The Womb, Cave sanctuary in Kardzhali Province, Bulgaria
The Womb is a limestone sanctuary in eastern Bulgaria with an entrance positioned two meters above ground level leading to a 22-meter horizontal passage. Access is through a steep natural slope reaching a three-meter-high opening that narrows into a passage widening toward a smaller chamber at the rear.
Thracian communities used the site between the 11th and 10th centuries BCE as a sacred location for rites connected to fertility. A modern speleologist found the site in 2001, bringing the ancient carvings and ritual features back into view.
The popular name comes from the carved openings and elongated main chamber that together resemble the shape of a human womb. Visitors can see the carvings on the walls representing niches for offerings and ritual objects, linking the site to fertility rites.
Hiking trails starting from Borovitsa Hotel lead to the site in about an hour on foot. The climb to the opening requires sturdy footwear, and a flashlight is useful for seeing the rear areas and wall details.
On winter days around midday, sunlight reaches the rear altar, a natural occurrence likely part of ancient ceremonies. The precise alignment of the opening suggests that builders used astronomical knowledge to create this seasonal effect.
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