Hemus motorway, Controlled-access highway in northern Bulgaria
Hemus is a controlled-access highway in northern Bulgaria that stretches over a long distance between the capital and the Black Sea coast. The roadway consists of two separate directional lanes with central barriers and entry and exit points at regular intervals.
Construction began in the 1970s as part of a state program to modernize transport routes. Work continued over several decades, with individual sections completed at different times.
The name comes from Haemus Mons, the Roman term for the mountain range that runs across northern Bulgaria. Drivers follow this route as the main link between the capital and the Black Sea coast.
Along the route are fuel stations, rest areas with facilities, and breakdown service stations at wider intervals. An electronic system records tolls when passing through checkpoints without stopping.
One section crosses a deep valley on a bridge that ranks among the tallest structures of its kind on the Balkan Peninsula. The roadway sits at a height that opens views over surrounding hills and forests.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
