Summer is only few weeks away and the Bulgarians are spending more and more time out in nature. Moreover, some pupils already went on summer vacation. The new Youth Eco Camp in the village of Ochin Dol is a perfect place for those children to spend some time out in the mountains and learn a lot about ecology. The camp is situated in the former school building of the remote mountain village, embedded in a high valley above the Iskar Gorge. The building was completely renovated and now is open all year-round and can host camps, open-air lessons, seminars and other initiatives for pupils and young people, the Senior Expert in Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park Directorate Olya Genova told Radio Bulgaria and added:

“The directorate of the nature park was looking for many years for a building, which can be a venue of environmental education programs. Mezdra Municipality allowed us to build our new camp in the old village school in Ochin Dol. We chose that village and the old school, because it is very easy to get there. The building was built back in 1936 and was abandoned 42 years ago”, Olya Genova explains.

The Directorate of Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park offers two and five-day education programs related to ecology and biodiversity. The main task of the program is to teach children how to live in an environmentally-friendly manner. The pretty village of Ochin Dol offers wonderful conditions in that field. The lessons selected by the team of the youth camp include attractive presentations of Bulgarian nature and environment and are appropriate for children at different age. The representatives of Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park hope to attract more foreign guests and tourist groups in the future. An information board placed in the village center is to inform tourists about the services offered at each guest house.

“We focus on nature conservation and biodiversity and at the same time pay attention to the local culture and traditions. Together with the local people we launch various initiatives related to rural life. A series of workshops allow children to feel the rural life. Guests can also taste homemade goat's cheese, mountain honey and various tomato and pepper chutneys. ”

One of the small pleasures connected with the simple rural life is the opportunity to make your own yoghurt in clay pots. The village of Ochin Dol and the surrounding region offer exceptional tourist routes along forest pathways. Moreover, the village of Ochin Dol is situated in the sunniest part of the nature park and offers magnificent view of the whole Iskar Gorge.

“There is a museum to the wooden figures in the village. A local person reshaped roots into different animals and famous figures such as Charlie Chaplin. Each year Ochin Dol hosts De E Balgarskoto (Where is the Bulgarian thing) national festival of short story next to the monument of Dyado Yotso. The monument dedicated to Ivan Vazov's famous character Dyado Yotso was unveiled in 2005. It is part of the eponymous historical complex and was made of white stone. It was designed by sculptors Georgi Tishkov and Monika Igarenska”, Olya Genova went on to say.

If you choose to visit one day that part of Northwestern Bulgaria make sure you spend at least 2 or 3 days there, so you can visit every single interesting place and feel the real spirit of Vrachanski Balkan (The Vratsa portion of the Balkan Range). Tourists should by all means visit Lakatnishki Rocks formations, Ritlite rock phenomenon, Cherepishki Monastery and the Seven Thrones Monastery.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov