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The Agush Konaks were built in the period 1820-1840. Noteworthy is the external tower. The konak has 221 windows, 86 doors and 24 chimneys, and occupies an impressive area of about 3000sq m. It has three courtyards separated by internal walls. Each courtyard has a well; the courtyards are surrounded by residential and auxiliary structures.
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The Assen fortress or Petrich is a medieval stronghold located in the Rhodope Mountains, about 2km from Assenovgrad. The earliest record of the fortress dates from the 11th century. The fortress is named after Tsar Ivan Assen II who reinforced it in 1231. The fortress survived until 1410.
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The architectural and park complex The Palace is situated about 2 km southeast of the town of Balchik. It was built in 1924 by the Romanian Queen Marie as a summer residence. In period 1913-1940 Southern Dobruja was part of Romania. The Palace boasts a unique botanical garden and is on the list of the 100 tourist sites in Bulgaria.
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Bansko played an important cultural and spiritual role during the National Revival period. It is the birthplace of Monk Paissi of Hilendar and Neophite Rilski, and the center of the Bansko art school. Located in the immediate vicinity of the Pirin Mountains, the town is a world famous year-round tourist resort. Its popularity derives from the excellent skiing facilities, beautiful Old Bulgarian architecture and original folklore.
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Batak is located in the Rhodope Mountains, 1036m above sea level, on the two banks of Stara Reka River. The town is mainly associated with the tragic events in 1876 and the suppression of the April Uprising. In May 1876 the local inhabitants surrendered their weapons to the initially peaceful bashi-bazouk (irregular Turkish soldiers). After that they committed mass slaughter known in history as the Batak massacre. The Batak inhabitants were trapped in the St. Nedelya Church for days. When the temple was seized, all Christians (about 2000 people) were massacred. Prior to 1876 Batak had about 8000-9000 inhabitants. After the April Uprising only 1200 remained in the town.
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Bansko played an important cultural and spiritual role during the National Revival period. It is the birthplace of Monk Paissi of Hilendar and Neophite Rilski, and the center of the Bansko art school. Located in the immediate vicinity of the Pirin Mountains, the town is a world famous year-round tourist resort. Its popularity derives from the excellent skiing facilities, beautiful Old Bulgarian architecture and original folklore.
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The Belogradchik Rocks are a unique natural landmark located near the town of Belogradchik. The area is about 30 km long and 3-6 km wide. The rocks are remarkable not only for their age of over 230 million years but also for the legends about their fantastic shapes: the Madonna, the Monks, the Horseman etc. The fortress located amidst the rocks was used in Roman times and later became one of the invincible strongholds of Medieval Bulgaria. In 1805-1837 it was reconstructed so that firearms could be used for its defense. It lost its strategic importance after 1885.
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The Art Gallery is located in the courtyard of the Church of St. Nicholas, a remarkable architectural monument of the Late National Revival. It has a collection of icons on the second floor and a painting exhibition.
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The Ethnographic Museum has a rich exposition featuring the lifestyle and customs of people in Northwest Bulgaria. It is on the list of the 100 tourist sites in Bulgaria. Its repository holds thousands of unique samples of Bulgarian arts, crafts and traditions. Visitors can see colorful rugs and costumes, jewelry, objects connected with everyday life, and special customs. Most of the exhibits illustrate life during the Ottoman domination when Berkovitsa was an artisan center famous for its pottery.
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The Old Quarter Varosha emerged during the National Revival on the eastern bank of Bistritsa River. In 1844 the Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin was officially consecrated. During the following fifty years its construction and painting continued. Also in Varosha is the house of the local apostle of the April Uprising, Georgui Izmierliev, the Macedonian. A library club opened in 1866.
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The city of Blagoevgrad has an eventful history. The favorable local conditions attracted Thracians as early as 300 B.C. The Thracian settlement of Scaptopara emerged around the hot mineral springs. Today Blagoevgrad has a population of 76 977 inhabitants and is the largest economic center of Southwest Bulgaria. There are two universities here: the Southwest University Neophite Rilski and the American University in Bulgaria (AUBG).
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Then village of Bozhentsi is a national architectural preserve. According to a legend it was founded by the Turnovo Boyar woman Bozhana and her sons in the 16th century. The village was named after her. During the National Revival Bozhentsi became a thriving commercial center. The main products of trade were leather, wool, honey and wax. Because of its remarkable National Revival architecture and beautiful nature, Bozhentsi was declared an architectural preserve in 1964. It is on the list of the 100 tourist sites in Bulgaria.
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Burgas is Bulgaria’s biggest Black Sea port and the fourth largest city in Bulgaria with a population of 210 260 inhabitants. It is a major transport, industrial, tourist and cultural center. The city is the administrative center of the Burgas province.
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The Varna Archaeological Museum is housed in the building of the former Girls’ High School. Museum studies were started in 1887 by a group of teachers under the leadership of K. Skorpil and A. Yavashov. The museum has a rich collection featuring the pre-historic period, the Antiquity and Early Christianity. There is also an impressive collection of icons. Noteworthy are the objects from the Varna Chalcolithic necropolis (4400 B.C.). They belong to the world’s oldest gold treasure hitherto discovered.
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The Naval Museum in Varna is a branch of the National War-History Museum. It is on the list of the 100 tourist sites in Bulgaria. It also maintains the historic warship Druzki. Visitors can see guns and the old lighthouse in the museum courtyard as well as Cor Caroli yacht with which Bulgarian Captain Georgui Georgiev traveled round the world.
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The archeological preserve is located in the southern part of Veliko Preslav. The town was the second capital of Danubian Bulgaria (893-971). It emerged during the reign of Tsar Simeon the Great (893-927) and his son Tsar Peter (927-969). The period is known as the Golden Age of old Bulgarian culture and letters. The capital of the First Bulgarian Empire was an impressive city with palaces and churches richly decorated with marble, ceramics and gold. They symbolized the might of the third largest kingdom in Europe. Landmarks: the Palace, the Golden Church and the Archeological Museum. Veliki Preslav is one of the 100 tourist sites in Bulgaria.
