DUNAV ULTRA
THE 100 HIGHLIGHTS 2025Representative Selection of Sites: Cultural and Historical Heritage, Natural Phenomena, Interesting Locations, Flora and Fauna, Cuisine, Traditions, and Folklore Showcasing the Identity of the Dunav Ultra Route
6 NEW HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2025
Roman Baths of Ratiaria


Roman Baths – Ancient City of Ratiaria
Roman Baths – Ancient City of Ratiaria
Archaeological findings of world-renowned significance for European civilization.
The Dry River Canyon


Natural Phenomenon: The Dry River Canyon
Natural Phenomenon: The Dry River Canyon
A unique landscape where wild nature meets the remnants of ancient sanctuaries and mysterious rock-hewn churches.
The Story of Ignat Kaneff


The Story of Ignat Kaneff
The Story of Ignat Kaneff
From a Poor Immigrant to a Respected Philanthropist: The Story of the Richest Bulgarian Who Succeeded Abroad.
The Red-Breasted Goose


The Red-Breasted Goose
The Red-Breasted Goose
A rare and striking bird, listed in Bulgaria’s Red Data Book and treasured for its ecological importance.
The “Garash” Cake


Ruse – Home of the "Garash" Cake
Ruse – Home of the "Garash" Cake
The Famous Garash Cake—a Confectionery Masterpiece Born in Ruse.
Dobrudzha’s Lavender Fields

The Lavender Fields of Dobrudzha
Lavender Oil Produced in Southern Dobrudzha as Part of the Region’s Identity
Read moreDISCOVER WHAT’S NEW
The Roman Baths of Ratiaria – A Glimpse of Rome’s Grandeur Along the Danube
On the western section of the Dunav Ultra route, near today’s village of Archar, lie the remains of one of the most important ancient cities on Bulgarian lands – Ratiaria. Founded in the 1st century AD, the city reached its peak as the capital of the Roman province of Dacia Ripensis, playing a crucial administrative, military, and trade role along the Danubian Limes.
During the 3rd–4th centuries, Ratiaria hosted the Legio XIII Gemina – the “twin legion,” named for its formation from two earlier units. Its presence further cemented the city’s role as a key stronghold in the Empire’s northern frontier defense.
Among the city’s most impressive structures were its public baths, sprawling across more than 9 decares – one of the largest complexes of their kind discovered on Bulgarian territory. This expansive site is a powerful testament to Ratiaria’s status as a major Roman center. For the Romans, bathing was far more than hygiene – it was a daily ritual, a symbol of culture and social standing, and a place of vibrant interaction.
The baths served both the urban elite and ordinary citizens. They combined personal care with indulgence – following physical exercise, visitors moved between hot and cold pools, enjoyed massages and aromatic oils, and relaxed in communal spaces. These were lively places, where life unfolded in full – from philosophical discussions to fresh news from the capital.
As the capital of a Roman province, Ratiaria played a pivotal role in defending the empire’s northern border, and its baths reflect the Roman ideals of order, physical well-being, and social connection – even in the distant edges of imperial territory.
Today, active archaeological excavations continue at the Roman Baths of Ratiaria, making the site a fascinating stop along the Dunav Ultra route – a vivid link to a bygone era whose echoes still linger on the banks of the Danube.
Ignat Kaneff – From Gorno Ablanovo to Global Success
In the quiet Danube village of Gorno Ablanovo – a stop along the Adventure version of the Dunav Ultra route – begins one of the most remarkable stories of Bulgarian success abroad.
On October 6, 1926, Ignat Kaneff was born into the family of Hristo and Mita Kanevi. He was the fourth of seven children, with three brothers (Kanyo, Lambi, and Simeon) and three sisters (Kuna, Maria, and Petra). His childhood unfolded to the rhythm of the Danube, but fate would take him far beyond its shores – never to return for good.
In 1941, just 14 years old, Kaneff left Bulgaria. His journey first took him to Austria and eventually to Canada, where he began a new life from scratch – no money, no connections, only ambition and an unbreakable spirit.
Through relentless hard work, vision, and an entrepreneurial drive, Kaneff founded the Kaneff Group – a construction company that would grow to become one of the leading real estate developers in Canada. Under his leadership, the company built residential and commercial complexes and managed large-scale development projects. Its assets eventually exceeded one billion dollars – a true testament to sustainable growth and long-term vision.
