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LANDMARKS
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BANSKO
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Bansko is located in the south-western Bulgaria at the foot of the Pirin mountain. Still in 1979 it was announced unique town of international significance for tourism. The town attracts visitors for its natural and historical landmarks. To the south is Pirin national park. It is rich of lakes, waterfalls, caves and age-old trees and registered in the List of national parks and reserves of the United Nations. Close to the town is located the Rila monastery, one of the most impressive on the Balkan Peninsula. Both sites are included in the List of World Natural and Cultural Heritage of UNESCO. The balneology resort Dobrinishte, prominent for its mineral and healing springs is only 6 km. far from Bansko. |
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VILLAGE OF SAINT VLAS
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Saint Vlas is located at the foot of Stara Planina mountain in eastern Bulgaria. This resort links the endmost parts of the mountain with the south Black Sea coast and is the most ancient inhabited place in the region. The unique combination of forest and sea makes it a preferable place for holidays and forms a climate, favourable to healing pulmonary diseases. Close to the village there is a spa sanatorium, open throughout the year.
Saint Vlas is in close proximity to Paradise Beach (1,5 km.), Elenite (2 km.), Sunny Beach (4 êì), Nesebar (8 km.) and Burgas (40 km.) – some of the well-known resorts on the Bulgarian Black Sea, rich both of natural and historical landmarks and of inexhaustible choice of entertainments for tourists – surfing, water skiing, yachts, tennis clubs, horse riding basis, bowling, open and covered swimming pools, mini-golf, etc. |
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SOFIA
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The history of Sofia embraces thousands of years. The first name of the city – Serdika – was given by the Thracian tribe Serdi, who had inhabited the town’s territory in the 7 century B.C. Later Byzantium citizens gave it the name of Triaditza and the Slavs – Sredetz. The name of Sofia dates since 14th century, when the town has been called after the basilica Saint Sofia (in Greek “sofia” means wisdom). In 1879 the town became Bulgaria’s capital.
Sofia is rich of archaeological findings. A great part of the ancient Serdika is located beneath central modern buildings. The ancient town council is located behind Sheraton hotel and antique basilicas are hidden beneath the National historical museum. Roman thermal baths are the predecessor of the Sofia mineral baths and the Roman residence, decorated by fine mosaics are preserved beneath Rila hotel. Some of the modern landmarks of the city are: Alexandar Nevsky church – a masterpiece of icons, mural paintings and frescoes, constructed in the course of 30 years by masters from 6 states, the National palace of culture – the greatest Congress Centre on the Balkans, Sofia University and a lot of others. |
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RILA MONASTERY
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Rila monastery is the greatest monastery complex in Bulgaria and one of the most impressive on the Balkan Peninsula. It is located in the north-western part of the Rila mountain. It was established in the 10th century by the Bulgarian monk Saint Ivan Rilsky. It is formed by an artful combination of two architectural elements – the arc and the column. The four-storey residential buildings have more than 400 cells, four chapels, parlours for the pilgrims, monastery kitchens (cook-house), all of which of original construction.
The impressive mural paintings date from the 19th century and monastery is treasury for valuable Bulgarian handwritten and ancient printed church books. Since 1983 Rila monastery has been registered in the List of World Natural and Cultural Heritage of UNESCO. |
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PLOVDIV
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Plovdiv is the second in area and population Bulgarian town, located among six beautiful hills in the western part of the Gornotrakiyska valley. It is divided by the deep Maritza River. In the north part of the town the Fair pavilions are constructed and twice annually there is organized the International Plovdiv Fair. Plovdiv is an ancient settlement and its historical roots date still from the neolith. The great number of archaeological findings, the well preserved ancient theatre and the old town with its narrow streets and architectural complexes make the town unique and picturesque. |
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VELIKO TARNOVO
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Veliko Tarnovo is the regional town of Central Bulgaria. The town rises in tiers along the historical heights of Tzarevetz, Trapezitza and Sveta Gora, beautifully crossed by the Yantra River. During the Second Bulgarian Kingdom it has been the capital and it treasures preserved and restored archaeological and historical monuments dating from this period. Very attractive for the visitors is the audio-visual performance “Tzarevgrad - Tarnovo – Sound and Lighting”, created in honour of the 1300th anniversary of the Bulgarian state. |
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MELNIK
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Melnik is the smallest Bulgarian town, standing in tiers within the south-western foot of the Pirin mountain. It is promulgated for town-museum and is very attractive for tourists for its ancient atmosphere, typical architecture of its buildings and its wineries. Here it is preserved the greatest house from the period of the Bulgarian national revival on the Balkan peninsula. A real attraction for the visitors are also the Melnik pyramids – marvellous ground hills, resembling pyramids, obelisks, mushrooms, and sharp edged hills formed by white crumbly sandstone. |
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NESEBAR
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Nesebar is situated on a rocky peninsula of the Black Sea, at 37 km. north-east from Burgas. The coasts of its two bays are covered with fine yellow sand, making the Nesebar beach the best on our coast and the town – preferred sea resort. Nesebar has millennial history, it is one of the most ancient European settlements. Well preserved are parts of its stronghold wall and gateway, a number of churches of ceramic decoration on the façade and priceless icons, as well as old two-storey houses of interesting architecture, assigns to Nesebar a place among the world-famous cultural monuments, protected by UNESCO. |
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ZHERAVNA
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Zheravna is a holiday resort in the valley of Stara Planina mountain at 16 km. away from town of Kotel. The narrow cobblestone streets and picturesque houses, wealthy decorated by wood-carving still keep their national revival’s appearance. Created by the talent of unknown masters, each of them is a unique cultural monument. |
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VILLAGE OF BOZHENTZY
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Village of Bozhentzy is located down the north slopes of Gabrovo hills, 16 km far from the town of Gabrovo. Down the two coasts of Bozhanka River the few original houses in traditional Bulgarian style keep the atmosphere of the 18th century. For its 600 years of history and originality the village of Bozhentzy is announced to be an archaeological and ethnographic site. |
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SINITE KAMANI NATURAL PARK
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Sinite Kamani natural park is the southeast massif of the Slivenska mountain, covering area of 7094,1 hectares. Its phenomenal rock formations are one of the natural marvels along with the great number of archaeological and historical places. For this reason Sinite Kamani is a site of constant tourist and research interest. |
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YAGODINSKA CAVE
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The Yagodinska cave is one of the most charming tectonic formations in the Rodopa mountain and its length is about 10 km. Its five levels of labyrinths of entrances and halls introduce tourists to the beautiful underground world, formed in the course of millions of years. Remarkable are the fantastic hangings, stalactites, cave pearls, the “leopard” skin, stalactones, etc., as well as the neolith housings, found in the cave. |
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ALADZHA MONASTERY
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The Aladzha monastery is a rock monastery from the Middle Ages. It is placed in a beautiful forest neighbourhood, at 17 km. from Varna. It consists of two-levelled vertical rock massif of natural caves, adapted for monk’s cells. The findings discovered witness that monastery has been inhabited since the Early Christian époque (4-6 century) up to 18th century. Aladzha monastery and the close located catacombs attract a lot of visitors. |
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