Out of the main road

 On the road to Samokov from Sofia (Bistritsa)

@Photo by Krastan Ivanov 

while I was driving. I do love to drive!

@Photo by Krastan Ivanov 

Wedding in a Bulgarian village.

@Photo by Krastan Ivanov 

Beautiful building of the Belchin school - now abandoned 

 The Bell tower of the old church in Belchin

(the Medieval temple of "Saint Petka" )

After the close look of the Bell tower we saw a Sign "To the Fortress". I asked Krasi if he knew there was a fortress here and he denied. He was as surprised as me although he visited Belchin before (obviously only on drink-the-night-away occasions). 

 that's the path to the fortress. steep indeed!

but it's worth it!

It used to be a Fortified village and Early Christian Mission Center, IV-VI century

 and the view... 

this is the south side of Mountain Vitosha

 the remains of a church as far as I can tell

 it turned out there was an old road leading to this site where the main gate to the fortress used to be

now - no asphalt, no parking, no cars :)

 there's still a lot of work here!

the archaeologists' office - it's closed.

that's the building of a museum near the Church of "Saint Petka". When we reached the door a man told us it just closed. Anyway I will just point out thеse artificial decorations.