Via Traiana (Troyan Pass)

The Via Traiana route follows the line of the Roman road across the Troyan Pass. It runs from the Aydushko Sborishte area near Troyan over the Beklemeto saddle to the village of Karnare near Karlovo and is about 18.5 km long.

The route

The northern part, from Aydushko Sborishte to Beklemeto, is about 6.5 km. The climb is about 500 m (from about 620 to 1,120 m) and takes about 2 hours. From there the route passes Kurt Hisar peak (1,626 m) and Kralimarkov Karaul and descends south to Karnare. For the descent from Zhalni peak via Kurt Hisar to Karnarsko Hanche, local guides give about 8.2 km and 3.5–4 hours.

What you will see

The Roman road from Oescus to Philippopolis linked the Danube frontier with Thrace and crossed Stara Planina through today’s Troyan Pass; in the 6th century the pass was called “Trajan’s Path”. In the north the stone paving survives in places and leads the way by itself. In the south the old road is cut deep into rock hewn out for it, especially at Vlashkite Mandri and along the ridge south of Sivriyata peak. On Kurt Hisar there is a memorial plaque to the crossing of General Kartsov’s detachment in 1878. Beklemeto (1,525 m) is the highest pass in Stara Planina, and the Arch of Freedom monument is 15 minutes east of the saddle.

Difficulty and preparation

The northern stretch is a gentle climb through forest with no dangerous places. There are no waymarks — you follow the stone paving itself. The southern descent is long, with about 1,000 m of height loss. Carry water and food for the whole day.

Getting there

Aydushko Sborishte is about 4 km from Troyan on the road to Beklemeto (II-35), past the villages of Beli Osam and Balkanets. Karnare is in Karlovo municipality, with buses from Plovdiv and Karlovo. In winter the pass is closed to cars.

Nearby

• Raychova Dupka cave — about 4 km.
• Kumanitsa cave — about 6.5 km.
• The Karnarsko Hanche – Maka hut trail — about 8 km.