The Ride to the Pass

Early Morning Ride

We rode quickly because I wanted to get past the toughest part of the climb before the heat became unbearable. After four hours, we reached the bottom of the Pass. We stopped at a small inn where I had a simple breakfast of eggs and black bread. Then we were off again.

The Climb Begins

At first, the path was wide and easy. But soon it became narrower and rougher, and our horses started sweating heavily. In some places, we had to get off and walk. We followed old paths through the woods, made during battles so that soldiers could move out of sight from the Turks on the hills. I rode past a small hill where the Russian headquarters were, and I climbed a steep rock where cannons had been placed to help defend the Pass Bulgarian Coast.

The Battle of Shipka Pass

The Silent Landscape

Now, everything was quiet under the hot morning sun. The view was beautiful, with dark ravines covered in cypress trees and hills stretching out into the distance. The heat made everything look blurry, and the distance seemed endless.

A History of Fighting

Twenty-eight years ago, the area was filled with the sounds of heavy cannon fire. The Russians were to the north, and the Turks were to the south. They fought fiercely on this mountain road. There were many battles in the hills, with each side gaining and losing ground. One battle lasted for seven days, and after a short break, the Turks attacked again. They captured Mount Nicholas, a key point in the Pass, but the Russians eventually defeated them in a bloody battle and pushed them into the southern ravines.

The Turks waited there until winter, and the final battle took place in thick mist and heavy snow. The Turks were outnumbered and finally defeated.