Vitosha

Vitosha (Витоша) is a mountain in West-Central Bulgaria, overlooking the capital Sofia. Most of the mountain's territory comprises Nature Park Vitosha, and its proximity to the city have made it a favorite recreation spot of both citizens and visitors of the capital, providing opportunities for winter sports, hiking, biking, rock climbing, etc.

Understand

Vitosha rises directly south of Sofia, with the southern outskirts of the city encroaching onto its foothills. To the west, the Vladaya Saddle separates Vitosha from the smaller Lyulin mountain. To the east is the lower, spread-out mountain Plana, which in turn is separated by the river Iskar from the western part of the Sredna Gora Range. To the south, the elongated Verila mountain connects Vitosha to the rugged Rila, the highest mountain in Bulgaria.

History

Even after Sofia became the capital of newly liberated Bulgaria, it took more than a decade for its citizens to start appreciating the natural beauty of the mountain. The famous Bulgarian writer Aleko Konstantinov (1863-1897) organized the first mass outing to Vitosha's highest peak in 1895. This lead directly to the establishment of first tourist association in the country, which later became the Bulgarian Tourist Union. That´s why the writer is considered the founder of organized tourism and the hikers' movement in Bulgaria. The Aleko Hut and Hotel Shtastlivetsa on Vitosha are named after him, and there's a bust monument of him on Cherni Vrah.

Nature Park Vitosha was established in 1934, making it the first nature park in Bulgaria and perhaps the first one on the Balkans. The same act also created the Bistrishko branishte nature reserve within the park; the Torfeno branishte reserve was established a year later. Between 1977 and 2021, Bistrishko branishte was in the list of biosphere reserves maintained by UNESCO, one of the 17 "old type" biosphere reserves in Bulgaria at the time.

Get in

Get around

See

Prominences

• Cherni Vrah - 2,290 m (7,510 ft)
• Kamen Del
• Kominite
• Kopitoto - TV tower
• Reznyovete (the Rezens)
• Ushite

Natural features

• Boyana Waterfall
• Stone rivers
  • Zlatnite Mostove
• Aleko's Waterfalls
• Bosnek Karst Area
• Dragalevski Monastery (Monastery of Dragalevtsi)
• Sources of the Struma (Strymon in Greece)

Do

• Winter sports
• Hiking
• Mountain biking
• Rock climbing

Sleep

Camping on the territory of the Park is prohibited. Most available lodgings are in the northern part of the mountain. Sadly, many of the old hiker huts no longer work, and some have been completely abandoned.

Hiker huts

These huts are officially associated with the Bulgarian Tourist Union.

• 1 Aleko (хижа „Алеко“), aleko.hut@motensport.com. Alitude 1,977 m (6,486 ft). The second oldest hikers' hut in Bulgaria, built 1924-1932. Capacity 90 beds; hikers' kitchen; buffet; restaurant; public WC; ski storage. The centre of a minor ski resort, with ski schools, ski drags, a climbing wall, etc. It's the end point of a paved road to Sofia and there's a free parking lot, though it often overflows - people park on both sides of the road leading to the hut. (updated Jun 2024)
• 2 Belite Brezi (хижа „Белите брези“). Altitude 1,311 m (4,301 ft). Capacity 45 beds; buffet; indoor and outdoor restaurant; parking. The name means "the white birches" and it's the name of the surrounding area. (updated Jun 2024)
• 3 Borova Gora (хижа „Борова гора“). Altitude 1,701 m (5,581 ft). Capacity 24 beds; common dining room with a fireplace; buffet; parking lot. The name means "pine forest". (updated Jun 2024)
• 4 Edelvays (Edelweiss) (хижа „Еделвайс“). Altitude 1,670 m (5,480 ft). Capacity 22 beds; heated by wood stoves; common dining room; parking lot. (updated Jun 2024)
• 5 Kamen Del (хижа „Камен дел“). Altitude 1,461 m (4,793 ft). Capacity 30 beds; common dining room. Named after the nearby peak. (updated Jun 2024)
• 6 Kumata (хижа „Кумата“). Altitude 1,724 m (5,656 ft). Capacity 27 beds; common dining room; buffet; parking lot. (updated Jun 2024)
• 7 Momina Skala (хижа „Момина скала“). Altitude 1,479 m (4,852 ft). Capacity 35 beds; restaurant; parking lot. The name means "maiden's rock". (updated Jun 2024)
• 8 Planinarska Pesen (хижа „Планинарска песен“). Altitude 1,692 m (5,551 ft). Capacity 27 beds; buffet; 40-seat mehana (tavern); parking lot. The name means "mountaineer song". (updated Jun 2024)
• 9 Planinets (хижа „Планинец“), hut.planinets@gmail.com. Altitude 1,367 m (4,485 ft). Capacity 62 beds; restaurant; parking lot. The name means "mountain dweller". (updated Jun 2024)
• 10 Tintyava (хижа „Тинтява“). Altitude 1,615 m (5,299 ft). Capacity 30 beds with individual bathrooms; common dining room; buffet; parking lot. Named after the Bulgarian name of the flower genus Gentiana. As of June 2024, BTU's website claims it doesn't work, so please report if you determine otherwise. (updated Jun 2024)

Other huts and hotels

• 11 Hotel Moreni (хотел „Морени“) (on the paved road to Aleko Hut). A small hotel on the side of the mountain at 1,780 m (5,840 ft) above sea level, with a lobby bar, a restaurant, and spa-style facilities. No pets allowed in the rooms. On the paved road to Aleko Hut, and the end stop of Bus 66. The name means "moraines", even though there are no moraines on Vitosha. Double, May-Sep: Su-Th 130/150 лв (w/ or w/o balcony), F-Sa 150/180 лв; Oct-Apr: Su-Th 150/180 лв, F-Sa 180/220 лв. Spa double (with a jacuzzi, etc): May-Sep, Su-Th 250 лв, F-Sa 280 лв; Oct-Apr, Su-Th 280 лв, F-Sa 300 лв. (updated Jun 2024)