Sights in Bulgaria
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Peyo Yavorov House-Museum
The Romantic poet and revolutionary Peyo Yavorov (1878–1914;) briefly lived in the small apartment in this house, now a low-key museum. The three rooms here have been restored to their original appearance, although there are worrying cracks everywhere. Ghoulish mementos include the dress Yavorov’s wife, Lora, was wearing when she killed herself in the study, Yavorov’s death-mask and several photographs of the unhappy couple. Ring the doorbell for admittance.
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Museum
Housed in a scruffy concrete building on a lane running down to the port, this museum is a little disappointing given Sozopol’s long and rich history, but the artefacts and dry English texts at least give you some insight into the town’s past. Anchors, amphorae and pottery take up most of the space, including some painted 5th-century-BC vases, tableware imported from Greece and terracotta figurines of actors unearthed at the Apollonia necropolis, on Harmanite Beach.
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House-Museum
This unique house-museum, set around a lovely enclosed garden, contains manuscripts and paintings by locally born Milev (1895–1925). Despite losing an eye in WWI, Milev continued to write poetry dealing with social issues, such as Septemvri, about the September 1923 agrarian revolution. The political sympathies of Milev’s work led to it being confiscated by the authorities. The writer was arrested, put on trial, and then kidnapped by the police and murdered.
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Church of Sveta Sofia
The Church of Sveta Sofia as it stands today is a much-restored 6th-century foundation, making it the oldest Orthodox church in the Bulgarian capital, to which it eventually gave its name. The church fell victim to invading hordes, fires and earthquakes several times over the centuries, and after a devastating 1858 earthquake, the building, then used as a mosque, was abandoned. The present, rather sober, red-brick structure is mostly 19th century, and was restored as a church in the early 20th century.
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Maritime Park
Stretching lazily along the Black Sea coast, this grassy haven - filled with manicured flowerbeds, fountains, busts of Bulgarian worthies, abstract sculptures and plenty of cafés - is the pride of Burgas. At the end of bul Aleko Bogoridi, it's a relaxing place to wander on a warm summer evening and is popular with everyone from bench-warming pensioners to promenading teenagers and young families.
There are some spectacular views over the sea from the terraces, and steps lead down from here towards the beach.
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Yuzhen Park
South of bul Bâlgaria, Yuzhen Park is a vast green sprawl, filled with trees and shady pathways, and is the closest you'll come to open countryside within the city. It's wilder, less managed, more peaceful and less populated than other Sofia parks and has some superb, uninterrupted views towards Mount Vitosha.
A sparkling stream with bubbles through it, and there are a handful of discreet bars and cafés which are not always easy to find, but it's a satisfying place to get lost in and explore for yourself.
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Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin
Standing a block north of pl Nezavisimost, this large cathedral was built between 1880 and 1886 by the architect Gencho Kunev, in celebration of the country’s recent independence from Ottoman rule. Topped with golden onion domes, which alleviate the sombre, blocky appearance of its main body, the church is a much-cherished symbol of the city, second in size only to the Aleksander Nevski Memorial Church in Sofia. Note the murals (painted in 1950), colourful stained-glass windows and intricately carved bishop’s throne.
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St Georgi Church
A two- to three-hour walking tour will suffice to see all of Tryavna’s sights. From the bus station, head east (away from the train line) and then turn right along ul Angel Kânchev to reach the impressive St Georgi Church on the left. Completed in 1852, it features some beautiful icons and carvings. Further on the right is the Angel Kânchev House-Museum. Built in 1805, it contains exhibits about revolutionary hero Kânchev, and the liberation of Tryavna during the Russo-Turkish War.
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Angel Kânchev House-Museum
A two- to three-hour walking tour will suffice to see all of Tryavna’s sights. From the bus station, head east (away from the train line) and then turn right along ul Angel Kânchev to reach the impressive St Georgi Church on the left. Completed in 1852, it features some beautiful icons and carvings. Further on the right is the Angel Kânchev House-Museum. Built in 1805, it contains exhibits about revolutionary hero Kânchev, and the liberation of Tryavna during the Russo-Turkish War.
