Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

120 years since the first winter climb of Mount Vitosha’s Cherni Vrah

View of Cherni Vrah, 1932
Photo: Vitosha Nature Park Directorate

On this day in 1905, 15 enthusiasts, university students, climbed the highest peak in Mount Vitosha near Sofia, in winter for the first time – Cherni Vrah peak (2,290 m.)

The young people started out at noon on 30 January, 1905 from the region of Koru Baglar (Lozenetz of today) towards Dragalevtsi village and Dragaslevtsi monastery where they spent the night. Even though the people from the village tried to talk them out of the climb because the snow cover was very thick, the mountain was full of wolves and because no one had ever done it before, early in the morning on 31 January, the young people started on their way up to the top, 360mag.bg writes. Because the snow was so deep the students were making their way up slowly, and by 5 PM they had managed to reach their goal. The view from the top was spectacular – to the South the white peaks of Mount Rila, to the North – the Balkan Range. And down below them – Sofia, all wrapped up in smoke and fog. Before starting on their way down, the young people set down, at the foot of the most prominent rock on the peak itself, a list of their names and the date – 31 January, 1905 – on which they had made their dream come true – to climb Cherni Vrah peak in winter.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Showers are expected across much of Bulgaria over the weekend

On Saturday, minimum temperatures will range from 8 to 13°C , around 9°C in Sofia. It will be mostly cloudy with rain in many areas. There will be temporary breaks in cloud cover over southern regions. Overnight into Sunday, cloudiness will begin to..

published on 10/17/25 7:05 PM

Fourth air ambulance helicopter arrives in Bulgaria

Bulgaria has received its fourth air ambulance helicopter.  “The new aircraft will be based at the Georgi Benkovski Air Force Academy hangar in Dolna Mitropolia. From there, it will serve a wide regional area and make a significant contribution to the..

published on 10/17/25 4:24 PM

BNR will host 2025 Public Broadcasters International conference

The Bulgarian National Radio will host the 2025  Public Broadcasters International (PBI) Annual Conference . The prestigious forum will be held from 20 to 22 October for the first time in the Bulgarian capital Sofia. The theme of the PBI..

published on 10/17/25 3:34 PM