A sensational road to Beklemeto Pass in the Balkan Mountains
Bulgaria, europe
48.4 km
35 m
extreme
Year-round
Okay, buckle up for the Beklemeto Pass in Bulgaria, a wild ride sitting way up high at 1,525 meters! You'll find it snaking along the Lovech and Plovdiv province line, right in the heart of the Balkan Mountains.
This is Road 35, a fully paved route also known as Troyan Pass that even follows the ancient Roman Via Trayana. It's a major artery connecting northern and southern Bulgaria, so expect some traffic.
Clocking in at about 48 kilometers between Karnare and Troyan, this pass throws down a serious driving gauntlet. Get ready for some steep climbs hitting gradients of over 11% and a dizzying collection of more than 30 hairpin turns!
The name Beklemeto hints at its history, with Turkish roots meaning 'guard'—likely a watchtower stood sentinel here long ago. Keep an eye out for the ski resort at the pass, perfect for a winter detour. And just east of the summit, a rugged, unpaved road leads to the Arch of Freedom, a massive 35-meter concrete monument celebrating Bulgarian liberation. Worth the bumpy side trip!
Where is it?
A sensational road to Beklemeto Pass in the Balkan Mountains is located in Bulgaria (europe). Coordinates: 42.8970, 25.4122
Road Details
- Country
- Bulgaria
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 48.4 km
- Max Elevation
- 35 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- 42.8970, 25.4122
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