One has to see the magnificent Thracian treasures, the monumental but beautiful work of the Greek and Roman cities in order to understand why Bulgaria became the cradle of Slav culture.
For thirteen centuries the Bulgarian has been creating literature, art and music. Bulgarian culture has given the world men of great achievements, unparalleled in history.
Along the Bulgarian Coast a number of ancient Roman and Thracian remains could be seen, together with plenty of museums which have preserved the treasures found there.
The modern city of Varna has also kept the traces of its glorious past. The 2nd century thermae are the remains of the largest Roman public building in Bulgaria. During this century enough has been revealed by archaeologists to give a good impression of the original layout. Coming across an extensive ancient building amidst the streets and houses of a modern city is not unusual in Bulgaria, but is always a delight. Varna is also the home of the believed to be the home of the Oldest gold in the world. An exclusive collection of ancient works, which has toured all around the world and fascinated people from three continents. You will be extremely lucky if it happens to be in town.
At the seafront the colorful flowerbeds of Marine Gardens, greet you, modeled allegedly on the Viennese Baroque palace gardens of Schonburnn and Belvedere. The impressive park also houses various museums including one on Natural History, a Planetarium, zoo and aquarium.
Next place worth sightseeing is the old town of Balchik, just 17km from Kavarna. A must to see is the century old Palace of the Romanian Queen Mary and the Botanical garden, which is the biggest and most diverse on the Balkans. Opened from mid April till October the sight welcomes thousands of visitors each year and is a truly beautiful place to spend your days. The town also appeals to tourists with its ancient spirit, reflected into steep pebbled streets and houses made of stone and adobe. The palace complex consists of a central palace with a high tower, numerous buildings, a terraced park, summer houses made of stone and propped up on marvelous columns facing the sea, a throne under an old tree where Queen Maria loved to watch the sunset, and a small chapel where her heart is preserved. There are more than 3,000 rare and exotic species of plants in the botanic garden, which has made it a part of the teaching facilities of Sofia University. The whole complex was called Tenha Yuva (Quiet Nest). Besides the palace and the botanic garden, the Art Gallery of the town, which houses also the town’s museum, is also an interesting place to visit. There is also a small ethnographic museum and a beautiful old church called St. Nikola Church. A Renaissance complex with the old school, which is quite well preserved, can be other possible destinations of a walk. The coastal alley, which is about 4km long, is also a nice place to stroll, the same way as the harbor and the small streets of the town are.
Outside the city, the area of Tuzlata is located 4 km east of the town. It is well known for its curative mud, which was the main reason to build a Spa centre there beside two lakes, formed by old landslides. A large recreational complex, a lot of villas, bungalows and a camping site are can be also found there. There is a mineral spring with water temperature of above 30 C degrees. Two big camping sites - Sandrino Camping and Beliyat Bryag Camping are also located near Balchik. They offer various opportunities for rest and water sports, clubs, bars, numerous bungalows for tourists having no camping equipment, small restaurants and snack bars for seafood and continental food. Fifteen kilometers away from the town in south-west direction is the village of Obrochishte with a well-preserved fortress dating back to the early Ottoman rule, which travelers of that time used to compare it with the beauty of Baghdad.
Kavarna
Kavarna is one of the relatively bigger towns along the Black Sea coast: its population is 12,225, while the town's port handles passenger and cargo vessels of medium size. The town is situated 48km north of Varna and just 12km away from the picturesque Kaliakra cape. The coast to the north of the town is high and steep, shining with its limestone rocks against the sea while the south of the town boasts with an excellent beach.
History: The town dates back to Thracian times. In ancient Greek times, the area was dominated by the Greek fortress of Bizone established in the 5th century BC. In the 1st century BC, however, the town was almost completely ruined down by a severe earthquake. Later on, it was rebuilt and grew into a strong Bulgarian fortress – Karvuna, only to be destroyed again soon afterwards by an invasion of Tatar tribes in the Middle Ages. Following a thorough reconstruction by the Boyar Balik, the town became an independent principality named Karvounska Hora. After the foundation of the Bulgarian State the town changed its name a few times, from Karvuna to Karbona and then to Karnava, before it eventually received its current name, Kavarna. The Turks conquered it in 1393. Shortly before the liberation of the Bulgarian state from Ottoman yoke, Kavarna's witnessed a ruthless suppression of a rebellion of the local Bulgarian population, which ended up with setting the town on fire and a death toll of about 1,200 people. The town of Kavarna was once again rebuilt into agricultural and fishing centre.
Places of Interest: The high hill of Chirakman keeps the remains of Roman villas and walls, medieval buildings and churches. There is a town museum hosting interesting exhibits of the town's history, including an impressive Thracian collection, and also an Art Gallery and an Archeological Museum. Old buildings dating back to the Ottoman era, as well as remains from Greek and Roman times, are also preserved. Six kilometers away from the city to the east is the Kaliakra cape, where an ancient fortress called Tirisis was located. According to legends the fortress was guarding the treasuries of Lyzimah, successor of Alexander the Great. Today there are quite many remains of those ancient settlements. One can also read there a legend telling the story of forty Bulgarian girls who bended their braids and chose to jump from the high cape, into the sea but not to be captured, give up their faith and converted to Islam by the Turks.
