The 76^th edition of the national tourist march Following in the Footsteps of Hristo Botev’s Detachment has started out from the bank of the River Danube at Kozloduy, where in 1876, Hristo Botev’s detachment disembarked the Austrian ship Radetzky.

The 120-kilometre route to the historic peak Okolchitsa, where the detachment fought its last battle, takes 5 days, and is the oldest initiative with the largest numbers of people joining in. This year there are 1,600 people taking part, there is even a group from Austria. As is the tradition, school-goers account for the biggest share of the participants. In his address to the people taking part, the mayor of Vratsa Kalin Kamenov said: “I sincerely hope that you will regard the Botev march as more than a hike, but will see it as a heart-felt experience in which you will feel what guided Botev and his men towards their self-sacrifice.”

By a tradition, Hristo Botev and all people who laid down their lives for the freedom of Bulgaria are honoured on 2 June on Okolchitsa peak.