TOUR GUIDING IN ENGLISH Bulgaria s Black Sea Coast

Bisser Popov Svetla Nedeva TOUR GUIDING IN ENGLISH Bulgaria s Black Sea Coast

Bisser Popov Svetla Nedeva TOUR GUIDING IN ENGLISH Bulgaria s Black Sea Coast 2015 Science and Economics Publishing House University of Economics Varna

All rights reserved. This book or any part of it cannot be copied or distributed electronically without the publisher s written permission. Bisser Hristov Popov, Svetla Koleva Nedeva, authors, 2015 Science and Economics Publishing House, University of Economics Varna, 2015. ISBN 978-954-21-0840-5

CONTENTS 1. Preface... 11 2. The Black Sea and its Bulgarian Coast... 13 3. Bulgaria s Black Sea Coast... 15 4. Bulgaria s Black Sea Riviera and Resorts... 16 5. Northern Black Sea Coast... 17 6. Cape Sivriburun... 17 7. Cape Kartalburun... 18 8. Cape Ursuzburun... 18 9. Cosmos Campsite... 19 10. Village of Durankulak... 19 11. Lake Durankulak Protected Area... 23 12. Village of Krapets... 24 13. Town of Shabla... 26 14. Cape Shabla... 27 15. Lake Shabla... 28 16. Shabla Tuzla... 30 17. Village of Tyulenovo... 30 18. Village of Kamen Bryag... 32 19. Yailata Locality... 33 20. Steppes... 34 21. Dobroudzha... 35 22. City of Dobrich... 37 23. Town of Kavarna... 40 24. Village of Bulgarevo... 44 25. Cape Kalliakra... 45 26. Roussalka Holiday Club... 51 27. Taouk Liman Nature Reserve... 52 28. Bollata Locality... 54 29. Bulgarian Golf Riviera... 55 30. Kalliakria Resort... 55 31. Topola Skies Golf & Spa Resort... 56 32. Thracian Cliffs Golf and Spa Resort... 57 33. BlackSeaRama Golf & Villas Resort... 59 34. Lighthouse Golf & Spa Resort... 61

35. White Lagoon... 62 36. Balchik Tuzla Locality & Resort Complex... 63 37. Spa & Health Conditions of Bulgaria s Black Sea Coast... 66 38. Town of Balchik... 72 39. Resort of Albena... 83 40. River Battova... 87 41. Balta(ta) Nature Reserve... 88 42. Village of Obrochishte... 89 43. Village of Kranevo... 90 44. The Frangha Tableland... 92 45. Resort of Golden Sands (Zlatni Pyassatsi)... 93 46. Riviera Holiday Club... 97 47. Golden Sands (Zlatni Pyassatsi) Nature Park... 98 48. Aladzha Rock Monastery... 100 49. Resort & Villa Community of Chaika... 101 50. Monastery of Sts. Constantine & Helen... 101 51. Resort of Sts. Constantine & Helen... 102 52. Resort of Sunny Day... 107 53. Euxinograde Residence... 108 54. City of Varna:... 114 1) General Information... 114 2) Geography, Transport and Climate... 116 3) Etymology of the Name... 118 4) History... 119 5) Economy & Industry... 130 6) Population... 133 7) Education & Culture... 134 8) Sights... 135 55. South of Varna... 136 56. Lake Varna... 136 57. The Avren Tableland... 139 58. Kamchiya... 141 59. Village of Shkorpilovtsi... 145 60. Kara Dere Locality... 146 61. Town of Byala... 147 62. Town of Obzor... 150

63. Irakli Locality... 155 64. Cape Emine... 156 65. Village of Emona... 159 66. The Balkan Mountains... 160 67. Southern Black Sea Coast... 163 68. Elenite Holiday Club... 163 69. Town of St. (Sveti) Vlas... 164 70. Resort of Sunny Beach (Slanchev Bryag)... 165 71. Town of Nessebur... 169 72. Sights of Nessebur:... 174 - Archeological Museum... 175 - Nessebur Churches... 177 - Ethnographical Museum... 185 - Old Nessebur Houses... 186 - Fortress Walls... 187 - Early-Byzantine Baths (Thermae)... 188 - Windmills... 189 73. South of Nessebur and North of Bourgas... 189 74. Village of Ravda... 189 75. Village of Akheloi... 190 76. Town of Pomorie... 191 77. Pomorie Lagoon Lake (Lake Anchialos)... 198 78. Sights of Pomorie:... 199 - History Museum & Gallery... 199 - Museum of Salt... 199 - Old Pomorie Houses Architectural Reserve... 200 - Church of Transfiguration... 200 - Church of the Nativity of the Holy Mother of God... 201 - St. George Monastery... 201 - Ancient Thracian Tumular Tomb... 202 - Poet Yavorov s Cliffs... 203 79. Sarafovo Housing Suburb... 203 80. Lake Atanasovsko... 204 81. City of Bourgas:... 205 1) History... 205 2) Industry & Economy:... 208

