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Cities & Places of Interest
Bulgaria has history! Not a little bit of history. TONS of history!
Due to the countries location as one of the “Crossroads of Europe” almost every civilizations has passed through and left their mark at some time or another.
The Thracians, Romans, Slavs and later on of course, the Ottomans all contributed to a wealth of historical sites and treasures which continue to be discovered to this day. Due to Bulgaria’s (relatively) recent and often violent occupation by the Ottoman’s there are also a wealth of sites and museums relating to the Bulgaria Revival Period.
Despite the often brutal methods used by the Turks during occupation, the Bulgarian people pride themselves on their tolerance and willingness to embrace other cultures and their history so it is quite common to find an ecliptic mix of cultures, all preserved, in one location.
Coupled with the much more recent Communist regime, Bulgaria is a history buffs dream! Below are out “top 10” historical sites to visit when you come to Bulgaria.
Sofia
Sofia is Bulgaria's capital city and it really has it all including a huge selection of sightseeing opportunities and other tourist activities which will suite almost every taste. Sofia is steeped in history and has every type of attraction for (almost) every type of budget. If you are coming to Bulgaria and you miss the capital, you miss the beating heart of Bulgaria!
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Veliko Tarnovo
Veliko Tarnovo, often referred to as the "City of the Tsars", is located on the Yantra River and is famous as the historical capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, attracting many tourists with its unique architecture. Veliko Tarnovo was one the capital of Bulgaria and is an awe inspiring place to visit for the history alone. It is still a busteling city but the old city towering above the newer building below and the back drop of the tree covered hills is simply breath taking. Tarnovo has a lot to offer tourists and as it is on a main transit route to or from the coast and Sofia it is worth spending a day or two exploring the city and it's vast history.
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Plovdiv
Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria. Plovdiv's history spans some 6,000 years, with traces of a Neolithic settlement dating to roughly 4000 BC. It was also the largest and most important city in Northern Thrace and the wider international historical region of Thrace. Known in the West for most of its history by the Greek name Philippopolis, it was originally a Thracian settlement before becoming a major Roman city. In the Middle Ages, it retained its strategic regional importance, changing hands between the Byzantine and Bulgarian Empires.
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Nessebar
In 1956 the town was proclaimed an architectural and archeological reserve. The remnants of an antique fortified wall with a gate dating from III-IV century, the churches from V-VI century and the ones dating from the medieval period (X-XIV century), which are fine works of the medieval Bulgarian and Byzantine architecture, the 60 houses of the revival period, give the town unique appearance and atmosphere. One of the oldest sanctuaries is the Basilica built on the coast most probably around the beginning of 5th century. The Old Bishop's Residence located in the centre of the town is probably the most impressive church in Nessebar. It is more than 25m long and 22m wide while its three naves were decorated with a colonnade and arches.
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Rila Monastery
The Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila, better known as the Rila Monastery, is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. It is situated in the northwestern Rila Mountains, 117 km (73 mi) south of the capital Sofia in the deep valley of the Rilska River at an elevation of 1,147 m (3,763 ft) above sea level. The monastery is named after the famous Bulgaria saint and hermit Ivan of Rila.
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Panagyurishte
In the Middle Ages there was a settlement near the modern town. In the course of the Bulgarian-Ottoman Wars a large part the population was killed and the rest had to move to a new location when the town was almost completely burnt to the ground. Later in the struggle, the town was to be the birthplace of the April Uprising that was the beginning of the end for the Turkish rule in Bulgaria. Panagyurishte is the symbolic capital of Bulgarian patriotism.
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Melnik
The town is an architectural reserve and 96 of its buildings are cultural monuments. With a population of 385, it is the smallest town in Bulgaria, retaining its city status today for historical reasons.
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Gabrovo & Region
Gabrovo is a town in central northern Bulgaria, the administrative centre of Gabrovo Province. It is situated at the foot of the central Balkan Mountains, in the valley of the Yantra River, and is known as an international capital of humour and satire , as well as noted for its Bulgarian National Revival architecture. Gabrovo is also known as the longest town in Bulgaria, stretching over 25 km along the Yantra, yet reaching only 1 km in width at places.
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Haskovo
Haskovo is a pretty little town located near the Greek and Turkish borders near the Rhodope mountains about 40 minutes east of Plovdiv right at the end of the Rhodopi Mountain range. It is a lovely little town which is well maintained and is very popular with Greek tourists who come to shop and enjoy themselves. Haskovo has a rich history to complement it's most notable landmark, the statue of the Virgin Mary which happens to be the tallest in the world and dominates it's sky line.
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Troyan
The town of Troyan lies on the two banks of the Beli Osum river, in the skirts of the Troyan part of the Balkan mountain. The town is named after an ancient Roman road, Via Trayana, crossing the Balkan mountain through today’s Pass of Troyan and linking the regions of Misia and Thracia with the Aegean Sea.