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Ruins of Eumolpias
Some 203m high in the old town, a hill contains sparse ruins of Eumolpias, a Thracian settlement from about 5000 BC. The fortress and surrounding town enjoyed a strategic position, and it was later bolstered by Macedonians, Romans, Byzantines, Bulgarians and Turks, who named it Nebet Tepe (Prayer Hill). While the remaining rubble is rather formless, the site does offer great views. The hill is best reached from ul Dr Chomakov (the continuation of ul Sâborna).
Partially restored remains of a 13th-century reservoir are also here.
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Ethnographical Museum
Spread over two floors, the Ethnographical Museum has a permanent collection of regional costumes and crafts, although most of the space is usually occupied by long-term temporary exhibitions on topics of varying interest, such as traditional festivals or carpet-making. (Everything is captioned in English.) Some rooms are in poor condition, but others, with their marble fireplaces, mirrors and ornate plasterwork, are worth pausing over; note the lobster, fish and dead duck on the ceiling of what was once presumably a royal dining room.
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Kulata Ethnological Complex
Just down from Tyulbe Park and the Thracian tomb, you’ll find the appealing Kulata (Tower) district, site of the Kulata Ethnological Complex. A replica of a one-storey peasant’s home and wooden sheds with agricultural implements and carts are among the rustic exhibits. A courtyard leads to the two-storey House of Hadzhi Eno, built by a wealthy rose merchant in Bulgarian National Revival–period style. Some explanations in German and English are given, and you may be invited by the caretaker to sample some rose tea, liquor or jam.
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Church of Sveti Dimitâr
Across the river, enclosed by a high wall, is Târnovo’s oldest church, the beautifully proportioned Church of Sveti Dimitâr. Built in the so-called Târnovo style, it was named after St Dimitrios, patron saint of Thessaloniki in northern Greece. During the church’s consecration in 1185, Tsars Asen and Petâr proclaimed an uprising against Byzantine rule, which would create the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185–1396). It’s often closed, but a warden at the Church of Sveti Petar & Pavel can open it on request.
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Devin Museum
A comically gruff reception awaits visitors at the little Devin Museum, which exhibits Rodopi folk arts and crafts, ancient and medieval coins, and colourful minerals from local mountains. Prominently positioned reproductions of salacious 19th-century paintings depict wicked Turks whipping Bulgarian women, hurling Bulgarians babies and carrying off slaves. The roomful of traditional implements and machinery, however, is quite interesting, and also displays the gayda (Balkan bagpipe) of Bai Mihail. In winter the museum operates only in afternoons.
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Hindlian House
Once owned by merchant Stepan Hindlian, Hindlian House, built in 1835, is one of Plovdiv’s most opulent. It’s full of exquisite period furniture and walls painted with real and imaginary landscapes of Venice, Alexandria and Constantinople. These scenes, which took six months to complete, impressed visitors by showing the locales of the owner’s overseas trading empire. The magnificent panelled ceilings and ‘Oriental style’ marble bathroom, with its high, domed ceiling and skylight are other highlights. The small courtyard garden is lovely, too.
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House-Museum of Nikola Vaptsarov
The House-Museum of Nikola Vaptsarov is where Nikola Vaptsarov (1909–42), a respected antifascist poet and activist, was born. Influenced by communist ideology while a student, his populist writings led Vaptsarov to be arrested and tortured by the wartime fascist government; he wrote his most famous poem, in fact, while awaiting execution. Period décor in the museum’s rooms, plus photographs, documents and Vaptsarov’s personal belongings are exhibited, while a short video, followed by an audio tape (English, French or German) provides background.
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Geo Milev House-Museum
The unique Geo Milev House-Museum, set around a lovely enclosed garden, contains manuscripts and paintings by locally-born Milev (1895-1925). Despite losing an eye in WWI, Milev continued to write poetry dealing with social issues, such as Septemvri, about the September 1923 agrarian revolution. The political sympathies of Milev's work led to it being confiscated by the authorities.
The writer was arrested, put on trial, and then kidnapped by the police and murdered. Contemporary artists also sell their work in the museum, which has a relaxing café in the garden courtyard.
