If you happen to be traveling along the picturesque road to Bourgas that passes through the town of Karlovo, you simply must make a stopover at one of the big villages along this route – Anton, a picturesque spot in the Zlatitsa-Pirdop valley. There are many historical landmarks in the village and in its environs, many mounds which have kept the secrets of the Thracian tribes that have thrived in the Bulgarian lands. Tourists who have been to Anton say that the village is incredibly romantic. The nature here seems untouched by human hand; the august view that opens up to the Balkan Range lends wings to the imagination. In fact that was how the legend was born of the Bulgarian girl Jemina, who at a time of hardships chose to take her life rather than change her faith. Legend has it that she jumped off a cliff, since then called Jemina Cliff. Anton village is close to the mountain and that is what attracts hikers, especially in summer. Experienced guides say the mountain here is easy to scale, as there are no dangerous cliffs. Where the forest is made of beech-trees, there are numerous tracks left by animals. There is water all around. It is no coincidence that some 70 years ago, Anton was called Ludjene. The name is connected with the warm mineral springs in the vicinity - God only knows how they were lost, but the name remained – “ludjene” means baths. Here is Nonka Ivanova, secretary of the local culture community club Hristo Botev about the natural landmarks the locals like to show visitors:

“Our beautiful nature – that is the most precious thing here and we are proud of it. Unlike other villages, we don’t have copper ores or big factories or archaeological digs where ancient Thracian settlements have been unearthed. What we have and are proud of are the natural landmarks. About five kilometers from Anton there is a waterfall called the Butterfly. Anyone traveling along the road passing through Karlovo can see this powerful waterfall flowing down the face of the mountain. Close to it are two beautiful spots called Koznitsa and Ravni Dyal. As far as the eye can see spread lush pastures with sheep, horses and cows taken out to graze in warm weather. To the North the Balkan Range “closes up” this breath-taking picture. A scenic road twists and turns between the fields taking you closer to paradise. Unfortunately, this tourist region is known to but a few. We have had several guest-house projects in recent years and we are hoping they will give the start to rural tourism here. Otherwise there are excellent conditions to go horse riding, to hike in the Balkan Mountain, taking one of the many scenic pathways that reach breathtakingly beautiful spots. Anton village is the starting point for hikes to the chalets Mountain Springs, Benkovski, Echo, Pascal. From them climbers can scale the highest peaks in the Central portion of the Balkan Range – Kartal and Pascal as well as Tetevenska Baba – all of them well-known to avid tourists. The water of the springs in Anton is of the highest quality and people from all neighbouring towns and villages come here to get water to drink. Everything that has been constructed in the village – the new village square, the spring water fountains in its centre, everything has been done with the people in mind.”

English version: Milena Daynova