Buynovsko Gorge

The gorge is situated from the two sides of the Buynovska river, a feeder of Vacha river. Close after the road fork at village of Teshel the rocks are getting narrower above the river by forming an impressive gorge. The turbulent waters are cut the limy rocks by creating a unique corner in the Rhodope Mountains. The vertical rocks are so close that they leave the impression that you can jump over the way. The place where the rocks are as almost touching by leaving a narrow slit only for he sunbeams is called by the inhabitants of village of Yagodina “Valchi skok” (Wolf’s jump).They say that at this place during the winter jump the hungry wolfs packs to attack their sheep-fold.

Besides 36 caves, the river has carved other interesting formations in the marble cliff. Not far from The Yagodina Cave there is a natural bridge, and close to the bridge is the beautiful Praskolo waterfall.

The beauty of the Buynovo Gorge can be appreciated from “a bird’s-eye view,” thanks to the creative ideas of the local tourist association. They have constructed what they call The Eagle’s Eye, a metal platform built on the precipitous cliff face of the Saint Iliya Peak at a height of 1,563 meters, with impressive views of the entire surrounding area. During good weather, the entire Rhodope Range and even parts of Greece are visible, and individual peaks can be identified.

Several hiking trails have been built in the region. The Buynovo Gorge was designated as a nature reserve in 1971, and is one of Bulgaria’s top one hundred tourist destinations. There are many rare and endangered species in the area, such as the rosette perennial Haberlea rhodopensis, a plant renowned for its ability to survive for years even during drought on just a few drops of water.