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The Church of the Forty Holy martyrs is a basilica-type of church. During the Second Bulgarian Empire it belonged to the royal monastery, the so called Great Laura. It was built by Tsar Ivan Assen II to commemorate his victory over the despot of Epirus Theodore Komnenus at Klokotnitsa in 1213. The battle made Bulgaria the dominant power in the Balkans. Here is the burial place of Tsar Kaloyan. Noteworthy are the inscriptions of Tsar Ivan Assen II, Khan Krum and Khan Omurtag. It is here that Bulgaria’s independence was officially declared on September 22 , 1908.
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Veliko Turnovo was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1187-1393). It extended over three hills: Tsarevets, Trapezitsa and Sveta Gora. The royal palace and the Patriarchy were situated on Tsarevets. The fortress had three entrances. The royal palace occupied an area of 4872 sq m. It was fortified with a thick wall and five towers. The residence of the Bulgarian patriarchs was built on top of the hill. Here is the patriarchal temple of the Holy Ascension. The Great Laura is situated in the Assen neighborhood. It was the burial place of the Bulgarian tsars.
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Baba Vida Castle was part of the fortification system of the medieval town of Bdin. It is the best preserved Bulgarian feudal castle. It occupies an area of 9 500 sq m and is surrounded by a moat, 21m wide and 6m deep. The fortress is square-shaped and its corners point to the four directions. Each side is 70m long. The fortress has two walls; the internal wall is tall and 2,2m thick. It has nine towers. Four are located in the corners and five along the sides. The external wall is lower and is connected with two towers. The fortress played a major role during the reign of Tsar Ivan Sratsimir when Vidin was the capital of the Vidin kingdom.
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Vidin is the first large Bulgarian port on the Danube River with a population of 56 316 inhabitants. It has a long history. Vidin was established on the site of the ancient Cetic settlement Dunonia. At a later date the Romans built a fortress town named Bononia. The Bulgarians gave it the name of Bdin. During the first Bulgarian Empire Bdin was the administrative center of the trans-Danubian territories. At the end of the Second Bulgarian Empire it became the center of the Bdin Kingdom (1364-1396). Bdin preserved its strategic importance during the Ottoman domination. Today Vidin is an important transport and industrial hub. Construction of the second bridge over the Danube linking Bulgaria and Romania near Vidin is underway.
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Mt. Vitosha is the only Bulgarian mountain of volcanic origin. To the north it is surrounded by the Sofia Plain (550 m above sea level). Its highest point is Peak Cherni Vruh ( elevation 2290m). Mt. Vitosha is also referred to as “Sofia’s lungs”. It has over 1800 plant species and more than 150 tree and bush varieties occupying half of its territory. Mt. Vitosha was declared a national park in October 1934 and is the first national park not only in Bulgaria but also on the Balkan Peninsula.
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The town of Vratsa is the center of the Vratsa province with a population of 67 706 inhabitants. The Vratsa area was inhabited as early as the 6th millennium B.C.The name is derived from the Vratsata Fortress (“little door”) that protected the mountain passes during the middle Ages. Main industries: textiles; tailoring; food and beverages; construction materials; furniture; machine building; metal casting; metal working etc. Vratsa is an important transport hub situated in the foothills of the Vratsa Mountain. It is a starting point for the Vratsa Gorge and the Ledenika Cave.
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Mt. Bogdan is the highest point of Sredna Gora Mountains (elevation 1604 m). It bears the name of the legendary haidout Bogdan Voivode. On all sides the peak is surrounded by dense forests. To the north and south the peak commands breathtaking views to the Mt. Barikadite (the Barricades) and Mt.Vulk (Wolf). At the southern foot of the peak, amidst the huge dark rocks overgrown with moss and wild geranium, lurks Detelinova Cave. The following rivers take their sources from Mt. Bogdan: Pyasuchnik, Kriva reka and Luda Yana. Mt. Bogdan is on the list of the 100 tourist sites of the Bulgarian Tourist Union
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Mt. Okolchitsa is located in the Vrachanska Mountain and Hristo Botev National Park, about 20 km from the town of Vratsa. On June 2, 1876, Okolchitsa witnessed the last battle between the Turks and Hristo Botev’s detachment. In 1938, a 35m-high monument with a cross was erected to commemorate the hero’s feat. Botev’s place of death is a rock in Yolkovitsa hollow. An inscription on the rock tells about the tragic event. Every year on June 2 the historic battle is remembered nationwide by the sound of sirens at noon. On this day Bulgaria also pays tribute to all heroes that fell for its freedom and independence.
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On 21-26 August, 1877, a Russian – Bulgarian defense detachment succeeded in halting the offensive of the much more numerous Turkish army led by Suleiman Pasha on Mount Shipka. This battle decided the outcome of the war. The monument to freedom erected in 1934 commemorates the heroism of the Russian soldiers and Bulgarian volunteers.
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The Church of St. Petka in the village of Vukovo is a typical parish temple of the 15th-16th century. It is a one-nave, domeless and relatively small structure with remarkable frescoes dating from 1599.
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The architectural and ethnographic complex Etar is a unique open-air museum within the territory of Gabrovo. It replicates the traditional Bulgarian lifestyle, culture and handicrafts. Etar opened on September 9 1864 and is situated 8km south of the city of Gabrovo.
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The National Museum of Education is a unique specialized museum featuring the history of Bulgarian education. It was established in 1974 and is housed in the historic building of the Aprilov High School. The exhibition takes visitors on an exciting journey through the history of Bulgarian education from the introduction of the Old Bulgarian script down to the present. The museum is on the list of the 100 tourist sites in Bulgaria.
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Gabrovo emerged in the Middle Ages as a strategic settlement near the Balkan Mountains passes. Legend has it that the settlement was founded by Racho the Blacksmith. Gabrovo is also known as Bulgaria’s longest town. The rapid economic progress and cultural awakening led to the opening of the first Bulgarian secular school in 1835. After the Liberation from Ottoman domination in 1878 Gabrovo developed as Bulgaria’s largest textile center nicknamed the Bulgarian Manchester. Gabrovo is also famous for the proverbial thrift and keen sense of humor of its inhabitants. It is no accident that the House of Humor and Satire, the only one in the world, is located right here.
