Varna on the Black Sea

Varna is located in the northeastern part of Bulgaria right on the Black Sea coast and is the third largest city in Bulgaria and the largest on the coast. It is also known as the Sea Capital of the country. Lots of tourists come here in the summertime for its lovely beaches and it has become a popular resort.

Of interest to visitors is the Varna Archaeological Museum which frequently carries out archaeological excavations on various sites all over Northern Bulgaria. The museum displays over 100,000 items. The most important ones are on display in the museum exhibition halls. Its most popular exhibit is the Gold of Varna, the oldest gold treasure in the world. It was excavated in 1972 and it dates back to 4600-4200 BCE and occupies three separate exhibition halls. This museum also manages two open-air archaeological sites, the large Roman baths found in the city center and the medieval grotto of Aladzha Monastery at Golden Sands Nature Park.

The Naval Museum is one of the symbols of Varna. It is located in the southern part of the sea garden. This impressive and lovely building was built in 1890. Its most valuable exhibit is the destroyer “Drazki” which is known for torpedoing the Turkish cruiser “Hamidie” during the Balkan War on November 12, 1912. It counts as the only ship of its kind to be preserved to this day.

Visitors can enjoy learning about the rich diversity in culture and lifestyle among the residents of Varna end of the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries at the Museum of Ethnography. The museum is housed in a revival house known as part of the “symmetrical type houses” that were built in 1860.

Retro Museum is located in the Grand Mall. It covers every aspect of daily living in the 20th century with Bulgarian cigarettes, kitchen utensils, and other items. There are wax figures of prominent public figures like the Head of State Todor Zhivkov and singer Emil Dimitrov. There is also a collection of fifty cars.

Of interest is a memorial complex called Battle of Varna Park Museum “Varnenchik” found in an unusual park in the western part of Varna. This was once a battlefield dating back to 10.11.1444. It was here that in the name of the liberation of the Balkans and southeastern Europe, the Polish-Hungarian King Wladyslaw III of Varna met his demise. There is an exposition of armor and weapons, paintings, flags, and sculptures from this era.

The Stone Forest a short distance from the battlefields is an unusual natural phenomenon. It is located in the only desert in Bulgaria. There is a field of stone columns that are hollow and were formed by a process known as methane oxidation caused by tiny organisms.

A lovely place for a walk and to relax out in the open is the Sea Garden. It is a national monument of landscape architecture and the work of Czech architect Anton Novak. Here you’ll find a long alley of the Bulgarian revival displaying busts of honorable figures of this era.

It is a wonderful place for strolling, bike riding, or participating in outdoor sports. There is also a zoo and terrarium.

Of interest is the waterfront promenade found underneath where there are many beach clubs that offer all kinds of music like hip-hop, rock, American pop, house, and chalga or Bulgarian pop-folk. The city beaches also known as sea baths have hot sulfuric mineral springs and small, sheltered marinas.

To learn about the flora and fauna of the Black Sea head on over to the Varna Aquarium. It is home to more than 140 species of fish and also features freshwater fish. Mediterranean fish, exotic species from far-off places of the World Oceans, mussels, and algae.

For added fun and excitement take a look at the Varna Dolphinarium which is the only one on the Balkan Peninsula. It was built in 1984 and has 1134 seats.

If you are into extreme sports and a bit of a daredevil don’t pass up the chance to bungee jump off of the 2.4 km long and 50 m high Asparuhov Most Bridge.

The Wonderful Rocks are strange rock forms that in 1949 were awarded “Natural Phenomenon” status. These are 50-meter-stone needles standing at the riverside like towers of some abstract fortresses. These are favorites of rock climbers.

Barita is best described as an open-air museum with five traditional houses. There is also a restaurant built from local stone and wood. At the ethnographical museum, you can see typical crafts and clothing. Traditional song and dance performances are presented. The complex is in a lovely setting next to a river surrounded by green hills.

Euxinograd was once a monastery. The head of state Prince Ferdinand I hired architects from France to design formal gardens around this French-style chateau. In the monastery's converted cellar a winery was built with a small bottling plant. Today it is the summer residence for the president but visitors can take a tour of the gardens and topiaries.