- In the Recent Past... 208 - Today... 209 3) Education... 210 4) Tourism... 210 5) Sights:... 212 - Regional Museum of History... 213 - Ethnographic Museum... 213 - Art Gallery... 214 - Drama Theater... 214 - Opera House... 215 - Maritime Gardens... 215 - Bourgas Bridge... 216 - Sea Baths... 216 - Iconic Landmarks... 216 - Festivals and Events Calendar... 218 82. Around and South of Bourgas... 220 83. Island of St. Anastasia... 220 84. Lake Bourgas (Vaya)... 220 85. Lake Mandra... 221 86. Poda Protected Area... 222 87. Chenghene Skele Bay... 223 88. Medni Rid (Copper Ridge)... 223 89. The Strandzha Mountains... 224 A) Climate, Relief & Soils... 225 B) Flora & Fauna... 226 C) Strandzha Nature Park... 228 D) Cultural & Historical Heritage... 231 E) Lifestyle, Traditions, Population, Settlements... 232 - Town of Malko Turnovo... 232 - The Strandzha House Architecture... 234 - The Rite of Nestinarstvo (Fire dancing)... 234 F) Tourist Landmarks in the Strandzha... 237 - Village of Brushlyan... 237 - Town of Malko Turnovo... 237 - Town of Akhtopol... 237 - Indipaskha Locality... 237

- The River Mladezhka Springs... 237 - Village of Gramatikovo... 237 - Village of Bulgari... 238 - Petrova Niva Historical Locality... 238 G) Ilinden-Preobrazhenie (St. Elijah & Transfiguration Days) Uprising... 238 90. Bourgas Mineral/Thermal Baths... 239 91. Village of Athiya... 239 92. Cape Akin... 240 93. Town of Chernomorets... 241 94. Town of Sozopol... 241 95. Sights of Sozopol... 247 А) Ancient Apollonia National Architectural & Archeological Rezerve:... 247 - Ancient & Medieval Christian Complex... 248 - Ancient Necropoleis... 250 - Fortress Walls... 250 B) Museums:... 250 - Archeological Museum... 250 - The Thracian House... 251 - Fortress Wall with A Tower Private Museum... 251 - Art Gallery... 251 - Center of Underwater Archeology... 252 C) Cultural Events:... 252 - Festival of the Town of Sozopol... 252 - Apollonia Festival of the Arts... 252 - Fish Festival... 253 96. Island of St. John (Ivan)... 253 97. Island of St. Peter... 255 98. Island of St. Cyril... 255 99. South of Sozopol... 256 100. Kavatsi Bay... 256 101. Sand Lily Rezerve... 257 102. Dunes (Dyuni) Holiday Club... 257 103. Alepou Bay... 258 104. St. Thoma s (Snake) Island... 258

105. Arkoutino Bay & Marshland... 259 106. River Ropotamo... 259 107. Cape Maslen (Olive-Oil)... 261 108. Ancient Thracian Town of Ranouli... 261 109. Stomoplo Bay... 261 110. Beglik Tash Megalithic Complex... 262 111. Town of Primorsko... 263 112. Primorsko International Youth Center... 264 113. Village of Yasna Polyana... 265 114. Village of Kiten... 266 115. Karaagach Bays... 267 116. Atliman Bays... 268 117. River Karaagach... 268 118. Village of Lozenets... 268 119. Coral Campsite... 269 120. Arapya Bay & Campsite... 269 121. Town of Tsarevo... 269 122. Village of Varvara (Barbara)... 272 123. Town of Akhtopol... 273 124. River Veleka... 275 125. Village of Sinemorets... 276 126. Protected Area of Silistar... 277 127. Village of Rezovo... 277 128. River Rezovska... 278 129. Selected bibliography... 280