the world.
Varna was founded as an ancient Greek trading colony (apoikia), Odessos, about 580 BCE. Historically, Varna is perhaps best known for its eneolithic necropolis, which is the site of the oldest gold treasure to be found by archaeologists, the Gold of Varna. The Roman city had baths, Thermae, built in the 2nd century CE, that are the largest Roman remains in Bulgaria.
The city, control of which changed from Byzantine to Bulgarian numerous times during the Middle Ages, was captured by the Ottoman Empire in 1393.
On November 10, 1444, the Battle of Varna was fought nearby, with the Turks defeating an army of 30,000 Crusaders led by Ladislaus III of Poland, which had assembled at the port to set sail to Constantinople. The army was attacked by a superior force of 120,000 Ottomans, led by sultan Murad II. Ladislaus III was killed in a bold attempt to capture the sultan, earning the nickname Warneńczyk. The subsequent retreat of the crusader army made the fall of Constantinople all but inevitable. Today there is a mausoleum of Ladislaus III in Varna.
Some of the famous landmarks of Varna include the Varna Dolphinarium (opened 11th August 1984), the Sea Garden (designed by Czech Anton Novák), the Roman Baths, the Palace of Culture and Sports, the Varna Necropolis, the Varna Observatory and Planetarium. The nearby cave monastery Aladzha is also a popular tourist sight. Additionally, the 2 km long bridge Asparuhov most is a popular place for bungee jumping.
Burgas (also transliterated as Bourgas) is the second-largest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. It is also the fourth-largest by population in the country, after Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna. It is the capital of Burgas Province and an industrial and tourist centre. The Burgas Lakes are located around the city.
Burgas International Airport is a connecting point to major Black Sea resorts in Bulgaria such as Sunny Beach, Nesebar, Sozopol, Dyuni, Elenite.
Bourgas is a successor of the Greek city of Pirgos, founded by colonists from Apolonia as a military and observational post against the other important settlement in the region – Mesembria.
Besides Pirgos, the present-day city expands over the area of three other ancient settlements: Kastiacion, Skafida and Rossokastron.
In the Middle Ages, a small fortress called Pirgos (being Greek for "tower") was erected on the place and was most probably used as a watchtower. It was only in the 17th century that a settlement named Ahelo-Pirgas grew in the modern area of the city. It was later renamed to Bourgas and had only about 3,000 inhabitants, most of them Greeks at the time of the Liberation.
Soon it became a major centre on the southern Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and a city of well-developed industry and trade. A number of oil and chemical companies were gradually built. Salt and iron are also mined and traded abroad.
Yambol is famous for its history dating from ancient times. The archaeological findings are related to the year 6000 BC. to the time of Roman Emperor Diocletian reign when the castle, called Diospolis, was built with location of the present modern town. The best preserved historical sites, dating back to XV century are the bazar "Bezisten" and the mosque "Esky Djamia" that have been restored and are functioning at present. The town has another contribution to the world progress - Yambol is the native place of the artist of world popularity George Papazov and John Popov. The computer inventor - John Atanasov has family roots in the district. The Middle parts of Tundja valley spread over the most of the district. Mineral water wells are found near the village of Stefan Caradjovo.
The Ancient settlement of Kabile, the prehistoric tumulus by the village of Drama, the remains of Yambol Mediaeval castle and the Monastery of the middle Ages in Voden are some of the sites worth seeing. The Antique settlement "Kabile" is a National archaeological reserve and a nature preserved site, being the most important Thracian settlement in Bulgaria.
