The ancient Bulgarian town of Lukovit is located in Lovech municipality. It was home to Thracians, Romans and Bulgarians. A curious fact is that the town of Lukovit is the home of the first hydroelectric power station in the country

Lukovit is located on the two picturesque banks of the Zlatna Panega River, which has widely opened its mouth, sings its gentle monotonous song and spills its lively waters all around.

Among the many legends from generation to generation, a true masterpiece of Bulgarian folk art is transmitted – the song about the Lukovit girls who became a symbol of the city. His divine beauty is secret and invisible, like God, great and infinite, like eternity.

The source of the Zlatna Panega river is wonderfully picturesque. Panega head is the second largest karst spring in Bulgaria. The karst spring itself forms two beautiful lakes: the upper (less) and the lower (larger).

The color of the water is blue – milky. Water is extremely carbonate-rich, which is why it receives this specific color that is characteristic of karst landscapes around the world.

The spring is located among tree vegetation – willows, poplars and other water-loving species form a gallery. From ancient times to the present day it is believed that the water at the spring is healing

Geopark Iskar – Panega was realized with the financial support of the Bulgarian Ecotourism Development Program

   The Geopark includes two beautiful and relaxing areas – the Karlukovo Karst Complex and the Pangea Landscape Park.

   It is the first geopark on the territory of Bulgaria to include many sites, one of the main goals being to promote national ecotourism.

The national home of the cave is built on a limestone cliff in the Kaleto area, 12 km from Lukovit above the Iskar Valley. Mass ecotourism is developing in the area. The unique cave building is located on a chain of rocks, resembling a perched little bird above the valley.

Nature is a vast creature. The Karlukovo Gorge is full of caves, precipices, rock bridges, interesting rock formations. Prohodna Cave is one of the most famous caves in the karst area near the village of Karlukovo. It is easily accessible and has the longest cave tunnel in Bulgaria. It is naturally illuminated, forming the phenomenon “The Eyes of God” – two equally sized eye-shaped holes.

It is one of the few caves in Europe where it is appropriate to practice bungee jumping. It also provides excellent opportunities for rock climbing enthusiasts. Its size makes it extremely impressive and it does not go unnoticed even for Bulgarian and foreign producers who turn it into a set and a place with excellent acoustics for concerts and festivals

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The beautiful stone houses in front of which admire visitors near and far.

      One of them seems to have come out of a fairy tale and swims in the Golden Panega River. In front of it, the beautiful white and pink water lilies brought from the Ropotamo River grow and shine with beauty.

     Interesting ceramic flowers, as living creatures, welcome visitors to the area.

The St Nicholas Rock Monastery (Gligora) has an interesting architecture that resembles that of the churches built at that time in the settlements, using a natural rock cave or niche as a place. On these mysterious rocks, the monasteries have preserved many valuable graffiti – drawings and inscriptions, as well as murals of great artistic value.

     According to legend, the small cave behind the church was inhabited by a hermit monk. He became famous for his deeds of worship and the locals erected a temple in this place.

With inspiration and dedication, people fulfill their dream of creating valuable things that fit into nature, rejoice and inspire, remind them of their divine essence.

      Everything around is covered with a rug of daisies and a newly sprouted green grass. Everywhere you look, you are surrounded by a landscape that radiates peace and happiness.

The St Nicholas Rock Monastery (Gligora) has an interesting architecture that resembles that of the churches built at that time in the settlements, using a natural rock cave or niche as a place. On these mysterious rocks, the monasteries have preserved many valuable graffiti – drawings and inscriptions, as well as murals of great artistic value.

     According to legend, the small cave behind the church was inhabited by a hermit monk. He became famous for his deeds of worship and the locals erected a temple in this place.

Pangea Landscape Park.

Where the sky and the river merge!

Where the colors of sunrises and sunsets are brighter than dreams!

    The complex is located entirely along the Zlatna Panega River, where in some places the road goes along the rocks, on other wooden bridges they lead from the opposite side of the river to numerous arbors and places for rest. It is the only one of its kind geopark in our country with virgin nature and incredible wealth of geological formations dating back 100-120 million years.

   The eco trail is easy and fast. What has been seen and experienced here remains for life. Autumn and water mesmerize with the bright colors.

     At that time she painted colorful paintings on the milky blue surface of the river. The birds stop chirping, the forest is dying, the weather is freezing. This is the magic of Golden Pangea – a river stealthy and legendary.

      Impressions from the park evoke a lot of longing and hidden power. They charge with energy for the weeks ahead. The magnetic power of nature reminds us of our fundamental duty to our surrounding nation – to cherish, protect and preserve it for generations to come!