Bulgaria - it is something special, and at the same time family and friends, it is a country with very hospitable nature, simple, friendly manner. The mild climate, the beautiful sea, excellent for families with children, the centuries-old tradition, a large number of historical monuments and interesting natural objects, modern hotels, mass entertainment offered by spas, delectable cuisine, the lack of a language barrier and security - all this awaits you in Bulgaria!
Bulgaria can offer its guests entertainment for all tastes: seaside with magnificent beaches and infrastructure and recreation, modern equipped ski slopes near the hotel at any level (from basic camping to five star), an abundance of restaurants, nightclubs, water parks and other entertainment centers in major cities (Sofia, Varna, Ruse, Burgas, etc.), "rural tourism" (up to 20 villages, ethnographic museum located in the most untouched by civilization regions of Bulgaria), offering five-star comfort, combined with the traditional way of life for Bulgaria life, "wine tourism" - a new and promising direction for Bulgaria. And finally what attracted to this country every year hundreds of thousands of visitors - a great many architectural monuments: the Thracian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Old Bulgarian and Turkish. By the number of monuments protected by UNESCO, Bulgaria ranks third in the world after Greece and Italy.
The main attraction of Balchik - a picturesque town, port and seaside resort located 47 km north of Varna - is, unquestionably, the Botanical Gardens and the castle of Queen Mary. The castle is located 1.5 km from the city center. From 1931 to 1938 it was the residence of the Romanian queen Maria.
Three-story castle was built by the Italian architect. He is a strange mixture of European and Asian architectural elements, among which stands out a slender tower that resembles a minaret. This mix of East and West meet the tastes and views of the Queen, who advocated a rapprochement between the Christian and Muslim faith.
In a small chapel, chapel set carved iconostasis Cyprus. In the chapel are made life-size carvings of Queen Mary and her daughter Ilyany. In 1938, the Queen was fatally wounded in an accidental shot of the royal residence in the Sinai (Romanian Carpathians) - she tried to stop two of his sons to fight a duel. Dying queen bury my heart at her favorite palace in Balchik. Her will was made, and the heart of the Queen was in the walls of the chapel until 1940
The l Garden, which is part of the palace ensemble and decorated columns and fountains, you can see more than 600 species of rare plants from all over the world. The park has many paths, lined with white stone, which previously covered with carpets. Among the flower beds and curtains here and there there are historical relics: stone cross, marble throne, capitals. In the park there is a cactus garden, which shows many types of plants, including cacti, reaching 4 meters in height.
Seaside Park (80 ha), located on the beach close to the center - a real island of peace and tranquility. At the time, he was laying in the Baroque style following the example of the Viennese palace gardens of Schönbrunn and Belvedere. In the park are the Palace of Culture and Sports, planetarium, zoo and dolphinarium, featuring the presentation of trained dolphins. No less fascinating and visit the aquarium and nature museum, also located in the park.
The memory of the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. Varna is the mass grave in which are buried Colonel 18th Artillery Brigade and 44 K. Malevsky unknown Russian soldier.
It is also interesting to visit the Varna Lake. Narrow channel that runs in 1907, connects the lake to the sea. Salt water has ruined freshwater fish, and now is home to only marine species. At the lake on a hill called Genoa, are the ruins of an ancient basilica - the only reminder of the former once in this place Genoese colony. In 1919, archaeologists discovered the burial here, consisting of gold, silver and alabaster sarcophagus pomeshennyh one another. The find is stored in the Varna Archaeological Museum.
Varna Archaeological Museum (MD Primorski Blvd regiment, 41) - one of the most interesting collections of antiquities in Bulgaria. Especially remarkable is the collection of Thracian tomb sculptures. But the real decoration of the museum - a set of gold objects found in one of the graves.
In Varna, you can spend holidays at any time of year. And even in the "dead" season balneotherapy center of the resort town will help you relax and gain strength. At the same time, you can explore this in a much more relaxed atmosphere.
