About this experience
You will explore the 'sand castle' at the Marvelous Rocks, and in the ancient fortress, you will hear about the intricacies of resistance to medieval invaders. You will visit the very place where Cyril and Methodius worked on the famous alphabet. You will also learn about the 'mother of the Christian faith' in the Balkans and see recent findings from the world of Ancient Rome.
What to expect
The Marvelous Rocks - a natural phenomenon in Bulgaria
Road from Burgas (or any resort nearby) to the first site will take about an hour. So, first you will visit lake Tzonevo, where the quirky natural formations - the Marvelous Rocks - are located. They are not often mentioned in guidebooks, but the place is picturesque, and photos against the backdrop of rocks resembling a sand castle can be a beautiful addition to your photo collection.
A bit about medieval battles
Then I will take you to a stone plateau where the strategically important Ovech Fortress stood in the Middle Ages with powerful stone staircases and hanging bridges. Here we will talk about the 12-14th-century era, Byzantine raids on the Bulgarian kingdom, and the significance of the landscape, which often saved the state from enemy incursions.
Pliska - ancient capital of the First Bulgarian Empire
The most interesting here are the ruins of the 9th-century basilica. You will learn how, built immediately after the baptism of Bulgaria, it became the largest episcopal center in the Balkans and received the status of the Bulgarian 'mother of the Christian faith.' You will see the extensive restoration work on the basilica, and nearby you will explore the preserved walls of the monastery cells, where we will discuss the renowned brothers Cyril and Methodius who lived and worked here on creating the Cyrillic alphabet.
Madara Rider
Finally, you will visit another amazing place - a cliff where in memory of the victory over the Byzantines, the Bulgarian Khan Tervel in the early 8th century ordered to carve his image in natural size into the rock. Thus, the Madara Rider appeared, which to this day looks down on everyone from a height of several tens of meters.
Lunch at a cozy place and a little something else
After having lunch in a wonderful restaurant in a small Bulgarian village, you will return along a picturesque serpentine road along the sea. And as a finale, a small surprise awaits you. You will visit an excavation site where very recently remains of Roman presence were discovered, with church foundations, baths, and huge amphorae buried in the ground. In addition, here you will discover a fantastic view of white cliffs and the endless sea expanse.
Organizational details
- The tour takes place in a comfortable car.
- I will meet you at hotels in Burgas, Sunny Beach, Nessebar, Sozopol, Primorsko, Pomorie, and other resorts near Burgas, as well as from Obzor and Byala. And after the tour, I will take you back.
- I can pick you up in Golden Sands, but the transfer will take more time, so this option is possible for an additional fee and by prior arrangement.
- Lunch and entrance tickets to the 'Madara Rider' park are not included - 2.5 euros per person.
