Varna Province: Nature, Sea and History

Coastal habitats and unusual stone pillars

Kamchia Protected Area covers almost 129,200 decares, of which 7,500 decares are marine areas. Its protected habitats include shallow marine waters and bays, shifting and fixed coastal dunes, wooded dunes and underwater sea caves. The protected area also preserves habitats for, among others, wolves, otters, bottlenose dolphins and pond turtles. Water, dunes and marine environments shape the nature theme here.

Pobiti Kamani offers a geological contrast. The Centre–South group comprises around 300 large and small stone pillars, reaching up to six metres in height. Pobiti Kamani is a Natura 2000 protected area designated to preserve Bulgaria’s largest inland sand habitats. The road network is one option for getting there; if taking bus route 43 to the “Razklon Banovo” stop in Slanchevo, check current service before travelling.

Parks and nature experiences in Varna

Varna Sea Garden combines peaceful avenues and varied natural vegetation with numerous cultural monuments. The University Botanical Garden has a different character: it is considered the country’s first ecopark and combines artificial and natural ecosystems. Those interested in animals will find another side of the city at Varna Zoo, which displays more than 60 animal species, with around 400 animals in total.

The sea and science are also represented in Varna. The Aquarium offers insights into the flora and fauna of the Black Sea, as well as its hydrological and hydrochemical characteristics. Festa Dolphinarium is a unique attraction in Bulgaria. Together with the zoo and Detski kut, these offer different options for days out with children: Detski kut has 28 attractions adapted for different age groups of children. This age grouping can help you decide which experiences you would like to explore further.

Discover archaeology and history

The treasure from the Chalcolithic necropolis is on display at the Varna Archaeological Museum and is considered the oldest technologically worked gold in the world. Most objects from the necropolis date from 4600 to 4200 BC and are now held mainly in the museum. The dating and the gold treasure offer two different perspectives on the same archaeological site: life in the Copper Age and the distinctive craftsmanship of the objects.

Another route into history leads to the Vladislav Varnenchik Park-Museum Complex. The memorial site is located at the exact spot of the battle of 10 November 1444, in the western part of Varna. The Nikolay Kopernik complex was Bulgaria’s first astronomical complex; it included an observatory, a planetarium and a tower with a Foucault pendulum. The two themes have distinct focuses: the history of the battle on the one hand, and the history of astronomical facilities on the other.

Ovech Fortress was first used from the 3rd century until the first decades of the 7th century, and again from the 10th or 11th century until the end of the 17th century. Its visible features include a 79-metre-deep well said to be “speaking,” the Bishop’s Church, the Knights’ Prison, a tower with the Devil’s Path and the Monk’s Holes. Near Provadia lies Provadia-Solnitsata, an area dating from 5600 to 4350 BC and described as Europe’s earliest prehistoric salt-mining and urban centre. The prehistoric stone fortress there includes defensive walls four to five metres high, built around 4700 BC.

Local traditions can also be explored through museum exhibits: the Varna Ethnographic Museum presents winemaking as one of the traditional occupations of the local population. This is a presentation of a traditional activity, not an offer of wine. Cultural insights thus complement the archaeological and historical sites, without limiting the trip to a single era.

The right holiday apartment for your travel plans

When choosing a holiday apartment, it is worth first considering which experiences interest you most: coastal and protected areas, the stone pillars of Pobiti Kamani, or museums and historical sites in Varna. These priorities can help tailor your search to your vacation plans. If you would like to combine several themes, compare the locations you plan to visit with the location of the holiday apartment on offer before making your decision.

Discover more destinations

Provadia, Varna, Vetrino, Valchi Dol, Avren, Dolni Chiflik, Aksakovo, Beloslav, Dalgopol, Byala, Devnya

For the overview of the wider region: Bulgaria.