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About 4–5 kilometers from the town of Kardzhali, near the village of Zimzelen, the beautiful phenomenon known as the Kamennata svatba (the “Stone Wedding” or the “Petrified Wedding”) tells its legend. This natural wonder consists of rock formations and a collection of diverse stone figures and shapes, resembling a wedding celebration. The figures vary in size and are colored in different shades of white, pale pink, and light green, which is attributed to the different minerals within them. Their height ranges from 0.5 to over 10 meters. This natural landmark spans an area of 5 hectares and represents a complex of volcanic tuffs with a rhyolite composition, estimated to be around 35–40 million years old. Legends about the natural landmark are numerous. One of them tells a lovely yet sorrowful story—about the love of two newlyweds and their wedding, forever frozen in the foothills of the Rhodope Mountains. A young man fell in love with a girl from the neighboring village. The boy’s father, finding out about his son’s longing, paid a bride price for the girl. Then the young couple got married, and a grand wedding celebration was held with many guests. Leading the procession was the gorgeous bride, her face covered with a veil, followed by her father-in-law. As the procession made its way solemnly, a strong wind began to blow. The wind lifted the bride's veil, and at that moment, the father-in-law caught sight of her otherworldly beauty, and impure thoughts crossed his mind. Instantly, the wind howled furiously and turned the bride, the father-in-law, and all the wedding guests to stone. Only the young groom remained, heartbroken and in tears. He pleaded with the wind to turn him to stone as well. The wind granted his request, and he was petrified, with a small lake forming beside him from his tears. The young man's grandmother, who had been watching from the trees in the nearby forest, also asked the wind to turn her into stone. The wind fulfilled her wish, transforming her into a majestic rock. The site was declared a protected area in 1974. Visiting Kamennata svatba is possible year-round. The route is relatively easy and accessible for visitors. Nearby, another natural phenomenon can be found—Kamennite gabi (the “Stone Mushrooms" ) near the village of Beli Plast.
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