& the Balkans Travel Guide ~ Landmarks ~ Cultural Tours ~ Travel Tips
Valley of the Thracian Kings In the geographic center of Bulgaria, the region around Kazanlak has been inhabited for thousands of years. Traces of civilization go as far back as 2,000 BC. Known as Valley of the Thracian Kings with Kazanlak – the capital city, it has countless cultural treasures. In the geographic center of …
Rila Monastery Rila Monastery is the biggest and most famous of Bulgaria’s monasteries. UNESCO site, it is one of the most important and memorable cultural monuments and travel hot spots on the Balkans. Rila Monastery was founded by a hermit, St John of Rila, in the 10th century, and eventually became a monastic center that …
Bachkovo Monastery Bachkovo Monastery is Bulgaria’s second most important monastery with regard to size, architectural, artistic and literary significance. It was founded in 1083 by brothers Grigorii and Abbassi Bakouriani, Georgians by nationality. Destroyed by the Turks in the 15th century, the monastery was restored at the beginning of the 17th century. The Cemetery Chapel …
Rose Valley For over 3 centuries Bulgarians have planted roses, picked their flowers and extracted their heavenly essence – the attar of roses. Rosa Damascena The valley of Kazanluk, known as Rose Valley, the largest producer of rose-oil in the world, is magically transformed with breathtaking blooms in May and early June each year when …
Kazanluk Tomb A Thracian tomb, dated to the late 4th – early 3rd century B.C. The murals in the burial chamber and in the corridor are of exclusive artistic value. Ivanovo Rock Churches A rock monastery compound with partially preserved churches. The murals in the Church of the Holy Virgin, described as some of the …