Bulgaria Inside

Gortalovo village is located 15 km southeast of the town of Pleven. The village has 160 residents. It is located in the exceptionally beautiful Chernelka River gorge and an eco path connects it to the nearby village of Kurtozhabene.

Until 1934, Gortalovo was known as Karagoui. Official Ottoman registers mention the village for the first time in 1496. The village is known for its various legends and stories. Its traditions are what attracts visitors. Rural tourism is still underdeveloped but people already express steady interest in the region of Gortalovo.

The village was named after Russian warrior Fiodor Mateevich Gortalov. He was born in 1839. Gortalov led a company during the Russo-Turkish war and took part in the third Pleven assault under the command of general Skobelev.

Gortalov and his soldiers repelled five Ottoman countercharges, after which Skobelev ordered a retreat. Gortalov decided to keep on fighting. A division of Russian soldiers agreed to voluntarily remain alongside Gortalov. All of them were killed during the sixth Ottoman attack.

A memorial plate can be seen today right next to the Gortalovo municipal building.

Landmarks in the region are numerous. Some of them have already been seriously damaged by treasure hunters. A large stone column that is 11 m-high is one of these damaged artifacts. The column features bear images and has been logically called The Bear.

Raztsepen Kamuk (the split stone) is one of Gortalovo’s most popular landmarks. It is actually a 25-m high cliff that appears as if cut in half.

Momina Doupka is another interesting site having legends told about it. The landmark resembles a labyrinth of tunnels high in a rock. One of the tunnels leads to an abyss. The name of the labyrinth (meaning maiden’s hole in Bulgarian) is explained by yet another legend. During the Ottoman reign, a powerful ruler decided to marry two beautiful Bulgarian girls from Gortalovo. The girls were unwilling to accept Islam and hid in the labyrinth. Relatives brought them food and water. The two young women lived in the rock chamber for weeks. Yet, a Roma man spotted them accidentally and told the ruler. Ottoman soldiers came to look for the girls, who decided to jump into the abyss instead of becoming the wives of the ruler.

When you head to the village of Kurtozhabene, you will see Gortalova cave and a building constructed inside of it. Two other caves in the area functioned as rock churches until the 19th century. Gradishte fortress is also situated nearby.

To explore the beautiful landmarks of the region, you can make use of Chernelka eco path. It will take you to various regions and landmarks among which Baba Raditsa region, Chernata cavem Aladzhanska abyss and Provurtenika well.