Authentic Roman bridge Kufarita
- Stefan Ivanov
- Oct 3, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 20
The Kufarita Bridge is an architectural and historical monument from the time of Ottoman slavery, built on the foundations of an authentic bridge from the Roman era.
Kufarita is one of the sights of Dushantsi - an extraordinary and unforgettable village, hidden between the proud and old Balkan and the Schtinska Sredna Gora.
How do you get to the village of Dushantsi?
Traveling along the Sub-Balkan road in the direction of Sofia - Burgas, immediately after the town of Pirdop take the turnoff to the right, leading directly to the village.
Traveling along the Sub-Balkan road in the direction of Burgas - Sofia, you have two options - turn off at Anton and continue to Dushantsi or take the left turn, just before Pirdop.
Entering Dushantsi, continue straight and watch out for a turnoff to the right, located immediately before the end of the village. There is an information sign indicating the direction to the Kufarita Bridge and to the "St. George" chapel.
History
Between Pirdop and Dushantsi flows the Elenska river, which in its lower part is called Gramatnik, and after the Liberation, the border between the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia passed from here.
The town of Pirdop was located in the Principality of Bulgaria, and the village of Dushantsi, which is less than 8 kilometers away from Pirdop, was in Eastern Rumelia.
In 1885, this injustice was corrected and both settlements, belonging to the same municipality, were once again part of Bulgaria.
At that time, the village was dominated by the Turkish population, which inhabited the lower part of Dushantsi.
After the Unification, the Turkish population very quickly left the village along the old road leading to Constantinople, winding through one of the symbols of Dushantsi - the old Roman bridge, which I present to you today.
Legend has it that it was there in the foundations of the old bridge that some of the wealthier fleeing Turkish families buried their possessions. Therefore, later in the 1970s and 1980s, the bridge suffered greatly from treasure hunters.
In 2010, the old Roman bridge was completely restored and today it is in more than wonderful condition.
The bridge is a single-arched road facility that connects the two banks of the Kufarita River (Kofarita in some sources) along the route of the old Roman road leading from Serdika (today's Sofia) to Filipopol (today's Plovdiv) and Augusta Traiana (today's Stara Zagora).
What can be visited nearby?
Continuing after the Kufarita bridge, the road will take you to the "St. George" chapel above Dushantsi, from where you will enjoy a wonderful view of the entire Zlatishko-Pirdop valley.
Don't miss taking a wonderful sunny walk around the pretty jewel of the Middle Forest, Dushantsi.
Let your walk also take you to the beautiful church "St. St. Cyril and Methodius".
Dušanci is a delightful place in every season! Proof of this is the magnificent photo moments with the wonderful Christmas decorations, bringing so much delight to our senses!
The road after the village will take you to the "Dushantsi" dam - magnificent in every season!
Enjoy the "Dushantsi" dam in autumn!
Enjoy the Dushantsi Dam in winter!
Enjoy the "Dushantsi" dam in the summer!
5 kilometers from Dushantsi (6 minutes by car) is the charming village of Anton, which I recommend you to explore.
Near the village on the Sub-Balkan road itself, you can enjoy the wonderful Antonovski waterfall.
About 12 kilometers from Dushantsi (about 15 minutes by car) is the town of Zlatica, where you can visit a number of interesting sights.
In the center of the town of Zlatica is the old clock tower.
From the old clock tower, head towards the northeastern part of Zlatitsa, north of the railway line, where "Stara planina" street is located. Taking it, you will soon find yourself outside the northern outskirts in the foothills of the Balkans, where the rumble will tell you that you are approaching Zlatiski Waterfall.
Zlatishki waterfall is also remarkable in autumn, when everything around is colorful and pastel.
In the immediate vicinity of the waterfall itself are the stairs that will take you to the chapel of St. St. Cyric and Iulita. The place offers an extremely beautiful view of the entire Zlatishko-Pirdop valley.
If you continue to the left past the waterfall, you will find yourself at the Ascension Monastery and Spasovo Kladchenche.
Don't miss to see the wonderful "Grandfather's Glove" park.
10 kilometers from Dushantsi (12 minutes by car) are the majestic ruins of the Elenska Basilica, which you should not miss visiting.
Elenska Basilica is also beautiful in winter.
Near the ruins of the Elenska Basilica, as a memory of the destroyed Bulgarian monastery, in 2010 a chapel "St. Elijah".
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