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The Glozhene Monastery of the Holy Great-Martyr George the Victory-Bearer is situated in the vicinity of the village of Glozhene, Teteven municipality, on the eastern slope of Lisets hill.The monastery was established in 1224 and rebuilt in the 15th-16th centuries. Legend has it that it was erected by the Kiew Knyaz Georgui Glozh who founded the village of Glozhene and gave it his name. In the 18th century the Glozhene Monastery became a major cultural center of Bulgaria. Vassil Levski used to hide here during his secret missions. The hiding place is still preserved. Today the monastery operates as a monument of culture and belongs to the Lovech diocese. The monastery commands a magnificent view of the surrounding mountains and plains.
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Near Gurmen are the ruins of Nicopolis ad Nestum. The town was founded by Emperor Trajan in the 2nd century AD on the site of a large settlement of the Thracian tribe Bessi. Nicopolis ad nestum was the largest town in the area between the rivers Struma and Middle Mesta. It was the seat of a bishopric and one of the seven towns in the Rhodope province. The town reached a cultural peak in the 2nd-6th century. In the late 6th century it was destroyed by Slavs and Avars. Out of the ruins emerged another medieval settlement that developed in the 10th-12th century.
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The Museum of Mosaics in Devnya was built on the foundations of an ancient building with decorated with mosaics. It was erected at the close of the 3rd and the beginning of the 4th century on the site of an earlier structure destroyed during the Gothic invasions in 250-251 AD. The building was periodically rebuilt and renovated and survived until the early 7th century. The museum displays valuable samples of Roman mosaic art of that period. It is on the list of the 100 tourist sites in Bulgaria.
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The Yordan Yovkov Museum is a memorial complex dedicated to the life and work of the great Bulgarian writer Yordan Yovkov. It opened in 1980 to commemorate the centennial of his birth and present Yovkov’s contribution to Bulgarian literature and culture. The museum houses over 10 000 exhibits that relate to his personal life and activities.
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The art gallery is one of the largest in Bulgaria. Along with the permanent exposition of works by Bulgarian and foreign artists, it is involved in a variety of activities aimed to promote Bulgarian fine arts.
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According to a legend, after the battle of 1014 the blindfolded soldiers of Tsar Samuil 1014 headed for the Rila Monastery. Because of the severe winter, they were forced to stop at Dobursko and healed their wounds in the medicinal waters of the mineral spring in the courtyard of the Church of SS Theodore Thiron and Theodore Stratelates. Of special interest are the frescoes inside the church dating from 1614. They are a remarkable example of the local art school. The church is on the list of the 100 tourist sites in Bulgaria.
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The Dryanovo Monastery of St. Archangel Michael was founded in the 12th century. It was destroyed by fire several times in the 1840s. After that it recovered and experienced long years of prosperity. Residential buildings were erected by the river and a new church was completed in 1845. During the national liberation movement the monastery housed the headquarters of the Bulgarian Revolutionary Central Committee in Turnovo and was frequently visited by Vassil Levski and Georgui Izmirliev. During the April Uprising of 1876 the rebel detachment led by Priest Hariton and Bacho Kiro turned the holy temple into a fortress. Only a small portion of the detachment survived the battle and the monastery was burned down again. The last restoration was carried out after the liberation from Ottoman domination.
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The Dryanovo Monastery of St. Archangel Michael was founded in the 12th century. It was destroyed by fire several times in the 1840s. After that it recovered and experienced long years of prosperity. Residential buildings were erected by the river and a new church was completed in 1845. During the national liberation movement the monastery housed the headquarters of the Bulgarian Revolutionary Central Committee in Turnovo and was frequently visited by Vassil Levski and Georgui Izmirliev. During the April Uprising of 1876 the rebel detachment led by Priest Hariton and Bacho Kiro turned the holy temple into a fortress. Only a small portion of the detachment survived the battle and the monastery was burned down again. The last restoration was carried out after the liberation from Ottoman domination.
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The famous Dyadovo tell is situated near the village. It has been excavated by Dutch and Japanese archaeologists. Noteworthy is the replica of a Neolithic dwelling from the tell.
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The Ethnographic Museum in Elhovo started in 1958 with an ethnographic collection. In 1966 it was officially opened as a museum. The museum is on the list of the 100 tourist sites in Bulgaria. It houses over 22 000 items arranged in four sections: Farming and Stockbreeding; Houses and Interiors; Transport, Hunting and Fishing; Clothes and jewelry; Fabrics and Embroidery; Traditional Handicrafts; Folk Art. The museum has over 3050 volumes of specialized literature and 1600 scientific journals.
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The village of Zheravna is the best preserved architectural reserve in Bulgaria. It consists of 200 authentic wooden houses from the National Revival period. Its history started in the 12th-14th century. In the 18th-19th century the village reached a cultural and economic peak. Noteworthy landmarks: house-museum Yordan Yovkov; house museum Roussi Chorbadji; house-museum Sava Filaretov; the Church of St. Nicholas; the old class school; the art gallery etc.
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The monastery was founded in the 11th century and consists of a church, a belfry and two buildings. Noteworthy are the frescoes in the second layer dating from 1334. They are remarkable monuments from the Second Bulgarian Empire and exemplify the local primitive tradition. Of special interest are the scenes of the Eucharist, Hammering Down the Nails as well as portraits of donors. The Zemen monastery is a branch of the National History Museum.
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The town of Zlatograd is associated with the song Delyu Haidutin sent to space on the Voyager in 1977. It has a rich culture and long history. Here is the Church of the Dormition of the Holy Mother, the oldest Bulgarian church built in the Rhodope Mountains during the Ottoman domination (1834), and the class school that laid the foundations of national education in the region. The town also boasts a remarkable architectural reserve. Zograph Monastery The Monastery of St. George Zograph is one of the 20 monasteries on Mt. Athos, Greece. It was founded by three brothers from Ohrid: Moses, Aaron and Ivan in 919. When the temple was built, the monks did not know which saint to choose as a patron. They left a wooden board in the church and started praying to God. On the following morning the monks saw the image of St. George on the board. They called him Isographos, i.e. depicted with his own hand.
