The Rhodopes

One of the most mystical places in the Rhodopes. The sanctuary is a rock massif whose summit looks like a truncated pyramid. Two sarcophagi, an altar bed and a well have been found. The complex is hard to date because it holds traces of different eras, but the oldest go back to the 19th to 11th century BC.

Orpheus is thought to have been worshipped here, and his grave may be here too, though that remains a hypothesis. The place is full of a mystery words cannot hold: you can only feel it.

Besides being a place of offerings to the ancient Thracian gods, the monument was used to watch the Sun rise and set on certain days of the year. On the winter solstice the rising Sun fell right into the centre of a special cleft in the rock.

The shape of the megalith’s highest part hints at this: a carved half-circle like a rising sun. Most remarkable of all, the sarcophagus points straight at the Sun on the days of the equinox. The rock shaped like a truncated pyramid is unlike any other found in our lands.

Another phenomenon. The forest is over 30 million years old and the only one where the trees are made of stone. They grew after underwater volcanic activity, capped with ash. The nature around is unique, the rocks rise like guardians of the legends and history we want to learn. The place is full of strong energy, and the moment you step there you will hold your breath.

It is not among the popular sights, but it is worth the trip. All around are rocks that look like human faces, and below them the water quietly falls, whispering its story.