25 Best Sights in Bulgaria

Whether you're a keen oenophile or just enjoy a good class of wine, touring Magura Winery's cellars is a really fun way to pass an afternoon. The winery, in the village of Rabisha, 20 km (12.5 miles) from Belogradchik, opened in 1967. Growing conditions in the region are favorable and as such, the grapes here produce some of the country's best sparkling wine. Bottles are stored in 15-million-year-old Magura Cave. Three levels of guided tastings are available, starting from 25 leva per person on weekdays (18 leva per person for groups of 10 or more). All tastings include a selection of wine and a platter of cheese and cold appetizers.

The former palace of Todor Zhivkov, the then-People's Republic of Bulgaria last communist head of state, is today a hotel. It's run down and we don't recommend staying here; come instead to soak up the history. The building, its exterior made up of white marble and stone, dates to just 1975, and though its interior is shabby, you can see traces of the regal building this once was; the original ceiling medallions and chandeliers are still intact and many of the ceilings are constructed of beautifully carved wood. The view of the surrounding forest and Veliko Tarnovo in the distance is stunning and best enjoyed on the terrace with a drink.

Housed in a beautiful neoclassical building from 1892 (the former Military Club), this gallery is named for local painter Nikola Petrov. Most of the works on display are from Bulgarian artists but there are a few works from foreign graphic artists, painters, and sculptors. The gallery, which is just off Danube Park and a few blocks from the river, has a nicely tended courtyard in which you'll find a monument to Petrov and a few stone sculptures.

Just 100 meters from Belogradchik Fortress is the Astronomical Observatory which has three telescopes available for night sky viewing. Night visits need to be arranged in advance and are possible only when the sky is clear. Those who visit during the day time can tour the observatory, listen to a brief lecture on the work that goes on here, and have questions answered by an astronomer.

On the banks of the Danube is this well-preserved medieval fortress, which dates back to the 10th century and was a defensive stronghold though the Middle Ages. It was captured by the Ottomans and used as storage space for food and munitions and, after liberation in 1878, was used by the Bulgarian army. It opened as a museum in the mid 1950s and is today a popular spot for filming. From the tops of the towers and the walls, take in panoramic views of the Danube River and surrounding cityscape. This is a good place to pick up a few postcards.

Parts of this well-preserved stronghold on the north slope of the Balkan date all the way back to when this area was part of the Roman Empire. The fortress was expanded first in the mid 14th century, when it served more for surveillance than defense, and then in the late 14th century when it was captured by the Ottomans. Its walls stand 39 feet (12 m) and, at the foundation, are more than 6 feet thick (2 m). The fortress lies at the foot of the Belogradchik Rocks, which served as further protection. Kids can run around here to their hearts' content, playing Battle of the Empires, Ottoman vs. Bulgarian.

Running along the western slopes of the Balkans Mountains are these gorgeous rock formations, some of which stand more than 650 feet (200 m). The rocks, made of sandstone and conglomerate, are believed to have started forming a cool 230 million years ago. They're mostly reddish brown in color with some yellow tinges and look especially beautiful as the sun sets and illuminates their cliffs. The groups of rocks closest to central Belogradchik have interesting names based on local legends, like the Schoolgirl, the Madonna, and the Mushrooms. Whether you hike up to the plateau or walk leisurely around the lower levels, the views over the forest are phenomenal.

This small gallery, inside Assenevtsi Park and next to the Assens' monument, is housed in a fine early 20th-century building. On display are paintings and etchings by 20th century Bulgarian artists, both of Veliko Tarnovo itself and of the region's historical events. The best pieces are paintings of the colorful houses that sit upon the city's hills, which is exactly the view you see from the museum's windows. Tours in French or English are available for 5 leva per adult.

The perfect place to take in the local color and try some of the traditional street snacks. Be on the lookout for dyuner (döner kebabs), flaky byurek (börek), a phyllo dough pastry filled with white cheese, and the similar banitsa, a scrumptious treat made by baking phyllo dough layered with whisked eggs and cheese. You can also find kebapche, which looks similar to a sausage but is made of minced pork and beef and rolled into its shape and then grilled.

An hour outside Belogradchik is the town of Chiprovtsi, where this five-room museum displays objects related to the history of Chiprovtsi. The museum was opened in 1988 in part as a commemoration of the 300th anniversary of the Chiprovtsi Uprising, which was a backlash against the Ottomans. Exhibits include one on archaeological findings in the region from the Neolithic period to the late Middle Ages and another on Chiprovtsi carpets, a traditional handicraft that's an essential part of Bulgarian heritage.

This monastery dedicated to Sveti Ivan Rilski (St. John of Rila) is in Chiprovtsi, a village an hour outside Belogradchik. The monastery, composed of the church, a small graveyard, and a belfry, was originally built in the 10th century but was razed six times between the 15th and 19th centuries, including right after the violent Chiprovtsi Uprising against the Ottomans. The church you see today dates to the mid 19th century.

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.

The 17th-century church is hidden inside a handsome, tree-shaded stone building with terracotta roof—it looks more like a wealthy merchant's house than one of worship. The reason is because when Bulgaria was under Turkish rule, it was decreed that churches could not be taller or more ornate than mosques. Its interior walls and domed ceilings are covered entirely in striking frescoes. The wood-carved iconostases were meticulously carved by artists trained at art school in Tryavna.

