Buzovgrad

10 km south of Kazanlak, in the foothills of the Sredna Gora Mountains, on a hill bordering the valley, there is a gate built of massive stones, inside of which there is an opening through which sunlight shines on the longest day of the year. According to archaeologists, this is a temple dedicated to the Mother Goddess, established 6,000 years ago by the people of the Goddess culture, and later adopted by the Thracians when they arrived in the area about 4,000 years ago. The gate symbolizes the female genital organ, through which the sun’s rays—symbolizing male energy—penetrate, creating a connection between heaven and earth.

In addition to its orientation toward the sunset, the gate is also aligned with a high mountain in the Balkan range—Triglav Peak—where the sources of the Tundzha River are located. This river was sacred to the Thracians and considered the most important river in the region.

Near the gate are rock engravings and cup-marks that likely represent constellations. Not far from the gate is a group of rocks in the shape of a male genital organ, as well as several altars and a royal chair. Together, they form a complete megalithic complex that marks the apex of a sacred triangle, with the Kosmatka tomb-temple and the holy city of Seuthopolis as the other two vertices.

Since the gate is oriented toward the sunset, it is assumed that the worship held at the site was associated with the transition to the world of the dead. For this reason, the prominent Thracian archaeologist Alexander Fol requested that his ashes be scattered at the site, and a commemorative plaque has been placed in his honor.

The rock formations are reminiscent of similar sacred sites in Bulgaria and Europe, such as Begliktash. There is ongoing debate between those who believe the stones were artificially shaped and arranged, and those who argue that the formations are natural. Either way, the site today serves as a gathering place for followers of the New Age movement, who refer to it as the “Gate of the Goddess.