B U L G A R I AB U L G A R I A

The Rohodopes mountains is the most lyrical Bulgarian mountains, The Rohodopes mountains is the most lyrical Bulgarian mountains, one of the oldest Bulgarian mountains. one of the oldest Bulgarian mountains. With spectacular gorges, With spectacular gorges, alpine meadows, underground caves and rich archaeological sites, it's a alpine meadows, underground caves and rich archaeological sites, it's a land steeped in myth and antiquity. land steeped in myth and antiquity. TThis is the place where his is the place where Orpheus and and ththe e Orphic cult originated. Orphic cult originated.

The best conifer woods in Bulgaria can be found here, as well as The best conifer woods in Bulgaria can be found here, as well as about 15 natural reserves, some of which protected under UNESCO.about 15 natural reserves, some of which protected under UNESCO.

Orpheus was a native Thracian born in Orpheus was a native Thracian born in Rodophies mountains. The myth of the Rodophies mountains. The myth of the legendary singer Orpheus – musician and legendary singer Orpheus – musician and healer dates back 3000 years. Orpheus healer dates back 3000 years. Orpheus sang and played the lyre. His music was sang and played the lyre. His music was so magic and beautiful that he could so magic and beautiful that he could charm the birds and the beats. When his charm the birds and the beats. When his beloved Euridice died from a snakebite, beloved Euridice died from a snakebite, Orpheus went to the underworld to pray Orpheus went to the underworld to pray for her return. Hades and Persephone, for her return. Hades and Persephone, the king and queen of the land of died the king and queen of the land of died were fascinated of his music and agreed were fascinated of his music and agreed to his request on one condition. Orpheus to his request on one condition. Orpheus must not look back upon Euridice until must not look back upon Euridice until they had both reached the upper land they had both reached the upper land /world/. Orpheus made the mistake of /world/. Orpheus made the mistake of looking back too soon, before the sun had looking back too soon, before the sun had laid its eye upon Euridice. Suddenly laid its eye upon Euridice. Suddenly Euridice slipped back into the land of Euridice slipped back into the land of darkness. Orpheus lost his beloved darkness. Orpheus lost his beloved forever.forever.

The rocks that can be found in the Rhodopies mountains are The rocks that can be found in the Rhodopies mountains are called by local people *the tears of Euridice* and the earth called by local people *the tears of Euridice* and the earth

itself is her body.itself is her body.

TheThe Wonderful Bridges Wonderful Bridges are are one of the most interesting one of the most interesting natural phenomenon in natural phenomenon in BulgariaBulgaria

Long time ago there has been a Long time ago there has been a cave in the marble bed of the cave in the marble bed of the Dulbok Dol river which Dulbok Dol river which collapsed after an collapsed after an earthquake. The waters of the earthquake. The waters of the river cleaned the debris and river cleaned the debris and little by little two natural little by little two natural marble bridges unique with marble bridges unique with their beauty appeared.their beauty appeared.

The first and the largest one is The first and the largest one is 96 metres long and 70 metres 96 metres long and 70 metres hihg.hihg.

About 200 m below you About 200 m below you will see the second bridge will see the second bridge that looks like a 60 m long that looks like a 60 m long tunnel. Its entrance quite tunnel. Its entrance quite wide, but inside it wide, but inside it becomes narrower. After becomes narrower. After the formation of the bridge the formation of the bridge the river disappears in the the river disappears in the ground and 1,5 km past it ground and 1,5 km past it the water come up again.the water come up again.

Near the second bridge is the Near the second bridge is the entrance of the Ice Cave. entrance of the Ice Cave. Until late summer there is ice Until late summer there is ice in the Ice Cave.in the Ice Cave.

The unique bridges are The unique bridges are declared as a protected area. declared as a protected area. A lot of unique herbs and A lot of unique herbs and flowers can be found on the flowers can be found on the rocky hills of the two bridges. rocky hills of the two bridges. Some of them are included on Some of them are included on the Red Book.the Red Book.

SUNSET in SUNSET in Rhodope Rhodope MountainsMountains

*Once a year go to a place you have *Once a year go to a place you have never been before*never been before*

Dallai Dallai LamaLama