Town and village

Wide beaches, golden sand, blue water, but Thracian buildings, Byzantine fortresses, rock-cut monasteries and legendary capes. Charming landscapes create here nature and history intertwining at every turn. Thousand-year-old churches, huge monasteries hidden in mountain valleys, and unique architecture with characteristic streets covered with vines.

Meet ...

Nessebar

A pearl of Balkan architecture. A fabulous, historic city inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is located on a picturesque, rocky peninsula, 2 km from Sunny Beach. The history of the city dates back to the 5th century BC, when it was known as Messembria. The ruins of the defensive walls, towers and arcades that once made this peninsula inaccessible come from this period. The Old Town impresses with its incredibly well-preserved architecture. We will buy there beautiful lace that the city is famous for. Nessebar is also a world of street painters, artists and musicians. Numerous cafes and restaurants, located between the historic ruins of old temples, offer delicious seafood. Renaissance paintings in the churches, wooden houses in the Black Sea style and many other attractions are waiting for all tourists here.

Plovdiv

This is an excellent example of a city created under the overwhelming influence of East and West. Thanks to narrow, cobbled streets of the old town, charming alleys, beautiful old houses from the period of the national revival and small churches, Plovdiv is a city with a unique atmosphere. Few people realize that it is also the longest inhabited city in Europe. The oldest records of residents in this place date back over 8,000 years.

Fairytale views can be enjoyed not only behind the seven mountains. On seven hills it can be just as beautiful. To find out, it is worth visiting located among the picturesque hills, on two banks of the river Marica Plovdiv. To this day in the city you can admire monuments from various periods of the city's history - Macedonians, Romans, Goths, Huns, Byzantines, Turks and of course Slavs marked their presence here. Worth seeing are the Roman stadium and theater, Turkish baths - Czifte bania, Orthodox church of "St. Marina ”, the old part of the city and numerous museums commemorating the turbulent history of the city. It is worth going for an afternoon walk to the surrounding hills. There is an amazing view of the entire area

Varna

After Roman times, the ruins of the thermae remained in Varna, with preserved mosaics, Roman baths and ruins of walls and fortifications. Fans of antiquity should visit the local archaeological museum, which has a large collection of not only works of ancient art, but also collections from prehistoric times. One of the symbols of the city is the Church of the Dormition, the expression of gratitude to the Bulgarians for regaining independence, the second largest church in Bulgaria. Tired of sightseeing, tourists can find peace in the Seaside Park, the largest park in Varna, founded in the 19th century. A dolphinarium is located nearby.

Belogradchik

This unusual town located in the northwestern part of Bulgaria impresses with its landscape above all. Unique rocks with fanciful shapes (reminiscent of "animals, ships and houses") form one of the most beautiful rock cities in the world. As legend has it, it was here that Adam and Eve, banished from Paradise, hid and stoned forever. Belogradchik also impresses with the restored Kaleto fortress with fortifications on three levels. A tourist attraction is the Magura Cave, located almost 2 km away. The walls of the famous cave are decorated with paintings before 12 thousand. years BC. Discovering traces of a Paleolithic man's stay can be accompanied by ... high-percentage tasting. The damp interior of the cave is today used as a cellar, where it matures naturally carbonated wine produced according to the classic French recipe. A look at the stars guarantees a visit to the astronomical observatory here

Koprivshtitsa

A small city surrounded by hills and picturesque landscapes, annually attracts crowds of tourists who want to explore something outside of Sofia. The typical buildings of the 19th-century Bulgaria have been preserved in the city, which makes Koprivshtitsa an open-air museum and one of the region's greatest tourist attractions. We find here 388 monument houses, which we can mostly visit. Koprivshtitsa is called the city as an open-air museum. Time stopped here two centuries ago.

Melnik

Bulgaria's famous, smallest city. Located at the foot of the Pirin Mountains. Picturesque location, great history and influence of many cultures have made Melnik one of the most beautiful places in Bulgaria. Here you will find narrow streets, old churches and lots of historic buildings. The most important are: churches: St. St. Peter and Paul, Saint. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Saint. Antoni, Saint. Spileotis' wife, historical museum, remains of a medieval boyar house, the home of the Kordopulo family and the ruins of the medieval monastery of St. Spileotiss's Mother of God. It is also worth remembering the regional treasure, or wine, which you must try while in Melnik.

Sofia

Hardly anyone knows today that Sofia was once in the heart of the Eastern Roman Empire. The Boja Church located in the city, decorated with numerous paintings and frescoes from the 13th century, has been inscribed on the UNESCO National Heritage List. When going for a walk in Sofia, it is worth stopping at the Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky - one of the largest and most majestic Orthodox churches in Europe. In the crypts located under the cathedral you can see a large collection of Orthodox art works. History enthusiasts will be delighted to visit the Archaeological Museum and the remains of Roman Serediki - you can watch them for free.

This city is breathing greenery. It has wide, green boulevards and a history of 2,000 years. It has a whole range of monuments: many churches, mosques and the largest synagogue in the Balkans, as well as many early medieval churches, of which the most interesting is the church of St. George in the Roman rotunda of the 4th century. Captivating mansard tenement houses in the style of Viennese Art Nouveau or the bathhouse building.

Burgas

Being in this area, in addition to sea bathing, it is also worth experiencing bathing in the lakes - Burgas is close to three picturesque lakes - including the largest lake in the country of Lake Burgas. What is worth visiting in Burgas? First of all, the muse! The offer is wide - the Archaeological, Ethnographic and Historical Museum, and an excellent Dramatic Theater. In Burgas you will find a lot of atmospheric pubs and restaurants serving fish and seafood.

