This summer, a team of Bulgarian archaeologists will search for proofs to the thesis that Vratsa was the capital of the Tribali tribe where generations of Thracian rulers lived. The head of the excavations senior research officer Dr. Nartis Torbov is engaged in research on Thracian tribes more then 20 years. "After discovering of the Mogilanska mount I never stopped to ask myself: If this was the necropolis where was the acropolis?" he said. He started to study the old public records. He found a newspaper where in 1942 the archaeologist D. Buchinski describe the excavations of a small church and a cave in the area of Vratsata pass. There was found a description about the fortress situated here and named VRATITSA. This archeological expedition worked in the region over 40 years ago, but the flood in 1966 hampered further work.

The finding of the Mogilanska Mogila mound at the center of Vratsa and the discovery of the Rogozen treasure 20 years later proved that a settlement existed near the Vratsata pass can be dated as early as 4th-5th century BC. This is why the experts expected to find here a 2,800-year-old settlement. If their hypothesis is proven true, they will disprove the widespread assumption that Vratsa was founded by the Slavs in 6th century AD. The town will become as famous as Troy or the Valley of Kings, scientists say. "In order to prove that Vratsa is the oldest capital in the Bulgarian lands we should unearth architectural sites more ancient than Philippopolis (now Plovdiv), Kabile (near Yambol) or Seutopolis (near Kazanlak)", said senior research officer Dr. Nartsis Torbov.

The archaeological research conducted through 2007-2008 discovered a citadel with pentagonal lay-out. The materials found here traced out four periods:

- Thracians (5th - 1st century BC) - bronze fibule, silver handle of vessel similar to these from the Rogozen treasure and Mogilanska Mount and silver coin.

- Roman period (1st - 3rd century AC) - coins and bronze fibulas.

- Late Antique (4th - 6th century AC) - coins of Constantine the Great and Ustinian.

- Medieval period (12th - 13th sentury AC) - a golden adornment. In this period the fortress became to grow up and transferred into a big town - the predecessor of nowadays Vratsa.

Only half a kilometer from Vratza city is located Vratsata - a narrow and rocky gorge. The incredible nature here will charge you with magic energy and strength. When a person sees the precipitous, 200 to 400 meters high rock needles, walls and edges, he has the feeling that they touch the sky. The cliffs are conventionally divided into several parts - east, central and south. The central edge of Vratsata is the most incredible rock rib. Its bottom is at about 300 meters above the sea level and the edge leads to the topmost part of the central massif. The displacement is more than 550 meters. Vratsata is the place where annually are conducted alpinism contests of national and international importance. Along the rocks there are 70 alpine routes of differing levels of difficulty. The rock massif offers the lovers of extreme sports a variety of rock forms - large bends and ceilings, sheer smooth slabstones, crevices, chimneys with different width, edges and inner angles. The vicinities offer wonderful opportunities for rest and tourism amidst splendid nature of Vrachanski Balkan.