Wine Routes The Soul of the Balkans Wine Route Stara Planina Stara Planina wine treasure Knjaževac, Vidin and Belogradchik municipalities Detailed description, including listing of sights SIGHTSEEING: Serbia Knjaževac old town and a stone bridge Knjazevac Local Museum City Museum - Ace Stanojevic House Memorial Park to the fighters of the Liberation Wars Timacum Minus - Archeological ethno-park in Ravna village SPECIALTIES OF THE AREA: Bulgaria Belogradchik rocks Lamb and cheese „Magura“ Cave form the Stara Planina Mountain „Venetsa“ Cave Glass of Vranac red wine or rose wine Ethnographic museum Belmuž „Kaleto“ Fortress „Kompirovitsa“ soup (potato soup) Kosachko kiselo „Magura“ Sparkling wine Detailed description, including listing of sights ACTIVE HOLIDAY AND RELAXATION: THE MOST INTERESTING EVENTS: Discovering of Knjazevac Wine Roads Wellness weekend at the Stara Planina Hotel Serbia Skiing at Babin zub ski center Youth Culture Festival of Serbia, Hiking on the Stara Planina Trails July, Knjazevac Holidays in mountain villas and rural households Prayer under Midžor, Electric bike ride among the rocks Sent George, May, Air walk with balloon Vrtovac and Balta Berilovac villages Boat trip and fishing in Rabisha lake Jeep ride among the rocks Bulgaria Folklore festival „From Timok to Iskar”, June International border regions gathering in „Kada boaz” area, third week of July Opera on the peaks – Belogradchik rocks, July -August What to do in the area? Visit: Serbia - Sokobanja, Ozren and Sokograd, take a lunch in the Župan Restaurant - The Imperial Palace Felix Romuliana (UNSECO) near Zaječar Bulgaria - „Baba Vida“ Fortress in town Vidin - The mosque and library of Osman Pazvantoglu in town Vidin - Museum of history „Konaka“ and ethnographic museum „Cross-shaped barracks” Wineries We recommend: We recommend: Srbija Bugarska Winery Jović „Magura“ Selo Potrkanje, Rabisha village, Vidin region Knjaževac, Phone: 00359 93 29 62 30 Phone: +381 (0) 19 730 337, fax: 00359 93 29 63 99 Phone: +381 (0) 732 770, e-mail: Phone: +381 (0) 64 2214515 [email protected] Phone: +381 (0) 63 844 7672 www.magurawinery.bg Wine Cellar Ravna Village of Ravna bb, „Borovitsa“ Knjaževac, Borovitsa village, Phone: +381 (0) 60 51 21 840 Belogradchik municipality Phone: +381 (0) 19 759 873 Phone: 00359 887 806200 e-mail: Winery Todorović [email protected] Village of Potrkanje bb, www.winwines.net/vinarska- Knjaževac, izba-borovica Phone: +381 (0) 69 732 715 Wine Cellar Džervin Karađorđeva 128, Knjaževac, Phone: +381 (0) 19 73 11 20 Tip: Check opening hours and current tasting prices before arrival. Restaurants Restaurants for a Restaurants for a recommendation: recommendation: Serbia Bulgaria Cafe Pizzeria Korzo „At Ivan's “ Restaurant Knjaza Miloša 5, Town Belogradčik, Knjaževac, 3 Yurii Gagarin street, Phone: +381 (0) 19 731006 Phone: +359 87 920 7712 www.priivan.com Renesansa Knjaza Miloša 163, „Madonna Inn“ Knjaževac, Falkovets village, Phone: +381 (0) 69 3808556; Phone: +359 898533385, Phone: +381 (0) 19 731 999 www.madonainn.com Restaurant JB „Mislen kamak“ Knjaza Miloša 170, Town Belogradchik, Knjaževac, Mislen kamak area, Phone: +381 (0) 19 3732540; Phone: +359 87 983 0207 Phone: +381 (0) 63 173 42 01 „Skalite“ (The rocks) Alas Plus Restaurant Radomira Ćirkovića 2, Belogradchik, 1 Knjaževac, Hadzhi Dimitar street, Phone: +381 (0) 19 739732 Phone: +359884 514154, www.skalite.bg/bg/home.html Mehana S Vase Čarapića 7, Механа „Marakashnitsa“ Knjaževac, Tavern Phone: +381 (0) 63 480679 Town Belogradchik, 1 Vasil Levski street, Phone: +359 88 865 7287 The average price for a meal for two is around 15 EUR. Acommodation Accommodation Accommodation for recommendation: for recommendation: Serbia Bulgaria Hotel Stara Planina „Skalite“ Hotel Village of Kalna, Belogradčik, Knjaževac Hadzhi Dimitar street Phone: +381 (0) 19 3195 134; Phone: +359884 514154, Phone: +381 (0) 19 3195 135 http://www.skalite.bg/bg/hom e.html Vila Babin zub Village of Balta Berilovac, „Madonna Inn“, Knjaževac, Falkovets village, Phone: +381 (0) 64 1249909 Phone: +359 898533385, www.madonainn.com Mansion Stara Planina Village of Balta Berilovac, „The