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Манастира „Св. Георги Зограф“ е един от двадесетте манастира на Атонския полуостров, Гърция. Той е основан от трима братя от Охрид – Моисей, Аарон и Иван през 919 г. Когато обителта била основана, монасите не знаели кой от светците да изберат за покровител. Те приготвили дъска, върху която да изобразят лика на своя покровител и след като я оставили в църквата, се отдали на гореща молитва, На сутринта с голяма почуда монасите видели върху дъската лика на Свети Георги, когото те нарекли „Изограф“ – т. е. „Самоизобразил се!“
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Cabyle is the largest and most significant Thracian city. The architectural remains are impressive and most of them have been restored. The finds are on display at the archaeological museum in the reserve. The city was founded in the late 2nd millennium B.C. In 341 B.C. it was conquered by Philip II of Macedon. Christianity was adopted in the 4th century. Cabyle was the seat of a bishopric. It was destroyed by the Avars in the 6th century. In the 10th-14th century a Bulgarian settlement developed on its ruins.
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Kazanluk is located in Bulgaria’s geographical center. It is the second largest city in the Stara Zagora province and the tenth largest economic center. Kazanluk is also known as the city of artists, roses and Thracian kings. Landmarks: Kazanluk Tomb included in the UNESCO World Heritage list, the History Museum displaying the latest finds from the Golyama Kosmatka, and the Museum of Roses. In the vicinity are the ancient town of Seuthopolis and the Valley of Thracian kings. The municipality occupies an area of 634.8 km. The city is the administrative center of the Kazanluk municipality.
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The Thracian tomb is a vaulted tomb located in Tyurbeto Park, Kazanluk. It is part of a large necropolis situated near the ancient Thracian town of Seuthopolis. The tomb dates back to the 4th century B.C. It is the only fully preserved example of painting in the 4th century and a masterpiece of Thracian architecture. The tomb was excavated in 1944. It has an antechamber, a narrow passageway and a round burial chamber. Its frescoes are unique. The tomb is on the list of the UNESCO World Heritage.
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Cape Kaliakra is located in the southeastern corner of the Dobrudja Plateau. In the 4th century B.C. the Thracians from the Thyrisian tribe settled in the area and gave the cape its first name – Thyrisis. In the second half of the 14th century Kaliakra became the capital of the Principality of Karvuna ruled by the Bulgarian despots Balik and Dobrotitsa. It is in this period that Kaliakra reached a cultural peak.
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The town of Kalofer is located on the two banks of the Tunja River, between Stara Plainina and Sredna Gora Mountains. It is the birthplace of the great Bulgarian poet and revolutionary Christo Botev. The central square is dominated by an impressive monument to the hero. Here is also the reading library founded by Botyo Petkov (Botev’s father).
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Националният музей „Христо Ботев“ се намира в Калофер – родния град на големия български поет и революционер. Разположен е в Ботевата градска градина и обхваща Мемориална къща-музей, изложбена зала, паметник на Христо Ботев и паметник на Иванка Ботева – майка на поета. Къщата-музей представя автентичната обстановка, в която е живяло семейството на героя. В изложбената зала са аранжирани лични вещи, документи, публикации и други материали, свързани с живота и творчеството на Христо Ботев, както и на неговото семейство и съратници. Музеят е включен в Стоте национални туристически обекта и има печат.
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The earliest evidence of human habitation here goes back to the early Neolithic Age. Excavations of the Karanovo tell have brought to light pre-historic cultures from the 7th to the 2nd millennium B.C. They were started in the 1950s by Vassil Mikov and Georgui Georgiev. It is one of the few tells in Bulgaria that have been thoroughly studied. To date seven layers have been unearthed. The tell is an eponym not only for Bulgaria but for the whole of Southeast Europe.
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The museum has a history of over 70 years. It started with the restoration of the Levski’s native house in 1933. In 1937 it officially became a museum. The house dates from the early National Revival. It was built in the 18th century by Levski’s grandfather Kuncho Ivanov. His two sons Ivan and Valyu Kunchev lived there later on. Nearby is an exhibition hall housing a rich collection of documents and works of art dedicated to the great revolutionary. The museum is very popular and attracts about 35 000 visitors per year.
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Kilifarevo Monastery was founded by Theodosius of Turnovo in 1348-50. With the support of Tsar Ivan Alexander, he made it a major center of medieval Bulgarian education and letters. During the Ottoman domination the monastery was repeatedly destroyed by fire. It was ultimately rebuilt in 1842 and the interior decoration was carried out the following year. The iconostasis is the work of the woodcarvers Tsonyu and Simeon Vassilev, father and son from Tryavna. Noteworthy are the icons created by the Tryavna painters Dossyu Koev. Simeon Simeonov, and Yonko Popvitanov.
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The town is associated with the April uprising of 1876. After an uneven battle at Zli Dol, Klissura was destroyed by fire. After the Liberation from Ottoman domination the town was revived. The museum has a collection of pictures dedicated to the April Uprising.
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The village emerged in the first half of the 17th century when a large number of Bulgarians were forcibly converted to Islam. It was founded by Bulgarians that came from the village of Ribnovo and possibly from the town of Bansko. In the 18th century more Bulgarians arrived from Western Macedonia. This is attested to by the two sections of the village: the upper Baneva neighborhood and the lower Arnaut neighborhood. Today Kovachevitsa is an architectural preserve and an attractive tourist destination.
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This is the place where Christo Botev’s detachment disembarked the Radetzky steamship in 1876 and embarked on the road to immortality. The steamer is now a museum dedicated to Botev and his heroic deed. There is a monument to Christo Botev close by.
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The pantheon houses the bones of Georgui Sava Rakovski, founder of the Bulgarian resistance against the Ottoman Empire. There is also a museum of the Kotel enlighteners Sofronii Vrachanski, Neophyte Bozveli, Dr. Peter Beron, Captain Georgui Mamarchev, Knyaz Stephan Bogoridi, and Gavrail Krastevich.
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The Kukrina Inn is associated with the revolutionary activities of Bulgaria’s greatest revolutionary Vassil Levski. It was a frequently used meeting place of the fighters for national liberation and freedom. It is also the place when the Apostle of Freedom was arrested on December 27, 1872. The inn was restored in 1926. It is one of the 100 tourist sites in Bulgaria.
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The art galley in Kyustendil is dedicated to the great Bulgarian artist Vladimir Dimitrov – the Master. It houses the largest collection of his works. There is also an area for temporary exhibitions. The gallery is one of the 100 tourist sites in Bulgaria.
