Something’s Running Beside the Highway—And It’s Not a Car
If you’ve ever driven the Trakia Motorway (A1) from Sofia to the Black Sea coast, you know the landscape well: golden fields, low hills, and the occasional herd of sheep. But near Kilometer 168, between Stara Zagora and Nova Zagora, something truly unexpected flashes past your window.
A tree.
But not just any tree.
A tree that looks like it’s running.
No, you’re not hallucinating. What you’ve seen is the Running Tree of Trakia—a real, rooted, very much alive tree that, due to a strange twist of nature (and perhaps a lightning bolt or two), appears to have limbs in motion. Its trunk bends like a knee mid-step, and branches stretch like swinging arms. Blink, and you might miss it. But catch it—and it’s unforgettable.
An Accidental Landmark
There’s no plaque. No roadside marker. No sign that says, “Here it is.” And yet the Running Tree has become a viral icon, shared across Reddit threads, Facebook groups, and Bulgarian travel blogs.
According to local drivers, the tree has stood like this for years. Some say a lightning strike warped its shape. Others believe it was simply a genetic anomaly, or maybe even pruned oddly when it was young. Whatever the cause, it now resembles something from a Tolkien novel—an Ent caught mid-sprint or a nature-spawned Iron Giant chasing the sunrise.
One Reddit user joked:
“When you’re late for the forest council meeting.”
How to Find It
Location: Around KM 168 on the A1 (Trakia Motorway) between Stara Zagora and Nova Zagora. It’s on the right-hand side if heading east toward Burgas.
How to Spot It: Keep your eyes peeled for an odd-shaped tree standing alone or near the field line. It’s most visible in spring and early autumn, when the fields are golden and the tree’s outline pops against the sky.
Best Time to Drive: Late afternoon, when the low sun casts dramatic shadows—it enhances the illusion that the tree is running.
Safety Tip: This is a high-speed motorway. Do not attempt to stop or park on the shoulder to view the tree. Instead, plan a route that lets you exit safely and reanalyze via local roads if you want to get a closer look from a parallel field.
Why People Love It
Let’s be honest—on long drives, we all look for signs to break the monotony. The Running Tree offers more than that: it feels like a secret you’ve unlocked, a blink-and-you-miss-it detail only the most observant travelers catch.
It’s also a great conversation starter. Once you’ve seen it, it stays with you. You’ll want to tell others. Share the photo. Ask: “Did that tree look like it was running?”
In a way, it brings back the joy of the road trip—of looking out the window and being surprised.
Local Lore and Internet Fame
There’s no myth attached to the tree—yet. But give it time. Locals have started calling it “the Ent,” “the Sprinting Sentinel,” or “Trakia’s Watchman.” As Bulgaria continues to embrace roadside tourism and slow travel, the Running Tree might just get the cult following it deserves.
Online, it has already earned its place as a “mildly interesting” phenomenon—complete with quippy comments and photos. But to Bulgarians and curious travelers, it’s more than a meme. It’s a reminder that nature has a sense of humor—and an eye for drama.
Make It Part of Your Route
The Trakia Motorway is more than a way to get from Sofia to the coast. With stops like the Rose Valley, the Thracian tombs near Kazanlak, and now the Running Tree, it’s a road that tells stories—if you know where to look.
