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    Things to do in Varna

    The most interesting things to do in Varna. Photos and a brief description.

    Varna
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    About Varna

    Varna has many names: “pearl of the coast”, “queen of the Black Sea”, “summer capital of Bulgaria” – as soon as this resort town is not called! Thanks to its long and rich history, Varna attracts tourists not only with its beaches, but also with its interesting architecture and priceless cultural heritage.

    The city was owned by the Romans, Byzantines and Turks in turn, which undoubtedly affected its appearance. Roman baths of the II century are adjacent to the mansions of the XIX century, creating a rather unusual contrast.

    Varna is also an important cultural center of Bulgaria. One of the central events is the Varna Summer Festival, which annually gathers thousands of participants and spectators from all over the world.

    Top Tourist Attractions in Varna

    Hammered stones

    Stone columns of natural origin, located 18 km from Varna. It is believed that they arose as a result of weathering of rocks or formed from hardened corals. Over 200 years of research, scientists have not come to a consensus on the veracity of one of the versions. In order to preserve the unique attraction, the area with the stones was declared a natural monument.

    Hammered stones
    Evksinograd

    Evksinograd

    The summer residence of the royal family on the Black Sea coast, which is now used for government receptions. The palace was built at the end of the XIX century by order of Prince A. Battenberg. The residence of the Orleans House in one of the suburbs of Paris, destroyed during the Franco-Prussian War, was taken as a model. The surviving fragments of the Paris Palace were used in the construction of the Euxinograd.

    Seaside Park

    The project of the park was created by the Czech master A. Novak in the XIX century. This picturesque garden on the seashore has long been a favorite place for walks and measured rest. The alleys of the park stretch along the coast, along them are flower beds, fountains and sculptures. There is a terrarium, a zoo, a dolphinarium, a sports complex, a planetarium and several museums. The park even has its own beach.

    Seaside Park
    Roman Baths

    Roman Baths

    The ancient baths were built in the II century and were used until the end of the III century. An impressive bath complex the size of a football field is located in the center of Varna among residential buildings. It is believed that these were the largest baths on the Balkan Peninsula and the fourth largest in the entire Roman Empire. Today, even by the preserved ruins, one can judge the scale of this ancient structure.

    Assumption Cathedral

    The Cathedral of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, which is located in the center of Varna. It was inaugurated in 1886 in honor of the liberation of the city from the rule of the Ottoman Empire with the active participation of the Russian Emperor Alexander II, whose wife was the aunt of Prince Battenberg. In the architecture of the cathedral, you can see the features of the Byzantine style, elements of Russian temple construction and even some Gothic touches.

    Assumption Cathedral
    Armenian Church of St. Sarkis

    Armenian Church of St. Sarkis

    The Armenian Orthodox Church, which was built in the middle of the XIX century on the site of a burned–down church in honor of St. Sarkis, a companion who lived during the time of Emperor Constantine and became famous for converting pagans to the Christian faith. The main facade of the building is made of red brick, the side walls are covered with white plaster. Inside the temple is painted in the Byzantine style.

    Aladzha Monastery

    A rock Orthodox monastery of the XII century, currently lying in ruins. It is known that Christian hermits have lived in the catacombs since the IV century. The monastery existed until the end of the XIV century, until it was destroyed by the Ottomans, but the monks continued to inhabit the caves for another four hundred years. Previously, almost all the grottoes were decorated with frescoes, but today they remain only in the monastery chapel.

    Aladzha Monastery
    Varna Opera House

    Varna Opera House

    The theater stage is located in a picturesque Empire-style mansion, which is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. The Varna Opera is second only to the Sofia Opera in popularity. The troupe was formed in 1947 and immediately began to work on staging works by classical and contemporary authors. Later operettas were added to the repertoire, which allowed attracting more viewers.

    Archaeological Museum

    The museum's collection is considered one of the largest in Bulgaria, as it contains more than 50 thousand copies. A scientific library, an exhibition hall, an archive and classrooms are located on an area of 2 thousand m2. Part of the exposition is displayed in the courtyard. One of the unique exhibits is a collection of gold products, which was discovered in the Varna necropolis. Experts believe that its age is more than 6 thousand years.

