BOURGAS

For the first time the name of Bourgas appeared as early as 1306 in a poem by Manuel Phil, Bysantium poet, as Pirgos - the Greek equivalent to the Latin word Burgos, i.e., 'the Tower': a name preserved in local legends, and dating as back as 1st or 2nd century AD, when a Roman travel station was functioning at the place of the present-day harbour.
The earliest life can be traced back to the Bronze and the beginning of the Iron Ages; while a 'number of finds, treasures and archaeological sites have witnessed to live activities during the Thracian epoch, that is to say the second half of 4 BC. Yoan Exarch, one of Bulgaria's pre-renaissance authors, wrote, 'The sea brings all that is distant together'. It is the sea itself that is shaping the appearance of Bourgas, the spirit of its people and the original atmosphere due to century-old contacts with various nations and civilizations Bourgas has always been open to the world and the world's economy and culture by means of its harbour, where more than 1,500 vessels and a large number of petroleum tankers are mooring each year. The Port of Bourgas is the biggest seaport in the country.

Lying between Gabrovo and Tryavna, Bozhentzi boasts superb examples of 19th century dwellings. During the latter part of that century it prospered thanks to its smiths. potters and weavers and the local merchants who traded as far afield as Russia and Hungary. Today it is better known among the artistic circles as a holiday retreat.
The village now has well over 100 listed buildings., ranging from the grandeur of a wool merchant's house to the humble dwelling of a rural peasant of that time. and also today's artisan workshops.In this tranquil atmosphere it seems as if time has stood still these past two centuries, with nothing but fresh mountain air and quaint white-washed houses covered in seasonal flowers and roofed with heavy stone tiles.

The town of Gabrovo is situated in Northern Bulgaria, along the River Yantra, in the north Sredna Stara Planina mountain spur, 392 m above sea-level. In the immediate vicinity of Gabrovo is the geographical centre of Bulgaria. Because of its locality the town is a busy road junction.
Due to its clean mountain air, historical and ethnographical complexes Gabrovo has become an attractive tourist centre. Municipality and the surrounding area is considered to be one of the most ecologically clean regions in Bulgaria. The rich flora and fauna come to prove that. Some of the best hunting trophies such as bear, red deer and mouflon can be found in the game reserves.
There are some places of interest, which are of national and international importance.
The most picturesque place in Gabrovo is the architectural and ethnographical complex Etura - a unique open-air museum. The Bulgarian Renaissance atmosphere is reserved there in the old workshops of traditional Bulgarian arts and crafts. The visitors can watch the craftsmen doing everything by their own hands and by water-driven machinery. There are some hotels, restaurants, and taverns available. The visitors like them for the Bulgarian traditions in cooking are still reserved there.

Ouzana is a mountain locality near Gabrovo. The geographical centre of Bulgaria is found here. Ouzana is a suitable place for your winter and summer holiday. Here you can do some skiing, horse-riding, mountain-climbing, etc.

It is located on a small peninsula in the Black Sea wich is linked with the land only by a long and narrow isthmus. It has existed for more than 9,000 years. It emerged as a fortified Thracian settlement; afterwards it was a Greek polis, then a Roman colony, a Byzantine town.
Nessebar is best known for the old town (about 9000 years) on the peninsula. No one can say for sure whether the isthmus is natural or man-made. The largest number and best known buildings date from 11th to 14th centuries almost all of them churchies in the so called "picturesque" style: walls intersected by pilasters and lunettes, with stone, brick and ceramic ornaments and arches along the cornice. Christ Pantokrator church (10th - 11th c.) Some of the churches have stunningly beautiful facades and interiors and are among the best preserved ones in the Balkan Peninsula. The oldest one is the Sveti Ioan Krastitel (St.John the Baptist, 10th -11th century.
Today the old part of the town has regained its original romantic atmosphere: narrow cobblestone lanes, tiny squares, two-storeyed period houses with stone-built ground levels and wooden upper floors jutting above the streets and external staircases, gift shops, pubs, tavern and lovely flower gardens.

