Varna

Stretching along the shores of the Black Sea, along a bay bearing the same name, Varna is Bulgaria’s third largest city. Also known as the “Maritime Capital”, Varna, with its beaches, sights and programmes, is one of the favourite holiday resorts on the Black Sea.

Varna, which the ancient Greeks called Odessos, is a city with an incredible historical heritage. The oldest processed gold in the history of the world is found in the Varna necropolis dating from the 5th century BC.

Varna, Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin

Its most outstanding monument, the former Roman Baths with its close to 400 metres long system of sewerage drains, has remained almost intact to this day.

Many tourists are attracted by the new resorts established nearby, such as Albena, and the zone of development known as “Golden Sands”.

Roman Baths

Attractions in Varna 

Stretching between the coast and the harbour is the old part of the town; one of its most characteristic buildings is the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin with its many domes.

Situated in the south-eastern part of the present-day city of Varna (Odessos in the past), the Roman spa is the largest antique public building (over 7000 sq. m) ever discovered in Bulgaria.

Varna, Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin

The architectural style and the coins found in this region suggest that the Roman spa buildings were constructed around the end of the 2nd century and the beginning of the 3rd century and functioned till the end of the 3rd century.

Museums in Varna 

Of its museums, the best known is the Archaeological Museum with the unique collection of finds from the Varna Chalcolithic Necropolis. Varna’s aquarium, where the typical living creatures inhabiting the Black Sea can be viewed, is also counted among the city’s attractions.

Other remarkable museums in Varna are the Museum of History of Medicine – which is the only one in the Balkans -, the Museum of Maritime Economy, the National Museum of the Navy,  the Ethnographic Museum, the Museum of the National Revival Period, the Museum of the History of Varna, the Natural History Museum and the Museum of Tourism.

Cathedral Interior, Varna

Varna Spa and Wellness

The city’s peculiar sea charm is sublime and moving with its 12 thermal springs with slight mineralization and high level of temperature difference (28° C - 52° C), high water flow capacity and the abundance of firth mud in the Varna lake. There is a whole variety of facilities like baths, kinesitherapy, mineral pools with healing water resources, electro and light treatment, electrophoresis as well as many others. These services as well as world-class health programs are offered in Grand Hotel Varna.

The mineral waters are extremely good for treatment of cardio vascular diseases, nervous system problems and disorders, upper respiratory tract and lung diseases, fatness; however good for various treatment procedures, rehabilitation, primary and secondary prophylaxis and recreation. Similar health disorders are also influenced by the good chemical composition, the value of hydrogen sulphide and hydro dioxide at the spa balneology centre ”St. Konstantin”. The thermal water in Golden sands and Riviera areas is suitable for systematic treatment of digestive system diseases, urinary and endocrine systems.
 

Around Varna 

Located about 5 km northeast of Varna, Euxinograd Palace was originally as the summer residence of Knyaz Alexander I Battenberg (1879-1886), and later it became a government residence. Entry into the residence is restricted; visitors are admitted only in certain days and hours. 

Located about 25 km from Varna, Valley of Kamchiya River with its natural scenery is among the most beautiful natural attractions along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. 

Aladzha Monastery, near Varna

Located about 17 km north from the city of Varna, the rock formations of the Aladzha Monastery are a great tourist attraction for holidaymakers with their calmness and location in the forests of the Golden Sands Nature Park. The caves, hewn into the high sheer rock cliffs, date back to the 9th century. There was a monastery complex here in the period 13th -18th century. The most well-preserved cave is the one which was a chapel and has mural paintings dating from the 14th century.(Open from 10 to 17)

Pobitite Kamuni Natural Reserve is located about 17 km west of Varna. These are unique rock formations, whose age has been determined to be about 50 million years. The hollow rock columns up to 7 m high with a diameter of 2 m have a sand and limestone covering and are located amidst sands.