"Dobrostanski biser" cave

from Katerina in Get to know Bulgaria! Visits 1948 25 August, 2019

The "Dobrostanski biser" cave is a cave in the Rhodope Mountains, located in the "Red Wall" reserve in the municipality of Asenovgrad. Her name come from the beautiful rock pearls that have formed over the centuries, but unfortunately they are now destroyed. The three karst forms can be observed in it – stalactites, stalagmites and stalactones. It is also known as "Ahmetyova Dupka".

According to the local legend from the time of the Turkish slavery it is said that while the turk Ahmed Aga toured the surrounding villages to collect taxes, he asked local to cook something delicious. They served him pork with cabbage. He liked it so much that in the next village he wanted to cook the same. When he found out that they fed him with pork (the faith of Muslims did not allow them to eat such), he rabid and decided to light the village. The local villagers, however, waited for him and killed him. His body threw in the cave. From there comes the other name of the cave-"Ahmetyova Dupka".

The cave was studied in 1963 and a human skeleton was found in it. But whether this means that the legend has actually happened, we can only guess. In the 90s. The "Dobrostanski biser" was opened for visits but was quickly closed. As a result, it was robbed – crushed a part of the stalaktiite, the lighting was broken, and a part of the iron staircase at the entrance was stolen, in which the object became dangerous.

In the year 2018, officially the cave was reopened for visitors. In the region there are more than 200 karst caves, but the "Dobrostanski biser" is the only one that is adapted to visit.

Below you will find a map to guide you to the exact location of the cave. On the main road Asenovgrad-Kardzhali you stop by the village of Cherven in the direction Belintash (Oreshets/Dobrostan/Mostovo). You will pass through the village of Gornoslav, and at the exit from the village of Oreshets on the fork continue to the right to Dobrovan village. From there to the Martsiganitsa hut are 4-5 km. On a narrow but good road. We parked next to the cabin, which is now privately owned and according to the sign with "armed guard". We took the designated path to the cave. She was very pleasant and with exquisite views. After about 20 minutes we found ourselves next to a built little house, which turned out to be the entrance of the cave. The local guide was very polite and told us about the history of the cave. It is not large - between 500 and 1 000 square meters, 15 meters deep. It was well lit and we were able to admire its beauties. Bats hibernate in the colony, which play an important role in the ecological balance of the region. Because of this, the cave stops working during the winter period (between October and March). Therefore, it is a good idea to check his opening hours before you decide to visit him. It is currently open for visits friday, saturday, sunday and public holidays.