Rousse is the largest Bulgarian city on the Danube river. It is situated in the north-eastern part of Bulgaria . Rouse's rich historical past shows that the Danube river was the basis of it's existence. From it's foundation up to now, in spite of the names the town had through 19 centuries, it was a Danubian harbour.

The town was founded at the time of the Roman emperor Vespasian over the period of 69 – 79 AD as a fortress called Sexaginta Prista, meaning The harbour of the sixty ships. The fortress lasted for almost six centuries and then perished under the storms of the Barberian invasions.
In the Middle Ages the Rousse region was among the most developed areas of the Bulgarian state. At the time of the Otoman Yoke Rousse was an important fortress and the maingate to the north of the Turkish empire. It was called Rouschouk.
In the nineteenth century, Rousse was the first town in Bulgaria to aquire a pronounced European look which came an illustration of its economic prosperity at the turn of the century. The first and only newspaper printed in Bulgaria in Bulgarian came out in Rousse in 1865. The building of the Rousse – Varna railway which was the first of its kind in the Balkan lands largely contributed to the growing significance of the town. The first public pharmacy and the first bookshop were opend in Rousse. In 1871 the first teachers' association was set up here.
In Rousse there are state cultural institutions of regional and national importance – Rousse Opera House, Rousse Philharmonic Orchestra, Dramatic Theatre and Puppet Theatre. They succesfully perform on international stages.
The Rousse District Library was established in 1888 and up to now actively participates in the town's cultural life. It helds British, French and German informational centres. The library possesses today over 700 000 books and documents in 18 languages.

Some 23 kilometres south-west of Rousse there is an unic archeological reserve – the remarkable Ivanovo rock monasteries. Located at a height of 6 to 8 metres, the cells have been inhabited by monks until the 17th century. Chronicles and the preserved church murals show that the community of hermits also created a blossoming literary center during the 13th – 14th century. The rock monasteries have been evaluated as an important stage in the development of European culture and recorded on the UNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage.
The Ivanovo churches contain some of the best frescoes of Bulgarian religious art.

7 kilometres south-west of Ivanovo is the Fortress of Cherven, dated from the Middle Ages. It was one of the most important military, economical, cultural and religious centres of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. The ruins are restored and can be visited.

The river Rusenski Lom is a flow into the Danube river south-west of Rousse, hewing out a picturesque canyon in the Danube valley with its meanders and vertical rocks. To preserve this natural wealth, the area was pronounced a Roussenski Lom National Park. The biggest treasure of the Park are the birds, so it is included in the List of European's most important ornitological sites.

Further south, lying on the Gulf of Bourgas, you can find the city of Sozopol, one of Ancient Greece's oldest settlements formerly known as 'Apollonia Pontica' named after Apollo, the patron of seafarers. Today it resembles a cluster of welcoming century old houses dotted along the rocky headland, interspersed with small garden shrines. Somewhat quieter than Nessebur, Sozopol also provides the tourist with two fine, sandy beaches, set off nicely against the tranquil charm of fishing life. One lies within a sheltered bay with the second, larger beach extending southwards beyond the headland. Sozopol is traversed by beautiful narrow lanes, old houses and its romantic charm has attracted artists and writers throughout the centuries.

Veliko Turnovo - one of the most picturesque Bulgarian towns, preserved the atmosphere of the past century is s tanding in tiers above Yantra River which meanders through the elevations of Turnovo and the three hills - Tsarevets, Trapezitsa and Sveta Gora . The buildings, perching one above the other, overhang rocks and precipices and Yantra River below, standing close to one another along narrow winding streets. The antique part of the town has been declared an architectural and historical reserve.
Known under the name of Tsarevgrad Turnov (i.e. King's Town) and Turnovgrad. In the town and its outskirts traces have been uncovered of life dating back to the late Palaeolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic, the Bronze and the Iron Ages. It raises to significance during the years of Byzantine rule (9th-12th centuries).After the foundation of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1186), the town becomes its capital. A centre of medieval Bulgarian coin minting. In the 13th-14th centuries in the town and its outskirts numerous literary schools spring up - centres of educational and literary activity.
In 1393 the town is conquered by the Turks and burned down. During the years of Ottoman rule it is a fortress of the Bulgarian national spirit and one of the centres of the struggle for liberation. In 1879 the Constituent National Assembly has its first session here and adopts the Constitution of Turnovo - the first constitution of the Bulgarian state liberated in 1878.

