The small town of Berkovitsa is one of the places in Bulgaria where one can feel history in the air but also the idyllic calm of life close to Nature. The place is related for many Bulgarians to the name of great Bulgarian writer Yordan Radichkov. Very many think of the town as the place of origin of the very popular Berkovitsa Brass Band. The numerous festivals in latter years are lending yet another image to the settlement. We get more from Mrs. Petya Genova in charge of public relations at the municipality.

“Old and modern at the same time Berkovitsa is hugging under the mighty Kom Peak. The town spreads in the western outskirts of the Balkan Range, bathing in the freshness of the dense beech and chestnut woods. The proximity of the forest, the crystal-clear streams and the scent of mountain wild herbs make the air crisp and brilliant. Viewed from Kom Peak Berkovitsa looks as small as to hold in the palm of one’s hand – a green carpet sprinkled with the red of the houses’ roofs.

The origin of the settlement is registered somewhere in the first millennium BC when the Thracian tribe of Tribally inhabited these lands. By the 18-19 century Berkovitsa had grown into a cultural and economic center of well-developed crafts. It is the place where the first vocational school in northwestern Bulgaria was inaugurated – a woodwork school, which this year celebrated its 100th anniversary. Nowadays its inhabitants call their place “the town of festivals”. It is the venue of the international children’s art festival “Patent Leather Shoes”. It is also the stage of the “BerkRock” festival and the folklore fest “The Balkan is Singing and Dancing”.

“BerkRock” Fest has become very popular among rock fans in Bulgaria. More than 100 Bulgarian and guest rock bands have performed there. The special atmosphere of the place during the rock fest days attracts a growing number of tourists from across the country and from abroad. The festival stage is put up in an enormous clearing in the very center of the town and fans are of all ages – entire families come to hear their favorite music or give themselves to memories of old rock pieces. Bulgarian and foreign performers create something of a local Bulgarian Woodstock.

Those familiar with the works of writer and playwright Yordan Radichkov, whose books have been translated in dozens of foreign languages and who introduced in Bulgarian literature the atmosphere of a kind of national “magic realism” it would be interesting to see a monument built in honor of the writer. It is called The Tree of Life and is made of wood on which the portraits of various characters from Radichkov’s stories and scenes from his works are carved together with the image of the church in his native village of Kalimantsi.

Berkovitsa is on the way to put through a large-scale project for a winter sports center. For the fans of the mountain eco-paths have been traced and places for stopping for a rest and looking around have been built. A beautiful place worth visiting is the locality of the Rebels’ Waterfalls. The view of the foaming waters cutting the bright green of the forest is especially beautiful. Further up in the mountain rises the Kom Peak in all its grandeur of 2016 meters of altitude. In the direction of the resort of Varshets stands Klissurski Monastery – Bulgaria’s fourth biggest. Going back to Berkovitsa itself, one should not miss to visit the Kaleto hill, which stands up amidst the very settlement. It still preserves some Roman time ruins and is a favorite with local people as it is a kind of park for a pleasant stroll up and downhill in all times.

English version: Iva Letnikova