3 Best Sights in Bulgaria

The simple exterior looks more like a stone barn than a house of worship but Arbanasi's oldest church has exceptional artwork hidden within. Built during the 15th century, its exterior is so unexceptional so as to avoid rousing the ire of the then-ruling Ottoman Empire. In the mid 17th century, nearly every single inch of the church's walls and vaulted ceiling were painted with stunning frescoes—nearly 2,000 scenes from both the Old and New Testament are featured. Most have been lovingly restored, but a few were left untouched so that visitors can make a comparison. Keen craftspersons should also take note of the church's hand-carved iconostasis.

A preserved National Revival-period home dating to 1810 houses the city's history museum, which is adjacent to the Natural Sciences Museum. The museum opened in 1970 following light renovations and is now home to several thousand artifacts. These are mostly from the Ottoman and Revival periods and include wood and ceramic handicrafts, jewelry, and vibrant folk costumes and accessories.

One of the Europe's best preserved, post-Palaeolithic painted caves is located just 20 km (12.4 miles) from Belogradchik, near the small village of Rabisha. Running 2.5 km (1.5 miles), the 15-million-year-old Magura Cave's walls are decorated with detailed cave paintings of people, hunting scenes, geometric shapes, and animals; these are believed to be exclusive to the Balkans. The cave is wide and its ceilings tall, making it quite comfortable to walk through–especially because the year-round temperature is 11–12°C.