The so-called (by me) “Sugar House” represents my favourite place on Cherni Vrah (translated as Black Peak), the highest point of Vitosha Mountain, located in close proximity to the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia. The ascent takes approximately two hours from the point where one can leave the car. The temperature that evening (17.01.2026) was close to −12 °C, but combined with the wind it felt more like −20 °C.
The altitude of Cherni Vrah is 2,290 m, which places Vitosha fourth in height among the Bulgarian mountains, after Rila, Pirin, and Stara Planina. What distinguishes the mountain, however, is its inhospitable nature. Cherni Vrah is the second windiest peak in Bulgaria, with an average annual wind speed of 9.3 m/s.
It is precisely this characteristic of Cherni Vrah that allows the formation of these wind-blown and frosted structures, which is why I see the sun set from there so often: an average of about 20 sunsets per year.
