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Karadjov Stone: crazy place, wow views and awesome legends

Do you want to be freaking out, while trying not to slide down a nearly vertical rock, passing under a massive stone, stuck between the tallest sides of this very same rock? I know you do!

You can find this place close to the Cross Forest I told you about recently. Well, close is a relative term. Svetlana and Christo told us that the way to the Karadjov Stone takes about 30 minutes. Well, it doesn’t. At least not for my group. It took us about an hour and something to get there – it was really hot and we had two unexperienced members in the group – Daisy (our Shih-Tzu) and our dad who had a quadruple bypass four years ago. Naturally, we didn’t want to rush, but I assure you that even a person with an unsteady heart can take this walk without a problem – as long as the rest of the group is considerate. Daisy on the other hand… Well, see for yourself:

Daisy struggling to make it to Karadjov Stone
Nina carrying Daisy on the way to Karadjov Stone
And then Ellie carrying Daisy on the way to Karadjov Stone
And then Ellie carrying Daisy on the way to Karadjov Stone

Once we reached Karadjov Stone we were surprised at first. The initial view is of this massive rock which seems completely impregnable.

Karadjov Stone, first impressions
Karadjov Stone, first impressions

I would love to say it gets better afterwards, but it really doesn’t. Once we went closer, we realized that the way to the top is nearly vertical and there is a wooden ladder, hand crafted by somebody God knows when. I remember Hugues (or someone else from our group) wondering when was the last time the ladder was checked by the authorities. I laughed – let’s leave it at that.

Here’s what going up Karadjov Stone actually looks like (if you’re going there with your crush, let them go first so you enjoy a better view):

Going up on Karadjov Stone
Going up on Karadjov Stone

Once up, the nice part begins. With one little warning:

WARNING: When we went to Karadjov Stone, we saw a snake. Don’t let this discourage you, but wear woollen socks – this will protect you in case you meet a “sister”.

If you listen to my advice here, you won’t have a single problem (the snake we saw was a tiny one). Other than that, once up you will be stunned. Karadjov Stone offers a 360 degrees view of the Rhodope mountain and it is insanely beautiful. We rushed a little and went before summer had arrived, yet the open space and the beauty of the mountain were breathtaking. Even considering all the challenges we faced getting there, I would still recommend it.

The view from Karadjov Stone
Ellie on the edge (I am somewhere in the background screaming)

The view from Karadjov Stone 2

As a part of the energy triangle of the Balkans, you can see both the Cross Forest and Belintash from there. Historically, Karadjov Stone has been a sacred place even for the Thracians (Bulgarian ancestors) – 6th-7th Century BC. This basically tells you that the hanging-in-mid-air stone has been there quite a while and is probably not falling any time soon.

The legend

According to the legend that Julia from Time2Travel tells, Karadjov Stone played an important role during the times of the Ottoman Empire as well. It is believed that Karadja, a local insurgent who took care of protecting his compatriots in the area, was murdered on Karadjov Stone. His murder came after he singlehandedly killed 24 out of 25 Turkish occupiers who were responsible for the death of a young girl. The place was then named after him.

Another legend talks about a large treasure which he hid somewhere in this area. Don’t go looking for it though – the treasure is cursed and will only bring pain to those who find it.


So, if you are looking for an experience that is both spiritual and adventurous, pack your bags and head off to the Rhodope Mountain. You can learn more about our entire trip (day by day) here.

Bulgarian travel bloggers on Karadjov Stone


Special thanks to the sponsors of our trip, Val & Kar (the best Bulgarian car rental company).

P.S. I cannot love this Dacia more than I already do. Whether you consider it fancy or not, it’s the best car ever: enough room to fit all your friends and plenty of space for luggage (plus low fuel consumption)!

Dacia Logan, front, rent a car Bulgaria

By Nina Alexander

Nina is the big sister. She's a marketing professional by day, traveler by heart, tech geek, bookworm, beer lover and an amateur photographer. Her motto is Friedrich Nietzsche's famous quote "And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music."

3 replies on “Karadjov Stone: crazy place, wow views and awesome legends”

Nice one! I’ve been up a couple of times now, and we spend a lot of time exploring the area. Sooo much to see around here (have you been to Haiduktash? Look us up next time you’re near Plovdiv!)

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