If you are searching for spots with a beautiful view over Delft in the Netherlands, search no more. Head to the central square and climb the spiral staircase of the tower of the New Church. It is the second highest tower in the Netherlands and the view from above will make you feel like you are some kind of god looking over his possessions. On a clear day, you can see Rotterdam and the Hague from the top of the 85-m (280-ft) tower.

A view from the New Church in Delft, the Netherlands | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

History in short – the beggar and the vision

The central square of Delft has two churches facing each other – the New Church (Nieuwe Kerk) and the Old Church (Oude Kerk). The New Church is not that new at all – it was built more than 600 years ago after Symon, the beggar, and Jan Col, a citizen offering him something to eat, suddenly had a vision of a golden church dedicated to Mary. It took Jan Col 30 years to convince the city council to built the church because at the time Delft already had a church, the Old Church. But he did and the citizens of Delft believed it would last forever. They even put a golden apple on top of the tower to symbolize eternity. Little did they know that the tower would be burnt down twice and it would even be struck by lightning.

A view from the New Church in Delft, the Netherlands | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

Climb the tower

If you are a bird’s-eye view fanatic like me, you know beautiful views often require (a lot of) effort. Take a bottle of water, stretch a bit and climb the 376 stairs leading to the top of the tower. You will be granted not only a view of the rooftops of Delft, but also a look from inside at the clock mechanism of the tower.

Learn the secrets of the tower

Well, actually you can’t learn that much. For more than 400 years almost every member of the royal family of the Netherlands has been buried in the crypt of the New Church (that makes a total of 46 bodies according to the church’s official website). The crypt is not open to the public out of respect to the royal family and the keys are kept by the mayor of Delft.

Hear the bells

You can hear the carillon on Fridays (from 7 pm to 8 pm), on Tuesdays and Saturdays (from 11 am to 12 pm) and if you are lucky, you might come across a summer night concert.

A view from the New Church in Delft, the Netherlands | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

A view from the New Church in Delft, the Netherlands | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

Useful information:

Children under 5 years old are not allowed inside the tower, while those under 17 are welcome if they are accompanied by an adult. You can buy a ticket for the church (5 euro), for the tower (4 euro) or a combined ticket for both (8 euro). You can see the opening hours here and keep in mind that the tower closes an hour earlier than the church.

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Origin of the name

In Bulgarian, Koncheto means “the Little Horse”. According to a mountain story, the ridge was given this name because before the metal support rope was installed in 1963, inexperienced tourists crossed the ridge by straddling it like a horse and crawling. Is it really so scary? Take the appropriate equipment, some food and water and see for yourself.

Pirin Mountains, Koncheto Ridge | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

What you will see at Koncheto

Koncheto sits at an altitude of 2800 m in the Pirin Mountains and connects the peaks of Kutelo and Suhodol. On the very edge there is a metal rope to keep you safe. At its narrowest points, the ridge is only 40 cm wide, with steep rocks on both sides. It’s useful to know that the weather here changes quickly; often it is sunny on one side of Koncheto while the other is shrouded in fog.

Wild flowers in Pirin Mountains | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

From Vihren mountain hut to Koncheto

A good starting point to Koncheto is Vihren mountain hut, accessible by car on a paved road 12 km from Bansko. On the way to Koncheto you can climb Mt Vihren (the highest peak in Pirin, at 2914 m), or pass along the foot of the mountain and climb it on the way back. It will take you at least 4 hours from Vihren hut to Koncheto if you climb Vihren (8 hours for the whole day). The trail from Vihren hut through Mt Vihren to Koncheto is marked with red. If you decide not to climb Mt Vihren (just so you know, the view is worth it!), take the only fork in the trail to the right following the green signs to Koncheto. The climb is difficult along both trails and the change in altitude is significant (about 1,000 m)

This route starts from Vihren mountain hut, but you can also start from Yavorov hut (5 hours one way). 

Pirin Mountains, Koncheto Ridge | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

Useful information

In June and August hundreds of people pass along the ridge, so be careful and patient. Keep in mind that you are in the mountains – wear comfortable clothes and bring trekking poles. In windy weather, it’s good to have a seat to attach to the metal rope. Remember, the ridge is dangerous in wet weather! If you aren’t sure of your own strength and skills, hire a mountain guide. 

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The post Hiking in Bulgaria: see the view from Koncheto Ridge in Pirin Mountains appeared first on 203Challenges.