Believed to have been built in the Middle Ages, this working convent has been plundered several times over its long history, and sections of the church were rebuilt in the 18th and 19th centuries. After the Liberation of Bulgaria in 1878, a belfry went up over the eastern entrance. The convent's beautiful frescoes are the work of then-well known icon painters, two of whom, a father and son pair, were trained at the art school in Tryavna.

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.

You can tell the wealth of the former owner of this 17-century home by its most exclusive feature: an indoor toilet. True, it's less 'porcelain throne' and more 'hole in the ground,' but it was a luxury when the house was built. Today a museum and tiny ethnographic gallery, this two-story house—with a stone lower half and timber on the upper floor—surrounded by a stone fence, is typical of Arbanasi. Walking through the house, particularly the kitchen with period cookware, it's possible to imagine what it life would have been like for a wealthy merchant family in 17th-century Arbanasi.

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.

Visit this small science museum before climbing the Belogradchik Rocks to get a better understanding of the region's natural history. The museum dates to 1975 and houses more than 500 displays, including taxidermied animals that focus on northwest Bulgaria's flora and fauna.

Built by an Osman Pazvantoglu, an Ottoman soldier who rebelled against them and became governor of Vidin, this mosque and library date from 1800. The small square library is made of stone with a metal dome and was dedicated to Pazvantoglu's late mother. The high-ceilinged mosque is also made of stone and filled with carved wooden furniture, with a wooden balcony for women. There is some debate about to whom the mosque is dedicated; some say it's to Pazvantoglu's late father, but others say it's to his lover, a Bulgarian Christian. Anyone is welcome to visit and take photographs, and there's a small area where books are sold. Women should cover their heads.

Eight kilometers (5 miles) from Veliko Tarnovo, just outside the village of Samovodene, is this beautiful Eastern Orthodox monastery. From Veliko Tarnovo, you can hike here in about an hour and a half. The monastery was originally built in the 14th century but, like so many churches, was burnt down by invading Ottomans. It was rebuilt in the 1830s, designed by Bulgarian National Revival architect Kolyu Ficheto. The stunning frescoes and icons that cover the monastery's interior are the handiwork of Zahari Zograf, perhaps Bulgaria's most famous National Revival artist. Preobrazhenski Monastery sits on a hill, surrounded by trees and overlooking the Yantra Gorge.

A pleasant place to stroll through well-tended gardens and soak up the history, St. Nicholas Monastery has seen its fair share of turmoil: it was pillaged and burned down once in the 14th century and twice in the 18th century, and shortly thereafter had to shut down because of the plague. It was restored in the 1830s, and this is the structure you see today. The monastery has played host to two of Bulgaria's former rules, Tsar Ferdinand and his son Tsar Boris III, and you, too, can sleep where royalty once did; St. Nicholas Monastery has a few simple rooms that can be rented.

Vidin’s main cathedral is an Orthodox Christian church and an important house of workshop for locals. While the original late-17th-century structure was wooden, what you see today is made of stone and was built between 1885 and 1926. Sveti Dimitar is believed to be Bulgaria's second largest church; its central dome is 33 meters tall. The church has undergone some restoration to its icons and frescoes, which are in good condition.

A stupendous structure, Tsarvets was the Second Bulgarian Empire's fortress from 1185 to 1393. The royal palaces were housed here, along with hundreds of quarters for the members of the court, guards, and servants, churches, and workshops. Tsarevets as you see today is not the original–it's been sacked and destroyed many times–but a faithful restoration that was undertaken between 1930 and 1981. The views from the top of the fortress are magnificent. If you don't want to climb, there's an elevator (2 leva per person) to the top of the bell tower. Tours in English can be arranged at the Tourist Information Centre (5 ul. Hristo Botev, +359–62–622–148) for 10 leva per person.

This museum has a main building and two outposts. Start at the Ul. Tsar Simeon Veliki museum to get your ticket, see its collection of more than 3,000 ancient coins and learn about Bulgaria from the 19th century to the present. One outpost is the Konaka Museum (Ul. Obshtinska 2, +359–94–601–713), housed in an 18th-century Turkish police station. The exhibition here covers Bulgarian history up to the 19th century and on display are a slew of antiquities ranging from ceramic and clay pieces to gold jewelry. The Historical Museum's second outpost is the Krastata Kazarma (Ul. Knyaz Boris 26, +395–94–601–709), a two-story military barrack built in 1801 for the Ottoman army. Today it's where the museum's ethnography exhibits are held, showcasing a collection of 19th-century and early 20th-century objects such as fine filigree hairpins. Combo ticket for the museum and Baba Vida Fortress are 5 leva.

There are fewer than 1,000 Jews living in Bulgaria now, and most of them in Sofia, but at one time Vidin had a sizeable Jewish population who came mostly from Spain in the late 15th century. This neo-Gothic synagogue opened in 1894 and at the time was considered a very grand structure, with stained-glass windows and intricate stonework. The then-Communist government seized the building during WWII and began restoration in 1983, until the collapse of the regime government left the synagogue without a roof. Though there's been talk by the Ministry of Culture of repairing the synagogue and turning it into a museum, the site remains an abandoned ruin. Though it's a shell of the grand building it once was, it remains a small but important slice of Vidin's history.