20 Things NOT to Miss in Bulgaria

The 20 most famous tourist Bulgarian landmarks - exciting mixture of culture, history, traditions, ethnography, cuisine, wine, music and hospitable people, will surprise you nicely.

FEATURED MUST-SEE BULGARIAN HIGHLIGHTS

St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia (1912)

Largest Eastern Orthodox cathedral on the Balkan Peninsula and one of the most lavishly adorned Orthodox churches in Europe.

Boyana Church, Sofia (10c.)

One of the most complete and perfectly preserved monuments of East-European medieval art. Unique Medieval frescos.
(UNESCO site)

Rila Monastery (10c.)

The largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery.
(UNESCO site)

Thracian treasures

Traces of the powerful and rich Thracian civilization.

Thracian tombs in Sveshtari and Kazanlak (3c. BC)

Exceptional works of art, unique masterpieces of Early Hellenistic pictorial art.
(UNESCO sites)

Valley of Roses

Feel the smell of Rosa Damascena in June.
The Valley of Roses is where 80% of the world`s attar of roses is obtained.

Old Plovdiv

An architectural museum reserve from the period of the Bulgarian Renaissance, with over 150 houses - monuments of culture (17c.).
(UNESCO tentative list)

Medieval Tzarevets Fortress (12c), Veliko Turnovo

Ancient travelers write about Tzarevets - the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, as 'the second to Constantinople' in its beauty and might.

Varna

An inhabited place several millennia before the Greeks established the colony of Odessos there about 580 BC. Under the Romans and later Varna became a major port trading with Constantinople, Venice and Dubrovnik. Bulgaria's maritime capital.

Medieval churches, Nessebar

Founded by the Thracians more than 3,000 years ago, one of the oldest towns in Europe(2c.), Nessebar is an architectural and archeological reserve. The churches from 5-6c. and the ones dating from the medieval period (10-14c.), which are fine works of the medieval Bulgarian and Byzantine architecture, the 60 houses of the Bulgarian Renaissance period, give the town unique appearance and atmosphere.
(UNESCO site)

Melnik

The smallest and most romantic town in Bulgaria, with an eventful and turbulent history, Melnik is now an architectural reserve, historical town and monument of culture.
The nearby Rozhen monastery (9c), is nestled in the exquisite draperies of the Melnik sandstone 'pyramids' - a natural phenomenon and protected site.
(UNESCO tentative list)

Koprivshtitsa

One of the best preserved architectural ensembles of splendid painted houses from the Bulgarian Renaissance period.

Bulgarian folk songs and dances

Bulgarian singing gives power to the voice and voice to the heart.
The Cosmic Voices from Bulgaria and the Mystery of Bulgarian Voices are known and valued world-wide.
Bulgarian folk dances are characterised by their lively energy, grace, uneven rhythms and exciting footwork.

Wine-cellars

Great choice of Bulgarian wines for connoisseurs.
Winemaking has millennia years old traditions in Bulgaria - since the times of the Thracians.

Traditional Bulgarian taverns

The typical Bulgarian taverns (mehana) and restaurants offer national and regional traditional cuisine, excellent wines, amusing show programs and unforgettable emotions.

Rousse

The largest and most picturesque Bulgarian city on the Danube river.
Established more than 1,900 years ago as the Roman fortress 'Sexaginta Prista' meaning 'the port of the 60 ships', Rousse is Bulgaria's north gate to Cenral and Western Europe.

Neolithic dwellings in Stara Zagora (6,000 BC)

One of the oldest settlements in Europe, the Neolithic dwellings and the copper mine around the city are the best preserved ones.
(UNESCO tentative list)

Bachkovo monastery (11c.)

The second largest in Bulgaria. Its bone-vault is a must-see building, with unique wall-paintings, which rank among the most valuable works of Orthodox art of the 11th â€"12th c.
(UNESCO tentative list)

Ivanovo rock-cut monasteries (12c.)

Unique on the Ballkans, built-in-rock shrines, famous for their beautiful and well-preserved wall paintings.
(UNESCO site)

Church of Nativity (16c.) in Arbanassi

The Bulgarian church with the richest icon decoration from 16c.
The iconostasis is one of the earliest examples of woodwork in Bulgaria.

It is not possible to see in one trip everything that tourism in Bulgaria has to offer - and we don't suggest you to try.

You can select from Bulgaria's highlights - all part of the National and World heritage, top Bulgarian landmarks with their own value and significance, they will certainly add to the pleasure of your stay.

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