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Stob Pyramids: nature is gorgeous even when sick

A day trip from Sofia that we strongly recommend is a visit to the Stob Pyramids. A gorgeous destination just an hour, hour and something from Sofia, you can combine this with a visit to the Rila Monastery.

The Stob Pyramids are a natural formation, caused by the heavy rains and wind in the area of the Stob village. The weather conditions there have caused an erosion and formed this absolutely stunning scenery which will make you want to stop and stare at it forever.

How to get to the Stob Pyramids?

[Google Maps Link]

To reach the “pyramids” you need to pass by the village of Stob. Getting there is easy even without navigation. Follow the signs for Rila Monastery and as you get closer, watch out for the ones pointing you to the village. Look for this sign when you’re on the main road towards Rila Monastery:

After you take a turn you’ll drive straight for few kilometers until you reach the center of the village. You have two options there. Option one is to take the road on the right, towards the path which opens a view to the pyramids. This is the so-called “easy path”, optimized even for people in wheelchairs.

Option two is following the left road until you reach a parking lot. You can leave your vehicle there and continue by foot.

Entrance fee and walking path

The entrance fee is 3 leva per person and you pay it at the small cabin by the barrier.

Taken slowly, the road is about 30-40 minutes, depending on the number of people in your group. About half way through, the path becomes steeper, but there are multiple benches and even wooden arbors where you can have a break.

Soon after the steep path begins, you will start seeing the pyramids. The and of the path is on a plateau, which opens an incredible view to the mountain you’re surrounded by. To be honest, we didn’t make it all the way up, as it was quite windy and part of the path leading to the plateau is really narrow, but we most certainly will next time we visit!

The legend of the Stob Pyramids

Just as almost every other natural phenomenon in Bulgaria, this place also has its legend. The story is about a wedding, between a girl from the Stob village and a boy from another nearby settlement called Kolibite. At old times, marriages were arranged and no one was supposed to see the bride before the end of the ceremony. When the wedding procession from Stob village started their journey to the groom’s house, a wild wind took away the veil of the bride-to-be while they were passing over the place, where today we can see the pyramids. The beauty of the future bride was so incredible they say, that the best man couldn’t restrain himself and tried to kiss her. Stunned by the sin he was about to commit the entire wedding procession turned into stone figures which we can now see. If you look at some of them closely, you will notice that they seem to be wearing hats.

Stone wedding or not, the Stob pyramids are a spectacular view and in our opinion are a much better alternative to shopping malls and cafes.

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."

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