The eco-trail in Lozen mountain to peak Polovrak

The eco-trail "Lozen Mountain" offers not only nice panoramic views, but also insights into history and spiritual culture. Two memorials have been erected on it - to the unknown Chetnik of Benkovski under Polovrak Mountain and to Captain Dimitar Spisarevski near the village of Dolni Pasarel. The route also passes through the Lozen monastery "St. Spas". In the middle of the eco-trail is the third highest peak of Lozenska Planina - the lookout peak Polovrak (1182 m). We walked the trail from Dolni Lozen to Passarelle in winter, but we will describe it as a summer trail, because that is the best time to walk it.

In general, the walk on the Lozensk ecological trail is easy, there are a few breathless bogs here and there, but nothing difficult. Most of the time you walk on wide gravel roads and forest paths. Only after Polovrak mountain there are more bare patches. You follow the red tourist markers, which are quite well laid out, but you have to look carefully and not be guided by machines, because in many places the trail leaves the main gravel road and goes along different paths. In most cases you end up in the same place no matter which way you go, but there are turnoffs that you can miss if you do not end up where you want to go. I will not write about all of these turnoffs, though, because otherwise the description will be too extensive, but I will try to mention the most important ones. The last water on the route is near the Lozen Monastery.

We enter the forest, and after the first turn the sign appears (fork 1), and you have to be careful not to drop it, so you do not get out of the forest. There is a small climb, then we enter the road again and come out almost immediately, but here it is not so fatal. We go back up the forest path and come to the Hunter's Well. Near it, the path makes a sharp left turn, then a sharp right turn. Here it is important not to follow the second fork, but to continue straight ahead (fork 5), where the Lozen Monastery "St. Spas" is located. The monastery is in an amazing place and from it you can see part of Sofia field, against the background of Stara Planina.

Just before the entrance to the monastery, the eco trail continues to the right. Another slight ascent follows and near a bench we have to turn left again (fork 6). The path goes through wide meadows with viewpoints and a view of Vitosha, then it goes back into the forest to reach the fork to Polovrak (fork 7). The path is well signposted, but you should not go straight, otherwise you will reach the top of Popov Dyal (1190 m).

Before the peak there is one of the most interesting places along the Lozen Eco-Path - the memorial complex for the unknown Chetnik Georgi Benkovski. According to the legend, he was the only survivor of the flying squad and hid in a cave under Halfwrack for a long time. Villagers brought him food and water, but he was betrayed and killed. A memorial complex was erected on his forehead, and on his monument is written: "Instead of a lamp shine the stars of the Bulgarian giants who fell unknowingly".

The rocky peak of Polovrak is only a few meters away from the memorial and is the main destination of the ecological trail "Lozenska Planina". Its name comes from the ancient Thracians and means "eagle's view". It is fully justified. Some say that from here you have one of the best views of the Sofia field. With the addition that we also have a panorama of Plana, Rila, Verila, Vitosha and ... the chimneys of Druzhba.