Bulgaria
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1. Balchik Old Town
Like Nessebar, Balchik can trace its history back more than 2,000 years to the Ancient Thracians. That history is not as immediately obvious, but it is still a charming old town, some 15 miles north of Varna, with plenty to keep visitors interested. It enjoys an attractive location, pinned to the Black Sea Coast by being at the foot of sandy cliffs that dominate it from above. Much of its appeal lies in wandering the streets lined with whitewashed houses. The picturesque setting has attracted generations of artists who come to paint the scene—Balchik seascapes are regularly seen in galleries across the country. The lack of beach here has kept mass tourism at bay, giving the town a sleepy feel that only adds to its charms. Between the two World Wars the town found itself part of the Kingdom of Romania, and during this time the Balchik Palace was built as a summer residence for Queen Marie and her family. The elegant whitewashed villa (open daily) and the adjacent Botanical Gardens are the town's most popular landmarks to this day.
Balchik Square 21 September Sqaure, Balchik, n/a Bulgaria, 9600, BulgariaSight Details
Rate Includes: BGN 5, June – September: from Monday to Sunday 09.00 am - 5.00 pm on Sunday – upon request October – May from Monday to Friday 07.30 am - 4.30 pm -
2. Nessebar Old Town
There are several ancient towns scattered along Bulgaria's Black Sea Coast, but few would argue with Nessebar's claim to be the highlight. One of the oldest settlements in Europe, it can trace its origins back more than two and a half millennia to the time of the Thracians and Ancient Greece. Its strategic appeal through the ages is immediately apparent: it sits on a rocky peninsula—half a mile long and 300 yards wide—connected to the mainland only by a very narrow isthmus, making it easily to defend. Today the entire town is preserved as a 'museum city', and its twisting maze of narrow cobbled streets is an endlessly fascinating place to wander. They are filled with historical monuments from every stage of its development—remnants of Roman walls, old Byzantine and Orthodox churches, and hundreds of old houses.
Ulitsa Mesembrija 16, Nessebar, n/a Bulgaria, 8230, Bulgaria -
3. Sozopol Old Town
Founded in the 7th century BC by Greek colonists, Sozopol on the southern Black Sea Coast is both historically fascinating and one of Bulgaria's most important seaside resorts. The former is thanks to its strategic location on an easily defended promontory. The latter is due to the long stretch of fine sandy beach along its southeast edge. Undersea archaeological excavations in the port area have uncovered ceramics and remnants of homes that have been dated to the Bronze Age. Today, the most interesting sites are the many houses and churches that have been standing here since the Renaissance period.
Apolonia str. 1, Sozopol, n/a Bulgaria, 8130, Bulgaria -
4. Stone Forest
The Stone Forest (Pobitite Kamani in Bulgarian, meaning 'stones hammered into the ground') is an area of odd rocky features about 10 miles west of Varna. It is actually several groups of stones covering a couple of square miles. Regarded as the most unusual natural phenomenon in Bulgaria, each group contains hundreds of natural pillars, with some reaching 20 feet and more into the air. Varying in shape, some resemble animals, while others look like calcified fountains. All look like someone deliberately placed them in the surrounding sand, hence their name. Often referred to as a 'petrified forest', experts aren't completely certain of their precise origin, although it is known the stacks formed on the seabed around 50 million years ago. It is thought they were left high and dry when the waters receded and the softer rock around them eroded away. Opinions also differ on the charms of this place. Some find it to be a mystical experience; others only see a pile of old rocks. Perhaps the main attraction for many is the very fact that their origins have yet to be fully explained.
Varna-Sofia Old Road, Varna, n/a Bulgaria, 9144, Bulgaria -
5. Varna Museum of Archaeology
With a population of around 300,000, Varna is by far the biggest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. As well as being a good place to base yourself, the city has several interesting museums. The best of the bunch is its fascinating Museum of Archaeology, a palatial hall that contains more than 100,000 objects displayed in 39 rooms. All of the exhibits were found locally and bear witness to the Black Sea region being one of the World's earliest and longest-standing 'cradles of civilization', stretching back to flint tools from Mesolithic settlements around nearby Varna Lake. The museum building itself has a history, as it was originally constructed as a girls high school in the late 19th century. But the museum has been on-site almost as long, having first opened here in a single room in 1906 before eventually taking over the whole facility.
41 Maria Luisa Blvd, Varna, n/a Bulgaria, 9000, Bulgaria052-681--030Sight Details
Rate Includes: BGN 10 -
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