mountain pass
Petrohan Pass
Forested 1,444 m pass over the western Balkan Mountains between Sofia and Montana, a favourite Bulgarian driving road with tight bends, beech woods and a summit dam lake.
15 km · about 30 min drive
EuropeBulgariaMontana
Varshets
Montana, Bulgaria · Europe
About Varshets
Varshets is worth a stop: 25 minutes from Berkovitsa, 15km from Iskar Gorge.
Varshets is in Montana, Bulgaria, with about 7,500 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Berkovitsa, about 14 km away.
Varshets (Bulgarian: Вършец, variously transliterated; pronounced [vɐrˈʃɛt͡s]) is a spa town in Montana Province, northwestern Bulgaria. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Varshets Municipality. As of December 2019, its population was 5,444. The town is located on the northern slopes of the western partRead more
of the Balkan Mountains in the small valley of the Botunya River, at 43°12′N 23°17′E, 359 metres above sea level. It is one of the oldest resorts in northern Bulgaria, and is known for its mineral springs, mild mountain climate, and natural environment. The town's tourist infrastructure includes two spa centres, a polyclinic, several rest houses, hotels and also many private lodgings. Varshets has an art gallery, a municipal museum and an Eastern Orthodox church dedicated to Saint George.
A 2nd century BC bronze sculpture of a Thracian boy found in the vicinity of the town is today a symbol of Varshets. The modern town is linked to Medeca, a Roman and Byzantine site first mentioned in the 6th century AD. Varshets' existence was also evidenced in 16th century documents. The first state baths in Varshets were built in 1910 and were run by Damyan Ivanov, a balneologist who specialized in Austria-Hungary. The New Baths were built in 1930, and the Sun Garden was arranged in 1934. In 1950, Varshets was proclaimed a national resort.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Varshets?
Within an hour or so of Varshets: Petrohan Pass (15 km), Iskar Gorge (15 km), Vratsata Gorge (20 km), Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (55 km).
Are there any good drives near Varshets?
The nearest famous roads are Iskar Gorge, Petrohan Pass and Troyan Pass (Beklemeto).
Where is Varshets?
Varshets is in Montana, Bulgaria, about 14 km from Berkovitsa.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 7,512
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Bulgaria
- Region
- Montana
- Timezone
- Europe/Sofia
- Coordinates
- 43.1936, 23.2868
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Bulgaria
Vignette required for all roads outside towns.
Full driving guide for BulgariaTags
Worth the detour from Varshets
5 notable places within an hour's drive.
famous road
Iskar Gorge
Bulgaria's longest gorge, threaded by road and rail north of Sofia; the route twists beneath the sheer Lakatnik Rocks and past cliff-top monasteries along the Iskar River.
15 km · about 25 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Vratsata Gorge
Short but stunning pass road just outside Vratsa, running between the highest vertical limestone walls in the Balkans: a favourite of climbers and a striking gateway drive into the Vratsa Balkan.
20 km · about 25 min drive
cathedral
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
A neo-Byzantine cathedral in Sofia and one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world.
55 km · about 65 min drive
natural wonder
Stara Planina (Balkan Mountains)
A rugged mountain range stretching across Serbia and Bulgaria with pristine waterfalls, alpine meadows, and remote villages.
57 km · about 65 min drive
Driving roads near Varshets
- Right herePetrohan PassForested 1,444 m pass over the western Balkan Mountains between Sofia and Montana, a favourite Bulgarian driving road with tight bends, beech woods and a summit dam lake.
- Right hereIskar GorgeBulgaria's longest gorge, threaded by road and rail north of Sofia; the route twists beneath the sheer Lakatnik Rocks and past cliff-top monasteries along the Iskar River.
- 20 kmVratsata GorgeShort but stunning pass road just outside Vratsa, running between the highest vertical limestone walls in the Balkans: a favourite of climbers and a striking gateway drive into the Vratsa Balkan.
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