Okolchitsa Peak

Rising to an elevation of 1,048 meters above sea level in the Vrachanski Balkan Mountains (approx. 20 km southeast of the city of Vratsa), Mount Okolchitsa (historically also known as Vola) stands as one of the most sacred national monuments in Bulgaria. Located inside the Hristo Botev National Park, it is featured on the 100 Tourist Sites of Bulgaria registry (Site No. 17).

On June 1 (May 20, Old Style), 1876, the surrounding ridges served as the battleground for the final heroic clash between the revolutionary detachment led by Hristo Botev and Ottoman forces.

The Monument & Death Site of the National Hero

To commemorate the ultimate sacrifice of the revered poet-revolutionary Hristo Botev and his fighters, a towering 35-meter monument topped with a Volunteers' Cross was erected atop the peak:

• History of the Monument: Built between 1936 and 1939, the monument originally featured a traditional Bulgarian volunteer cross. In 1947, during the socialist era, the cross was replaced with a red star, before being restored to its authentic original design in 1991.
• Death Site in Yolkovitsa: Nearby, in the Yolkovitsa hollow, an inscribed natural rock boulder marks the exact spot where Hristo Botev lost his life.

National Commemorations & The Kozloduy–Okolchitsa March

Mount Okolchitsa serves as the symbolic finish line for Bulgaria's largest historical pilgrimage:

• The National March: Every year, thousands of participants retrace the historical 120 km route taken by the Botev Detachment from the Danube shore at Kozloduy to Mount Okolchitsa. By June 1, a massive tent camp forms around the summit meadows.
• June 2 Celebrations: On June 2—Bulgaria's official day of remembrance for fallen heroes—a national ceremony with military honors takes place at the summit.

Useful Visitor Information

• Location: Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park, 20 km from Vratsa and 8 km above the village of Chelopek.
• Tourist Stamp: As the local Okolchitsa Hut (300 m from the monument) is currently inactive, official tourist stamps are available at the Baba Iliytsa House-Museum in nearby Chelopek village or at the Regional Historical Museum in Vratsa.
• Transport: Direct summer bus lines run from Vratsa straight to the summit. During other seasons, public buses run to Chelopek, leaving an 8 km asphalt drive up to the peak.
• Trip Tip: The peak offers sweeping panoramic views across the Balkan Range and the Danube Plain. Pair your trip to Okolchitsa with a stop at the Baba Iliytsa House-Museum in Chelopek and the historic Cherepish Monastery.