In the Municipality of Varshets, near the village of Stoyanovo, there is a beautiful and strange place <Sopovo>, which, according to legends, is the mythical village of Samodivas (mystical women in the forest), “Zmeykovo”. A story says that in the deep caves of Sopovo are the places where the Samodivas live, which, like bears, hibernate. In these caves was raised by Samodivas Krali Marko (popular hero). Their milk made him big and strong. Legend says that in the waters of the Botunya River, which runs through those caves, the Samodivas used to bathe their children. These children had fathers from among humans, all heroes. Occasionally, the Samodivas brought in their caves from Sopovo sick shepards. Through their dances, they establish a connection with their diseases, because the diseases are alive and can be healed by the power of certain rituals. In the summer, when it’s dark, the people from Stoyanovo say they still hear the songs of the Samodivas. Beyond the Botunya river, they bathe naked, wash their clothes and stretch them to dry in the moonlight, keeping them from being stolen. Then, they gather on a nearby hill and play barefoot magical hours all night. Samodivas are afraid of sunlight, which is why they hide when the first rays of the sun appear. Sometimes they appear as working women, but most often they block water sources.
