Monument
Route Madzharovo - Momina skala

The tourist route has the starting point - Madzharovo. With about 500 inhabitants it is the second smallest town in Bulgaria (after Melnik). Tucked away among the beautiful northeastern slopes of the Eastern Rhodopes and is located in the center of a volcanic crater, lava pouring the bottom of the shallow sea that existed in the area about 35 million years. In the recent past Madzharovo became known for the dramatic events surrounding the Second Balkan War (1913).

The then name of the village is Yatadzhik. It was here that suits Turkish irregulars ambushed near 20 000 Bulgarian refugees from Thrace. Killed more than 2000 women and children, but the tragedy would have been much greater without the heroic efforts of the bands of Rusi Slavov, Dimitar Madjarov to protect people from the atrocities of the retreating paramilitary squads. As a sign of respect to the second by a voivode city is named after him. After World War II Madzharovo became one of the centers of the mining industry in the country.

The route has a total length of about five and a half kilometers and is relatively easy to overcome, even by tourists insufficient physical training and experience. Its displacement is also relatively small - the lowest point is 170 and the highest at 758 meters altitude. The route passes through mostly rocky area, crossing the typical Eastern Rhodopes rounded hills. Along the way you encounter flocks of sheep, herds semi-wild horses and a symbol of the region - the Rhodope Shorthorn cattle.

So imperceptibly route leads to the protected area Momina Skala, which is also its end point. Special status area received in 2001 at the proposal of the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds to protect threatened by destruction of plants, animals and rock formations. Located on the right bank of Arda, south of another protected area - Black Rock.

Biodiversity is really impressive - 600 species of plants, 300 species of butterflies and 160 species of vertebrates. Many of them are protected at both national and European level and worldwide.

In the protected area are dwelling and endangered globally Hermann and spur-thighed tortoise. Also here live European glass lizard, short-toed eagle, honey-buzzard, golden eagle, blue and colorful rock thrush, Egyptian vulture, rock nuthatch, and many other species. Mammals greatest interest is the forest dormouse. The route is easy, enjoyable, educational and suitable for all ages.

• Route