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The Vassil Levski Museum is part of the regional museum in Lovech. It is dedicated to Vassil Levski, dubbed the Apostle of Freedom, who made Lovech the revolutionary center of Bulgaria. The museum is located in the architectural and historic reserve Varosha. It houses the richest collection of Levski’s personal belongings. Here visitors can see his sword, dagger, a small printing press, fake Turkish seals, receipts, and an original portrait of 1870.
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The museum center is located in three restored buildings that are fine examples of the regional architectural tradition. It has three sections: archaeology, history and natural sciences. Noteworthy is the collection featuring the Preobrazhenie Uprising as well as several icons.
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Nessebar is one of Europe’s most ancient cities. In 1956 it was declared an architectural and archaeological preserve. In 1983 its cultural monuments were added to the list of the UNESCO World Heritage. The Old Town boasts 42 churches. Less than half of them have been discovered and restored by archaeologists; only one is operating. The better preserved churches have been turned into art galleries. Nessebar is one of the 100 tourist sites in Bulgaria.
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The historic locality Oborishte is associated with the convention of the first Grand Bulgarian National Assembly on April 13, 1876. A monument erected in 1926 commemorates the event. Oborishte lies 8 km from the town of Panagyurishte.
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The Seven Thrones Monastery belongs to the Sofia diocese and is situated in the Stara Planina Mountains. It is better known with its non-temple name The Seven Thrones because of its unique church with seven chapels. There is evidence that monastery existed in the 16th century.
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The Stanislav Dospevski museum house is a branch of the Stanislav Dospevksi Art Gallery in Pazardjik. It was the home of the great Bulgarian artist. Designed by the painter himself, it displays most of his works. The unique atmosphere of the house and Dospevski’s paintings enrich our idea of the Bulgarian National Revival. It is on the list of the 100 tourist sites in Bulgaria.
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Raina Knyaginya ‘s native house has been turned into a museum and is one of the 100 tourist sites in Bulgaria. Visitors can see the flag which Raina Futekova, principal teacher at the girls’ school in Panagyurishte, wove at Georgui Benkovski’s request. The lion on the flag was painted by Stoyan Kaaleev and is modeled on the lion printed on the front page of the Statutes of the Bulgarian Revolutionary Central Committee; the letters were written by Ivancho the Zograph. Along with the inscription’ Freedom or Death” there are two letters at the lower end of the banner: P and O ( P for Panagyurishte and O for okrag (district).The flag is 2m long and 1,5 m wide. It has two sides and is hemmed with tinsel. The banner was consecrated on April 22 , 1876 by priests from Panagurishte and the neighboring villages.
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The museum features the historyof Perushtitsa from the antiquity down to the present. Special prominence is given to the April Uprising and the Perushtitsa massacre during its suppression. The historic church of St. Archangel Michael is a branch of the museum. It houses the ossuary of the heroes who fell for Bulgaria’s freedom in 1876.
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Petrova niva is the locality where the Edirne revolutionary organization held its congress and took the decision to declare the Preobrazhenie Uprising in 1903. Here is the grave of the voivode Georgui Kondolov.
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Bacho Kiro is one of the most popular caves in Bulgaria. Spreading over a distance of 3500m, iIt is situated to the west of the Dryanovo Monastery, not far from the water cave Anduka. The first hall named The Antechamber has been thoroughly studied by archaeologists. They have found implements and evidence of human habitation going back to the Middle and Late Paleolithic Age. With its wealth of stalactites, stalagmites, stalactons, columns and curtains, it is the most attractive tourist destination in the area. Bacho Kiro Cave is one of the 100 tourist sites in Bulgaria.
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Ledenika cave is located in the Stara Planina Mountains. It has a number of galleries with fanciful karst shapes, stalactites and stalagmites formed thousands of years ago. It is about 300m long and is one of the most beautiful caves in Bulgaria. The Concert Hall is the largest. It can be reached by the so called Sinners Pass. Only the pure- hearted can pass through it. Initially, the cave was filled with water but gradually it receded and only one lake remained – the Lake of Wishes. According to a legend, if one dips one’s hand in the icy waters of the lake and makes a wish, it will come true. The Ledenika Cave is located in the northwestern part of the Vrachanska Mountain, 16 km from the town of Vratsa.
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Magurata is among the biggest caves in Bulgaria; the total length of its galleries is I 2,5 km. In its immediate vicinity is the Rabishko Lake, the largest inner lake in Bulgaria. The cave and the surrounding area have been declared natural landmarks. Bubble wine is manufactured in one of the cave’s sections because of the excellent conditions there. They are quite comparable to those in the Champagne region in France. The cave walls are covered with prehistoric ritual drawings. Bones of cave bears and cave hyenas have also been found.
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Prohodna is one of the most famous and easily accessible caves in Bulgaria. Located 2km from Karlukovo, it represents a 262m-long rock bridge with two entrances, a big and a small one. The small entrance is the starting point of a path ( 35m high) that runs throughout the cave and goes out at the big entrance ( this is the largest cave vault in Bulgaria,45m high). Prohodna cave is naturally lighted by its entrances and the unique openings on its ceilings ( okna). Situated next to each other, the openings strikingly look like enormous eyes. The local folks call them ‘ The Eyes of God”.
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Snezhanka Cave is relatively small ( only 145m long) but ithas beautiful glacier shapes. It was formed 3,5 million years ago. The name derives from a stalagmite in the Magic Hall that looks like a female shape named Snezhanka ( Snowwhite).
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Saeva Dupka is located 520m above sea level and is 400m long. It bears the name of the two brothers Sae and Seyu who used it as a hiding place during the Ottoman domination. The cave is divided into five halls: Kupena ( the Pile), Srutishteto ( the Landslide), Harman and Cosmos, the Wwhite Castle. In 1963 the cave was declared a natural landmark. Saeva Dupka is on the list of the 100 tourist sites in Bulgaria.
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Mt. Vihren is the highest point of Pirin Mountains ( 2914m) and is second in height only to Mt. Mussala in the Rila Mountains. It was formed from marble rocks. Its slopes are the habitat of the edelweiss.
