Pobiti Kamani — the stone forest
Dozens of sharp stone columns standing in the sand like the remains of a vanished forest. One of Bulgaria's strangest and most mysterious natural landmarks.
A tale in stone
Pobiti Kamani is the largest natural phenomenon of its kind in Europe — a natural 'stone forest' about 18 kilometres west of Varna. Across an area of some 700 decares, hundreds of hollow and solid stone columns, up to 6 metres tall, rise from the sand, some of them almost in rows.
Scientists argued for decades about how they formed. Today the prevailing view is that the columns appeared about 50 million years ago, when the whole area was the bottom of a shallow sea. Carbonate rock settled around rotting plants and gas bubbles, and wind and sand slowly sculpted the whimsical shapes.
What the stone tells us
Local legends don't care much for science. One of them tells how the forest was once alive — after people stopped worshipping the earth, the trees turned to stone in punishment. Others see the columns as the remains of an ancient city or a petrified fleet of ships.
Whatever the truth, Pobiti Kamani is on the list of the 100 National Tourist Sites and draws photographers from all over the world. The golden columns look completely different at different times of day — most beautiful at sunrise and sunset, when the sun paints them orange.
Up to 6 metres
The tallest columns rise above the sand like stone trees.
~50 million years
The columns formed on the bottom of an ancient shallow sea.
Golden at sunset
The best light for photos is early morning or late afternoon.
How to get there
The phenomenon lies about 18 kilometres west of Varna, near the village of Slinchevo. The easiest way is by car along the road to Devnya — the turn-off for Pobiti Kamani is well signposted. There is parking and a walking path among the columns.
We recommend combining a stroll among the stones with a visit to the ancient city of Marcianopolis in Devnya — just a few kilometres away, magnificent mosaics from the Roman era are preserved.
☀ Practical tip
Bring a hat and water — there is no shade on the sandy plain. Early morning is both the coolest and the most photogenic time.
| Location | 18 km west of Varna, near the village of Slinchevo |
|---|---|
| Status | Natural landmark, 100 National Tourist Sites |
| Access | Free, open all year round |
| Nearby | Devnya and the Roman city of Marcianopolis |
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