Torfeno Branishte

Cherni Vrah (Bulgarian: Черни връх [ˈt͡ʃɛrni vrɤx], "Black Peak") is the summit of Vitosha Mountain in Bulgaria. Rising to 2290 m, the peak is the fourth highest mountain summit in the country after Musala (2925 m, Rila Mountain), Vihren (2914 m, Pirin Mountain), and Botev Vrah (2376 m, Balkan Range). Cherni Vrah is bounded to the northwest by Torfeno Branishte (Turf Nature Reserve) which — like the extensive adjacent territory to the south — is a no-go drinking water catchment area. Several major stone rivers are situated in the peak's vicinity, occupying the upper courses of Vladayska and Boyanska Rivers to the north, and Struma River to the south. The peak is part of the water divide between Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea, its northern slopes draining into Iskar River, and eventually into Danube River and Black Sea, and the southern slopes draining into Matnitsa River, flowing in turn into Struma River and Aegean Sea. Cherni Vrah hosts a weather station built in 1935, one year after the mountain became the oldest national park on the Balkans. The station provides refuge in bad weather (no tourist accommodation though), and has a well supplied cafeteria offering hot meals. A Mountain Rescue Service team is based on the peak too. The nearest mountain chalets are Aleko Chalet situated 3 km to the north-northeast (1810 m, major ski and snowboard centre accessible by gondola lift from Simeonovo, Sofia), and Kumata Chalet (1725 m) situated 5.5 km to the northwest. Ski paths link Cherni Vrah to Aleko and Kumata areas in winter, and a ski run on the northern slope of the peak itself is served by a 600-m surface lift. With its annual average wind speed of 9.3 m/s Cherni Vrah is the second most windy peak in Bulgaria after Murgash Peak in the Balkan Range (10.3 m/s). The legend holds it that Cherni Vrah was climbed as early as 181 B.C. by King Philip V of Macedon. Nowadays, the easiest access to the peak is by a 1.4-km track from the upper station of Romanski chair lift situated on Malak Rezen Peak (2191 m). Cherni Vrah has a special place in Bulgarian tourism. Thanks to its proximity to Sofia the peak is by far the most visited mountain summit in the country, attracting tens of thousands of visitors annually. The first group of tourists to climb the peak involved 300 people, among them the contemporary doyen of Bulgarian literature Ivan Vazov, and was led by another famous Bulgarian writer, Aleko Konstantinov. The event took place on August 27, 1895, and annual tourist rallies are held on Cherni Vrah on that date considered the birthday of Bulgarian tourist movement. The etymology of the name Cherni Vrah (Black Peak) is uncertain. Popularly, it is attributed to the black colour of the conspicuous rock formations dominating the peak's tip. Another belief holds it that the name derived from the darker appearance the peak presumably had in the past, when the Subalpine zone of Vitosha used to be overgrown by mountain pine (Pinus mugo) that was burnt in the Middle Ages to expand sheep pastures. Nowadays only few isolated mountain pine communities have survived in the vicinity of Cherni Vrah, and their process of expansion and recovery is very slow.

Malak Rezen (Bulgarian: Малък Резен / ‘Little Slice’) is a peak rising to 2,191 m in northeastern Vitosha Mountain in Bulgaria. The peak is situated 1.5 km northeast of the summit Cherni Vrah, and 1.3 km north by east of Golyam Rezen Peak, surmounting Stenata ski run and Aleko site to the north. Malak Rezen is accessible by the Romanski chair lift, and serves in turn as a convenient starting point for the three highest peaks of Vitosha Mountain — Cherni Vrah (2,290 m), Golyam Rezen (2,277 m), and Skoparnik (2,226 m). Rezen Knoll on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named for the peaks of Malak Rezen and Golyam Rezen.

Golyam Rezen (Bulgarian: Голям Резен / ‘Big Slice’) is a peak on Vitosha Mountain in Bulgaria. Rising to 2,277 m, the peak is second to the mountain's summit Cherni Vrah situated 900 m to the west. Golyam Rezen hosts an Air Traffic Services facility, as well as military communications installations. The precipitous east slopes of the peak are a popular rock climbing site, overlooking Bistritsa River Valley in Bistrishko Branishte Biosphere Reserve. Golyam Rezen is part of the water divide between Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea, with its northern and eastern slopes draining into Iskar River, and eventually into Danube River and Black Sea, and the southwestern slopes draining into Matnitsa River, flowing in turn into the Struma River and Aegean Sea. The peak is easily accessible from the adjacent Malak Rezen Peak (2,191 m) situated 1.2 km to the north by east, and linked by chair lift to Aleko tourist centre. In winter, Golyam Rezen is also reached by a chair lift serving the Vitoshko Lale ski run descending from near the peak's summit down to Dervishka Bachiya site (1,500 m) in the valley of Yanchevska River, a tributary of Vitoshka Bistritsa River. Rezen Knoll on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named for the peaks of Golyam Rezen and Malak Rezen.