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The Pleven Panorama of 1877 was built to commemorate the centennial of Bulgaria’s liberation from Ottoman rule. It is located in the Skobelev Museum Park, next to the Kovanlik Redoubt, a scene of bloody battles during the third storming of Pleven. The project was designed by architects Ivo Petrov and Plamena Tsacheva and a team of 14 experts.
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The archaeological preserve of Pliska is in the immediate vicinity of the present-day town of PLiska. Pliska was the capital of the First Bulgarian Kingdom ( 681-893), The remains of the medieval city once surrounded by a moat and a rampart occupy an area of 23 sq km: a citadel with strong defensive walls, a big palace, a basilica made of stone blocks, and a little palace. Pliska has yielded a wealth of remnants of early Slavic and Old Bulgarian culture. It is one of the 100 tourist sites in Bulgaria.
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The Preobrazhenie Monastery was founded in the 14th century but its present day appearance dates from the 19th century. The construction of the Church of the Holy Transfiguration was started by Master Dimiter Sofianliya ( Sofia born). It was finished by Kolyo Ficheto who built the belfry. The frescoes and icons are the work of Zachary Zograph (1849-185). Noteworthy is the representation of the Wheel of Life ( by Zachary Zograph) on the outer wall. Unfortunately, a landslide 25 years ago destroyed almost half of the monastery. Today it is inhabited by 13 monks.
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The archaeological preserve Abritus is located near the town of Razgrad. It is one of the 100 tourist sites in Bulgaria. The town of Abritus dates from the late antiquity and was built on the ruins of a Thracian settlement.
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Peak Musala (2925, 4m) is the highest point of the Balkan Peninsula. It is located in the eastern part of the Rila Mountains, on the main Musala ridge, above the Musala glacier and the Icy Lake. The average annual temperature of the summit is – 3.1 degrees C; the snow cover stays for 8 months. The easiest way to get to the peak is a straight ,10km-long south-bound path that starts from the Borovets resort. A cabin lift leads to the Yastrebets locality (2 369m). From there the hike to Musala chalet (2430m) is about one hour; the ascent to the peak takes two more hours. A weather station was built on the peak in 1932.
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The Rila Monastery was built by St. Ivan of Rila on the site of an old Lent house in 927-941. It is Bulgaria’s largest monastery. A defense tower and a small one-nave church were erected in 1335 by Protosebast Hrelyu. The main part of the monastery was rebuilt during the National Revival period (1817-1845). Today the monastery complex extends over 8 800 sq m (5 500sq m of built-up area). The four and five-storied monastery wings surround the courtyard on all sides in the shape of an irregular pentagon. Since 1983 the Rila Monastery has operated under the auspices of UNESCO.
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The Seven Lakes are a group of glacier lakes in the Rila Mountains. Located one above the other on the slopes of the Damgski part of Northwest Rila Mountains at an altitude of 2100-2500 m, they are a major attraction for hikers. The lakes are connected by small streams.
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Mt. Snezhanka is the highest peak in the Pamporovo area (1926 m). The mean annual temperature is 3.5 degrees C’; the average temperature in July is about 12 degrees C, and in January – 6 degrees. The relatively low annual wind speed (6m/sec) combined with the high mountain climate keep the snow cover from mid-November to May. There is a TV tower on the peak (2082 m). The coffee shop situated at an altitude of 2019 m commands a magnificent view of the surrounding mountains; in clear days one can even see the Aegean Sea.
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Rupite locality is associated with the life of the famous clairvoyant Baba Vanga, Here is the temple of St. Petka the Bulgarian. Close by is Baba Vanga’s resting place and house.
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The Pantheon of National Revival Heroes is a national monument and ossuary designed by architect Nikola Nikolov. It opened on 28 February 1978. Thirty-nine prominent Bulgarians have been buried here: Lyuben Karavelov, Zachary Stoyanov, Stefan Karadja, Panayot Hitov, Baba Tonka, Nikola Obretenov, Panayot Volov, Angel Kunchev, to name but a few. Inscriptions mention the names of 453 participants in Christo Botev’s detachment, the Chervena Voda detachment, heroes of the April Uprising, and Bulgarian volunteers in the Russo-Turkish Liberation war. After a discussion in 2001, the Pantheon was Christianized and a cross was placed on its dome.
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The National Transport Museum is housed in the first railway station in Bulgaria built in 1866. It is the only museum of its kind in Bulgaria. The exhibits are laid out inside and outside the station: steam engines, various models of railroad carriages, including Tsar Ferdinand I’ s personal carriage used by the Turkish Sultan during his visits in Bulgaria etc. In 1966 the museum was named National Museum of Railway Transport and Communications. The museum building is a historic landmark.
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Пантеонът на възрожденците е национален паметник-костница, намиращ се в град Русе. Изграден е по проект на архитект Никола Николов и е открит на 28 февруари 1978 г. В него са погребани 39-ма известни българи, сред които Любен Каравелов, Захари Стоянов, Стефан Караджа, Панайот Хитов, Баба Тонка, Никола Обретенов, Панайот Волов, Ангел Кънчев и др. Почетени са 453-ма души – участници в Ботевата чета, Червеноводската чета, Априлското въстание и опълченци, чиито имена са изписани във вътрешността. След широка дискусия през 2001 г. Пантеонът е „християнизиран“ с поставяне на кръст върху купола му.
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The History Museum in Samokov is one of the 100 Tourist Sites of Bulgaria. It has a unique collection of works of the Samokov art School, prints, and icons. Of special interest are the sections featuring mining and printing. The first printing press in Bulgaria was introduced in Samokov.
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After the tragic siege of the stronghold, the Byzantine Emperor Basil II was surnamed Bulgaroktonos (the Bulgar-Slayer). Using a stratagem, he attacked the defenders from behind and captured 14,000 soldiers. Basil II blinded almost all of them leaving one soldier per hundred with one eye to lead the rest.
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The Thracian tomb in Sveshtari was discovered in 1982 during the excavations of the Ginina mound. It is a royal tomb from the 3rd century B.C. where the ruler of the Getae Dromihetes is believed to have been buried. Built from blocks of soft limestone, it consists of a passageway and three square-shaped chambers: an antechamber, a side premise and a grave chamber covered with a semi-cylindrical vault. Noteworthy is the frieze of Caryatids as well as the scene of the deceased ruler’s deification on the semi-circular vault.
