Opaka combines a hilly to semi-mountainous landscape with a rich cultural heritage. Its main attractions are the medieval Krepcha Rock Monastery, historical inscriptions and the traditions of remembrance found in its settlements. The municipality is in Bulgaria’s Targovishte Province. This offers different ways to plan your trip: explore the landscape along the Cherni Lom, or discover the history reflected in the monastery, museum and memorial sites.
Landscape along the Cherni Lom
The Cherni Lom runs lengthwise through the municipality. The corridor along the river is relatively flat; beyond it, the terrain is deeply folded and cut by numerous ravines. The river corridor therefore contrasts clearly with the more rugged uplands beyond it. From the Third of March Hut, views stretch towards the Cherni Lom valley and the wooded slopes of neighbouring hills.
Rock Monastery and Inscriptions in Krepcha
The medieval Krepcha Rock Monastery comprises monastic cells carved into the rock, a monastery church and a funerary church. The walls bear drawings, runic symbols, and Old Hebrew and Cyrillic inscriptions. Two Cyrillic texts date from the 10th century and are considered valuable epigraphic monuments of medieval Bulgaria. The rooms and inscriptions carved into the stone draw attention both to the architecture and to the written record.
The monastery is about 2 km from the village centre, on the road to Golyamo Gradishte. The complex is 14 m long. There is no purpose-built visitor access to the upper inscriptions; photographs of them can be seen on an information board in the rock church. The Kanchova Dupka Cave in Krepcha is 28 m long and 3 m deep.
Museums, Memorial Sites and History
In Gorsko Ablanovo, the museum has three exhibitions: on the village’s past, the battles of 1877–1878, and local life and culture from the late 19th to the early 20th century. A memorial wall in the centre of Opaka lists local people who fell in war. In the Bulgarian-Russian Friendship Park in Gorsko Ablanovo, memorial plaques and bas-reliefs commemorate Russian soldiers who died in the Russo-Turkish War of Liberation. The Church of St George was built in 1864 and is designated a cultural monument of local significance.
The wider area also bears traces of history: Gorsko Ablanovo and Katselovo were the sites of some of the most decisive battles in the Cherni Lom valley during the Russo-Turkish War of Liberation of 1877–1878. On 3 March 2025, the municipality’s commemorative events took place at the Kordyuzyu mass grave in Gorsko Ablanovo. If you would like to attend a commemoration on a future 3 March, check the date for the relevant year.
Customs and Music
Trifon Zarezan customs include pruning the vines, choosing a “King of the Vineyards” and horse races. During Lazaruvane, girls in folk costumes go from house to house, sing traditional songs and collect eggs. Christmas traditions include singers performing Bulgarian folk songs, as well as boys called “kotki” who announce their arrival. A women’s singing group continues to perform for audiences in the area. These customs and music are further cultural highlights of the municipality, alongside its inscriptions and exhibitions.
Hut, Getting There and Visitor Information
The Third of March Hut in Gorsko Ablanovo offers views of the Cherni Lom valley and the wooded slopes of neighbouring hills. It is considered an overnight stop and resting place for tourists and visitors; check the current operating arrangements locally. The municipality’s food production includes milk and dairy products, as well as bread and baked goods.
Popovo and Dve Mogili railway stations are about 30 km from Gorsko Ablanovo; Ruse Airport is about 50 km away. Before travelling, check current train connections, airport services and road distances. A cultural heritage project established an access route to Krepcha Rock Monastery and a tourist information point in the youth centre in Opaka’s central area. Check the current signage and whether the information point is available when you visit.
Discover more destinations: Lyublen, Popovo, Omurtag, Antonovo, Targovishte
Return to the main travel guide: Targovishte Province.
