Such niches are found only in the Eastern Rhodopes, in the region of the Arda River. According to scientific research, they were created by the Thracians and date back to the 4th- 5th century BC, likely belonging to the Odrysian tribe.

Various theories exist regarding the rituals conducted at Orlovi skali. The prevailing opinion is that the Thracians used the niches to place burial urns. The discovered charred clay fragments around the rocks suggest that ritual burning took place there. However, Professor Valeria Fol proposes that the trapezoidal holes are the result of one-time ritual activities rather than permanent burial practices.

Orlovi skali, like other similar sites, does not show a pattern in the arrangement of the niches. The Thracian craftsmen seemingly carved them into every suitable smooth surface of the chosen rocks. Similar cult objects can be found near the village of Ardino, as well as in the areas around Krumovgrad, Kardzhali, and the villages of Sarnitsa, Vulche Pole, Yontchevo, Dushkata, and Dolno Cherkovishte.

Entrance Fee:

5 BGN (for adults)

3 BGN (for pupils and students)

Материалът Тракийски скален култов комплекс „Орлови скали“ е публикуван за пръв път на Visit Kardzhali.

The rock sanctuary complex consists, in addition to the two sarcophagi, of a staircase carved into the rock from the east, leading to the main altar—a central place for sacrifices in honor of the Sun God—and to the two graves, a three-meter well, as well as numerous other carved cult platforms, steps leading to them, niches, channels, and basins for collecting liquids. It is believed that these features were formed during the 18th–11th centuries BCE, when the sanctuary experienced its first major flourishing, as evidenced by discovered cult objects—ceramic vessels, spindle whorls, pottery, and bronze items. The sanctuary suffered damage from earthquakes during the 13th–12th centuries BCE. Subsequently, around the 3rd–1st centuries BCE, a protective wall was built around the sanctuary to fortify and defend the cult complex, which included several buildings, one of which is presumed to have been a temple-mausoleum due to its massive and impressive construction, likely taking over some functions of the rock pyramid. The renovated sanctuary probably existed until the mid-1st century CE. During the Roman period, many new buildings were constructed around the sanctuary, and a significant quantity of Roman pottery, jewelry, and household items were discovered. It is believed that the Hellenistic temple and the surrounding buildings were transformed into a fortified Roman villa, inhabited by a wealthy local aristocrat. In the 3rd century, the sanctuary was burned down. A new period of prosperity began in the 9th–10th centuries, during which the remaining renovations to the rock complex were made. The final stage of life on the hill near the village of Tatul is marked by a medieval necropolis (excavated by Ivan Balkanski) with a rich grave inventory—numerous jewelry items, earrings, rings, bronze bracelets, and others. The necropolis has been dated by him to no later than the mid-13th century, marking the end of the millennium-long life of the hill near the village of Tatul.

The first reports about the rock complex near Tatul were provided by the local historian Nikola Ivanov in 1933. In the 1960s and 70s, the rock ensemble garnered serious interest and was visited by many Bulgarian scholars—archaeologists, historians, and epigraphers—who developed the first hypotheses about its nature and purpose, including Prof. Ivan Venedikov and Nikolai Vihodtsevsky.

Archaeological excavations in the Kaya Bashi area began in 1976. They were carried out by Ivan Balkanski, curator at the Regional History Museum in the city of Kardzhali, who determined the site to be a late antique and medieval fortress. During the two campaigns of 1976 and 1977, for which there is data about his work, he managed to excavate a large part of the medieval necropolis inside the site. The studies were resumed in 2004 and continued in 2005 and 2007, under the scientific direction of Prof. Nikolay Ovcharov. In 2022, excavations in the area were renewed after a fifteen-year break, continuing in 2023, funded by the Momchilgrad municipality and again under the scientific direction of Prof. Nikolay Ovcharov, and during these two seasons, archaeologists managed to register a church built in the 5th-6th centuries. and existed until the 11th-12th centuries, with an older monumental building beneath its foundations, probably a pagan temple.

The rock formations are not the tallest in the valley, but they are ideally positioned at its center, possessing visual connections with all surrounding hills and rising above the main road in the area, which follows the river's course, making Tatul so impressive, mystical, and maintaining the legends associated with it.

During Prehistory, Antiquity, and especially in the Middle Ages, the eastern and southern slopes of the hill at Tatul were dotted with architectural complexes, but unfortunately, today this area is covered by dense forest.

Working Hours:

Monday – Sunday: 09:00 – 20:00 (summer)

Monday – Sunday: 09:00 – 17:00 (winter)

Entrance Fees:

Individual visits

Adults - 6 BGN

Students, university students, and pensioners - 3 BGN

Guided tour - 25 BGN

Groups (over 20 people)

Adults - 4 BGN

Students, university students, and pensioners - 2 BGN

Free of charge:

Children up to 7 years old;

Persons with over 90% reduced working capacity (upon presentation of a valid document and ID)

Материалът Татул е публикуван за пръв път на Visit Kardzhali.

