- In the lists of UNESCO
- Holy places
- Legendary Pass
- Landscapes worthy of the artist's brush
- For little tourists
Going on vacation, most tourists prefer to make the most of every day of the long-awaited vacation. When drawing up a plan of activities, the traveler strives to include active rest, beach relaxation, and, of course, excursions. The cognitive component of the vacation allows you to leave pleasant impressions in your memory for a long time and enrich you with new interesting knowledge. When asked what to visit in Bulgaria, guidebooks answer hundreds of pages of beautiful photos, which depict architectural monuments, natural landscapes, and historical and cultural attractions, so that an inquisitive traveler will definitely not be bored on vacation in the Balkans.
In the lists of UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, known worldwide as UNESCO, has included nine sites in Bulgaria in its lists of World Cultural Heritage. Among them, seven are man-made:
- Boyana Church, a few kilometers from Sofia, was built in the 13th century.
- The Madara horseman was carved on a twenty-meter high cliff around the beginning of the 8th century. Historians believe that the Bulgarian khan Tervel is depicted under the guise of a horseman. The archaeological site is located near the village of Madara in the east of the country.
- Churches near the village of Ivanovo, carved into the rocks in the XIII-XVII centuries.
- The oldest member of the UNESCO lists in Bulgaria is the Thracian tomb in Kazanlak. Its appearance dates back to the 4th century BC, and the military glory of the Thracian ruler Roigos buried here is evidenced by the plots on the ancient frescoes.
- The Thracian tomb in Sveshtari is only a century younger. The mausoleum is famous for its architectural decoration in the form of stone caryatids.
- The monastery near the town of Rila was built in the 10th century. It contains the relics of the founder of the monastery, St. John of Rila.
- The old part of the resort of Nessebar was included in the UNESCO lists in the 80s of the last century. The building of the old city dates back to the period from the 6th century BC. until the 19th century AD.
What can you see in Bulgaria if you prefer miracles not made by hands? The remaining two items from the UNESCO World Heritage List are natural monuments of world importance. The Srebarna nature reserve in the north-east of the republic is famous for the lake of the same name, where hundreds of thousands of migratory birds stop for rest, whose route runs from Europe to Africa and back. Pirin National Park covers most of the mountain range of the same name. More than one and a half thousand plant species and more than two and a half thousand representatives of the fauna are protected in the park. Some of the park's inhabitants are rare and endangered species of plants and animals.
Holy places
When planning an excursion to interesting places in Bulgaria and deciding what to see, believers will certainly include in their route churches and temples, monasteries and cathedrals, of which there are a great many in the country.
One of the most revered among Bulgarians has long been the church in the village of Boyana, located 8 km from the capital of Bulgaria near Vitosha Mountain. The temple was built in the 10th century in honor of Saints Nicholas the Wonderworker and Panteleimon. The main decoration of the temple is the frescoes preserved on the walls and dome from the 11th-16th centuries. The masters of painting depicted New Testament scenes and episodes from the life of St. Nicholas.
You can get from Sofia to Boyana by public transport. the required bus routes are 64 and 107. In summer, the temple is open from 9.30 to 17.30, in winter - from 9.00 to 17.00. The address for the navigator is 3 Boyansko Ezero Str. Sofia 1616
The village of Ivanovo, where the temple complex, carved into the rocks, is located, can be found 20 km south of the city of Ruse. Monasteries were hewn out of stone by hermit monks who appeared in these parts in the 13th century. Rich fresco painting is the main value of the now uninhabited complex. The murals date back to the XII-XIV centuries, and the Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Terter spent the last years of his life and was buried in the chapel of the Lord Dol complex.
The nearest international airport to the ancient temple complex is located in the city of Varna. From it to Ruse - about 200 kilometers in the northwest direction. You can get there by intercity bus or rented car. In Ruse, take a bus to Ivanovo or take the E85 road if you are traveling by car
The main religious shrine of the people of Bulgaria is the Rila Monastery, whose history began in the 10th century. He survived many destructive trials, but always revived to life, like a Phoenix from the ashes. The shrines of the monastery are the miraculous icon of the Mother of God, called Odigitria, and the relics of John of Rylsky, the founder of the monastery. Another relic that attracts numerous pilgrims is Raphael's cross, decorated with hundreds of figures.
Travel companies in any resort in Bulgaria will offer you an excursion to the Rila Monastery. Driving from Sofia, you need to choose the E79 highway, along which you have to drive about 120 km. Parking at the monastery costs about 2 euros per hour
In the Bulgarian capital itself, on the slopes of Mount Vitosha, there are more than a dozen temples and monasteries. It is no coincidence that this place is called the Holy Mountain.
Legendary Pass
What is interesting in Bulgaria if you are a fan of military history? Of course, the Shipka memorial at the pass of the same name, where in 1877 one of the most culminating and bloody battles of the Russian-Turkish war took place.
The height of the pass in the place where the monument to the heroes of Shipka is erected is about one and a half thousand meters. A staircase of 900 steps leads to the memorial, which you have to climb on foot. Every August, enthusiasts and admirers of military history carry out a reconstruction of distant battles, which can be seen by tourists who have planned a tour to Bulgaria for this time of year.
Landscapes worthy of the artist's brush
What is worth seeing in Bulgaria for a naturalist and just a fan of wildlife? Head to the Rose Valley, which stretches between the Stara Planina and Sredna Gora mountains, a few kilometers from the town of Kazanlak. The best time to tour is early to mid June when millions of buds open and begin to bloom. At this time, there is an amazing aroma in the valley, which, combined with magnificent views, delights all tourists without exception. As an entertainment program, the Rose Festival, timed to coincide with the collection of petals, with the election of a flower queen and her celebration can be performed. A visit to the Rose Museum and a walk through the ancient Thracian tombs, one of which even contains golden artifacts, will add a cognitive element to your excursion.
Another amazing natural attraction, definitely included by travelers in the "What to see in Bulgaria" lists, is located 18 kilometers from Varna. The stone forest is a valley with amazing stone formations, the authors of which, according to various scientists, are time, winds and rains or the sea that receded from these places in the prehistoric era. Stone pillars or trees, whose height reaches seven or even ten meters, densely "grow" on an area of 7 square meters. km. Individual specimens are more than three meters thick. The easiest way to get to the Stone Forest from Varna is by taxi or a rented car. Drive towards the airport, pass it and after 10 kilometers the first stone trees will be visible on the left straight from the highway.
For little tourists
If you come on vacation with the whole family and choose what to see in Bulgaria, prefer excursions or independent excursions to the sights, pay attention to entertainment centers and parks designed for families with children. The lists of the most popular tourist attractions for families usually include:
- Water parks in Bulgaria. One of the most modern and famous among tourists is "Aqua Paradise" in Nessebar. In his arsenal there are more than 20 attractions, a total of 700 meters of slides and several pools of different levels.
- Aquarium of the city of Varna, in three halls of which more than 140 species of marine life are presented, including sharks and rare octopuses. The facility is located in the city Seaside Park.
- Varna Dolphinarium "Festa" is another attraction for families, where parents with children will certainly drop in. Bottlenose dolphins and seals take part in the show programs.
When you are in the capital of the country with your children, take a look at the Museumko, whose exposition always delights young lovers of natural history. You can not only touch the exhibits of the museum, but also carry out scientific experiments with them or just play. The goal of the creators of the museum is to instill in children an interest in nature, the world order and sciences, and therefore the exposition is interactive and presents young visitors the ancient history of the Earth and acquaints them with the structure of space in which our planet is located.
