Location: The village of Trigrad lies close to the border with Greece, 27km away from the town of Devin. The narrow asphalt road to the village follows the meandering Trigrad River for a few kilometers before its passes through the breathtaking Trigrad Gorge – e phenomenal natural karst formation with 250-meter high walls on both sides of the road. To many (including ourselves!) the Trigrad Gorge is the most impressive natural sight in Bulgaria and there is little doubt that it is worth the 3-hour ride from Sofia.
About the village: Apart from the incomparable Trigrad Gorge, the region is home to about 150 caves and appeals with equal strength to nature-lovers, climbers and speleologists all over the year. Only two of these, the Devil’s Throat and the Yagodinska caves, however, are open to ordinary tourists. And while the former is wilder for its 18 roaring waterfalls and steep passages, the latter is richer in rare cave formations such as ‘stone curtains’ and ‘cave pearls’. Another cave, the so-called Haramiiska, welcomes only the bravest who, after signing a declaration that the organizers are not to be held liable in case of an incident, are dropped by ropes deep into the cave’s throat. For those not fond of extreme adventures, the neighbourhood of Trigrad boasts with one of the best-kept staples, breeding pools open to fishermen, and various well-signed tourist itineraries in the mountains.
The villagers of Trigrad, who are predominantly Bulgarian Muslims, are extremely hospitable with almost every house open to tourists. The village’s square hosts side by side a mosque and a church, illustrating and peace and understanding in which the two religions co-exist in the midst of the old Rhodopi mountains.
