Payless

The term geopark is not very popular in Bulgaria. Overall a geopark is a complex of natural phenomena who are of geological and paleontological interest. All of the regions natural beauties, cultural and historical landmarks are connected via eco-paths. In most cases, the park is made accessible for tourists and is a very intelligent investment in the future of the region. Bulgaria has its first and only geopark, which was recently opened, near the town of Lukovit. Called The Iskar – Panega, the park combines two regions – The Karlukovo Karst Complex and the Panega River Park.

This is the first project of that kind in Bulgaria and is financed from Lukovit municipality and the EU. The Karlukovo Karst Complex is situated near the village of Karlukovo and combines all types of karst phenomena. There are around 400 caves in the region that are divided in two types – vertical and horizontal. Most of them are near each other and there are many interesting formations inside them. The terrain is crossed by many Karst chasms, some of which bear the names of Bankovitza, Svirchovica, Kucheshkata and so on. The most attractive landmark in the region is the stone arch Prohodna.

The Panega River Park is situated very near to the Sofia – Pleven – Rousse road, just ahead of the town of Lukovit. The beautiful eco – follows the river Panega. The springs of the river are located 20 km away. The most interesting part about Panega are it`s meanders. This magical combination of flora, fauna, water and rock formations is said to bring peace and harmony to people and can ease headaches and stress. Parts of the eco – path are situated just above the river and after a few kilometers away is the Karlukovo Karst Complex.

The region also has unique cultural and historical places of interest. The paths travel through a rock monastery complex. Don`t forget to see the church “Assumption of Virgin Mary” in Karlukovo.

For those who seek thrills in their visit to the Geopark, there are many opportunities for extreme sports. Thanks to the professionals from the Lukovit cave exploration club, you can go explore one of the many caves in the region. There are also conditions for rafting, sailing, rock climbing, paintball, bungie and off-road.

The easiest way to get to the park is by car from Sofia. Take the road to Pleven and Rousse and drive to Lukovit. From there the park is near and is reachable by foot