Rocks“ Hotel Knjaževac, Belogradčik, Phone: +381 (0) 65 513 50 55 1 Hadzhi Dimitar street, Phone: +35989 873 3818 Mansion Anđela Village of Vrtovac bb, „Fort o bel“ Hotel Knjaževac, 41 Tsolo Todorov street, Phone: +381 (0) 64 05 05 611 Phone: +359 896585955 www.fortobel.com/v1 Mali predah Mile Julinog 4, Knjaževac, Phone: + 381 (0) 19 739100 Price per night for 2 persons starts from 20 EUR. Interesting facts Serbia Natural pearl – Stara Planina Mountain The landscape of the Stara Planina Mountains is characterized with dense forests, vast pastures and picturesque villages. The Rock Babin Zub, at 1758 meters above sea level, which reminds on an old tooth, is a trademark of the mountain. Particularly interesting places are the Bigar creek valley, the highest peak Midžor and the meanders of Temštica. A picturesque city Knjaževac's old town, with its beautiful colorful houses and small bridges on Timok, is extremely pleasing to the eye. At the beginning of the 20th century, the famous architect Le Corbusier stayed in the town. Inspired by the scene, he drew a city, and his drawing is stored in the National Museum in Belgrade. The infamous tower Knjazevac was once called Gurgusovac. There was a tower of the same name in the city, in which Prince Aleksandar Karadjordjevic imprisoned his political opponents in harsh conditions. When Prince Milos returned to power, he ordered the tower to be burned. In gratitude, the town of Gurgusovac was named Knjazevac. A novel about socks Versatile in styling and color, double-thread socks are a distinct representative of folk art. Ornaments on knitted socks reached their peak right in the Knjazevac area. Along with a rich collection of socks, the Local Museum holds a unique album with drawings showing the knitting skills of the Timok region. This valuable collection is the work of spouses Svetozar and Vidosava Popovic. More information - Wine routes - The Soul of the Balkans www.wineroutesob.com - Visit East Serbia www.visiteastserbia.rs - TO Knjaževac www.toknjazevac.org.rs Interesting facts Bulgaria Belogradchik rocks The Belogradchik Rocks are rock formations in the Western Pre-Balkans, at the southern foot of the Belogradchik Wreath, surrounding the town of Belogradchik and the villages of Borovitsa, Chiflik and Prauzhda. Many of the rocks have fantastic shapes and are the subject of legends. They are often referred to as people or objects that resemble or remind them. Belogradchik rocks are made of colorful Triassic sandstones and conglomerates. The sandstone bond is of clay or quartz. Belogradchik Rocks are the main tourist destination in northwestern Bulgaria. "Magura“ Cave The cave is located about 18 km. northwest of the town of Belogradchik and about 1.5 km. northwest of the village of Rabisha. It is one of the largest Bulgarian caves. All the halls are connected through galleries and cave tunnels, there are many stalactites, stalagmites and stalactones, and there is a small lake in the Triumphal Hall. Inside, there is a constant temperature of 12 ° C. Its total length is 2500 m. „Venetsa“ Cave “Venetsa“ (the Wreath) is a cave near the village of Oreshets and is among the most beautiful caves in Bulgaria. The cave is located 300 meters southeast of the village of Oreshets, 3.3 kilometers east of Belogradchik. It was discovered during blasting of a quarry near the village in 1970. The cave was explored and mapped the following year by the „Bel prilep“ (White Bat) Cave Club at the „Belogradchik Rocks“ Tourist association in town Belogradchik. It was opened to visitors on June 1, 2015. „Кaleto“ Fortress Historically, the fortress is the largest cultural landmark of the town of Belogradchik. The main tourist flow of the area is directed to the Belogradchik Kale (slope) and to the Belogradchik Rocks. Belogradchik Fortress is one of the most preserved fortresses in Bulgaria and has been declared a cultural monument of national importance. More information - Wine routes - Soul of the Balkans www.wineroutesob.com - Visit Vidin www.visitvidin.eu - Belogradchik municipality www.belogradchik.bg - Dimovo municipality www.dimovo.bg/page=phonebook&pid=15&id=76.