Later in life, Ignat Kaneff was awarded the highest honors from the Canadian state. He became known not only as a successful businessman but as a world-class philanthropist. His generous contributions supported hospitals, universities, and cultural institutions – both in Canada and in Bulgaria. Among the many places that bear his legacy are the local cultural center in Gorno Ablanovo and the Kaneff University Hospital in Ruse, which proudly carries his name – a lasting symbol of gratitude to one of the region’s greatest benefactors.
Ignat Kaneff’s name is included in our selection of the 100 Dunav Ultra Highlights – an initiative celebrating key sites and figures that shape the identity of the route and the Danube region.
Cyclists – and all other travelers – who pass through Gorno Ablanovo can visit the Kaneff Center: a small but deeply moving exhibition dedicated to his life and work. Through photographs, personal items, and archival documents, visitors experience the strength of human will and the profound bond between a visionary man and the land that shaped him.
Garash Cake – The Chocolate Pride of Ruse
Garash Cake is one of the most elegant and memorable desserts in Bulgarian culinary tradition. Its story begins in 1885 in the city of Ruse – a place once known as “Little Vienna” for its refined atmosphere and strong Central European influence during a time when gastronomy was experiencing a golden age.
The cake’s creator was Károly (Kosta) Garash – an Austro-Hungarian confectioner working at the Grand Hotel “Islyah Hane.” Historical accounts say the cake was originally crafted for high-society receptions, including visits from royal guests passing through Ruse. With its minimalist ingredients and rich flavor, Garash Cake quickly became a symbol of class and sophistication.
The original recipe features five layers of walnut sponge, flourless, joined by a silky chocolate buttercream and topped with a dark chocolate glaze. The result is a cake with a deep yet refined taste, a timeless classic beloved by generations of dessert connoisseurs.
Today, Garash Cake is not just a dessert – it’s a piece of Ruse’s cultural heritage. Each year, the city hosts the Garash Cake Festival – a vibrant event that blends the art of pastry-making with music and the spirit of old Ruse. Local masters and visiting pastry chefs gather to pay tribute to this elegant creation. Visitors can take part in competitions for the best Garash cake, taste and buy a variety of interpretations – from traditional slices to bonbons, mousses, and more.
It’s no surprise that Garash Cake is included in the 100 Dunav Ultra Highlights 2025. For cyclists on the Dunav Ultra route and guests exploring the city, Ruse offers more than just a panoramic view of the Danube and a rich historical legacy – it serves a taste of a sweet legend that continues to inspire.
Natural Phenomenon – The Canyon of the Dry River
Hidden in the heart of the Dobrudzha Plateau, far from the typical tourist trails, lies one of the most mysterious natural regions in Northeastern Bulgaria – the canyon of the Dry River (Suhata Reka). With its rocky ridges, ancient sanctuaries, and countless layers of history, this place is a true discovery for curious travelers and cycling explorers who seek adventures off the beaten path.
The name Suhata Reka (“Dry River”) is etymologically linked to the Turkish word taban – meaning low, flood-prone land. Although the river rarely flows above ground, underground waters and karst processes have shaped a rugged and majestic landscape – filled with vertical canyons, caves, and natural rock shelters. The area stretches for dozens of kilometers across the Dobrudzha Plateau, in the vicinity of villages like Balik, Onogur, Kalina, and Vodnyantsi, where carved gorges and limestone crowns form one of the most impressive canyon systems in this part of Bulgaria.
The closest point of connection between the canyon and the Dunav Ultra route is near the villages of Onogur and Efreitor Bakalovo – a place from which cyclists can make a short detour and dive into a natural labyrinth of stone, caves, and legend.
As early as the Middle Ages, the rocks of the Dry River became a refuge for hermit monks, possibly originating from the Caucasus or the Middle East. They carved monastic cells and small churches into the cliffs – remnants of which can still be seen in places like Nisovo and Krivnya. On the rock walls, ancient symbols, crosses, and inscriptions remain – silent witnesses of spiritual life lived deep in the wild.
Today, Suhata Reka is home to rich biodiversity, including rare orchids, owls, falcons, and reptiles. The area is part of the European ecological network Natura 2000 and offers excellent conditions for birdwatching and botanical tourism.