For thirteen centuries the Bulgarian has been creating literature, art and music. Bulgarian culture has given the world men of great achievements, unparalleled in history.
Along the Bulgarian Coast a number of ancient Roman and Thracian remains could be seen, together with plenty of museums which have preserved the treasures found there.
The modern city of Varna has also kept the traces of its glorious past. The 2nd century thermae are the remains of the largest Roman public building in Bulgaria. During this century enough has been revealed by archaeologists to give a good impression of the original layout. Coming across an extensive ancient building amidst the streets and houses of a modern city is not unusual in Bulgaria, but is always a delight. Varna is also the home of the believed to be the home of the Oldest gold in the world. An exclusive collection of ancient works, which has toured all around the world and fascinated people from three continents. You will be extremely lucky if it happens to be in town.
At the seafront the colorful flowerbeds of Marine Gardens, greet you, modeled allegedly on the Viennese Baroque palace gardens of Schonburnn and Belvedere. The impressive park also houses various museums including one on Natural History, a Planetarium, zoo and aquarium.
Next place worth sightseeing is the old town of Balchik, just 17km from Kavarna. A must to see is the century old Palace of the Romanian Queen Mary and the Botanical garden, which is the biggest and most diverse on the Balkans. Opened from mid April till October the sight welcomes thousands of visitors each year and is a truly beautiful place to spend your days. The town also appeals to tourists with its ancient spirit, reflected into steep pebbled streets and houses made of stone and adobe. The palace complex consists of a central palace with a high tower, numerous buildings, a terraced park, summer houses made of stone and propped up on marvelous columns facing the sea, a throne under an old tree where Queen Maria loved to watch the sunset, and a small chapel where her heart is preserved. There are more than 3,000 rare and exotic species of plants in the botanic garden, which has made it a part of the teaching facilities of Sofia University. The whole complex was called Tenha Yuva (Quiet Nest). Besides the palace and the botanic garden, the Art Gallery of the town, which houses also the town’s museum, is also an interesting place to visit. There is also a small ethnographic museum and a beautiful old church called St. Nikola Church. A Renaissance complex with the old school, which is quite well preserved, can be other possible destinations of a walk. The coastal alley, which is about 4km long, is also a nice place to stroll, the same way as the harbor and the small streets of the town are.
Outside the city, the area of Tuzlata is located 4 km east of the town. It is well known for its curative mud, which was the main reason to build a Spa centre there beside two lakes, formed by old landslides. A large recreational complex, a lot of villas, bungalows and a camping site are can be also found there. There is a mineral spring with water temperature of above 30 C degrees. Two big camping sites - Sandrino Camping and Beliyat Bryag Camping are also located near Balchik. They offer various opportunities for rest and water sports, clubs, bars, numerous bungalows for tourists having no camping equipment, small restaurants and snack bars for seafood and continental food. Fifteen kilometers away from the town in south-west direction is the village of Obrochishte with a well-preserved fortress dating back to the early Ottoman rule, which travelers of that time used to compare it with the beauty of Baghdad.
Kavarna
Kavarna is one of the relatively bigger towns along the Black Sea coast: its population is 12,225, while the town's port handles passenger and cargo vessels of medium size. The town is situated 48km north of Varna and just 12km away from the picturesque Kaliakra cape. The coast to the north of the town is high and steep, shining with its limestone rocks against the sea while the south of the town boasts with an excellent beach.
History: The town dates back to Thracian times. In ancient Greek times, the area was dominated by the Greek fortress of Bizone established in the 5th century BC. In the 1st century BC, however, the town was almost completely ruined down by a severe earthquake. Later on, it was rebuilt and grew into a strong Bulgarian fortress – Karvuna, only to be destroyed again soon afterwards by an invasion of Tatar tribes in the Middle Ages. Following a thorough reconstruction by the Boyar Balik, the town became an independent principality named Karvounska Hora. After the foundation of the Bulgarian State the town changed its name a few times, from Karvuna to Karbona and then to Karnava, before it eventually received its current name, Kavarna. The Turks conquered it in 1393. Shortly before the liberation of the Bulgarian state from Ottoman yoke, Kavarna's witnessed a ruthless suppression of a rebellion of the local Bulgarian population, which ended up with setting the town on fire and a death toll of about 1,200 people. The town of Kavarna was once again rebuilt into agricultural and fishing centre.
Places of Interest: The high hill of Chirakman keeps the remains of Roman villas and walls, medieval buildings and churches. There is a town museum hosting interesting exhibits of the town's history, including an impressive Thracian collection, and also an Art Gallery and an Archeological Museum. Old buildings dating back to the Ottoman era, as well as remains from Greek and Roman times, are also preserved. Six kilometers away from the city to the east is the Kaliakra cape, where an ancient fortress called Tirisis was located. According to legends the fortress was guarding the treasuries of Lyzimah, successor of Alexander the Great. Today there are quite many remains of those ancient settlements. One can also read there a legend telling the story of forty Bulgarian girls who bended their braids and chose to jump from the high cape, into the sea but not to be captured, give up their faith and converted to Islam by the Turks.