Veliko Tarnovo

At the northern foothills of Old Plateau, on the picturesque hills braided with a braid of the meandering Yantra, is located one of the oldest cities of Bulgaria, and also a symbol of Bulgarian independence and statehood. Above the city, on Tsarevets Hill, the ruins of a medieval castle and church reign triumphantly. Another hill, the majestic Trapezica, is decorated with the remains of 17 churches and the ruins of tomb chapels. On the way to the tops you will pass picturesque residential buildings from the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Sozopol

This charming city on the Black Sea is well known for its two sandy beaches and the characteristic 19th-century stone and wooden buildings. Crowded in the summer, off-season is a sleepy fishing village attracting artists. The biggest impression on visitors, however, is made by the old town situated on a rocky peninsula, crossed by narrow and winding streets with traditional houses from the 18th and 19th centuries. In addition to numerous monuments and souvenirs of olden times, Sozopol attracts with its beautiful coast. The beach with clear water and rocky cliffs is known all over the country.

Bansko

Many people associate Bulgaria primarily with golden beaches. However, it turns out that lovers of mountain climbing will find something for themselves. It is worth going here in the summer - if we feel like hiking in the mountains or in the winter - if we are looking for ideal conditions for skiing.

Rila

UNESCO-protected Rila Monastery is the most important and famous monument of Bulgaria. For Bulgarians it is a national sanctity. The church's main walls covered with frescoes, its dome and white walls of the monastery look almost fabulous against the backdrop of magnificent mountain peaks. There are 300 monastery cells in the monastery, and the wall paintings and icons are impressive in the temple itself. Most noteworthy are the frescoes depicting 1,200 biblical scenes.

Cape Kaliakra

The legendary cape Kaliakra is a peninsula extending two kilometers deep into the sea and at the same time a nature reserve (it covers over 150 species of plants and birds). Ruins of tombs, bathhouses and church have been preserved in the Kalikra fortress. In the high rocks, at a height of 70 m, there are numerous caves with a museum partly incorporated into them. We can be sure that Cape Kaliakra is the most romantic part of Bulgaria. The beauty of the steep cliffs suspended above the water corresponds to the natural beauty of the local caves and grottos, the picturesque canyon and one of the most beautiful beaches in Bulgaria, hidden in the majestic Bolata Bay. At Cape Kaliakra with the charm of sunbathing on golden sand or walks among the limestone and sandstone rocks and ruins of defensive walls and Roman baths, only the charm of the local views of the turquoise waters of the Black Sea can compete, in which - with a bit of luck - you can spot dolphins.

Pirin

It is an ideal spot for lovers of beautiful landscapes and hiking. Pirin National Park (covering an area of approx. 40,000 ha) impresses with its extraordinary richness of fauna and flora - it protects about 1,300 plant species and over 200 animal species. Sandstone pyramids, which have been shaped regularly by erosion, are also an attraction for tourists. It's a good place for active people - tourist trails have been marked out that start in the cities of Bansko and Melnik. The highest point in the park is the Wichren peak at an altitude of 2915 meters. Pirin National Park has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1962.

Balchik

In Balchik, you must see the impressive palace of the Romanian Queen Maria and the surrounding garden. An extensive botanical garden is adjacent to the palace complex. You can spend hours in it, walking among thousands of plant species.

Do you know that…

... here the Cyrillic alphabet was created. It was in Bulgaria that Cyrillic alphabet was used for the first time - alphabetical writing, which is used today by Ukrainians, Russians or Belarusians. The invention of this letter is attributed to the students of Cyril and Methodius. Until the 12th century, Cyrillic spread from Bulgaria to Serbia and Kievan Rus. Currently, it is still used in all East Slavic and mostly South Slavic languages.

... here is the homeland of yogurt. In 1905, the Bulgarian microbiologist Stamen Grigorov discovered a Bulgarian variety of bacteria that is still used in the production of yoghurts around the world. It is estimated that yoghurts of Bulgarian origin are consumed by up to 2 billion people a year. They are credited with extraordinary healing and rejuvenating properties. Bulgarians use yoghurts for virtually anything - as a refreshing drink with water and ice, a dairy snack, as well as a spice for many dishes.

... is a country of roses and perfumes. Bulgaria is famous for the production of rose oil, which is used in many types of perfumes, including famous Chanel No.5. Even 50 percent the world's resources of this aromatic oil come from here. No wonder Bulgarians love roses, which have been their export commodity since the 18th century. In June in Kazanłyk a roaring Rose Festival takes place, during which the most beautiful girls are given the title "Carica Roza", which is the Queen of Roses.

... here was the Guinness record in the feast. Over 3000 feasters drank up to 500 liters of rakija at a giant table almost 400 meters long. Sofia residents are masters of good fun, as evidenced by their world record in feasting at the longest table.

... here the earth holds secrets. Bulgaria is the third country in Europe in terms of the value of archaeological monuments. It is one of the oldest European countries and boasts an extraordinary cultural heritage. Established over 3,000 years ago, the Nessebar settlement is an architectural and archaeological reserve, and the monuments located here have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The country is also famous for the huge number of temples, or monasteries. The orders of the Bulgarian church are spread all over the country. The largest and most famous of them is the Rila Monastery, located at the foot of the Rila massif.