Hidden among the cliffs are also Thracian sanctuaries – sacred platforms and rock-cut niches aligned with the rising sun during equinoxes. Local legends speak of “talking stones” and “priest’s roads” etched into the plateau – mystical traces of forgotten rites and ancient knowledge.
The full potential of the region is still unfolding – revealing itself as a destination where the silence of nature merges with the echo of eternity. It’s no coincidence that the Dry River Canyon is featured among the 100 Dunav Ultra Highlights – a place where every turn of the pedals brings you closer to another time, another world, and a slower, deeper rhythm of life.
The Lavender Gold of Southern Dobrudzha: A Fragrant Stop Along Dunav Ultra
Southern Dobrudzha – often called “the granary of Bulgaria” – impresses not only with its golden wheat fields but also with another kind of treasure: lavender. Here, on the fertile lands of the Dobrudzha plateau and under the generous sun, the aromatic crop thrives, turning the region into one of the leading centers for lavender production in the country.
The Dobrich region, and especially the area around the town of General Toshevo, has established itself as the aromatic heart of Bulgaria – with endless purple fields stretching across the horizon, creating a dreamlike landscape that feels like Provence, but with a distinctly Bulgarian charm.
From this lavender, precious essential oil is extracted – a product with wide applications in cosmetics, aromatherapy, and pharmaceuticals. Bulgarian lavender oil is world-renowned for its high quality, thanks to the favorable climate and long-standing agricultural traditions.
Over the past decade, Bulgaria has emerged as one of the world’s top exporters of lavender oil, and Southern Dobrudzha plays a significant role in this success – blending modern production methods with nature’s abundance.
Every June, the town of General Toshevo hosts the National Lavender Festival – a colorful celebration featuring visits to blooming lavender fields, local product markets, and lively folk music performances. The event attracts hundreds of guests from across Bulgaria and beyond, turning the town into a vibrant hub of fragrant culture.
Lavender here is not just an agricultural crop – it’s a cultural emblem. That’s why General Toshevo and its surroundings are included in the 100 Dunav Ultra Highlights. In this part of the route, the scent of lavender becomes part of the cycling adventure – telling the story of a land rooted in tradition, shaped by hard work, and blessed with natural beauty.
The Red-Breasted Goose – A Rare Gem on the Shores of Durankulak
The Red-breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis) is one of Europe’s rarest and most striking waterbirds. With its compact body, bold black-and-white plumage, and a distinctive chestnut-red collar, this small goose is not only a jewel of the wild, but also a species of exceptional conservation importance.
Native to the remote tundras of Siberia, the Red-breasted Goose undertakes an epic journey each autumn, flying thousands of kilometers to reach its wintering grounds around the Black Sea. Along the way, it passes through Northeastern Bulgaria and over stretches of the Dunav Ultra route. One of its most vital winter stopovers is the Durankulak region – a haven where ideal feeding and resting conditions await.
This elegant bird is critically endangered – listed in Bulgaria’s Red Data Book and on numerous international conservation lists. An interesting trait of the species is its tendency to travel in mixed flocks with Greater White-fronted Geese – larger, more numerous birds that share similar feeding patterns.
Today, the Red-breasted Goose is proudly featured among the 100 Dunav Ultra Highlights – a reminder that the Dunav Ultra route reveals not only cultural treasures, but also natural wonders hidden among the fields and wetlands of Bulgaria’s northeast.
For travelers and cyclists who journey this far, a glimpse of this rare bird in its winter habitat is more than just a highlight – it’s a privilege.
THE 100
DUNAV ULTRA
HIGHLIGHTS
2025
Central Square, village of Kudelin
840th River Kilometer, village of Vrav
Clock Tower, village of Novo Selo
“Golden Beach” Area, village of Koshava
Traditional Vlach-style Houses, villages of Kutovo, Antimovo, and Pokrayna
New Europe Bridge, Vidin
Medieval Fortress Baba Vida, Vidin
The City Gates of Vidin (Vidinski Kapii)
Osman Pazvantoglu Mosque and Library, Vidin
“The Cross-shaped Barracks” Museum, Vidin
The Synagogue, Vidin
The Foxes – Bronze Sculptures in Danube Park, Vidin
Roman Baths of Ratiaria
Beer Brewery, Lom
The Red House, Lom
Asparuh’s Dike
Radetzky Steamship Museum and Hristo Botev Memorial, Kozloduy
The Bukyovtsi Treasure, Mizia
“The Stone” Natural Area, Oryahovo
Diko Iliev House-Museum and Square, Oryahovo
The Creative Legacy of Prof. Marin Varbanov – Artistic Innovator
“O-Fe Selsovet 1950” Fountain, village of Leskovets
River Port, village of Ostrov
“Na Valyaka” Area, village of Dolni Vadin
Ancient Roman City of Ulpia Oescus, village of Gigen
Danube Panorama, village of Somovit
“Elia” Fountain, Nikopol
Shishman Fortress Site, Nikopol
Rock Monastery “St. Stephen”, Nikopol
Ancient Customs House “Dimum”, Belene
Memorial Site – Object 2.
