North-West Bulgaria

North-West Bulgaria stretches from the Danube in the north to the western Balkan mountains in the south, covering the oblasts of Vidin, Montana, Vratsa, Pleven, and Lovech. It is the least-visited corner of the country — and for travellers willing to make the drive, the reward is unspoilt landscapes, dramatic rock formations, and empty trails.

Highlights include the UNESCO-listed Belogradchik Rocks, the cave paintings of Magura, the Vratsa Karst nature park, and the Baba Vida fortress at Vidin. Pleven's military museum, the Krushuna waterfalls, and the Devetashka Cave — one of Europe's largest — round out a region that rewards slow travel over a packed itinerary.