Vitanovo Reserve, Nature reserve in Strandzha mountains, Bulgaria

Vitanovo Reserve covers 1,112.4 hectares in the Strandzha mountains of south-eastern Bulgaria, near the border with Turkey. It lies 9 km from Malko Tarnovo and 5 km from the village of Brashlyan. Its forests are dominated by oriental beech (Fagus orientalis), oriental oak, Hungarian oak, common hornbeam and Turkey oak. Karst springs and caves lie within its territory, including the well-studied Bratanova Cave.

The reserve was established in December 1981 to protect the ecosystems of this mountain region. Its creation marked an important recognition of the ecological value of Strandzha and led to broader conservation efforts in the area.

Local place names such as Mechi dol and Mechkobievo refer to bears that once roamed these mountains. These words show how deeply wildlife shaped the identity of this region.

Access to the reserve requires authorization from Bulgaria's Ministry of Environment and Water, primarily for research and specialized nature activities. Visitors should obtain necessary permits in advance and be prepared for mountainous terrain with dense vegetation.

The reserve's place names — Mechi dol, Mechkobievo, Mechovite poliani, Golyam mechi dol, Malak mechi dol — all point to bears, suggesting the animals once lived here. In the 1950s the area saw large-scale felling for a planned railway line. Bratanova Cave is the best-studied of its caves.