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The Roman name of Silistra was Durostorum (strong fortress). During the antiquity it was a strategic Roman stronghold. The famous Roman commander Aetius (the only one who succeeded in defeating Attila) was born in Silistra. During the First Bulgarian Empire, Drustur was the seat of the Bulgarian patriarchs (in 927) and an important fortress on the Danube. During the Ottoman domination Silistra retained its strategic position. Today it has a population of 43 000 and is the second largest economic center of Southern Dobrudja.
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The village of Skravena is situated in the Botevgrad hollow, 5 km north of the town of Botevgrad. Located in the village center is the Mausoleum-Ossuary of eleven members of Christo Botev’s detachment. In the vicinity is the Monastery of St. Nicholas. Skravena is one of the 100 Tourist Sites of Bulgaria.
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Родната къща на патриархът на българската литература Иван Вазов (1850 – 1921 г. ) е строена от неговия прадядо през XVIII в. Била е опожарена през Руско-турската война !877-78 г. и възстановена през 1931 г. Непосредствено до къщата е музейната експозиция посветена на творчеството на Вазов.rnЕдин от Стоте национални туристически обекта.
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Метоха “Въведение Богородично” (основан през 1665 г.) се намира в центъра на Сопот, като оформя исторически ансамбъл с девическото Радино училище и църквата “Св. Апостоли Петър и Павел”. През Руско-турската война 1877-78 преобладаващата част от метоха е опожарена. Оцеляват само сградата с чердаците, църквата и лозата. Метоха е един от Стоте национални туристически обекта.
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Археологическият институт с музей (АИМ) е български научноизследователски институт в София, част от структурата на Българската академия на науките (БАН). Той включва и Археологически музей – най-старият музей в България. Институтът се занимава с археологически изследвания на територията на България. Научният му състав включва 67 души (2009). В сбирката на музея са едни от най-значимите паметници на българската археология, като Вълчетрънското златно съкровище, главата н а Севт III, стелата на Анаксандър, керамичната икона Св. Тодор Стратилат и много други.rn
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Църквата „Св. св. Никола и Панталеймон“ в кв. Бояна, София е крепостна църква, скромна по размери, строена на три епата. През 11 в. – основната част, пристроена с предверие и и зографисана наново от севастократор Калоян през 1259 г. и пристроена от запад през Възраждането. Стенописите на Боянската цървата (1259 г.) са безспорно най-значимия паметник на изкуството на Втората българска империя, а може би и на българското изкуство като цяло. Тя е един от културните символи на България и е включена през 1979 г. като културен паметник в Списъка на световното културно и природно наследство на ЮНЕСКО под № 42. Филиал е на Националния исторически музей от 2003 г.
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Национален музей Земята и хората е основан през 1986. В музея са изложени над 20 000 експоната, организирани в шест фонда – гигантски кристали, минерали на Земята, минерали на България, минерални ресурси на Земята, минерални ресурси на България, скъпоценни камъни. Други експозиции са посветени на промишлените минерали, суровинни находища на България и нови материали. Музеят „Земята и хората“ е създаден на базата на дарения – над 70% от изложените експонати се дарени от разлчни фирми и частни лица. В него се организират множество различни изложби и вечери на класическата музика. rn
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Национална галерия за чуждестранно изкуство е поместена в сградата на бившата Държавна печатница, основно преустроена и адаптирана за галерия от арх. Никола Николов през 1978 г. Постоянната експозиция съдържа най-голямата сбирка картини, пластики и графики на чуждестранно изкуство изложена на три етажа в осемнадесет зали. Галерията разполага и с изложбена площ, където се организират временни експозиции. Един от Стоте национални туристически обекта.rn
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Базиликата „Света София“ е една от най-значимите архитектурни ценности запазени от ранното християнство в България. Тя датира от 6 -ти век и е изградена върху основите на по-стари храмове. Най-старата по-голяма църква на същото място, чийто под с римски мозайки е запазен до днес, е базилика от средата на 4-ти век. През 343 г. тя става седалище на известния Църковен събор Сердикийски събор. Непосредсвено до южната и стена е Паметника на незнайния воин.
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Синагогата в София е третата по големина в Европа след тези в Будапеща и Амстердам. Проектиран от австрийския архитект Грюнандер в испано-мавритански стил, храмът е открит на 9 септември 1909 г. и наскоро отбеляза своята 100 годишнина. Тя може да побере 1300 богомолци. Основният й полилей тежи два тона и е най-големият в България. Един от Стоте национални туристически обекта.
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Резерватът „Сребърна“ е разположен край село Сребърна, на 16 километра западно от Силистра и на 2 километра южно от Дунав. Той обхваща езерото Сребърна и неговите околности. Намира се на главното миграционно трасе на прелетните птици между Европа и Африка, наречено „Via Pontica“. Местността е обявена за резерват през 1948 г. и има охраняема площ от около 600 хектара, както и буферна зона от около 540 хектара.
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Регионалният исторически музей в Стара Загора е сред най-старите музеи в България. Той съхранява над 120 000 паметника на културата. Първата експозиция е открита през 1907 г. През 2009 се открива за посетители новата сграда на музея. Старозагорският музей поддържа и обслужва редица самостоятелни обекти в града: Неолитни жилища” (VI хил. пр. Хр.), Античен форумен комплекс II-IV в.”,Късноантичен жилищен дом с мозайка, IV в.”,“Късноантична обществена сграда с мозайки, IV-VI в.” в Пощенската палата, “Хилендарски метох”, Къща-музей “Градски бит XIX в.” и др.rn
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Музей „Неолитни жилища“ е създаден през 1979 г. В специално построена сграда са представени жилища от новокаменната епоха заедно с техния пълен инвентар – пещи за изпичане на хляб, ръчни мелници за стриване на зърно, керамични съдове и др. Жилищата са от VI хилядолетие пр.н.е. и са най-добре запазените и с най-богат инвентар в Европа. В музея е изложена постоянна експозиция „Праисторическото изкуство в Старозагорско“. Музея е един от Стоте национални туристически обекта.
