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

The leader of GERB speaks about reformatting the ruling majority

"We will no longer help ensure a quorum in Parliament", said Boyko Borissov, leader of GERB, the party holding the mandate for the government formed by the parliamentary majority. His statement, made in front of the party's parliamentary group and..

published on 10/15/25 9:12 AM

President Rumen Radev vetoes SANS Act

President Rumen Radev has returned for new discussion in the National Assembly the amendments to the State Agency for National Security (SANS) Act, adopted on October 2 this year, which assign the power to appoint or dismiss the chairman of the agency..

published on 10/14/25 6:42 PM

Wednesday will be cloudy with occasional sunny spells and brief showers in the east

On Wednesday, the lowest temperatures will range between 6°C and 11°C, around 7°C in Sofia. Cloud cover will remain significant over most of the country, with rain showers in parts of Eastern Bulgaria and the mountains, more intense in the Rhodope..

published on 10/14/25 6:40 PM