The capital city, Sofia,
is the largest city in Bulgaria.
Ivan Vazov National Theatre
It was built in
1907 in a baroque
style and was
generously
decorated with
figures from
Greek mythology.
St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral was built to
honour the Russian king Alexander II whom
Bulgarians refer to as the Liberator king.
The building of the Parliament has historic importance. It
was pronounced a monument of Bulgarian culture. It was
built in 1886 in the neo-renaissance style.
The motto on the main facade is
“Unity makes strength”.
The Rila Monastery is a magnificent monument of
Bulgarian medieval architecture and art. The monastery
was founded in the 10th century.
It is the largest monastery on the Balkan Peninsula
outside Atons. In the 1983 it was included in the
UNESCO registry as an international cultural treasure.
Belogradchik Rocks have been nominated as one of the new
seven wonders of nature in the world. Many rocks have
fantastic shapes and are associated with interesting legends.
Baba Vida Fortress
It was built in the 10th century and it is the only entirely
preserved medieval castle in the country.
Melnik
The sand pyramids that surround the town represent the
natural phenomenon which is unique for the Balkans with
various and amazing forms
Three words characterized this museum town
– history, architecture and wine.
A typical architectural example for the town of Melnik is the
Kordopulova house – the largest medieval house in Bulgaria
which was built in 1754.
Koprivshtitsa is a town where the proud and
independent spirit of the Bulgarians has survived
over the centuries.
The architecture of the National Revival period in
Bulgaria’s history (XVIII-XIX century) is preserved.
Plovdiv is the second largest city in Bulgaria after
Sofia. It is one of the oldest cities in Europe.
Some of the ancient names of Plovdiv are Eumolpias,
Philippoupolis , Trimontium and Filibe.
The Roman theatre is probably the best known monument from
Antiquity in Bulgaria. It was built in the beginning of the 2nd
century during the reign of the Roman Emperor Trajan.
The Asen’s fortress has existed since the time of
the Thracians. The fortress gained importance in
the Middle Ages.
The Shipka Memorial
It is a memorial to those who died in 1877 and 1878 for
the Liberation of Bulgaria in the Russo-Turkish War.
The Shipka Memorial Church is dedicated to the
Russian, Ukrainian and Bulgarian soldiers that died for
the Liberation of Bulgaria in the Russo-Turkish War.
Pleven was a major battle scene
during the Russo-Turkish War.
The most significant sight in Pleven today is the Pleven
Panorama. It is known as the largest among 33 such
panoramas all over the world. The Pleven Panorama
depicts the events of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78.
Because of the
textile industry,
the town of
Gabrovo is known
as the Bulgarian
Manchester.
Gabrovo is known
internationally
as the world capital
of humour.
Veliko Tarnovo is often referred as the “City of the Tsars” and is
famous as the historical capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire.
Tsarevets is a medieval stronghold located on a
hill with the same name in Veliko Tarnovo. It
served as the Second Bulgarian Empire's primary
fortress and strongest bulwark from 1185 to 1393.
Sozopol is an ancient seaside town. Today it is one
of the major seaside resorts in the country, known
for the Apollonia art and film festival that is named
after one of the town's ancient names.
Often referred to as the "Pearl of the Black Sea" and
"Bulgaria's Dubrovnik", Nesebar is a rich city-museum.
Its abundance of historic buildings prompted UNESCO to
include Nesebar in its list of World Heritage Sites in 1983.
Commonly referred to as the
marine (or summer) capital
of Bulgaria, Varna is a major
tourist destination.
The Madara Rider or Madara Horseman is an early medieval
large rock relief carved on the Madara Plateau. The relief
depicts a majestic horseman 23 m above ground level in an
almost vertical 100 m high cliff. The monument is dated back to
circa 710 AD and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage
List since 1979.
The village of Arbansi is known for the rich history and large
number of historical monuments, such as 17th and 18th century
churches and examples of Bulgarian National Revival architecture.
The Etar Architectural-Ethnographic
Complex is an open-air museum.
It presents the
Bulgarian customs,
culture and
craftsmanship.
Boyana church is a monument of Bulgarian Medieval
architecture and religious art. It was built in the 11th century.
The wall paintings in the church are from three different periods.
Boyana church was declared a UNESCO monument in 1979.
Vratsa is an ancient city found by ancient Thracians.
Vratsa was called Valve ("door of a fortress") by the Romans
due to a narrow passage where the main gate of the city fortress
was located. Nowadays, this passage is the symbol of Vratsa,
and is shown on the town's Coat of arms.
Kurtpashova Tower in Vratsa, Bulgaria
Meshtchiite Tower in Vratsa, Bulgaria
Vestitel Complex
Ledenika cave
The cave is about 300m long and contains ten
separate halls. The biggest one is the Concert Hall.