Around ten limestone pinnacles rising steeply from the Tsonevo Reservoir: Chudnite Skali is a striking natural landmark for a trip to Dalgopol. The rocks are 40 to 50 metres high and were shaped by water and wind. The protected rock formation covers 12.5 hectares along the reservoir shore and lies four kilometres from Asparukhovo.
Rock Formations, Caves and Waterfalls
Chudnite Skali is visible from the main road; three tunnels run through the rock massif. The Vodenitsite protected area is also in Dalgopol Municipality. It provides habitat for protected bird species such as Egyptian vultures, golden eagles and ravens. Foxes, deer, jackals and martens also live there; hunting is prohibited.
Vodenitsite includes more than ten caves and rock niches. Rock faces up to 40 metres high are suitable for sport climbing, and waterfalls reach heights of up to 15 metres. The area also features gazebos, fountains and bridges, as well as marked trails leading to its main points of interest. A marked, two-kilometre trail leads to Kozya Cave: the 210-metre-long limestone rock niche contains shell fossils and imprints. An approximately one-kilometre marked trail leads to the Hermit's Cave.
Marcha Dupka is a 38-metre-deep natural karst cave inhabited by hundreds of bats. Tulumova Cave near Arkovna is different: it is a protected area and habitat for protected bat species, and the area is difficult to access. Royashka Skala protects animal and plant species and is considered suitable for educational activities and sustainable tourism.
Waterfalls also vary in form and conditions. Sini Vir near Debelets is a four-hectare protected forest area with a waterfall on the Eleshnitsa River. Kuza Skoka near Lopushna is a seven-metre-high protected natural waterfall. Its water supply is seasonal, coming from snowmelt and heavy rain.
Archaeological Traces and Local History
The Dalgopol Historical Museum brings together archaeological and ethnographic exhibitions spanning periods from the Palaeolithic to the Late Middle Ages. The materials on display include finds from the Neolithic settlement of Usoe. Excavations at the open-air settlements of Usoe-1 and Usoe-2 near Asparukhovo uncovered a total of 80 pit dwellings.
A prehistoric mound near Sava gave its name to the Eneolithic Sava culture. Excavated pottery and tools are housed in the Archaeological Museum of the city of Dalgopol. The place name Tsonevo is also linked to an early cultural history: the Early Neolithic Tsonevo culture bears its name; materials relating to it are held at the museum in Dalgopol, the Archaeological Museum of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the National Historical Museum.
Near Arkovna, another era takes centre stage: from the 3rd century BC, Arkovna Fortress and its settlement formed a developed agglomeration and are designated a local cultural heritage monument. Two kilometres from the city of Dalgopol, a Thracian necropolis dating to the Roman period is being excavated. It is dated to the 2nd century.
Traditions and Guidance for Your Stay
In Asparukhovo, the Church of Saint Petka Paraskeva was built by craftsmen from Ohrid in 1857. The nearby Ovchaga architectural and ethnographic complex preserves weaving and pottery traditions, folklore and customs. Its restored houses are said to be open year-round. The ethnographic collection at the Dobri Nedev community centre displays objects from the everyday life and culture of local residents in the 20th century.
The memorial site for voivode Hristo Nikolov Patrev near Asparukhovo is accessible from Dalgopol and Asparukhovo via marked hiking trails. Asparukhovo is considered the tourist centre of Dalgopol Municipality; accommodation and dining facilities are concentrated there. Asparukhovo is therefore a useful point of reference when choosing a place to stay.
Tourist activities in Asparukhovo include visits to the ethnographic collection, rides in traditional carts and welcomes featuring local Bulgarian customs and traditional clothing. Visitor activities in the municipality also include tastings of locally produced wine and rakia, as well as honey tastings with demonstrations of honey production. Alongside rock landscapes and archaeological sites, regional customs and products are also a discovery in their own right.
Discover more destinations: Dŭlgopol, Asparuhovo, Partizani, Beloslav, Devnya, Dolni Chiflik, Varna, Provadia.
For the wider travel overview: Varna Province.