Kominite (Bulgarian: Комините [koˈminitɛ], meaning 'the chimneys') are several minor andesite peaks in the Vitosha Mountains near Sofia, Bulgaria. The peaks are in the upper valley of the Dragalevska River near the Bay Krastyo tourist site. The peaks are the nearest to and most easily accessible from a climbing area near Sofia, with climbing routes of UIAA categories II to VIII and 50 to 100 m (160 to 330 ft) high. The Kominite peaks can be reached easily from Dragalevtsi via the Bay Krastyo or the Goli Vrah chair lift stations.

Ushite Peak (Bulgarian: Връх Ушите / ‘Ears Peak’) is a peak rising to 1,860 metres (6,100 ft) in northern Vitosha Mountain, Bulgaria. The peak is situated on the northern border of Torfeno Branishte Nature Reserve, and 650 m south of Kamen Del Peak. A small refuge is situated on the northeastern slopes Ushite, off track between Aleko and Zlatnite Mostove, the two most popular tourist sites on Vitosha.

Selimitsa (Bulgarian: Селимица [sɛˈlimit͡sɐ]) is a peak rising to 2,041 m west of Torfeno Branishte Nature Reserve in northwestern Vitosha Mountain in Bulgaria. The northern slopes of the peak are occupied by the ski runs of Konyarnika Ski Centre. Linked by tracks to Kumata Chalet and Zlatnite Mostove Tourist Centre to the north, Selimitsa Chalet, Kladnitsa Monastery and Kladnitsa Village to the west, Matnitsa River valley and Chuypetlovo Village to the south, and the mountain's summit Cherni Vrah to the east.

Kamen Del (Bulgarian: Камен Дел / ‘Stone Piece’) is a peak on Vitosha Mountain in Bulgaria. Rising to 1,862 metres (6,109 ft), and surmounting the city of Sofia, it is the most conspicuous peak seen from the Bulgarian capital. Its northern slope is partly covered by an extensive one by one km stone sea. A flat col links Kamen Del to Ushite Peak 1,960 metres (6,430 ft) to the south, hosting a small refuge on the track between Aleko and Zlatnite Mostove, the two most popular tourist sites on Vitosha.

Golyamata Gramada (Bulgarian: Голямата грамада, ‘Big Pile’) is one of the largest stone rivers on Vitosha Mountain, Bulgaria. The feature is situated in the upper valley of Vitoshka Bistritsa River in Bistrishko Branishte Nature Reserve, extending near 1 km, and up to 300 m wide. The stone river is ‘descending’ from elevation 1900 m above sea level at the foothills of Golyam Rezen Peak to 1550 m off the track between Bistritsa village and Aleko site (1810 m), the most popular tourist centre on Vitosha Mountain accessible also from Sofia by gondola lift.

Skoparnik (Bulgarian: Скопарник [skoˈparnik]) is the third highest peak of Vitosha Mountain in Bulgaria. Rising to 2,226 m, the peak is situated 1.5 km south of Golyam Rezen Peak (2,277 m), and 2 km southeast of the summit Cherni Vrah (2,290 m). The peak is bounded by the Bistrishko Branishte Biosphere Reserve to the east, and a prohibited drinking water catchment area to the west, and is part of the divide between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, with the Vitoshka Bistritsa draining its eastern slopes to flow into the Iskar River and eventually to the Danube River, and the Struma River draining the western slopes to flow into the Aegean Sea. The peak is accessible by tracks coming from Golyam Rezen Peak in the north; from Aleko Centre or Bistritsa via the upper Bistrishko Branishte; from Zheleznitsa Village in the east; and from Chuypetlovo and Yarlovo Villages in the southwest and south. Skoparnik Bluff on Trinity Peninsula in Antarctica is named after the peak.

Zlatnite Mostove (Bulgarian: Златните мостове, ‘Golden Bridges’) is the largest stone river on Vitosha Mountain, Bulgaria. The feature is situated in the valley of Vladayska River, extending 2.2 km, and up to 150 m wide, with several ‘tributary’ stone rivers. The stone river is ‘descending’ from elevation 1800 m above sea level in Boeritsa Chalet area to 1410 m at Zlatnite Mostove site. The lower extremity of the stone river is known as Zlatnite Mostove site, a popular tourist destination accessible from Sofia by road.The name ‘Golden Bridges’ derives from the golden colour of the lichens growing on the surface of stone run boulders.

Dragalevtsi Monastery of the Holy Mother of God of Vitosha (Bulgarian: Драгалевски манастир „Света Богородица Витошка“, Dragalevski manastir „Sveta Bogoroditsa Vitoshka“) is a Bulgarian Orthodox monastery on the lower slopes of Vitosha mountain on the outskirts of the capital Sofia in western Bulgaria. Founded in the mid-14th century by Bulgarian tsar Ivan Alexander, the monastery was abandoned after the Ottoman conquest of Sofia and reestablished in the late 15th century, when it became an important literary centre. The monastery church and some of its frescoes date from this period.

Boyana Waterfall is the largest waterfall in the Bulgarian Vitosha mountain, with a height of 25 meters.