Place of interest:
The Old Town Hall (Konaka) - built in 1874-1876 by Kolyo Ficheto for a Turkish public building, but the design and space layout bears the signs of the Bulgarian National Revival secular architecture. In 1879 the Constituent National Assembly of newly liberated Bulgaria, which adopts the Constitution of Turnovo, has its first session in this building. A museum.

Tsarevets - a historical hill of 12 hectares in the eastern part of Veliko Turnovo. In the 7th-14th centuries the capital residences of the tsar, the boyars and the patriarch are erected. Built over a Thracian settlement and Byzantine fortress, dating back to the 4th-6th centuries, Tsarevets turns into an unapproachable fortress and capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. When the Turks conquered Turnovo, Tsarevets was burned down.

Trapezitsa - a hill in Veliko Turnovo. In the 12th-14th centuries Trapezitsa and Tsarevets comprise the Inner Town of the Bulgarian capital. The hill is plateau-like with steep slopes. Fortified with a fortress wall, which follows the rock wreath. The foundations of 17 churches have been preserved. On some of their inner walls one can see fragments of paintings. In the end of the 14th C. and the beginning of the 15th C. the Ottoman invaders burn down Trapezitsa.

30 km. South of Varna lays the impressive nature reserve of the River Kamchiya.

The Longoza Nature Reserve covers an area of 842 hectares on the low banks of the Kamchia River as it flows into the Black Sea. It is not a usual forest as creepers some of which up to 50 metres long form a green “curtain” that is difficult to pass through. High century-old trees stoop over the river. Sunshine seeping through the branches creates a strange feeling of mystery. What you see there will remind you of a tropical forest. In fact this is the last representative of a longoz (swamp forest) in Europe. Over 40 tree and plant species thrive in this nature reserve. Some rare plants - the swamp snow drop, squill and goldilocks add to the magic of the forest

From the small resort (including a campsite) , you can enjoy a rafting trip to take in the natural vegetation and catch a glimpse of the local bird life - pelicans, kingfishers and waterfowl share quarters with shoals of carp and pike.

It dates back to the III c. BC and is included in the World Register of Historical Sites in 1985. It consists of three chambers - an entrance chamber and two antechambers. It is covered by a mound. The decoration of the burial chamber is exceptionally interesting, a unique blend of art and architecture. The stone architrave, around the walls, is supported by ten caryatids. The wall opposite the door is painted in navy blue crayon and depicts the heroicisation of the deceased.

A relief portraying a life size horseman, followed by a dog is carved on a cliff, about 100 m high. The relief covers an area of 23 m2 . A dying lion is pictured at the feet of the horse. Greek inscriptions around the figure tell of Bulgarian rulers and important events.This is a rare monument, dating from the VIII - IX c. A. D. It is a unique symbol of young Bulgaria. The scene has been depicted realistically and without any unnecessary details. The work displays early Bulgarian medieval art. It was included in the World Register of Historical Sites in 1979.

Located on almost a cosmic landscape - rock massifs, enveloping the picturesque river valley 23 kilometres south-west of the city of Rousse. As if striving to be closer to God, hermit monks settled here during the 11th - 14th century, digging cells, churches and chapels into the rocks. Talented artists painted them with realistic frescos, exquisite in colour and composition, and turned them into a treasure trove of Bulgarian mediaeval painting .