8 km to the east of Varna is located Evksinograd - summer residence of the last Bulgarian kings, built cash in 1882. one of Alexander Battenberg Austrian architect. Its parks are preserved rare Bulgarian flora, as well as rare species of plants from all over the world. On the slopes of ripening grapes used to make a wonderful, well-known around the world Evksinogradskoe white wine and brandy. With Evksinogradskogo lighthouse offers a magnificent view of the bay - from Cape Emine to Cape Kaliakra. Today, the palace houses the government residence.
Today in Melnik has only a few hundred inhabitants. It survived many interesting monuments.
Arriving in the city, immediately you get to the main area with cozy taverns and lime whitewashed stone houses with wooden props. Facades are decorated with flowers and vines. In Melnik just one street. It stretches along the course of a small river, which dries up in the summer, and then you can wander through its sandy-rocky bottom.
Urban sprawl densely covers the river and its two tributaries, which converge in the city center. Then home amphitheater rising up the slopes of the cliffs.
Melnik is a rare monument of the so-called Byzantine (Bolyarsky) house. His whole appearance it resembles the mighty fortress: a big, massive, rectangular, with rare spaced windows like loopholes. This monument is the oldest residential building of the Byzantine era, preserved in the Balkans. The house is built of the typical Byzantine flat brick - plinfy. According to legend, it was designed for prison unsuccessful applicants to the Byzantine throne, guilty of the imperial family and other violators of the Byzantine rule of law, why and received the nickname "Black House." Presumably, this house was built in the X-XII century.
Melnik In many churches, but most of them are in a dilapidated condition. According to ancient documents, we know that once the city was seventy-two churches. Of the five churches of the Renaissance, preserved in Melnik, the greatest interest is the church of St. Nicholas (1756). Wall paintings and icons in the church have high artistic value.
Much better preserved old residential buildings. About the original splendor of Melnik told restored home of the Revival. They have a very high stone plinth on it - a massive wooden oriel, supported by a strong bracket. Windows are often arranged in two rows.
Saint Sophia Cathedral - one of the oldest monuments in Bulgaria. On behalf of its principal Christian church Bulgarian capital got its present name. Over its history polutoratysyachnuyu Cathedral repeatedly destroyed the invaders and earthquakes and restored. Archaeologists have determined that the Hagia Sophia was built as far back as Roman times, VI or VII., The site of two small churches dating to the IV-V centuries. and destroyed the invasion Goths and Huns. These churches were outside the city walls, the ancient cemetery. The floors of both small churches were covered with mosaics, partly preserved until now. Set around a necropolis dates back to the early Christians - III-VI centuries. Some of the uncovered tombs were decorated with paintings, but they are poorly preserved. Hagia Sophia is a unique structure. This is an outstanding work of medieval architecture not only Bulgarian, but European importance. These monuments are no more on Bulgarian soil, not like he and his contemporary Byzantine religious buildings. The Cathedral is a three-nave basilica dome, cruciform in plan, that for such an early time was unusual. The building is topped by a flat dome. The basement of the church (crypt) was intended for burials. In the apse of the cathedral are also ancient tombs. When the Turks at the end of the XIV century. captured Sophia Cathedral was partially destroyed, and at the end of the XVI century rebuilt into a mosque. On top of his tragic fate in 1818 and 1858. The building was hit by an earthquake, so that the Turks abandoned his religious use. On the eve of the liberation of the St. Sophia Cathedral was the warehouse of Turkish ammunition (as his time in the Parthenon in Athens), and then it was used as a fire tower. After the liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman rule the building was restored. Modern form it acquired after restoration in 1930-1932. Now St. Sophia looks decent. Ancient interior decoration have not saved any, and even the exterior walls in many places were destroyed and rebuilt during the restoration. It is as if frozen in stone history of the Bulgarian people, it sealed for years, even the blossoming of the Bulgarian state and the war grave and gloomy century foreign yoke. Restoration work in the cathedral continued. Specialists try to recreate the original appearance of the church.