As of the beginning of June Ledenika Cave is a must-go, offering a number of attractions and entertainment for young and old. It is one of the oldest caves used by people on the territory of the country. There is evidence of local shepherds using it as a refrigerating room to store the milk from their flocks as far back as four centuries ago. The cave, located in the Vratsa portion of the Balkan Range, is 320 m. long and has ten magnificent halls. It is famous for the interesting formations shaped by nature over thousands of years.

The name of the cave comes from its first hall - the Antechamber - where a huge column of ice rises surrounded by ice formations. Ledenika was opened to tourists back in 1961 and has been the most visited landmark in the region of Vratsa ever since. This year the cave and the area surrounding it are about to become an even greater attraction for tourists thanks to implementation of an ambitious project by Vratsa municipality and environmentalists from the Vratsa Balkan Nature Park. "There are a number of pleasant surprises for tourists this summer,” says Olia Genova, member of the team that presented the project to the town of Vratsa.

"We have built a large amphitheater and a new information center. Soon 5D cinema screenings will take place in the galleries of the cave. Visitors will be completely immersed in the movie. Everything is ready and by early June the screenings will start. There is also a climbing wall near the cave and a stage where various performances will take place. Our aim is to turn Ledenika into a new kind of tourist attraction which would bring in more visitors who would spend a day or two in our town. The renovation costs a total of about 2 million euro. Special care was taken to preserve the biodiversity inside the cave.So as not to disturb the cave dwellers - bats and insects - we have placed the attractions near the cave's entrance. Everything is environmentally-friendly. Furthermore, there are two well-marked trails. One is called "Karst and Biodiversity," and the other - "Climbing for Beginners." Even the path to the cave should give visitors a thrill with the view to the mountain it offers. We want to awaken the curiosity of visitors and show them the beauty of Bulgarian nature. That is why we have placed information boards which tell people about other nature parks and caves in Bulgaria. Tourists can find out which one of them is the most relaxing, which - the most beautiful, or the largest cave in this country.”

English version: Alexander Markov