The mountain is situated in Southwest Bulgaria, but a bit aside from the bigger mountains of Pirin, Rhodope and Rila, the latter with the highest peak in the Balkan Peninsula – Musala /2925 m/. The guests of the capital city often take the ridges of Lozen for parts of the Vitosha Mountain that guards Sofia from the South. However, the small mountain is actually an extension of the Sredna Gora one. Back in Medieval ages the fortresses along the Lozen ridges were practically those that defended Sofia from enemies. They sent an alarm through big fires, whenever any danger was spotted. The fortresses also guarded the road between Belgrade and Constantinople. One of the most famous places, where travelers and caravans used to stop for a rest is still called Novi Han. This is one of the many entrances of the mountain, along with the ones of Dolni Pasarel and the village of Lozen. The latter can be reached by car or by public transport for some 15 – 30 minutes. It is also taken for one of Sofia’s neighborhoods, but actually official statistics says that it is the biggest village in this country, with a population of over 6,300 people, to say nothing of the students and workers, who opt for Lozen due to lower rents…

© Photo: wikipedia.org

Polovrag Peak, the western slope of Lozen and the view towards Vitosha Mountain

This closeness of Lozen makes locals take it for their domestic mountain. There is no vanity in Lozen, nor skiers. It is a cozy, calm place that is accessible through all the four seasons. Snow can hardly be found on its southern slopes even in winter.

The picture was a bit different some 90 mln. years ago, with a lot of replacement and curving at the end of the Mesozoic Era. The Samokovska, Sofyiska and Chukurovska hollows were slowly sinking, while the Lozen Mountain was rising. The soft climate attracted ancient Thracian tribes, Odrysaeans among those, which established settlements and grew vineries here. The Thracians were also good miners. The first Bulgarian coalmine was established near the village of Gabra back in 1856. The place is named after the Bulgarian translation of the hornbeam tree and can be met a lot. There are also hawthorn shrub, oak, aspen, willows, poplar trees, acacia shrubs etc.

© Photo: wikipedia.org

The village of Lozen at the foot of the mountain and the outskirts of the capital Sofia in the distance

The Lozen Mountain eco route combines the pleasure of beautiful views, rich natural biodiversity and history. One can reach the highest peak in this part of the mountain – the one of Polovrak /1,182 m/. The name is a Thracian one and means eagle eyes. When the weather is clear, one can see the Iskar Dam from the peak. It is impossible to hurry along this route, since each next turn reveals new magnificent views towards the Sofia Plain, Rila, Vitosha, Plana, the Balkan Range… Different signs tell the stories of the spots, where historical events took place: this is where pilot hero Dimitar Spisarevski fell on the ground with his plane after the first successful ram in the history of this country’s aviation during WWII. We can stop for a rest and opt for the Polovrak Peak or the village of Dolni Pasarel. In the meanwhile we can take a look at the St. Spas Monastery.

© Photo: wikipedia.org

The yeard and dormitory building of St. Spas Monastery

Legends say that there were more than 40 churches and monasteries around Sofia in ancient times. The area was known as the Small Mount Athos. One can visit the monasteries in the villages of Pasarel and German too. A legend says that once the road to the Rila Monastery passed through Lozen. St. John of Rila walked by on a hot summer day. No water could be found around, nor a spring. The saint stopped and asked the Lord for water. A spring appeared out of nowhere… Later on Tsar Petar ordered a monastery, named after the saint to be built there.

There are many stories and legends, preserved in the folds of the Lozen Mountain – a “domestic” spot that is ready to reveal its beauty and mysteries to the traveler…

English version: Zhivko Stanchev