NATURAL PHENOMENON “KOMATINSKI ROCKS”

The majestic rock formations, declared as a natural landmark, also known as “Komatitza”, rise above the village of Brestovo in the Vlahina Mountain, next to the border with Macedonia, 25 km from the town of Simitli and 42 km South of Blagoevgrad. The rocks were formed some 35 to 40 million years ago. The rock phenomenon extends on the territory between the Vranishtitsa River and the village of Brestovo and represents a large-scale formation with the shape of a wreath and a height of up to 100 m. Komatinski rocks are divided into three massifs. The most impressive is the southwest, hanging over Suhostrel’s first houses. The rocks have formed a variety of fossil figures. The most impressive part of the rock massif resembles a huge mouth of a prehistoric animal. Another rock figure strikingly resembles the pregnant Mother Goddess of pagan times with huge breasts. Next to it is a cornel tree.  The legend tells that squeezing between the two cornel trunks, the childless women are cured and acquired children. People believed that for this to happen, one has to put clothes worn by the childless woman on the cornel tree. The area provides ideal conditions for hiking and mountaineering moderate, and from the peaks of the rocks reveals an incredible panorama to the surrounding landscape of both countries. Rocks are an attractive destination for many mountaineers. Nearby is Troskovski monastery “St. Archangel Michael”.