History: Berkovitsa is an old settlement. This is confirmed by the remains of a fortress and a church from 4th century on the Kaleto Hill, situated to the north west of the town. The settlement is known from the reign of Tsar Kaloyan (the beginning of 13th century) as well and in the time of the Vidin Kingdom (the second half of 14th century) it is a border fortress. Berkovitsa is mentioned in written form for the first time in a Turkish document dated 1491. During the Turkish rule it developed as a crafts settlement - mainly in wood-processing and pottery. A great number of refugees from other parts of the country settled here. The inhabitants of Berkovitsa many times have raised their heads against the Ottomans. In 1403 they took part in the uprising of Konstantin and Fruzhin, in 1688 - in the Chiprovtsi Uprising, in 1836 - in the uprising under the leadership of Mancho Punin as well as in the uprising in 1837. After the Liberation in 1878 the town declined, because it remained away from the railway line passing through the Iskar Gorge, thus losing markets in the Ottoman Empire for its crafts goods. The national poet Ivan Vazov worked for a certain time in Berkovitsa as a chairman of the court.
Landmarks: The Ivan Vazov House-Museum which is in the central part of the town is arranged in the building where the poet lived in the period 1879-1880. The house itself is a precious architectural monument with an interesting exterior and interior architecture with wood-carved ceilings and original fireplace, cupboards, shelves. The atmosphere in which Vazov lived is preserved. There is a documentary exhibition showing the period of his work in Berkovitsa - the creation of the narrative poem "Gramada" ("Cairn"), the short novel "Mitrofan and Dormidolski", etc. Permanent ethnographic exhibition - organized also in an architectural monument of culture, in a close proximity to the Ivan Vazov House-Museum. The clock tower is remarkable for its solid construction and beautiful upper part in which the clock mechanism still works. It was constructed in 1762 and is one of the oldest towers in our country. The town picture gallery. The Krustev's House built in Revival style. The Holy Virgin Church (1843) has an original belfry, wood-carved iconostasis and the "Golden Gospel" - an exceptional work of art from 1892 is kept there. The St. Nikola Church (19th century).
Transport: Road and railway transport connect Berkovitsa with the rest of the world. There are regular bus routes to Sofia, Montana, Lom, Vurshets and many other smaller villages in the region of the bus station and the railway station - these are in the eastern part of the town (the first is close to the centre). Berkovitsa is the last railway station of the local railway line Boichinovtsi-Montana-Berkovitsa. It is connected through the railway station Boichinovtsi with the settlements along the main railway line Sofia-Mezdra-Vratsa-Broussartsi-Vidin (Lom), as well as the whole republican railway system.
Surrounding areas: The northern slopes of the Berkovski Balkan at the foot of which Berkovitsa is situated are famous for their chestnut woods - one of the two natural finds of tame (mordant) chestnut in Bulgaria (the other one is in Belasitsa Mountain, above the town of Petrich). Berkovitsa is a main point of departure along marked tourist tracks through the Berkovski Balkan (refer to the Stara Planina Mountain related chapter herein). Kaleto - a woody hill (515 m) to the northwest near the town. It is a natural forest-park and a protector of Berkovitsa from wind. Here are the remains of Roman and medieval Bulgarian fortresses built in three belts in terraces. Of interest are the two late antique Christian churches that date back to 4th-5th century. The Ashiklar Area (the valley of the singers in love) is a romantic neighborhood to the south of the town, spreading out to the chestnut woods. A favorite place for recreation in natural environment. Vurshets Resort (18 km to the southeast) is a balneological centre of national importance and is the biggest in Northeastern Bulgaria. It is nestled in a small valley, surrounded to the south by the main ridge of Stara Planina and to the east by the Vratsa Balkan. Since 1860 its thermal waters (temperature from 32.6° to 36.4°_) are used for healing rheumatic, cardiovascular, gastric-intestinal, nerve and other diseases. There is a great number of sanatoriums, holiday houses, villas. Marius Hotel (126, Republika Blvd., tel.: 09527 2109, tel./fax: 09527 3034) works, too. One could rent private lodgings. The resort is a point of departure of marked tourist tracks in the Vratsa Balkan - to the Byalata Voda Chalet (1.30 hours along a blazed track and 7 km asphalt road), to Parshevitsa Chalet (about 8 hours on foot), and to Proboinitsa Chalet (4.30-5 hours on foot). There is a regular bus transport between Varshets and Berkovitsa.
The Klissoura Monastery "St. St. Ciril and Metodius" (about 10 km to the south east of Berkovitsa and 12 km to the west of Varshets) was founded in 1240. It was many times burned and restored in times of the Ottoman Rule it remained a real fortress of Bulgarian national spirit in this region. It has a striking outlook. The walls are not painted. One is attracted by the beautiful wood-carvings of the iconostasis, made by Stoicho Fandakov from Samokov and the marvellous icons of the famous icon-painter Nikola Obrazopisov. One can spend the night there against minimal payment. Behind the monastery starts a marked tourist track up to Mt. Todorini Kukli (2.30-3 hours on foot) on the main ridge of Stara Planina where one may join the Kom-Emine route. There is no regular transport to the monastery but buses between Berkovitsa and Varshets stop at the road fork from where one can walk 3 km along an asphalt road. One can also go on foot from Varshets (through the village of Spanchevtsi) for 1-1.30 h.
The village of Burzia - 6 km to the south of Berkovitsa. Mountain and balneological resort of local importance. All buses going through the Petrohan Pass stop there.
Petrohan Pass (1444 m above sea level, 25 km to the south of Berkovitsa) is on the Stara Planina ridge and is a boundary between the Berkovski Balkan (to the west) and Koznitsa and Ponor (to the east). This is the road from Sofia to Berkovitsa, Varshets, Montana, Lom, Vidin. It received its name after the Petrov's Inn, which had many years served those who passed by it (it is not preserved). There is a motel-restaurant, gas-station and a chalet (Petrohanski Prohod Chalet) and another big Chalet (Petrohan Chalet) to the east 30 min on foot. A point of departure for tourist routes along the ridge of the Balkan - to the west: Mt. Kom (2016 m, about 3 hours), the new Kom Chalet (3.30 hours), the old Kom Chalet (3.00 hours), the town of Berkovitsa (about 6 hours) and to the east (except to the Petrohan Chalet): to Mt. Todorini Kukli (about 2.30 hours), Proboinitsa Chalet (5-6 hours), Lakatnik railway station (7-8 hours), etc. All buses going through the Petrohan Pass stop there. The Haidoushki Waterfall is situated 9 km to the southwest from Berkovitsa in the lovely valley of Goliama Reka where the water goes down with roar on the two falls. The neighborhood district is very beautiful. One can walk to the waterfall in 1.30-2 hours.
