The eco-trail is located in the Central Rhodopes, just 18 km from the city of Plovdiv and is seemingly embraced by the villages of Hrabrino and Izvor. There are two options for reaching our final point – the rock named Momina Salza. One starts from the village of Hrabrino, but the one from the village of Izvor is more often recommended by tourists. It is more easily accessible and has white-red markings. The village itself is known to have been founded by a population fleeing during the Ottoman rule, coming from the Macedonian part of Bulgaria. The original location of the village is higher up in the mountain, where there are still ruins and walls of houses, as well as fruit trees. Nearby is a road covered with stone slabs, probably built by the Romans.
To get to the beginning, you have to pass by the municipality building in the village of Izvor, which is located in the center of the settlement. Then you continue forward to a fountain with several spouts and the turnoff for the chapel of St. Elijah.
The marking is clearly visible and to reach the rock, the road is straight ahead. Our next support point is another chapel – St. Archangel Michael. From there, you continue along the cart path again. You continue straight and to your left you will see the third chapel of the Holy Virgin. There is an old chapel there, which is locked, but next to it there is a new one, which you can enter if you wish. There is also a small fountain with cold water nearby.
Shortly after, as if from among the trees, a rock or rather a group of rocks called Momina skala or a picturesque Canyon will appear in front of you.
The place is breathtaking with its dizzying scale and sheer drops. There are several legends about the name of the area, but perhaps the most popular is the one about the most beautiful girl from the village, who during the Ottoman rule, in order not to lose her honor, chose the highest rock in the area and threw herself from it. The locals claim that to this day a stain of her blood can be seen on the rock.
In the area of Momina Skala, and more precisely on the Kaleto hill, are the remains of the medieval Gradec fortress.
The path is easy and without slopes, with plenty of vegetation on both sides, so it offers shade, even if you choose a sunnier and warmer day.
