Iskar Gorge

The Iskar Gorge is a natural phenomenon carved out of the stone breasts of the Stara Planina. For thousands of years the waters of the Iskar River have dug their way into the rock, creating forms of incredible shape, which have impressed every visitor.
The gorge of the river Iskar starts from the Sofia Plain (550 metres above sea level), crosses the Pre-Balkan area and ends around the town of Cherven Bryag (95 m above sea level). The total length of the gorge is 156 km.

The central, which is the most beautiful and distinct, part of the gorge is actually situated between the town of Novi Iskar and Lyutibrod Village and is 67 kilometres long. It is this most stunning and magnificent part which is also known as the Iskar Gorge. From the very beginning of the gorge the valley narrows sharply to outline the well-visible meanders. One can savour the fairytale sights of Tserovo and Lakatnik railway stations, where the beauty of the scenery is increased further by an amphitheatre of stone. At Cherepish the river finds its way through a canyon-like valley between vertical walls of white lime. Several kilometres further visitors are stunned by the unforgettable sight of the Ritlite, which serve to outline the border between the main Stara Planina chain and the quite modest forms of the Pre-Balkan.
For ages, the heart of the Iskar Gorge has been hardly accessible. The roads and tracks connecting the both sides of the mountain were located high on the top of the mountain and are parallel to its ridge. The railway line of today was built in 1889 (the double track line came some time later) and when this was completed everything nearby the river began to change. New settlements appeared, new people came in, new industries developed. Later on the road was gradually created.