One of the most famous monuments of Thracian culture, included in the World Register of Historical Sites, in 1979, was discovered in 1944. A corridor, 1. 95 m in length, 1. 12 m in width and 2. 24 m in height leads to a domed tomb, 3. 25 m in height and 2. 65 m in diameter at the base. The building material is brick, used two centuries later by the Romans. The frame is of blocks of stone and clay is used as bonding material. It is situated in the southern part of a mound, at ground level. The entrance is from the south side. The tomb became world famous with its unique mural, done in wet fresco and tempera. The artistic decoration covers an area of 40m2.It is an extraordinary art gallery, taking the visitor a long way back in time. The pictures show battles and scenes from daily life, realistically displayed, with great dynamism and details in the clothing and armour. The scenes of funeral procession , the musicians, the Thracian ruler and his wife, the chariots, the horses and other depictions are all very interesting. The tomb dates from the late IV c. - early III c. BC Nearby an exact copy has been built for tourists.

The village of Zheravna is set on the beautiful southern slopes of two small hills in the Eastern Balkan range. The spacious wooden houses, surrounded by stone walls with nail-studded doors as entrances, date from as early as the 17th century, when sheep breeding and various crafts were the main activities. There are fine examples of woodcarving to be seen here, notably in the Sava Yovkov House.
Many of Bulgaria's artists' houses are open to the public, including that of Yordan Yovkov the novelist and Rusi Chorbadzhi. While the older houses were entirely wood built, later houses had their ground floors built of stone. The houses' interiors are awash with colour and artisan work, and mirror the pride felt by Bulgarians for their homes and the special place they have in their lives.

Located 18 km westwards from Varna they are one of the most incredible natural phenomena in Bulgaria. The natural stone pillars - some reaching 6 metres high, some up to 12 metres across at their base are known as “the petrified forest”.
Some columns resemble animals, others remind you of frozen fountains or cascades. Several rows of columns create the impression that each is made up of two cones balancing on their sharp points. The prevailing theory is that the “stone forest” near Varna was formed some 50 million years ago. At that time it was a part of the sea bottom. After the receding of the water the inorganic sediments eroded, thus attaining the marvelous forms we admire today

The town used to be the main political, military, economic and cultural centre from the foundation of the Bulgarian State in 681 till 893. Pliska is also among the most impressive monuments of Medieval European town-planning. Situated at a crossroad amidst a vast plain of rolling hills, the first capital of the Bulgarian State was protected with strong fortress walls. The location of the city was not left to the blind chance. Being a people of the steppes, the ancient Bulgarians preferred level terrains to put up their camps and settlements. The defense fortifications comprised three rings The outermost was a deep and wide moat, the middle one - a rampart whose thick stone walls once rose up to 12 metres in some places, and the innermost - a fortress built up of clay bricks.
Researchers have found three stages in the development of the ancient Bulgarian capital.
Khan Kroum's Palace was built on an area of 500 square metres and is a remarkable architectural monument of the first stage. There were secret passages and tunnels for the inhabitants to leave the town in case of emergency. The Palace had its own big water reservoir and baths modern for that time.
The second stage marked the peak of town design and construction. That was the time when Khan Omourtag ruled. Dating back to that period are the fortress walls, the so-called Small Palace with houses for the members of the royal family, the new baths with an intricate heating system, two pagan shrines and the richly decorated Throne Hall.
The third construction stage includes early Christian buildings of worship with impressive size. The most impressive architectural monument of that time is the Grand Basilica . With its 2920 square metres it was the largest Christian church on the Balkan Peninsula for its time. The imposing three-nave basilica was 100 metres long and 30 metres wide. It was in the centre of a monastery complex of sophisticated architecture.
Pliska is the town where the Christian faith was adopted as an official religion of the Bulgarian people in the 9th century. In the year 886 Prince Boris I received here the disciples of the creators of the Slav Alphabet the brothers Cyril and Methodius.

