Byala – Coast, Nature and Culture
Accommodation in Byala
Byala combines a varied coastline with maritime culture, nature-related attractions and festivals. The municipality’s rocky shores, small bays and stretches of beach alternate with sand dunes. The coast also features a wide beach, deciduous forest and favorable seawater temperatures. This means a stay can be planned around more than just the beach, with cultural and nature interests also in mind. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, first consider whether the sea and beach or cultural and landscape attractions will be the focus of your holiday.
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Photo: Photo: Mariya Yovcheva
Coast and beach areas
The “Byala–Karadere” beach lies within the Natura 2000 protected area BG0000100 “Plazh Shkorpilovtsi”. The area protects natural habitats as well as wild plant and animal species. Byala’s coast is therefore shaped not only by its varied shorelines, but also by designated nature protection areas.
The municipality’s beach area is divided into eight concession sections: “Byala-Karadere”, “Byala-Central I”, “Byala-Central II”, “Byala-Central III”, “Byala-Central IV”, “Byala-Central V”, “Byala–Chaika” and “Byala-South”. The names distinguish Karadere, five central sections, Chaika and the southern section. Together with rocky shores, small bays and beach areas with sand dunes, they create a varied coastal landscape. When planning your holiday, you can therefore first consider whether you are choosing Byala primarily for the sea or for its combination of coast, nature and culture.
Protected areas in the municipality
Nature-related attractions in Byala extend beyond the beach. The protected area BG0000133 “Kamchiyska i Emenska Planina”, designated under the Habitats Directive, includes land in the villages of Gospodinovo, Dyulino and Popovich. Another protected area, BG0002044 “Kamchiyska Planina”, is designated under the Birds Directive. Within the municipality, it includes the town of Byala and the villages of Goritsa, Gospodinovo, Dyulino, Popovich and Samotino.
“Kamchiyska Planina” also extends across other areas in the Burgas and Varna regions. Its total area is 888972,310 decares, of which 27,437 square kilometres are marine area. These protected areas offer nature enthusiasts another perspective on the municipality: they encompass several settlements and connect the coastal area with inland areas, without implying any particular route to visit them.
Museum: archaeology, maritime culture and geology
The Byala Municipal Museum brings together archaeological and ethnographic themes. The archaeological exhibition focuses on the Late Antique fortress at Cape Sveti Atanas. The ethnographic exhibition explores maritime culture and presents ways of life, traditions and livelihoods. Those interested in the town’s history and life on the coast will find two different ways to discover Byala here.
Another special feature is the “Belite Skali” collection, with fossils, ores and rock specimens from the natural phenomenon “Belite Skali”. It is described as a continuous limestone geological profile from the Cretaceous–Tertiary period, dating back around 65 million years. The Municipal Museum was founded in 2012 to preserve the tangible and intangible cultural and historical heritage, traditions and rituals of the Byala Municipality for present and future generations. In addition to archaeological and ethnographic themes, the museum thus also offers a geological perspective on the region.
Festivals, traditions and wine
Recurring cultural events include the annual dance festival “Tantsi kray moreto” (“Dances by the Sea”). Every summer, Byala also hosts “Sedmitsa na moreto” (“Sea Week”). This traditional festival has a maritime atmosphere and features cultural events and a variety of entertainment for the whole family. Those who would also like to take local festival traditions into account when planning their trip will find further points of interest alongside the coast and museum.
Winegrowing is also part of local tradition. The Tryphon Zarezan celebration is part of Byala’s cultural calendar and history. Traditionally, locals gather on 14 February for this festival celebrating winegrowing and a connection to the land. The municipality also offers opportunities for wine tourism; the “Chateau Polikhronov” winery has a tasting room.
Choose the right focus
Byala offers plenty for a range of holiday interests: a coastline with varied landscapes, protected areas, archaeological and ethnographic attractions, festival traditions and wine. If you would like to make the beach the focus of your stay, the named coastal sections can help you find your bearings; if you are more interested in culture, the museum and local festivals add to the picture of the town. The municipality also includes the town of Byala.
More places to discover: Provadia, Avren, Valchi Dol, Beloslav, Vetrino, Varna and Aksakovo.
For the regional travel overview: Varna Province.
