natural landmark Ritlite

Overview

Ritlite is a natural landmark located on the banks of the Iskar River, above the village of Lyutibrod, Mezdra municipality. The ridges are four sheer cliffs, 200 meters long, under which a railway line passes. Deciduous trees grow between their walls. They are included in the register of protected natural areas in Bulgaria.

The name of the natural landmark comes from their resemblance to the side partitions of a cart (ritli). East of the rocks was the village of Korintgrad, called by the locals Koritengrad. Remains of more than nine medieval Bulgarian churches have been found in the area of ​​Koritengrad, including an early Christian basilica from the 5th to the 6th century. The best preserved is the church "St. George ”, dating from the X - XII century. Koritengrad has not existed since the seventeenth century, and some of its inhabitants, who settled in different directions, founded the present-day village of Lyutibrod. Next to Ritlite is the historical place Rashov dol. The last organized battle of part of Botev's detachment after the death of the voivode in the April Uprising (1876) took place in this area. In the upper part of the meadow is preserved the barn, near which the battle was fought. Next to it there is a small chapel, and a little below is a memorial plaque. Every year on June 3 in Rashov dol a reconstruction of the last battles of the detachment is held. There are several marked tourist routes in the area. One is from the Okolchitsa hut near the village of Lyutibrod and follows in the footsteps of Hristo Botev's detachment after his death. Near Ritlite and the village of Lyutibrod are the Cherepish Monastery "Assumption of the Blessed Virgin" and Osenovlak Monastery "Holy Mother of God",  known as the "Seven Thrones".