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Beach
Steps from Primorski Park lead down to the city's long, sandy beach, which is hugely popular with local sunbathers, paddlers and beach volleyball players. There are also a couple of tiny, outdoor, steaming mineral-water pools, more popular with rheumatic pensioners. The main attraction, though, is the long coastal lane, officially known as aleya Georgi Georgiev but more commonly referred to either as Plazhna aleya or Kraybrezhna aleya.
Some of the trendiest bars are found here, although most only have a brief existence in the summer sunshine and many change names from one year to the next.
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Museum of the Roses
The grandly named Research Institute for Roses, Aromatic & Medicinal Plants houses this tiny museum. The photos and displays explain (in Bulgarian only) the 300-year-old method of cultivating the roses, picking their petals and processing the oil. The attached shop sells rose oils, perfumes, shampoos, liqueurs, tea bags and jams. The museum is 3km north of the centre up ul Osvobozhdenie; take a taxi (3 lv one way), or bus 3 from Kazanlâk’s main square. Guided tours (rates negotiable) are available in English and French, but ring first about opening times in winter.
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Oslekov House
Oslekov House was built by Oslekov, a rich merchant who was killed in the line of duty during the 1876 April Uprising. Oslekov House was built between 1853 and 1856, and is arguably the best example of Bulgarian National Revival–period architecture in Koprivshtitsa, with a triple-arched entrance, spacious interior, stylish furniture and brightly coloured walls. Woodcarved ceilings, collections of 19th-century costumes, paintings and jewellery add to the experience. Several woodcarvings, some of which were bought during Oslekov’s extensive travels, are also on display.
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National Polytechnic Museum
One of Sofia’s less visited attractions, this small museum is nevertheless a treasure trove for anyone interested in the history of science and technology. On show is a varied (though not always well labelled) collection covering such subjects as photography, radio and time measurement. A gleaming, perfectly restored 1928 Ford Model A is parked just inside, while other displays include atomic clocks, typewriters, early movie cameras and mechanical pianos. Look for the Bulgarian-made freeze-dried ‘space food’, which includes a packet of powdered tarator.
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National Museum of Natural History
You can almost sense the ghosts of generations of school parties dutifully trooping through the musty halls of this old-fashioned museum. The didactic collection of animal, plant and mineral specimens is vast, although there’s little labelling in anything but Bulgarian. Rocks, crystals and minerals grace the ground floor, while on the next two floors you can browse cases full of stuffed birds and animals, including a brown bear dangling a Nazi hunting medal from its claw and some threadbare apes, lions and tigers. Pickled fish and cases of dried insects complete the collection.
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Archaeological Museum
The Archaeological Museum has a fair collection of Hellenistic and Roman-era tombstones on the ground floor, as well as an unusual triple-image statuette of Hecate, goddess of witchcraft and fertility, from the 2nd century BC. Other exhibits include Greek pottery, Thracian gold jewellery and ancient anchors, while Hellenistic humour is on show on a bronze jug depicting Dionysus, god of wine, supporting a sozzled Silenus, god of drunkenness. The basement holds a collection of religious icons recovered from Nesebâr’s numerous churches, including a 13th-century image of the Virgin.
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Archaeological Museum
The centrally located Archaeological Museum, built over a Roman villa’s remains, contains tombstones and votive tablets, plus the original villa’s mosaic floor. Sandanski’s apparent link to Spartacus is explained (in Bulgarian), and items from the adjacent ruins of the 5th-century Sveta Ioanna Basilica are also displayed. The basilica ruins themselves are small, but fun to wander around. Much less prominent Byzantine ruins are up on ul Mara Buneva, possibly including a baptistry, though there are no descriptions and not much is visible.
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Royal Palace
Originally built as the headquarters of the Ottoman police force, it was at the Royal Palace that Bulgaria's national hero, Vasil Levski, was tried and tortured before his public execution in 1873. After the Liberation, the building was remodelled in Viennese style and in 1887, apparently undeterred by its grisly recent past, Prince Alexander Battenberg moved in and it became the official residence of Bulgaria's royal family until the communist takeover.
These days it houses the National Art Gallery and the Ethnographical Museum, while the shaded park at the rear contains an odd assemblage of statues.
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