Natural potential in the mountain region of Vidin district
The mountainous region of Vidin is located mainly in the southern part of the district – part of Stara Planina and in particular the Western Balkans. This area covers mainly the municipalities of Belogradchik and Chuprene and a small part of the Makresh municipality.
The municipalities Belogradchik and Chuprene are from the large municipalities in the district in terms of area. The Municipality of Belogradchik covers 410 km² and Chuprene is 327 km2, and both municipalities fall almost entirely in the mountainous part of Vidin region – Balkan and Prebalkan. The Makresh Municipality occupies 228 square kilometers, but no more than 1/3 of its area is a mountainous area. With 3054 square kilometers of Vidin region, it can be said that the mountainous area of the area covers about ¼ of its territory.
At the same time, the population of the district of nearly 87,000 people as of 31.12.2017 is unevenly distributed throughout the region, with the least populated areas being mountainous areas and some rural areas. For example, Belogradchik Municipality has an average of about 14 persons per sq km, in Chuprene and Makresh Municipality – 5 people, and in Vidin Municipality – 107, with an average of 28 in the district.
Typical of the whole mountainous region of Vidin is that it borders on the east with the state border of the Republic of Serbia, which passes through the highest part of the Balkan Mountain, spreading the highest peak in the Western Balkans – Midgur /2168m./
Apart from the fact that the mountain region of Vidin is sparsely populated, it is also in a process of aging of the population and depopulation of some villages. As a whole, for the area, the largest number is the population aged 65-69, followed by the age group 70-74, and the over-70s live mainly in the villages, including the mountainous region of Vidin.
In the mountain region of Vidin there are the following officially recognized by the Ministry of Environment and Water reserves, natural landmarks and protected areas:
1. BELOGRADCHIK ROCKS Category: natural landmark
Location:
• Municipality: Belogradchik, Town: Belogradchik, Borovitsa village, Chiflik village
• Municipality: Chuprene, Location: village of Varbovo
2. BOROV STONE Category: natural landmark
Location: Municipality: Belogradchik, Borovitsa village
3. WATERFALL OF STAVEVSKA RIVER IN AREA WHITE WATER Category: natural landmark
Location: Municipality: Belogradchik, Stakevtsi village
4. GARDATA Category: natural landmark
Location: Municipality: Chuprene, village of Protopopintsi
5. MIDGUR Category: Protected area
• Location: Municipality: Chuprene, village Gorni Lom
6. CAVE MAGURATA Category: natural landmark
Location:
• Municipality Belogradchik, village Rabisha
• Municipality Makresh, village Tolovitsa
7. CAVE VENETS IN THE AREA CHUKARA Category: natural landmark
Location: Municipality Dimovo, village Oreshets
8. CAVES LEFT AND RIGHT DRY PECH Категория: Category: natural landmark
Location: Municipality: Chuprene, village Dolni Lom
9. RAKOVITSA MONASTERY Category: Protected area
Location: Municipality Makresh, village Rakovitsa
10. CHUPRENE Category: Reserve
Location:
• Municipality Belogradchik, village Stakevtsi;
• Municipality: Chuprene, village Gorni Lom, Replyana, Chuprene
11. CHUPRENE WOODS Category: Protected area
Location:
• Municipality Belogradchik, village Stakevtsi;
• Municipality: Chuprene, village Gorni Lom, Replyana, Chuprene
It is noteworthy that out of all 17 protected areas in Vidin District 11 are located in the three mountain municipalities and Dimovo Municipality.
However, if an expert assessment of the natural attractions from the point of view of mountain e-biking should be made, we should draw the following important natural landmarks, around which will be subsequently developed and routes for cycling with electric bikes:
