District of Vidin

The district of Vidin will surprise you with its numerous cultural and historical attractions. Its administrative centre is the medieval town of Vidin, which is strategically located on the right bank of the Danube river, in the Northwestern part of Bulgaria. Named Bononia by the Romans and Bdin by the Bulgarians, Vidin is known for its century-old history. The town was the capital of the Tsardom of Vidin under the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185-1396) and an important spiritual and cultural centre during this period, conquered by the Turks in 1396. A splendid river park, a Medieval castle, hidden fortified walls, museums, breath-taking views of the Danube, pedestrian alleys, river restaurants serving traditional Bulgarian food are just some of the attractions the city has to offer. The town is housing one of the Bulgaria’s best-preserved Medieval fortress, Baba Vida, which rises picturesquely above the city, on the bank of the Danube river. A must-see for every tourist are the Roman fortress Castra Martis (1st-6th centuries), the medieval fortress of Belogradchik, Kaleto, also one of the best-preserved in the country, and the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Ratiaria, an important trade centre during this period. Its cathedral of Saint Demetrius, the third highest and the second largest in Bulgaria, has been declared a cultural monument of national significance. The rocks of Belogradchik, which rises spectacularly above the city, are spectacular large rock formation, shaped by nature in the course of millions of years, a natural phenomenon, turning them into the most spectacular tourists’ sites in Bulgaria. Other important landmarks here are the cave of Magura with its prehistoric paintings, carved in the rocks, Venetsa and Lepenica caves, which can be accessed only with special equipment and guide.