An inscription chiseled into an ancient stone column reads that the town was founded by Khan Omourtag. It reached its heyday when Tsar Simeon the Great ruled the country. The year 893 marked important events in the history of the Bulgarian State. A Council was held in Preslav at which they decided to adopt Christianity as the official religion of the Bulgarian State and the Old Bulgarian as the official language. The Council also decreed that the Bulgarian Church was no longer subordinate to the Byzantine Church. They encouraged education and literature, designated Prince Simeon I to reign and moved the capital from Pliska to Preslav. The Round (Golden) Church was awe - inspiring too. Its gold plated dome was richly decorated inside with a fantastic mosaic on a background made of gold. It rested on 12 marble columns. The church was built on top of a hill outside the city walls so that citizens and travellers could enjoy the view. Velikli Preslav was the centre of the flourishing Medieval Bulgarian literature and culture and its Golden Century. It was the Preslav Literary School that had a strong influence on the cultural development of Eastern Europe. When Preslav was the capital of Bulgaria the country had the political authority, economic power and military might to make other European rulers, Byzantium and barbaric tribes conform to it. A proof of past wealth and grandeur of the city is the Preslav Treasure, consisting of 150 objects of exquisite craftsmanship. Preslav's decline started at the time of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom when the capital was moved to Turnovo.

The name of this rock monastery (t he height of the rock is 60 m ) in Turkish means "multi-coloured". That was because of the medieval wall paintings which nowadays faded and almost erased. The monks' cells were cut out of the soft white limestone cliff. T hey were placed on 2 lewels. Cristian hermit's lived there from 5th cent. A.D. The m o nastery was deserted in 18th century. Do not miss the cave placed 250 m to the south-west, which was used a hermits' tomb. There is a b eautiful view towards the sea, when you climb

Oreshak is a village situated on the north side of the Central Balkan Range. It is located within the boundaries of municipality Troyan . The greatest attraction in the village are the Troyan Monastery, the National Arts and Crafts Exhibition and the beautiful nature spread all around

Troyan Monastery is located in the northern folds of the Troyan Balkan on the left shore of the Cherni Osum River and it is the third largest and most significant monastery in Bulgaria . It must have been in existence long before the l5th century, as legends suggest. It flourished about the year 1600 . A spot of great interest is the wonderful monastery main church which was painted by Zahari Zograph in 1847-1849. He is famous for his wonder-working icon ‘Three Handed Virgin Mary'. A well known centre of literature in the past, it still has a rich and valuable library. In the times of national struggle for liberty the Troyan monastery has been a real revolutionary centre.

The National Arts and Crafts Exhibition is the only place in Bulgaria where master-craftsmen from all over the country display their work . There are nine exhibition halls, with total of 4500 sq. m. of display space, as well as a multifunctional conference hall, spread over a 50000 sq. m. site. The main purpose of the exhibition is to show the distinctive features of the Balkan artistic genius in folk arts, and also to stimulate their development. This aim is fulfilled through changing exhibitions of individual artists' work, or national and international shows, to which craftsmen from Bulgaria and the outside world contribute. The exhibition is open 365 days a year, with a bazaar in one of the halls where the works of Bulgarian and foreign craftsmen are on sale .

Oreshak it's also an initial point for many cultural and adventure activity's. Just a few km. past Oreshak you will find the village of Cherni Osum famous with his Natural History Museum showing up large collection of animals, birds and insects. Further ahead the road becomes broken stone and starts to follow the meanders of the river entering deep into the mind of the mountain. There is starting the 2 hours walk path, leading to Zelenikovo Monastery – gorgeous place up in the mountains, breathing spirit from the 18 th century - sheltered from the outside world influence thanks to its loneliness and remote situation, rounded by exquisite views and impassable forest. Nearby are lots of hiking routes all along the Central Balkan National Park you can choose – from 1 day, up to 7 day trips discovering the beauties of this region and resting in different huts. The region of Oreshak is well-known with the limitless possibilities for fishing – carps (up to 10 kg.), pikes (up to 2.5 – 3 kg.), catfish, trout's, pike – perch, etc. At hand are lots of lakes, swamps and dam lakes you can go and spend a great time with a fishing rod and a can of beer J

Archaeological historical and natural reserve. Its cultural and natural value can be found in the Mediaeval fortress remains, the caves, the rock niches, the diversity of the birds nesting there and the glorious view to the Black Sea. The real story of Kaliakra Cape is hidden under the veil of various legends. One of them says that the typical red color of the rocks comes from the blood the defenders of the citadel spilled in a fight … Other narrates that the treasures of Lizimah, successor of Alexander the Great have been hidden in a cave under the sea level …

During the Turkish invasion the fortress was subject to an extremely cruel siege. All warriors and citizens of the fortress were murdered. Only 40 young maids were left alive . They decided to choose death to life in disgrace. When no one was watching them they plaited together their long hair, held their hands and jumped into the sea from the high cliffs.

