Varna
A district town, situated on Varna Bay on the Black Sea, 469 km
north-east of Sofia ;
a seaside resort. Population of over 350 000. Third in population after Sofia
and
Plovdiv , called the seaside capital of Bulgaria. Terminal station on
the railway lines Sofia -Varna
and Rouse-Varna, a sea port, an international airport, second in traffic
after Sofia
.
The gem of the Bulgarian Black Sea is situated at the end of the big
Varna Bay, with a convenient and well conserved water area. The city's
peculiar sea charm is sublime and moving. Ancient, medieval, renaissance
and modern cultures mingle and coexist throughout the city. Varna lies on
the same latitude of the famous Atlantic resorts Bayonne and Biarritz in
France, on a large, flat and high terrace on the northwestern most curve
of the bay which juts some 7 km inland.
During the holiday season, July and August, the sunshine allows 10-11
hours of sunbathing. There is nothing of the cold Baltic wind or the
summer Riviera heat. The sea is amazingly calm and free of dangerous
tides.
Apart from being a beach resort, Varna rivals the great cities of Sofia
and
Plovdiv , in its offering of cultural attractions and historical
buildings, museums and art galleries. It also provides access to some of
the quieter scenic spots along the coast, including the nature reserve of
Kamchiya, the royal palace of Balchik and the hillside monastery of
Aladzha...
Varna is an 'around-the-year' holiday destination. Beyond the high
Season its balneotherapy facilities can help you unwind and enjoy the many
sights and sounds in peace.
Seaside Park - the biggest park of Varna, situated by the beach. Its
construction begins in 1878. Within the park area one can find the Seaside
Baths, the Navy Museum, the Museum of Natural History, the Aquarium
(unique exposition of water organisms - Black Sea, freshwater, tropical
fishes), the Astronomical Observatory and the Planetarium which organizes
observation seances for visitors, Dolphinarium with an amusing show, etc.
The Church of the Assumption - this church is second in scale after St.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia .
Erected in 1884-1886 by the master builder Gencho Kunev in honour of the
Liberation from Ottoman yoke. Modern Byzantine architecture. Spacious
interior, woodcarver iconostasis by masters belonging to the school of
Debur, stained glass. The church is painted in 1949-1950. Declared
monument of culture.
Evksinograd - a small palace in the vicinity of Varna built for a
summer residence of Knyaz Alexander of Battenberg, later used by tzars
Ferdinand and Boris III, nowadays - a residence of the government. The
construction, started in 1886, the accomplished with the participation of
the Viennese architect Rumpelmeyer, the Swiss architect H. Meyer and
architect N. Lazarov. The architectural design reminds of the French
18th-century palaces. The building is situated amidst a beautiful park
with rare exotic plants.
Varna halocline necropolis In 1972 on the northern bank of Varna lake
was discovered the Varna halocline necropolis, dated from the second part
of the fifth millennium BC. The discovered finds prove the existence of a
developed civilization in south Eastern Europe. Potter masks with golden
applications, ceramic tools, copper decorations and etc were found in the
excavated over 200 burial mounts. Over 3000 golden tools with total weight
of 6, 5 kilograms were found there and they are considered to be the
oldest cultivated gold in the world. |
