Useful information
There are thousands of places worth seeing in Bulgaria: traces of ancient civilizations, nature reservations, cultural events, etc. Here is a selection of such sights you should not miss:
North-Western Bulgaria:
Northern and North-Eastern Bulgaria:
North-Western Bulgaria:
- prehistoric times: near the town of Belogragchik (170 km North of Sofia), there are two caves. The Kozarnika cave hosts a settlement dating from the early Paleolithic period more than 1 million years ago. In the Magoura Cave, our Stone-Age ancestors made drawings of their life: religious rituals, hunting and animals.
- The Belogradchik rocks are a natural phenomenon (170 km North of Sofia).
- The ancient castle in the city of Vidin at the Danube (200 km North of Sofia).
- The resort-town of Berkovitza (80 km North of Sofia)
- The interesting Ledenika Cave is near the city of Vratza (110 km North of Sofia).
- The Boyana Church located in the foothills of the Vitosha Mountain: it is a great achievement of Bulgarian culture dated from the Second Golden Age of Bulgaria (13th century). The oldest part of the temple dates back to the 11th century. Its frescoes painted in 1259 are realistic and rich in color. These paintings have been compared to the best Renaissance models, though actually preceding Renaissance by a century and a half. Therefore, the Boyana Church was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979.
- The 7 Altars Monastery (85 km NE from Sofia) and the Dragalevtzi Monastery (in the Vitosha Mountain)
- The Vitosha Mountain is a place for skiing, mountain climbing, and sightseeing.
- Sofia herself is an ancient city with artifacts from 3 millennia. Sofia hosts the earliest Christian monuments in Bulgaria (4th – 6th century): the Church of St. Sofia and the rotunda of St. George.
- he sacred place of Bulgaria: the Rila Monastery is also included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is located about 130 km South of Sofia, near the town of Rila. The monastery was founded in the 10th century by St. Ivan Rilski – the patron saint of Bulgaria. Nowadays, the complex consists of several buildings from the 14th – 20th centuries. The museum and library are true treasuries of Christian arts – books, artifacts used in different rituals, icons, etc. The remains of St. Ivan Rilski are kept here, too.
- Other significant monasteries: Rozhen Monastery (near Melnik, 180 km South of Sofia), and the Zemen Monastery (67 km SW from Sofia)
- Museum-towns: Bansko (160 km South of Sofia), Melnik (180 km South of Sofia),
- The resort-town of Separeva Banya and the Seven Rila Lakes in the Rila National Park (80 km South of Sofia)
- Pirin National Park (with Bansko in the foothills, 160 km South of Sofia) - skiing, mountain climbing, sightseeing, relaxing, etc.
- lovdiv – the second largest city of Bulgaria, hosts sights from Thracian times until present day (150 km East of Sofia).
- Bachkovo Monastery – the second largest monastery of Bulgaria, founded in the 11th century (30 km South of Plovdiv)
- The Assenovgrad castle – a sight where civilizations have gathered to leave a trace in a single place (20 km South of Plovdiv)
- The museum-village of Shiroka Luka (90 km SW of Plovdiv)
- Village of Trigrad (125 km SW of Plovdiv) – nature reservation with caves and a fascinating gorge
- Town of Perushtitsa and town Batak (72 km West of Plovdiv) – historic town, the venue of bloodiest of massacres as a result of the April Uprising of 1876 – more than 3,000 children, women and men were slaughtered overnight in the town’s church. Today, their remains are gathered in a tomb in the center of the town located in the Rhodope Mountains.
- The discovery of the ancient city of Perpericon (15 km from Kurdjali and 120 km SE from Plovdiv) in the Eastern Rhodope Mountains is considered the most significant archeological finding in the past years, equal to the discovery of the Greek cities of Troy and Mycenae. Scientists believe that here was the Great Temple of Dionysus with his oracle. Near Perpericon, archeologists uncovered one of the largest findings of gold dating from Antiquity.
- Stay in the same area to visit the Thracian temple near the village of Tatul (20 km SE from Kurdjali). It was discovered in 2004. Many archeologists are convinced that this is the temple to the famous mythical singer Orpheus.
- The museum-towns of Sozopol and Nessebar (UNESCO World Heritage List)
- The people who want to see the oldest processed gold in the world found so far are invited to visit the Varna Museum of Archeology
- The ancient castle at Kaliakra Cape (60 km WE from Varna)
- Aladja Monastery (16 km North of Varna) – 12th century, rock-hewn monastery located in a nature reservation
- The museum-town of Malko Turnovo (65 km South of Bourgas) is also interesting with the virgin nature surrounding it.
- The Valley of Thracian Kings (around the town of Kazanluk, 100 km NE from Plovdiv): the Thracian tomb near Kazanluk has been included in the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage. In 2000, an enormous Thracian temple was discovered near the village of Starosel (30 km North of Plovdiv). Today, the monument is among the most popular tourist destinations.
- The city of Veliko Tarnovo – the old capital of Bulgaria is a museum-town where you can see traditional Bulgarian crafts; the Tzarevetz castle is well preserved; the 40 Martyrs Church dates from the 13th Century
- Museum-towns around Veliko Tarnovo: Tryavna, Dryanovo, Elena, Etara, Arbanassi, Bojentzi, Kotel
- Monasteries around Veliko Tarnovo: Dryanovo Monastery, Transfiguration Monastery, Holy Trinity Monastery, etc.
- Other significant museum-towns in Central Bulgaria closer to Sofia: Pleven, Koprivshtica, Panagyurishte, Karlovo, Kalofer, Sopot, Troyan and the famous Troyan Monastery, Lovech (about 100 – 150 km East of Sofia)
- Central Balkan National Park
Northern and North-Eastern Bulgaria:
- Roman and Byzantine cities: Silistra (NE Bulgaria), Novae (near Svishtov at the Danube), Ulpia Eskus (40 km North of Pleven), etc.
- The Thracian tomb near the village of Sveshtari (43 km NE of the city of Razgrad) is included in the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage.
- The three major sites left by the Ancient Bulgarians and Slavs are the two capitals of Pliska and Great Preslav, and the Madara Rider. All of them are near the city of Shumen (NE Bulgaria), and are popular tourist destinations. The Madara Rider is a unique monument from the Middle Ages: this is the only relief carved into a cliff in Middle Age Europe (8th century). Due to its uniqueness and cultural significance, the monument has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
- The Ivanovo rock-hewn churches near the city of Russe in NE Bulgaria (12th – 14th century, UNESCO World Heritage List).
- Srebarna nature reservation near the city of Silistra