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Ботев е най-високият връх в Стара планина с надморска височина 2376 м. Южните склонове на върха са силно наклонени и на места пресечени от отвесни скали (наречени Райски скали), подходящи за катерене. В местността на скалите се намира най-високият водопад в България и на Балканския полуостров, Райско пръскало, с височина 124,5 м. Водопадът се захранва от снежните преспи, намиращи се под върха, които му осигуряват непресъхващ източник на вода.rnrnВръх Ботев лежи на територията на резерват Джендема. В него се срещат множество ендемични видове, уникални по рода си и разпространени единствено на територията на резервата.
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До село Татул се намира скално светилище съставено от различни изсичания. Скала във формата на пирамида съдържа два саркофага, жертвеници, улеи, ниши и стъпала. В близост до нея се намира скална гробница с яйцевидна форма и квадратен отвор на покрива, замазана с водонепроницаем хоросан през римската епоха. Последните разкопки откриват под пирамидата постройка от дялани камъни, към която води парадно стълбище. Според археолога Николай Овчаров в светилището се намира гробът на тракийския певец Орфей. През 2004 г. там е корен от лоза на възраст около 3000 години, който е спасен и се размножава (за да се възстанови и гъстото тракийско вино).
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Сбирката показва културата и историята на Тетевенския край от древността до края на XIX в. . Особено богата е експозицията отразяваща ХVІІІ и ХІХ век. В отделни зали са представени традиционното облекло, архитектурата, занаятите, борбата на българите за национално освобождение.
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Триградското ждрело е резултат от р. Триградска. В най-високата си част (250 м.), е лишено от вода, защото жадният отвор на пропастната пещера „Дяволското гърло“, която поема реката. “Дяволското гърло” е формирана впоследствие пропадане на земните пластове. Пещерата се намира на 1,3 км северно от с.Триград.
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The memorial complex Military Cemetery 1916 is Bulgaria’s largest military cemetery in which participants in the wars for national unification have been buried. On September 5 and 6, 1916, the Tutrakan fortress deemed inaccessible was taken after thirty hours of massive artillery fire and attack by the Preslav, the Varna, and the First and Sixth Sofia and Turnovo infantry regiments. The battles took a heavy toll – nearly 8000 soldiers perished; some drowned in the Danube: 6200 Romanians and about 1800 Bulgarians, Germans and Turks. All dead soldiers were buried in a common grave.
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In the past Tutrakan was the biggest fishing center on the Danube. Today only one neighborhood known as Fishing Quarter has remained. The unique ethnographic museum of Danubian fishing and boat construction is housed in the solid building of the old public bath. It has about 500 exhibits featuring fishing from the antiquity down to the present, including anchors, nets, harpoons, the typical Tutrakan boat, large 150m-long fishing nets150m long called difans etc.
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In 1956 the local biology teacher Iliya Iliev and his students from the natural history circle started collecting samples and studying the natural environment. Birds and mammals were stuffed to serve as visual aids during the biology lessons. In the spring of 1976 the interesting collection displayed in the school corridors was moved to a separate building. The Natural History Museum opened in1992. It has over 700 exhibits featuring the fauna of Central Stara Planina.Mountains.
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Chudnite mostove locality is an amazing natural sight in Bulgaria. Huge marble arches connect the two banks of Dulbok Dol River that starts from Mt. Golyam Persenk (2091m) and passes through centuries-old fir and pine forests.
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Golyama kosmatka is a Thracian tumulus located near the town of Shipka. It was built in the 3rd century B.C. and consists of three chambers and a passage with a total length of 26m. The first chamber is rectangular. A horse skeleton has been found there; the second chamber is circular, with a vaulted roof, 4.5m high. At its entrance is a marble door featuring human figures. The third chamber is a monolithic granite block – a sarcophagus weighing about 60 tons. The size of the tomb and the exceptional value of the objects found in it prove that it was the resting place of a great Thracian ruler. The inscriptions on the defensive arms show that the name of the deceased was Seuthes II, ruler of the Thracian city of Seuthopolis.
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The Monastery of Christ’s Nativity near the town of Shipka was built at the foot of the historic peak St. Nicholas. General Skobelev’s mother Olga Nikolaevna Skobeleva took the initiative to erect a majestic monument, a seminary and a monastery in the Shipka area. It was designed by the Russian architect A.Y. Tomishko in the style of the 17th century Russian temples. Construction started in 1885 and the monastery was officially opened on September 28, 1902.
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The monument to the founders of the Bulgarian state was unveiled on November 28, 1981 to commemorate the 1300th anniversary of the establishment of the Bulgarian state. The sculptures are the work of Professor Krum Damyanov and his team. It represents the most significant episodes in the history of the First Bulgarian Kingdom from Khan Asparoukh to Tsar Simeon, including the images of Khan Asparoukh, Khan Tervel, Khan Omurtag, Knyaz Boris, Tsar Simeon and some men of letters, e.g. Naum, Kliment and Angelarii. The monument is impressive in size. The mosaics are executed in the smalt technique. Rising above Shumen is a huge lion symbolizing the Bulgarian spirit. It can be seen from a radius of 30km.
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The mosque of Sherif Halil Pasha better known as Tombul Mosque is the largest of its kind in Bulgaria. The complex consists of a prayer hall, a courtyard and a boarding house at the Medrese. The main part of the prayer hall is a square that becomes an octagon passing to a circle in the middle; it is topped by a spherical dome 25m above ground. The support columns were taken from the palace of the early Bulgarian khans in Pliska. According to some scholars this fact suggests that remains of the Pliska palace did still exist when the mosque was built (1740-1744).
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Yagodinska Cave us 10km long and has three levels; only the third (the lowest) is accessible and supplied with electricity. It is unique with its numberless stalactites, stalagmites, stalaktons, curtains, leopard furs (rock layers with various colours), cave pearls etc. The temperature inside the cave is permanent – 6 degrees C; the humidity is 92%. The Bouinozov Gorge and the Yagodina Cave are on the list of the 100 Tourist Sites of Bulgaria.
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Ivailovgrad Reservoir is the third and the last reservoir on the Arda water power cascade before Arda River leaves Bulgaria. The reservoir was built in 1964. Its 64km-long banks are covered with dense deciduous forests. Its waters are rich in catfish, carp, white fish, bass, perch, chub etc. It offers opportunities for fishing, angling and aquatic sports. The dam is 75m high and the reservoir is the longest in Bulgaria – 36km.