Ancient Rock Niches near the Village of Dolno Cherkovishte
Bulgaria /
Haskovo /
Madzharovo /
World
/ Bulgaria
/ Haskovo
/ Madzharovo
, 17 km from center (Маджарово)
World / Bulgaria / Haskovo
temple, interesting place, historic landmark
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The massif of Kovan Kaya near the village of Dolno Cherkovishte, Eastern Rhodopes, is one of the greatest complexes of ancient rock-hewn niches in Bulgaria. It is still unknown what were they created for. There is a hypothesis that the niches were used for burying the death. Yet the size and their inaccessible location high up on vertical rock walls put this hypothesis to question.
Whatever was their function was, the rock near Dolno Cherkovishte is not the only place where they can be seen. There are more than 1,500 of these niches in the central part of the Eastern Rhodopes, concentrated mostly in the area close the river Arda.
Not far from Kovan Kaya there is a second, much smaller rock. Several niches are cut in it as well but what is more interesting are the remains of the tombs cut in the rock. They can be seen if you climb to the top of it, which can easily be done from behind.
gowhere.bg/en/places/cultural-heritage/ancient-rock-nic...
bulgariatravel.org/the-thracian-cult-complex-at-the-vil...
visit.guide-bulgaria.com/a/457/thracian_cult_complexes_...
welcome.bg/en/legends/legend-of-kovan-kaya/
Whatever was their function was, the rock near Dolno Cherkovishte is not the only place where they can be seen. There are more than 1,500 of these niches in the central part of the Eastern Rhodopes, concentrated mostly in the area close the river Arda.
Not far from Kovan Kaya there is a second, much smaller rock. Several niches are cut in it as well but what is more interesting are the remains of the tombs cut in the rock. They can be seen if you climb to the top of it, which can easily be done from behind.
gowhere.bg/en/places/cultural-heritage/ancient-rock-nic...
bulgariatravel.org/the-thracian-cult-complex-at-the-vil...
visit.guide-bulgaria.com/a/457/thracian_cult_complexes_...
welcome.bg/en/legends/legend-of-kovan-kaya/
Nearby cities:
Coordinates: 41°37'28"N 25°43'40"E
- "Sheytan Dere" Gorge 7.3 km
- Prehistoric Cult Complex "Covil" 12 km
- "Gnezdovo Nahodishte v m. Kovan kaia" Natural Monument 12 km
- The Petrified Forest 18 km
- Rock-cult Complex "Gluhite Kamani" 22 km
- Some Training Strip 23 km
- "Meandri na Byala Reka" Protected Site 30 km
- "Bakarlia" Protected Site 45 km
- Fortress of Didymoteicho 70 km
- Thracian Rock Sanctuary 83 km
- "Kartal Kaya" Medieval Fortress 1.2 km
- Rock Niches 1.3 km
- "Oreshari' Protected Site 1.5 km
- Pchelari Dam 2.6 km
- Tepavitsata Complex 5.1 km
- Madzharovo Municipality 10 km
- Stambolovo Municipality 12 km
- Krumovgrad Municipality 17 km
- Haskovo Province 21 km
- Rhodope National Park 60 km