Bekov Rocks and the Red Rock

from Katerina in Get to know Bulgaria! Visits 3151 26 September, 2020

Bekov Rocks and the Red Rock are located in the Rhodope mountains near the village of Ravnogor, Bratsigovo municipality, Pazardzhik district, Bulgaria. They are a great destination for an easy and pleasant walk for a day with amazing and impressive natural views of the Western Rhodopes.

Once you reach the village of Ravnogor you have several options where you can park. One is in the center of the village and the other is at the end, where the road to the rocks begins. It is possible to continue by car to both destinations, but it should be suitable for a mountain road, but in my opinion the meaning and thrill of the whole walk is lost. We parked at the end of the village and walked on the road. First you will reach a fountain with ice-cold water, and shortly after it is the chapel "St. St. Constantine and Helena". Here the road splits into two - one goes to the Bekov Rocks and the other to the Red Rock.

We walked to Bekov Rocks for about an hour, but we stopped and enjoyed the views, the rose hips and the blackberries. We caught the moment when people were taking out the famous potatoes from Ravnogor, and the road passes right past their gardens. Once you reach a meadow where there are tables and benches for relaxation, the road there forks in two. At the time of our visit, there was no signpost where to go. The Bekov Rocks are on the road to the right. Almost immediately you will find yourself on the panoramic site, where there is a gazebo and benches from which you can enjoy the view of the Western Rhodopes and Vacha Dam.

On the way back we had to stop at the Red Rock. The road to it is shorter - about 15-20 minutes from the fork of the chapel "St. St. Constantine and Helena". In addition to the field, you will pass through a pine forest and enjoy its scent. The view from here is also magnificent. It was much calmer and there were much fewer people, and the difference with the view from the Bekov Rocks is that the Vacha dam is not so visible from here. To be honest, I personally liked sitting here more than on Bekov Rocks. There is also a gazebo on the rocks, but the place has many more benches located in different places on the rocks. You just have to be more careful, because it is not secured with a fence, as with the Beck rocks.