This small Balkan country of packs an abundance of unforgettable experiences into its 43,000 square miles (111,000 sq. kilometers), from tranquil as well as and lively coastal towns to breathtaking mountain retreats, tasty cuisine, compelling historical and cultural heritage. It´s also considered one of Europe´s most affordable destinations for visitors and foreigners who choose to live here part- or full-time (for example, very affordable real estate opportunities make Bulgaria the perfect place to enjoy seafront living without breaking the bank.
Some of Bulgaria´s higher profile destinations include capital Sofia, historic second city Plovdiv, winter resort area Bansko, and seaside meccas Varna and Sunny Beach. But here are four more under-the-radar spots well worth a visit:
Tryavna
Just under three hours east of Sofia, this picturesque town of around 10,000 residents provides visitors with a rare opportunity to immerse themselves in Bulgaria's rich cultural history. Its historic houses and cobblestone streets harken back to Bulgaria's National Revival period (1762-1878); traditional handcrafts flourish here, too, and its vibrant culinary landscape is replete with taverns serving up banitsa cheese pastry and kavarma pork-and-vegetable stew are unforgettable experiences!
A visit here is like exploring a living museum, with much of its original architecture from the National Revival era still standing and featuring over 140 cultural monuments, museums, and exhibits - not forgetting being home to legendary late-19th-century writer Pencho Slaveykov and Angel Kanchev, a mid-19th-century revolutionay against the Ottoman Turkish rule of the time.
Daskalov's House, built in 1808, stands out with its eye-catching wooden-carved sun on the roof, the result of a bet between two master builders to see who could create an eye-catching wood decoration on their ceilings; today it´s a museum dedicated to woodcarving. Also nearby is Bacho Kiro Cave, which was one of Europe's first landscaped caves, opened in 1890 and admitting tourists beginning in 1938.
The 7 Rila Lakes
Just under two hours´ drive south of Sofia, the pristine Alpine Sedemte Rilski Ezera are a Bulgaria's premier natural attraction yet not always included in Bulgaria travel guides. both adventurers and those seeking peace and quiet, they draw visitors who wish to connect with nature. Occupy mountainside furrows and connected to each other by streams, each lake stands just slightly higher than its predecessor; Dolnoto Ezero (literally, "Lower Lake") is the lowest while Tear Lake (Salzata in Bulgarian, named for its crystaline waters, clear as tears is the highest, 2,535 meters (8,617 feet), directly below Otovishki Peak; The deepest (37.5 meters/123 ft.) is Eye Lake (Okoto) right below it.
These are mostly a beauty spot, experienced by hiking (no swimming!), and there´s a chairlift from the parking area up to the lakes. You can of course go on your own but to maximize your experience, our advice is that you join a group tour, and at Around Bulgaria we can arrange a day trip that includes everything necessary - transport and ticket for lift rides - as well as a visit to the amazing, ornate Rila Monastery, dating back to the early 10th century.
Velikovo Tarnovo
Some 2½ hours east of Sofia, this small cliffside city some 2½ hours east of Sofia is considered the country´s historical and spiritual capital. During the 11th and 12th century, when it was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, it was considered one of Europe´s main centers of culture (and in 1877-1879 it was again the capital Bulgaria after it threw off centuries of Ottoman Turkish rule). Many sites remain for visitors to enjoy, including Tsarevets Fortress, the Samovodska Charshia artesan market streets; a number of fine museums; a plethora of beautiful Bulgarian Orthodox churches and monasteries, the most prominent of which is the Patriarchal Cathedral St. Ascension; and Sveta Gora Park, a relaxing green space with spectacular city views (especially from its Sky Bridge).
Devetashka Cave
Also known as Dev, located in Lovech province just under two hours northeast of Sofia and an hour and a half from Velikovo Tarnovo, at 2.5 km (more than a mile and a half) in length this is Bulgaria´s second-longest cave. And it´s dramatic indeed, beginning with an entrance 30 meters high and 35 wide (18½ by 21½ feet), with seven gaps that have earned the cave the nickname Oknata ("the eyes"). This leads into a cavernous hall which soars up to 100m (328 ft.) in height. it´s one of the country´s Neolithic sites, based on artefacts discovered by archaeologists dating back to a staggering 70,000 BCE. In addition to its craggy tunnels and galleries, visitors can also observe a colony of some 30,15 protected bats, as it serves as one of the main bat hibernation spots. (Fun fact: a memorable scene from the 2011 tough-guy movie The Expendables 2 was filmed here, when Sylvester Stallone´s character crash lands a plane inside it.)
More info: VisitBulgaria.com, VisitMyBulgaria.com.
Comments
Seems like a lot packed into a small Balkan package - intriguing!