About Varna
Varna Region
Varna is Bulgaria's third largest city and is known as the 'summer capital', ‘seaside capital’ or cosmopolitan capital’ of Bulgaria. The city lies in the Bay of Varna, nestled in a deep valley between the Frengen Plareau and the Avren Plateau. Varna is not only a beach resort, but rivals the larger 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.
Interestingly, the city lies on the same latitude of the famous Atlantic resorts of Bayonne and Biarritz in France.
Varna is an 'around-the-year' holiday destination. During July and August, the sunshine allows 10-11 hours of sunbathing. The sea is very calm and free of dangerous tides. Along the beachside are mud and water therapy facilities, two quays, numerous restaurants and night clubs. Beyond the high Season Varna’s balneotherapy facilities can help you unwind and enjoy the many sights and sounds in peace.
There are a plethora of attractions you can visit in the city and its suburbs.
The Seaside Park is the city’s largest park and is sited by the beach. Within the park area are 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 organises star seances for visitors, and Dolphinarium.
The Festival Complex sits opposite the entrance of the Sea Garden Park. The complex is a modern aluminium, stone and glass construction with several stages, conference halls, and a large bazaar.
The Church of the Assumption, (second in scale to the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia), erected in 1884-1886 is a Declared monument of culture. A small palace in the vicinity of Varna, called Evksinograd is situated amidst a beautiful park with rare exotic plants. The palace was 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 architectural design is reminiscent of an 18th century French palace.
Varna Archaeological Museum hosts the worlds oldest manmade gold. This stems from a discovery made in 1972 of ancient artefacts on the northern bank of Varna Lake. This proved the existence of a developed civilisation in south Eastern Europe dating from the second part of the fifth millennium BC. Known as the Varna Halocline Necropolis, excavation of the site unearthed potter masks, ceramic tools, copper decoration, over 200 burial mounts and 3,000 golden tools with total weight of 6, 5 kilograms. This discovery is considered to be the oldest cultivated gold in the world.
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. The monastery is declared a cultural sight and houses a small museum.
In September 2004, FDI Magazine proclaimed Varna "South-eastern Europe City of the Future", citing its strategic location, fast-growing economy, rich cultural heritage and high quality education.
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