Bansko

Bansko is a pretty mountain town located at the foot of the Pirin Mountain at an altitude of 925 m. It is famous for its original and distinctive architecture, picturesque two-storey stone houses and flower gardens, as well as an iconography and a wood-carving school, and a local cuisine. In the mid-18th century Bansko was a large and rich settlement with well-developed crafts, trade and arts.

This period witnessed the establishment of the Bansko art school that became famous across the Balkans and Central Europe. Monuments made by these fantastic craftsmen remain in many Bulgarian cities. Today, the city is well-known for the heavenly beauty of Pirin, as well as for its numerous hotels and taverns and its wonderful conditions for summer and winter tourism. The unique hospitality of local citizens and the splendid traditional Pirin songs attract fans from all over the world.

Bozhentsi

Bozhentsi is a small village, a monument of Bulgarian architecture from the Revival period huddled on the North flanks of Central Stara Planina.

The houses are few in number and are built on both banks of the Bozhanka River that rises not far from the village. After becoming rich through stock-breeding, crafts and trade during the 18th century, the village changed its architectural image. The hilly terrain allowed the craftsmen of Bozhentsi to shape one of the most picturesque architectural composition. The high stone fences, the forged oak gates, the narrow cobblestone streets, the stone taps and bridges and the small shops all have the unique feel of this Bulgarian heavenly spot. Everyone can find peace and quiet here by being carried away back to a world long gone. Today, Bozhentsi hosts a number of well known Bulgarian writers, artists, architects, science and culture figures.

Etara

Etara is an impressive open-air ethnographic museum. It is located in the quarter of the city of Gabrovo bearing the same name, on the bank of the Sivek River, on the North flanks of Central Stara Planina. It occupies a total area of 60 decares. The exposition shows before visitors (with the participation of craftsmen and animators) the architecture, ethnography, folklore, ancient crafts, traditional cuisine, home arrangement and clothing of the Gabrovo region in the 18th and 19th centuries. Taps, bridges, buildings, equipment and appliances are preserved or transported here from other neighboring villages. They reveal in an interesting and entertaining manner the progressiveness, resourcefulness and high artistic skills of Gabrovo’s citizens from the past.

Zheravna

Zheravna is also an architectural and ethnographic reserve with more than 150 houses, a candleworks, a small school, a nunnery, a church, taps, inns and shops preserved from the Revival period. The village is located on the South-Eastern flanks of Eastern Stara Planina and was found between the 12th and the14th century.

It gradually became rich by developing crafts, stock-breeding and trade. The distinctive format of a Zheravna house was formed, built entirely of roughly processed oak with eaves up to 2 m deep and wooden window shutters. The exterior of the houses not always shows the interior abundance of forms and details and in particular the wood-carvings and appliques on the room’s walls, doors, windows and furniture. Houses, churches, and schools have been preserved and turned into museums today. Zheravna is one of the most attractive Bulgarian locations.

Koprivshtitsa

Koprivshtitsa is unique with its nature, endowing with abundant vitality with its history preserved for centuries and its matchless cultural monuments. More than 380 architectural and historical monuments are preserved here, part of the Bulgarian cultural heritage. The rich history and the preserved popular customs and folklore are the reason why today this beautiful place attracts more and more visitors. Koprivshtitsa is an ideal location for a quiet vacation. The town is full of small family hotels with the typical Koprivshtitsa home arrangement and perfectly maintained yards, flecked with multiple flowers. You will be impressed by the quietness and the clear mountain air.

The town has a number of landmarks that attract attention and inspire poets, artists and singers. Here you can see multiple stone works of art, such as tombstones, sculptures, busts bridges and taps. Every work of art among these is a masterpiece itself. However, most fascinating are the old houses of prominent Bulgarian historical figures, which have been transformed into museums today. Every year, at the end of the summer, Koprivshtitsa hosts the traditional National Bulgarian Folklore Fair with more than 10,000 musicians, singers and dancers participating in it.

Melnik

The town of Melnik is a museum and a historical town; it is the smallest town in Bulgaria. Here you can enter the past watching the picturesque small houses with tiled roofs, narrow streets and stone roads. Cozy hotels, pubs offering traditional Bulgarian cuisine, wine cellars and souvenir shops - this is what Melnik provides today.