    Archaeological Museum
    Ethnographic Museum

    Ethnographic Museum

    The museum opened in 1974 in a 19th-century mansion. His collection is dedicated to the culture and everyday life of the people inhabiting the Varna region. Located on two floors, the exposition covers the time period from the second half of the XIX century to the middle of the XX. In the museum you can learn about the traditional crafts of the region: fishing, beekeeping and viticulture, as well as look at tools and household items.

    Retro Museum

    The meeting was created on the initiative of businessman Ts . Atanasova, who was engaged in collecting retro cars and various items used by residents of the Warsaw Pact member countries. Over time, the exposition grew to such a size that it had to rent a separate room for it. The main "pearl" of the collection is the chaika car, which belonged to Todor Zhivkov.

    Retro Museum
    Museum of the History of Varna

    Museum of the History of Varna

    The museum building is located in the center of Varna near the Roman baths. Here visitors can learn about the history of the city in the period from 1878 to 1939. Most of the collection is a reconstruction of city cafes, shops and workrooms. In the remaining halls, weapons from the period of the First and Second World Wars, as well as the Balkan Wars, clothing, photographs and interior items are displayed.

    National Maritime Museum

    The collection appeared in 1923 thanks to a group of enthusiasts. It consists of naval uniforms, ship models, insignia and naval guns. The exhibits are located in 12 halls. First of all, the exposition will be of interest to lovers of naval military subjects and people who are just interested in ships. The museum has a library with a rich book collection.

    National Maritime Museum
    Park-Museum

    Park-Museum "Vladislav Varnenchik"

    A memorial complex erected in honor of the national hero Vladislav Varnenchik (Vladislav III Jagiello) – the Polish-Hungarian king who died in the battle of 1444, when a united army of Bulgarians, Czechs, Hungarians, Bosnians, Croats, Poles and Romanians tried to stop the invasion of the Ottoman Turks in Europe. The museum was established in 1924. There is a mausoleum of Jagiello on the territory of the complex, but the body of the king himself is not there.

    Dolphinarium

    In Varna, as in almost any seaside resort town, there is its own dolphinarium. All six days a week, when performances are arranged here, the stands are filled to capacity, as funny marine mammals do not leave anyone indifferent. The animals dance during the show and "sing" Bulgarian songs, which leads the audience to indescribable delight.

    Dolphinarium
    Varna Aquarium

    Varna Aquarium

    The aquarium is located in the building of the Institute of Aquaculture and Fisheries, which was erected in 1912. Marine life lives in spacious tanks, where optimal living conditions are created. Part of the exhibition demonstrates the underwater fauna of the Black Sea, the other part is dedicated to the World Ocean. In addition to fish, here you can look at algae, shellfish, octopuses and jellyfish.

    Varna Zoo

    The Varna Zoo is not very large – its territory can be easily bypassed in 30 minutes. The animals here are kept in cages behind bars, so it will be possible to observe them only from afar. The history of the zoo began in 1956, when the crew of a military vessel brought a bear from another voyage. The animal was given the nickname Maxim and settled in a Seaside park. Soon other inhabitants joined him.

    Varna Zoo
    University Botanical Garden

    University Botanical Garden "Ecopark"

    The garden opened to the public in 2002. Previously, the university plant nursery was located on its territory. Exotic plants and local species grow side by side in the "Ecopark". Here you can see sea pine, ginkgo, iron, paper and tulip trees and other interesting specimens. There is a gorgeous rose garden in the park, where more than 30 species of this flower are planted.

    Lake Varna

    A long estuary on the coast near Varna, which is connected to Lake Beloslavsky and the Gulf of Varna by means of navigable channels. The reservoir has an area of 17 km2 and a relatively shallow depth of only 19 meters. Its bottom is covered with a layer of silt and hydrogen sulfide mud, which has medicinal properties. Near the lake is the famous Varna Necropolis.

    Lake Varna
    Cape Kaliakra

    Cape Kaliakra

    The cape is located about 60 km from Varna on the Dobrudzhansky plateau. It is included in the list of the hundred most picturesque attractions of Bulgaria. There is a nature reserve on its territory. The sheer cliffs of the cape rise 70 meters above the sea, protecting the bay from cold winds. There is a legend connected with this place about 40 girls who rushed into the Black Sea in order not to be captured by the Ottoman Turks.