The harbour town of Balchik is located 31 km away from Varna. It was founded in the V century BC. The name of the town comes from the ancient Greek word for ‘springs' due to the numerous healing carvern waters that spring in the area. The town is famous for the largest and richest botanical garden on the Balkans and the palace of the Romanian queen Maria (1924). The palace complex consists of a central palace with a high tower, many buildings in a style typical for that time, a park with terraces, lanes and paths, stone alcoves with marvellous columns and sea view .

Arbanassi is one of Bulgaria's most picturesque villages. It lies hidden on a plateau 4 kilometres north east of Veliko Turnovo and some of the many monasteries built during the Second Empire still stand today. It is thanks to the merchants Investments here that the village has so much to offer, with its large stone-built houses, notably the Konstantsaliev house, and churches, chapels and fountains with drinking water.

One of the most charming small Bulgarian towns, huddled in the mountain folds and s till preserving the atmosphere of the National Revival period. The town is a unique combination of a legendary history and fascinating present. No other Bulgarian museum town boasts such a large number of houses and monuments - 383 in all, most of which have been restored to their original appearance. A unique collection of ethnographical treasures, old weapons, National Revival works of art, fine fretwork, national costumes and typical Bulgarian jewelry has also been preserved. It was here that the first bullet of the April Uprising against the Ottoman oppressors was fired in 1876.
White stone walls, overgrown with ivy and wild geranium, fence in gardens full of flowers. Vaulted stone bridges run across the bubbly Topolnitsa river. Heavy, iron-studded gates hide blue, yellow and red houses with verandas, bay windows and eaves, and the spacious rooms are lit up by brightly coloured rugs and cushions, carved ceilings and cupboards, copper vessels and ceramics.

Specialists say that every house in Koprivshtitsa is a work of art. The Oslekov, Kableshkov and Lyutov houses are fine examples of this. The houses dated to the second half of the 19th century have exqusite painted facades and sunny verandas, with carved ceilings and stylish European furnishings.

The village was founded at the end of the 17th century AD. The first cell school was built in 1830, and its church St. Nikolas, in 1848, turning Kovachevitza into the cultural center of the entire region. The quaint architectural style of building has not been changed since the founding of the village. The only building materials used are stone and wood. The magnificent architectural solutions used in ancient times are still applied unaltered today. Kovachevitza has repeatedly served as the natural historical stage for the shooting of numerous films. In 1977 the village was declared a national architectural and historical reservation. In Kovachevitza you can feast your eyes on a variety of Nature's gifts gathered in one place picturesque canyons, a crystal-clear river, thick forests, incredibly fresh and cool, towering peaks offering breath-taking views. All this will transport you to the long-forgotten days of the past. The village of Kovachevitza is tucked away between the ridges in the remotest southwestern corner of the Rhodopes.

is the second largest city in Bulgaria, situated on the Maritsa River. Its unique location on these ancient crossroads has stimulated strong cultural and political influences from East and West civilizations, and yet maintained its unique cultural identity. Being older than most of the oldest towns like Rome, Athens, Carthage or Constantinople, an almost contemporary of Troy, Plovdiv is a town built upon layers of towns and a culture developed upon layers of cultures.

Plovdiv is a picturesque town, with many parks and gardens, museums and archaeological monuments. Its old part, called the Old Town, with houses from the National Revival period (18-19th century), is an imposing open-air museum situated on the three hills of the ancient Trimontium. One of the most remarkable sights of the town, the Ancient Theatre (a well-preserved Roman theatre), is located there and is still used for open-air performances .