Walking the Stone River of Time on Mount Vitosha

The Golden Bridges, or "Zlatnite Mostove," in the Vitosha Mountains, are not merely a geological phenomenon; they are a scene that fuses nature, beliefs, and people's memories. When the enormous boulders scattered down the mountain slopes, covered with deep green moss and golden autumn leaves, locals in the past interpreted them as the Golden Bridge, a bridge through which gods and forest spirits could travel between the human and supernatural realms. Legend has it that Vitosha was once the home of a giant, the protector of the land. These boulders are the result of a battle between the giant and the forces of snow and ice. Over time, the remaining stones have been interpreted as symbols of the great forces that shaped the Bulgarian landscape. • The Golden Bridges are one of the largest "stone rivers" in the Balkan Peninsula, formed by glaciers during the last Ice Age, which eroded the boulders into a smooth, glacial shape. • Since the 19th century, the Golden Bridges have been a popular recreation spot for Sofia residents. Many Bulgarian writers and poets have described their beauty in their writings. Often associated with the symbolic meaning of the "Golden Bridge," connecting the past to the future, these structures are often used by geologists to study rock movement and the effects of temperature changes on the mountain. In the morning, when white mist covers the gray rocks and the first rays of the day reflect off the golden leaves, the Golden Bridges create a surreal illusion. They serve as both evidence of a glacier's past and a platform for folk beliefs to live on in people's memory. #sofia #bulgaria #vitoshamountain #goldenbridge