Разположен в Нановишката вулканска калдера, комплексът съчетава впечатляващи естествени скални образувания и структури, изсечени от човешка ръка. Сред тях са две пещери тип „утроба“, кръгли и правоъгълни басейни, трапецовидни ниши, наблюдателни площадки и петроглифът, известен като „Пиленцето“.

До Харман кая се стига по лесен и приятен маршрут по стар коларски път, подходящ за всички любители на пешеходните разходки. Преходът в посока отнема около 30-40 минути, а по-голяма част от пътеката е сенчеста, което я прави приятна и през по-топлите дни.

To open a GPX file with a smartphone, you must have one of the applications installed in advance. GPX Viewer, Osmand or Oruxmaps.

Материалът Харман кая е публикуван за пръв път на Visit Kardzhali.

Trapezoidal niches can be seen in the immediate vicinity. The complex near the village of Ovchevo is part of the rich Thracian heritage of the Eastern Rhodopes and is an interesting example of the ancient inhabitants' ability to use the natural relief to create cult and burial facilities.

Материалът Тракийски скални гробници – Овчево е публикуван за пръв път на Visit Kardzhali.

The Squeezing Rock is part of a larger rock formation regarded as a Thracian sanctuary and considered one of the most interesting yet little-known sites in the region. At the base of the rock massif there are also two womb-shaped caves, which add to the mystique of the site and reinforce the impression of its cult significance.

According to local legends, after visiting the Squeezing Rock and passing through one of its openings, childless families were believed to be blessed with children. The womb-shaped caves are also associated with beliefs connected to fertility, a theme of great importance in Thracian cult practices.

Today, the sanctuary preserves ancient secrets, living legends, and a strong connection between people and nature, making it one of the most magnetic places in the Eastern Rhodopes.

To open a GPX file with a smartphone, you must have one of the applications installed in advance. GPX Viewer, Osmand or Oruxmaps.

Материалът Провиралката край село Стоманци – Пробитият камък е публикуван за пръв път на Visit Kardzhali.

Материалът Пещера „Тройната утроба“ е публикуван за пръв път на Visit Kardzhali.

The route starts from the village itself and offers impressive views of the Eastern Rhodopes. Although the trail is relatively short, the terrain is extremely demanding, with steep and technical sections, making the hike suitable only for people in very good physical condition.

The womb sanctuary is carved into an almost impassable vertical rock face, which clearly distinguishes it from other similar sites in the area. Reaching it is a serious challenge, and the experience is intense and deeply primal.

The sanctuary near Bagra impresses with a perfectly formed channel, designed so that at a specific moment a ray of sunlight enters through the opening and follows its path inward, penetrating deep into the cave. The light does not merely illuminate the space but “fills” it, enhancing the sense of an ancient ritual and symbolism connected to life. The sanctuary is set within a sheer, nearly inaccessible cliff — a feature that clearly sets it apart from other womb sanctuaries in the region. The interior space is remarkable for the same precisely shaped channel, oriented so that, at an exact moment, the sunbeam penetrates deep toward the “womb” of the sanctuary.
This light phenomenon can be observed approximately between 12:30 and 13:30, with the exact timing depending on the season and the date of the visit to the cave shrine.
On both sides of the channel, niches are clearly visible. To the left of the entrance, a carved offering niche can be seen, shaped by human hands — clear evidence of the site’s cultic purpose.

This is the third known womb sanctuary discovered in the Eastern Rhodopes. The first and most popular is located in the rocky area of Tangardak Kaya, while another womb sanctuary lies along the route to Mount Bezdiven.

The womb sanctuary near Bagra is a destination for seekers of intense experiences — a fusion of ancient cult symbolism and an extreme Rhodopean adventure, far from well-trodden tourist paths.

To open a GPX file with a smartphone, you must have one of the applications installed in advance. GPX Viewer, Osmand or Oruxmaps.

Материалът Пещерно светилище край село Багра е публикуван за пръв път на Visit Kardzhali.

Already from the asphalt road - about 500 meters after the village of Dazhdovnitsa in the direction of Nenkovo - the eye is drawn to rocks carved with dozens of trapezoidal niches, cut into places that appear completely inaccessible. Some of them are positioned at heights of up to 45 meters, reachable today only with modern climbing equipment - a fact that raises questions about how prehistoric people managed to create them.

Among the rocks, silhouettes of animals, birds, and human figures emerge, resembling a giant stone frieze. Directly opposite the complex, right beside the road, lies a green meadow - an ideal spot for photography and a short rest while enjoying views of the impressive rock ensemble.

For visitors wishing to hike up to the cult complex itself, proper hiking footwear and trekking poles are strongly recommended. The ascent is relatively short and takes no more than 40 minutes, rewarding hikers with remarkable scenery and a sense of connection to the ancient past of the Rhodopes.

Материалът Скално-култов комплекс Дъждовница е публикуван за пръв път на Visit Kardzhali.