Vrachanski Karst, Nature reserve and tentative World Heritage Site in Vratsa, Bulgaria

Vrachanski Karst is a nature reserve featuring limestone formations, hundreds of caves, and forested valleys in the Vratsa region. The landscape includes deep gorges, rocky surfaces, and mixed woodlands that create a varied natural environment.

Vrachanski Karst was declared a reserve by Decree No. 854 of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Council of Ministers on 10 August 1983, with a total area of 1438.9 hectares. The reserve was created to protect karst terrain with diverse geomorphological formations, cave fauna, sub-Mediterranean flora and relic species, some listed in Bulgaria's Red Book.

The reserve's name comes from the Vratsa karst, and its landmarks carry local names: the Skaklya cliff and waterfall, the Vratsata gorge of the Leva river, and the Zmeeva dupka cave. The historical site Vola lies nearby. A documentary film, "Reserve Vrachanski Karst", has been made about the area.

Visitors can explore the area using marked hiking trails that lead through different parts of the reserve. Sturdy footwear and plenty of water are essential, as trails traverse uneven terrain and rocky passages.

The reserve is split almost symmetrically by the Leva River into two sections: the Bazovski part, running from the stone quarry near Pavolche to the Vratsata pass, and the Stresherski part, from the pass to Karnov peak. Elevations range from 250 to 850 m.