The ancient “winery” is situated on a slope in the area called the Big Burun, near the deserted village of Baldja.
The monument consists of a shallow basin chiseled in a single rock and furrows connected to it. It has an oval shape and its walls were well shaped; another smaller basin and a furrow for the pouring of the liquid. The furrow and the smaller basin are connected with the big one by a pierced opening in the edge of the big one. The diameter of the pool is 1.45m, and with its edge – 1.80m.
There are other similar monuments in the region (for instance, near rocky sanctuaries) with different shapes and sizes. There are two theories for the usage of these interesting monuments: according to the first, they were used for the production of wine; and according the second, they were used for ore output, for purifying the crushed ore with water. According to some theories, the wineries were synchronic with the megalith monuments (1st millennium BC) and were used for an extended period of time.

The rocky niches are unique and characteristic monuments of the Thracian culture for the region of Eastern Rhodopes. Several groups of niches are registered within the region around the town of Madjarovo. Some of them nowadays are within medieval fortresses (Meneken Stones, Hisaria Peak, etc.). The niches in the area called Hambar kaia were chiseled out of interesting rock formations, situated at the saddle between two high peaks, 3.5km northwest of Madjarovo.
Continue reading Rocky Niches situated in Hambarkaia,Madjarovo municipality

The rocky tomb is situated in the region of Furnadjica - 2km northeast of Gorno Pole. The rocky tomb was chiseled out of the volcanic rock. The tomb is composed of an antechamber, entrance and burial chamber. The antechamber was formed in outline by chiseling in the rock; the entrance leads towards the rectangular chamber with rounded angles. Significant in this particular tomb is that it also has an opening from the top – on the ceiling of the burial chamber. Building of such tombs required a lot of time and effort, which indicates that they were built for people with high social ranks. Traces of burials and burial inventory have not been discovered because the majority of the rocky tombs were plundered in antiquity. Materials of archeological interest were discovered in several similar facilities that suggest that the rocky tomb in the region of Furnadjica is a Thracian cultural monument dating back to the 1st Century BC.

There is another Thracian rocky tomb registered as belonging to the village lands, but it has a much simpler plan of construction. Another interesting monument – a rocky relief displaying two small human figures – is situated nearby in the Furnadjika area. The tomb very likely belongs to a huge Thracian cult complex related to the beliefs and rituals of the ancient people.

The fortress is situated on a wide plateau on the top of a ridge 2.2km westwards of the town of Madjarovo. The road leading to the fortress is very picturesque and suitable for cars and walking tours. There is a chapel built near the fortress, in which a fair of the surrounding villages is held every May 24th. Obviously the place was honored from ancient times. During an archeological investigation, a Thracian sanctuary was discovered near a rock, north of the fortress. An impound-domed well built there is still used by local people for ritual washings during the local fair.
Continue reading Ancient Cult Complex and Fortress at Madjarovo municipality

Madjarovo municipality is situated in the Eastern Rhodopes and possesses extremely beautiful natural resources. With its beautiful and preserved nature, interesting rock formations along the Arda River Valley and with its archeological and historic monuments, the municipality offers excellent possibilities for getting some distance from the dynamics and stress of the city for a complete and pleasant rehabilitation, surrounded by silent, calm and beautiful nature. There are interesting places, glades with flowers and a number of protected flora and fauna species among the copper-beech forests and rock massifs.
Continue reading Madjarovo Municipality General Information

The integrated territory of Ljubimetz, Ivailovgrad and Madjarovo municipalities covers 1,410km2. Also situated there are parts of the Eastern Rhodopes ridges Maglenik, Sarta, Gorata, Gradishte, as well as the southwest slopes of Sakar Mountain and the Maritza River valley surrounded by them. The Vetren peak, situated near the Bulgarian-Greek border, is 1,266 meters high and is the highest in the region. St. Marina (709m) and Sheinovec (704m) are the other high peaks in the region. The majority of the territory is hilly with deeply indented relief and obvious erosion processes along the Arda River Valley.
Continue reading General information about South-Eastern Bulgaria region