Zlatitsa: Mountain Scenery, Hiking Trails and Culture

Obshtina Zlatitsa lies in the Zlatitsa–Pirdop Basin, in a water-rich valley between the Balkan Mountains and Sredna Gora. For your trip planning, you can choose between mountain scenery, hiking trails and historic sites as different focal points.

Scenery and Getting There

In the north, the municipality includes the southwestern part of the Zlatishko-Teteven Mountains. Svishti Plaz, at 1,888.3 metres, is the municipality’s highest point. The mountain forms a rocky cone with steep southern slopes and deep gorges. In the south, the municipality extends to the northern slopes of Sredna Gora, including 1,406-metre-high Malka Bratia. The Topolnitsa crosses both parts of the municipality and flows through a deep, wooded valley in the foothills of Sredna Gora.

The Sub-Balkan Road I-6 and Road II-37 cross the municipal area. II-37 is considered the shortest route across the two mountain ranges. As road conditions may change, check them before setting out. Zlatitsa railway station is a historic building with a west-facing colonnade, carved woodwork and a stone tower. The station and the Sub-Balkan Railway opened in 1952.

Hiking and Mountain Activities

There are several hiking trails on the mountain above Zlatitsa. One trail starts at the shrine of St. George; others lead from Salta Alan and Spasovo Kladenche towards Svishti Plaz Hut. The hut is at an elevation of 1,475 metres. From Salta Alan or Spasovo Kladenche, it can be reached in about three and a half hours via a hiking trail or forest road. It has capacity for more than 120 tourists. Before setting out, check trail conditions, access and the hut’s current conditions.

Zlatitsa is also a starting point for routes in the Central Balkan Mountains. Activities mentioned in the area include hiking, cycling, hunting and fishing. The Svobodno Izmerenie extreme sports club is active in paragliding and is also developing mountain biking activities. If you are interested, confirm current availability locally. This allows you to consider hiking trails and other activities as different trip-planning options, without assuming a particular route or offer.

History and Culture in Zlatitsa

Traces of settlement date back a long way: settlement mounds, Thracian artefacts, necropolises and burial mounds point to continued settlement through the Iron Age. The remains of a medieval fortress stand on Mount Golesh. The medieval settlement of Zlatitsa was also located there.

The Church of St. George in Zlatitsa is documented as a place of religious activity from the mid-18th century and was consecrated in 1859. Its elephant image is considered exceptionally rare and unique in the art of the Bulgarian National Revival. Other sights in the town include the clock tower, National Revival houses, a nunnery and a history museum.

The museum’s collection includes folk costumes, household textiles, everyday and craft objects, publications, photographs, artworks and a Bulgarian coin collection spanning several periods. Traditional clothing in the area included embroidered linen garments, aprons and headscarves for women, and traditional trousers, waistcoats, belts and fur hats for men. Zlatitsa’s traditional houses were single- or two-storey “kat” buildings; agricultural use and animal husbandry were formerly integrated into their layout.

Customs still performed by amateur groups include “Peene na Prastanite,” Epiphany, Todorovden and Lazarovden. Individual performances may vary. The community centre in Tsarkviste has a library, an event hall, changing rooms and a meeting room. Before the pandemic, the Momina Skala folk dance club performed there.

Nearby historic sites include the two-arched bridge over the Topolnitsa in Petrich. It was built in 1926 in the style of Bulgarian Revival bridges; the road beside it had already been in use since antiquity. Along with hiking trails, the area therefore offers specific stops for travellers interested in regional architectural and cultural history.

Getting Your Bearings

Zlatitsa is locally nicknamed the “City of Fountains”: more than 50 fountains have been built in the town and its surroundings. A Tourist Visitor Information Center is located in the former Yuri Gagarin Mechanization House. Before visiting, check the latest information about the centre and its operating conditions.

Discover more destinations: Zlatitsa, Dragoman, Koprivshtitza, Samokov, Pirdop, Mirkovo, Chavdar, Botevgrad.

See the broader travel overview: Sofia Province / Sofia.