Vitosha Mountain is located near Sofia, Bulgaria and is considered inseparable from the city. It is a protected national park, the first in Bulgaria. Vitosha Mountain peaks at Cherni Vrah and has a dome-like geological origin rather than a volcanic one. The national park was established in 1934 and protects ecosystems through nature reserves. Restrictions are in place to preserve the environment, and educational activities help visitors learn about the park's natural and cultural heritage.

1. GREEN EDUCATION IN GREEN
ENVIRONMENT
VITOSHA MOUNTAIN
2020-1-ES01-KA229-082342_4
JUNE 2021
SOFIA, BULGARIA
MAY 2021
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible
for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
PRIVATE ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL BANKERCHE

2. SOFIA AND VITOSHA MOUNTAIN
“Sofia and Vitosha are inseparable like Naples and
Vesuvius”. The description belongs to the Vienna
scientist Hohshteter, who visited Bulgaria in 19th
century. Even today it reflects the connection
between the million city and the mountain. Vitosha is
a real bliss for the citizens who enjoy the mountain
during all seasons.

4. Vitosha mountain from
Sofia city
Vitosha street

5. CHERNI VRAH – THE HIGHEST PEAK
Cherni Vrah / Black
Peak is a true center of
the mountain.

6. GEOLOGICAL ORIGIN
o Sofia valley represents
graben (vertical sunken
block of crust), filled with
sediments of Neogene
period.
o Vitosha is a typical dome-
like mountain - one of the
few in Bulgaria.
o Although the mountain
looks like a volcano, it has
no volcanic origin.

7. Vitosha moraines

8. PARK HISTORY
Vitosha is the first park
in Bulgaria and on the
Balkan Peninsula and is
among the first ones in
Europe as well. The
park was declared as
such in 1934 with a total
area of 6 410 hectares.
http://stara-
sofia.com/vitosha.html

9. PROTECTED AREAS
• Bistrishko branishte was declared a reserve in order to preserve
the primary spruce ecosystems and species in the subalpine zone.
• "Peat reserve" was declared a reserve in 1935 and now covers an
area of 784 hectares.
• Duhlata cave

10. RESTRUCTION
• Restrictions on construction
• Restrictions on hunting and
hunting
• Restrictions on grazing
• Restrictions on mining
• Restrictions on tourism
• There is prohibited in the
Vitosha park:
• - Making fires outside
designated areas
• - Picking flowers, breaking
branches, and other
activities that damage the
vegetation;
• - Camping outside
designated areas
• - Going through Peat
reserve and Bistritsa
reserve, except on marked
trails
• - going through sanitary
protective zones.

11. During 2005 - 2012 following activities are
implemented:
• Presentation of natural and
cultural heritage of the
park;
• Construction of tourist and
ecological routes with
cognitive direction;
• Development of a network
of visitor centers and their
activity;
• Up to this point in the park
were built three museums:
Museum of bears, Owls’
Museum and Museum of
dragonfly;
• Children's environmental
center in the "White
Birches“;
• Provide enough information
about important species,
communities and processes
in the Park;
• Promotion of sites of
cultural heritage.

12. OUR TRIP TO VITOSHA MOUNTAIN

13. The Vitosha Visitors’ Centre

15. Bistrishko branishte

16. Exploring nature

19. Let’s do sport

22. Vitosha mountain is waiting
for you!