Wonderful Bridges or Чудните мостове (Chudnite Mostove) as you will hear Bulgarians calling them are one of the most spectacular stone formations in the country. They are on the list of 100 of Bulgaria’s Nature Wonders at #85 and for a good reason. The size and beauty of this massive structure is impressive and will take your breath away.
The Wonderful Bridges are located near the town of Zabardo 3 hours away from Sofia, an 1h and 30 min drive from Plovdiv and 3h and 30 min from Burgas. The roads leading to the intersection before you have to turn to get to the Bridges are relatively good. The last part of the road is not paved and pretty bumpy so make sure to plan before heading this way. If your car is not made for off-roading you will either want to skip on this trip or prepare to take it really slowly and carefully.
The Wonderful Bridges are situated in the Rhodope Mountains in a karst valley at 4,760 ft above sea level at the foot of Persenk Peak.
Once you arrive you will be greeted by a newly updated restaurant offering refreshment, traditional southeastern Rhodopinal dishes and sandwiches all made with local products mostly grown in the nearby town of Zabardo. The restaurant has 130 seats so even if you have a big group you will always be able to find a seat here. Depending on the weather and your preferences you can choose between indoor or the outdoor sitting. We personally enjoyed the outdoor tables sitting right by the stream in the flower covered meadow. There is a small kids corner where children can play while you are enjoying your meal.
If you are enjoying the nature and don’t want to leave this beautiful spot there is an option of spending the night here. A large hut that shares two bathrooms offers 12 beds, free wifi, water, electricity and heat in the winter. If you are looking for something more private, a small completely renovated bungalow is located near the main building and offers two small double bedrooms each with their own bathroom.
There is plenty of space around the huts and near the restaurants where you can pitch a tent if that’s something you might be interested in.
Souvenir shops are located at the beginning of the trail as well and you can stop by on your way back to your car if you would like to buy something that will remind you of your visit here.
The trail to the Arches is pretty easy and short and doable for all hiker levels. Even at a slow pace it will not take you longer than 15 minutes.
At the end of the path you will be greeted by the sight of the massive arch formation of the largest Bridge. There are two that visitors can see. Many smaller caves are located along the river however they have not been fully discovered yet and are not recommended for exploration due to the continues erosion in the area. It is believed that the Wonderful Bridges were formed as a result of an earthquake where the river dropped only to reveal and underground cave. The arches are the only remains left behind and all of the rest was swept by the heavily flowing river.
This massive marble nature formation stands at 315ft width and over 200ft height. It is absolutely impressive and standing underneath it makes you really feel the greatness of nature. You can walk under it and touch the side of it. The cool marble is cold and smooth to the touch.
A small river wavers in between the smaller arch and you are welcome to walk there and look around. The water is cold and refreshing and a great cooling source in the summer. The cave opening is pretty open at the front and continuously narrows. If you follow the river you’ll get to where the river disappears underground. The rivers returns back to the surface in about a mile and a half further down the forest. You can see pretty good the majestic size of the arches compares to a human in the picture below.
A small ice cave is formed in the second arch and ice can be found there sometime until late July. It is an interesting phenomenon and is exceptionally cool for kids to witness. Ours had all kinds of questions about it and thoroughly enjoyed all the commotion other people made over it.
If you are looking for a different viewpoint of the Wonder Bridges take the path leading to overlook above the arches. The vistas before you are beautiful and the walk is pretty short and easy. If you are bringing kids along for the hike make sure to keep them close by. Although there is metal fencing along the edge of the cliff the drop is pretty significant and will be dangerous.
Being that you will be exploring the area near the highest peak in the Rhodope Mountains (7,188 miles above sea level) make sure to bring appropriate wear and be prepared for weather that changes very quickly in this parts.
Also please follow proper hiking manners, do not litter and pick up after yourself and your pet if you are bringing one along with you. Be courteous of your fellow hikers, do not move rocks and do not pick up any wildflowers. The ecosystem here is fragile and we are all trying to do our best to protect it for future generations and other nature lovers to enjoy.
For ideas on other things to do around the area and in Bulgaria in general check our other blog posts on the topic or find suggestions on our INSTAGRAM page.
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