Top 6 Natural Monuments in Lovech Region

An easy trail through beautiful, diverse forest. There is no water in dry summers.

Petrahiliya is an impressive mountain above Teteven. It can be reached directly from Teteven. There are marked trails here, although as of August 2025, they are not listed in Komoot. The ascent is steep, and the paths are partially blocked by fallen trees. Alternatively, the summit can also be reached from behind via the Haidushka Mogila peak.

Devetashka CAVE (Maarata) Devetaki Village, Lovech District Length - 2442 m Coordinates: E 24* 53 23.2" N 43* 14 052* 24'53 12.6 N 43 14 033 A cave located 1.5 km northwest of Devetaki Village, on the right bank of the Ossam River and on the northern slope of the Devetaki Plateau, formed from Aptian-Urgonian limestone. The entrance is semi-elliptical, measuring 30 x 35 m. The gallery expands into a colossal chamber (25,000 m²) with a ceiling height of up to 58 m. The chamber consists of seven holes called "okna," the largest of which (Kilka) measures 73 x 48 m. The chamber volume is At 643,000 m³, it is the largest cave chamber in Bulgaria and the Balkan Peninsula. A stream flows through the cave, forming deep pools and huge tufas. First explored in 1921 by G. Katzarov, who discovered artifacts between 1925 and 1928, it was explored several times by Pavel Petrov. He sailed down the cave river in wooden boats and made hydrogeological observations while investigating the cave. In 1950 and 1952, archaeologists V. Mikov and N. Djambazov excavated the entrance hall and discovered cultural layers from many periods – Middle and Late Paleolithic and Neolithic, the Iron and Bronze Ages, and the Roman period.

MAN AND THE CAVE The Evetashka Cave is a unique natural and cultural phenomenon. It is located near the town of Lovech and the village of Devetaki, on the right bank of the Osam River. Good living conditions have attracted human attention since ancient times. The first archaeological excavations in the cave began in 1927. Archaeological studies show that the cave was inhabited since the Middle Paleolithic (70,000 BC). Cultural layers (0.30 m to 5.5 m thick) indicate that it was also inhabited during subsequent historical periods: the Neolithic, Eneolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages, Provincial Roman Culture, and the Middle Ages. In 1927, the first Neolithic grave in Bulgarian lands was discovered here. There is an interesting fragment of a clay bowl decorated with a white swastika dating from the Early Neolithic period (beginning of the 6th millennium BC). During the Neolithic/Copper Age (5th millennium BC), the settlement in the cave occupied the largest area. A child burial and two ceramic cups were found in the dry corridor of the cave. Finds from the Bronze Age (11th-11th millennium BC) include a bronze sickle and a stone pot. The Thracians introduced the new culture during this period. In one of the settlements, an earth handle from a Rhodes amphora dating from 175-172 BC was found. Materials found from the Roman period (1st-3rd centuries) include a marble votive tablet depicting Artemis/Diana and a portion of the stump of Hercules, indicating that a sanctuary dedicated to these deities most likely existed here. In the 12th to 14th centuries, the cave was used as a refuge. Discovered settlements and artifacts (made of stone, flint, bone, wood, clay, and metal) attest to the high material and spiritual culture of the people who inhabited the cave for centuries. The Devetashka Cave is a cultural monument and a protected natural site of national and international importance.

The waterfall is always worth a trip. It is easy to reach from Teteven. From the car park it is only a short walk through the forest. It can get crowded on weekends.

Here you can gather strength before a hike or relax after a hike. Opposite there is also a snack bar with grilled food at fair prices.

The Devetaki Cave is one of the most spectacular cave systems in the world. It's not dark, damp, cold, or perhaps a little spooky here. This is thanks to the seven huge ceiling openings: On clear days, dazzling sunlight shines through, illuminating the expansive main cave and parts of the side passages. Between them, monumental stone arches span the paths laid out for visitors – a popular photo opportunity for tourists. Archaeological finds prove that the Devetaki Cave, located 70 kilometers northeast of Gabrovo, was already inhabited in the Paleolithic period. Although no people live here today, there is a large colony of bats – accordingly, the dark cave area is off-limits to visitors. But the Devetaki Cave not only has qualities as a bat hotel, but also as a film set: Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, Chuck Norris, and other muscle-bound action heroes fought their way through the cave entrance, which was then released under the title Expendables 2. When Bulgarian conservationists visited the cave after filming, they counted only around 8,500 animals instead of over 30,000. Boyan Petrov of the Natural History Museum told the media at the time that they had never counted fewer than 10,000 specimens in previous years. The cave system can still be visited, either with guided tours or on your own. In both cases, however, consideration should be given to the animals – which also means that tourists should stay on the designated paths and refrain from making noise. https://www.geo.de/reisen/22302-rtkl-devetaki-hoehle-ein-maechtiges-hoehlensystem-im-herzen-des-balkans

Beautiful. On one side southern Bulgaria, on the other side northern Bulgaria and you sometimes walk right along the ridge. Also perfect for day trips from the Troyan Pass (Beklemeto) to the Kozya Stena hut and back.