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Places of interest
Places of Interest in Bulgaria
Bulgaria is a beautiful country which is rich in history and has some of the most spectacular scenery you could imagine. There are many places of interest that are well worth visiting during your holiday including churches, ancient monuments and monasteries, and if that’s not enough there are a number of museums where you can find out more about the countries cultures past and present and the history of this wonderful place. Traditional Bulgarian villages untouched by tourism are a great way of discovering cultures past and present.
Here are just a few of the most visited places of interest in Bulgaria
Aladzha Monastery
Aladzha Monastery is easily accessible by car or bus from both Varna and Golden Sands Beach and is just a short walk from the bus stop. Parts of the monastery are thought to have been inhabited in the 4th Century by primitive monks, but the entire monastery is thought to date back to the 12th Century. Built high above the ground in a steep rock it has been declared a cultural site and houses a small museum. Katakombite monastery is less than 1km away, its remains are less preserved but its origins and history are very similar to that of the Aladzha Monastery.
Beglik Tash
Beglik Tash is the name given to a volcanic rock formation which can be found at the end of a clearing in the forest.
This historical site is close to the seaside resort of Primorsko and is thought to have been a place of pagan rituals by the Thracian tribe. Today the rock formation represents an open-air museum which is maintained by the historical museum in the city of Bourgas. During the summer season guides are available to visitors who want to learn more about the carvings in the rock and the pagan ceremonies thought to have carried out by the tribe.
Botanical Gardens of Balchik
These beautiful botanical gardens can be found in the heart of Balchik town approximately 31km north of Varna. There is a regular bus from Varna and Albena as well as taxis and water transport to Balchik.
The gardens and palace where originally built by the Romanian Queen Maria about 8 years after the end of the 1st world war when Balchik was annexed as Romanian territory. The gardens also include a chapel, a villa and a stone throne. Around 1940 the area was annexed back to Bulgaria and the gardens declared a monument of culture. There are more than 3000 exotic plants, some rare, 200 different tree species, flowers and a fabulous collection of some 250 cactus plants.
Dourankoulak Moor
Dourankoulak Moor is approximately 80km from the city of Varna in Bulgara and is the farthest northern place of interest along the Black Sea coast. Dourakoulak village and the Romanian border are only 6km away. The moor can be reached by car, or take a bus or train to the village and then a half hour walk.
The moor is of particular interest to nature lovers and bird watchers due to the number of marsh birds that live in the area. Also of interest are the remains of the largest Eneolithic settlement in Europe which have been excavated in the Dourankoulak Moor.
Emine Cape
Emine is the central cape of the Stara Planina Mountains located just a few kilometres south of Obzor. Emine along with Kaliakra cape are the two most impressive capes on the black sea coast. The village of Emona is about 2km inland from the cape. The cape is accessible on foot or by car from the village.
Kaliakra Cape
Kaliakra cape is close to the Romanian border and is a favourite with tourists looking for interesting and beautiful places north of Varna. The cape was declared a protected area is 1941 and was one of the few places where seal-monks could be seen until their extinction in the 1980s.
Some tour agencies in Balchik and Kavarna offer organised trips to the Kaliakra cape, alternatively it can be accessed by car.
Kamchiya River
The mouth of the River Kamchiya is 34km south of Varna and is one of the most stunning sights along the coast. It is the merger of two rivers from the Balkan mountains that makes the Kamchiya river which gently flows through a grove of tropical plants, flowers and trees along with birds and wild animals such as eagles, cats, boars, and deer. The reserve is protected by UNESCO and is 40km long and up to 5km wide in some places. Regular trips along the river are available at a very reasonable price for a the experience.
During the summer season that is a regular bus service from Varna.
Ropotamo River
Ropotamo is a natural reserve with an abundance of flora and fauna, rock formations and caves. The river originates from springs in the Standja Mountains. The mouth of Ropotamo river can be found in the middle of the coastline between Duni and Primorsko, 45km south of Bourgas and is a favourite place with local fishermen.
Apart from nature lovers and bird watchers the area is popular with hunters looking for game such as red deer, wild boar, foxes, wolves and jackals.
Whether you take a boat trip along the river or walk along the banks the experience is breathtaking. Boarding for tour boats can be found on the road between Duni and Primorsko.