A sensational road to Beklemeto Pass in the Balkan Mountains

Beklemeto Pass, is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.525m (5,003ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Lovech and Plovdiv provinces of Bulgaria.

Set high in the Balkan Mountains, the road to the summit, also known as Troyan Pass, is totally paved. It’s called Road 35 and follows the old Roman Via Trayana (Trajan road). It’s one of the main roads connecting northern and southern Bulgaria.

Tucked away in the northern-central part of the country, the pass is 48.4 km (30.07 miles) long, running south-north from Karnare to Troyan. The drive is pretty defiant, with steep parts and more than 30 hairpin turns. The name of the region has Turkish origin and means guard. A guarding tower was probably situated there in the past.
At the summit is a ski resort. Near the pass there is a 35m high concrete monument dedicated to the liberation struggle of the Bulgarians. It’s accessible with a narrow paved road. It’s named "Arc of Liberty" and dedicated to the victory of the Russian army in January 1878 capturing the pass, leading to the liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman regime. “In the chilly January in 1878, the Russian detachment attacks the pass. Despite of the deep snow, and chilly weather, they conquered the pass”. The monument also commemorates the Bulgarian - Russian unity following World War II. The top of the monument offers incredible views in all directions.