Persina Nature Park, Nikopol–Belene–Svishtov
Aleko Konstantinov House-Museum, Svishtov
“Holy Trinity” Church, Svishtov (designed by Kolyu Ficheto)
Ancient Roman City of Novae, Svishtov
Meanders of the Yantra River, Novgrad – Belyanovo – Beltsov
Lenin Monument, village of Novgrad
Markov Cross Area, village of Dzhulyunitsa
Suspension Bridge, Belyanovo, village of Belyanovo
Batin Island, village of Batin
The Story of Ignat Kaneff, village of Gorno Ablanovo
Thracian Treasure of Borovo
Filip Totyu House-Museum, Dve Mogili
Orlova Chuka Cave, Dve Mogili
Medieval Fortress Cherven, village of Cherven
Ivanovo Rock Churches, village of Ivanovo
Basarbovo Rock Monastery, village of Basarbovo
Dohodno Zdanie (Revenue Building), Ruse
“Liberty” Memorial, Ruse
Pantheon of National Revival Heroes, Ruse
Archaeological Site and Museum Sexaginta Prista, Ruse
Church of the Holy Trinity, Ruse
Architectural Ornaments in the Center of Ruse
Eco-Museum with Aquarium, Ruse
Kalimok–Brushlen Protected Area
Danube Fishing and Boatbuilding Museum, Tutrakan
Tutrakan Epic Memorial and Ossuary, Tutrakan
Fishermen’s Quarter, Tutrakan
Tanyo Voyvoda Memorial Site, village of Pozharevo
Malak Preslavets Marsh, village of Malak Preslavets
“Popina” River Port, village of Popina
Fishermen’s Village, village of Vetren
Srebarna Biosphere Reserve and Museum, village of Srebarna
Medjidi Tabia Fortress, Silistra
Roman Tomb, Silistra
Roman Chariot, Regional Museum of History, Silistra
Archaeological Complex Durostorum / Drastar, Silistra
Historic Fountain of Kainardzha, village of Kainardzha
Thracian Sanctuary “Badzhaliyata”, village of Strelkovo
Canyon of the Dry River (Suhata Reka)
Shankaya Rock Monasteries, village of Onogur
Ethnographic Complex “Old Dobrich”, Dobrich
Monument of Khan Asparuh, Dobrich
The Lavender Fields of Dobrudzha
The White Swallow of Yovkov
Central Square of Durankulak – Final Point of the Dunav Ultra Route
The Beaches of Durankulak
Durankulak Lake
Shabla Lighthouse
CULINARY
Fish Soup
Saramura (grilled fish in brine sauce)
Mămăligă (cornmeal dish similar to polenta)
Prosenik (cornbread with millet)
Watermelon Molasses (organic type of jam)
Dobrudzha Traditional Round Bread
Danube Wine
Apricot Rakia (homemade fruit brandy)
Garash Cake
Black Sea Horse Mackerel
FLORA & FAUNA
Danube Catfish
Beluga Sturgeon
Bee-eater
Stork
Heron
Cormorant
Pelican
Red-breasted Goose
Jackal
Water Lily
CAMPAIGN
The 100 Dunav Ultra Highlights
An initiative of Dunav Ultra
OUR CAUSE
Promoting 120 Bulgarian settlements through/along which the Dunav Ultra route passes
Dunav Ultra™ 2025
Dunav Ultra
EVENTS
Dunav Ultra The Flow Of Time 2025
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Northwest Danube Bicycle Adnenture
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CONTACTS
info@dunavultra.com
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