The red wine you will taste will make you doubt that real wine can only be found in France. Melnik wine has rich taste and aroma. The wineries are well-known far beyond the borders of Bulgaria. Wine production has been developed here for hundreds of years and its secrets are passed from one generation to the next. The climate is suitable for growing different grape varietals. One of the unique varietals of the town is the „Wide Melnik”. The town’s landmarks also include the Pashov house (the Town National Museum), the Kordopulov house (a private museum with a wine cellar) and the remains of medieval churches. The Rozhen Monastery, one of the several medieval monasteries preserved in relatively good condition up until today, is located in the vicinity of the town. You also won’t be left untouched by the incredible natural environment of the Pirin region and the Melnik sand pyramids, a unique miracle carved by nature.

Sozopol

Sozopol is the oldest town along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast and one of the most popular Bulgarian resorts.

The central part (the Old Town) is located on a small peninsula. Nearby are the St. Ivan and St. Peter islands. The first settlement at this site was established in the end of the 4th-3rd millennium BC. The underwater explorations in Sozopol’s harbor revealed housing remains, ceramic vessels, and stone and bone working tools from the Bronze Age. Numerous stone anchors and stocks dating from the 2nd-1st millennium BC have also been discovered in the Sozopol bay. There is evidence of active maritime traffic since deepest antiquity. Later, the town became a Hellenic colony, Apollonia Pontica, named after the god Apollo. The town developed into an important trade and harbor center.

Wooden and stone churches and numerous houses from the 18th and the 19th century are preserved, shaping the unique architectural image of contemporary Sozopol. Ancient icons and magnificent wood-carved iconostases represent the remarkable achievements of artistic crafts at the time. During archeological excavations on St. Ivan Island in the summer of 2010, a reliquary was discovered and instigated a genuine sensation. It contained relics – small bones of a hand, a facial part, and a tooth of the saint. Following an experts’ examination it was confirmed that the relics belong to St. John the Forerunner himself. Precisely a part of the skull and one hand of St. John the Baptist were kept in the Patriarchate of Constantinople and were moved to Sozopol during the Ottoman raids. Today, the relics are placed in the St. George Church in Sozopol, which possesses other first-rate Christian relics as well, a small part of the True Cross and relics of St. Andrew.

Nesebar

Nesebar is one of the biggest historical depositories and for that reason is declared a museum town, as well as an architectural and archeological reserve of national significance. Due to the numerous well-preserved monuments from different ages, the old town of Nesebar is a cultural monument included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The town is one of the oldest in Europe and the most abundant with medieval architectural monuments in Bulgaria. It inherits an ancient Thracian settlement established in the 2nd millennium BC. The town is declared an architectural and archeological reserve due to its unique appearance and the specific ambiance of its streets. The biggest wealth of the town are the nearly 60 preserved houses from the Revival period that give it an exceptionally romantic atmosphere, as well as the more than 40 churches. 23 of the churches were discovered during excavations and were subsequently restored. Currently, only one is functioning, while the others have been turned into art galleries and museums.

Plovdiv

The unique cultural and historical heritage of Plovdiv includes three main periods – the Antiquity, the Middle Ages and the Revival. Every period is represented by significant tourist landmarks in the city. They can take you on a journey to the mysterious past rekindling your curiosity to find contemporary adventures. In the 12th century BC, the prehistoric settlement developed into the ancient Thracian city of Eumolpias, which is one of the first city centers in South-Eastern Europe. The remains of Eumolpias can be seen to this day.

Plovdiv has the second largest population in Bulgaria. Numerous economic and cultural events take place in the city, including the International Fair, the Stage at a Crossroad International Theatre Festival and the Golden Chest Television Festival. A number of ancient monuments are preserved in the city, such as the Ancient Theatre, the Roman Odeon, the Agora (the Roman Forum), the Roman Stadium, the Eyrene building from the late Antiquity, etc.

The Old Plovdiv is a unique city structure comprising of archeological sites, galleries with valuable exhibits, ancient buildings, functioning temples with rich paint and wood-carving decorations, cozy cafes and restaurants, old and new houses with romantic yards and picturesque cobblestone streets.

The city is a winner of the European gold medal for preserving its ancient monuments.