Bulgaria’s Must‑see Landmarks
Bulgaria is one of the oldest countries in Europe and full of must‑see sights. Check some of them out here!
The Rila Monastery
The Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila, better known as the Rila Monastery, is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. It is situated in the southwestern Rila Mountains, in the deep valley of the Rilska River. The monastery is named after its founder, the hermit Ivan of Rila (876‑946 AD), and houses around 60 monks.
@danflyingsolo
One of the most popular attractions in #Bulgaria is Rila Monastery – often a day trip from Sofia, but being in the snowy mountains, actually quicker to reach from Bansko. At its peak, over 200 monks would have lived in the 199 bedrooms here, although now only about 10 reside. Inscribed onto the #UNESCO world heritage list, the monastery days back to the 10th century, although it’s been attacked and destroyed over the years, most notably by the fire of the Ottomans, it’s always been rebuilt. Parts of it are off limits to day trippers, although there is a chance to spend the night staying in one of the basic and traditional rooms for the monks, which I reckon would have been pretty damn cool to do! 🇧🇬 #RilaMonastery#monastery#bulgarian
Plovdiv’s Old Town
Plovdiv is the oldest living city in Europe and among the six oldest cities in the world. The Old Town is one of the most beautiful parts of the city, offering an impressive architectural and historical reserve. It combines ancient Roman and Bulgarian Revivalist architecture, and is included in UNESCO’s World Heritage tentative list.
@danflyingsolo
Postcards from #Plovdiv 🇧🇬 The second city of #Bulgaria and last years European capital of culture.
The Seven Rila Lakes
The Seven Rila Lakes are a group of glacial lakes, situated in the Rila Mountain, between 2,100 and 2,500 metres elevation above sea level. Each lake is named after its most characteristic feature.
The highest one is called Salzata (The Tear) because of its clear waters. The next one in height is named Okoto (The Eye) for its almost perfect oval form. Babreka (The Kidney) is the lake with the steepest shores. Bliznaka (The Twin) is the largest one by area. Trilistnika (The Trefoil) has an irregular shape and low shores. The shallowest lake is Ribnoto Ezero (The Fish Lake) and the lowest one is Dolnoto Ezero (The Lower Lake), where the waters that flow out of the other lakes form the Dzherman River.
@georgi_hadjiiski
Rila Lakes
St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
The St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is an Orthodox cathedral in Sofia. Built in Neo‑Byzantine style, it serves as the cathedral church of the Patriarch of Bulgaria and is one of the 50 largest Christian church buildings in the world. It is the largest Orthodox Cathedral located in Southeast Europe.
@alevchukbg
Autumn Sofia and of course its visiting card – Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
The Buzludzha Monument
The Monument House of the Bulgarian Communist Party, also known as the Buzludzha Monument, was built on Buzludzha Peak in central Bulgaria by the Bulgarian communist government and inaugurated in 1981. It commemorates the events of 1891, when a group of socialists assembled secretly in the area to plan for Bulgaria’s socialist future. After the fall of the communist regime in Bulgaria, the construction was abandoned and its works of art were severely damaged by vandalism.
@visualcreativity
Seen an epic instagram photo of an abandoned building a while ago. It turned out that it was in Bulgaria and it’s called ‘The Buzludzha Monument’.
The Melnik Pyramids
The Melnik Pyramids are rock formations, known as hoodoos, situated at the foothills of the Pirin mountain range in south‑western Bulgaria, near the town of Melnik. Reaching a height of up to 100m, the sandstone pyramids are shaped in forms resembling giant mushrooms, ancient towers and obelisks. The pyramids are a geological phenomenon of global importance and were declared a natural landmark in 1960. The rock formations are home to rich flora and fauna heavily influenced by the Mediterranean climate.
@ourhomebulgaria
The Melnik Pyramids 💚 Declared a natural landmark in 1960, the Melnik Pyramids are one of the most visited sites in Bulgaria.
No. 7
Veleka Beach
Veleka Beach is located in the village of Sinemorets, at the mouth of the Veleka River and one of the most beautiful beaches in Bulgaria. It is located in an isolated place, but it is an extremely beautiful and quiet beach. Beachgoers can bathe in both the sea and in the colder waters of the river.
@travelfest.bg
When I forget how talented God is, I just look at the sea.
The Largo
The Largo, also known as the Triangle of Power, is an architectural ensemble of three Socialist Classicism edifices in central Sofia, designed and built in the 1950s with the intention of becoming the city’s new representative centre. Today it is regarded as one of the prime examples of Socialist Classicism architecture in Southeastern Europe, as well as one of the main landmarks of Sofia.
@pixelsbyjivko
Devetashka Cave
The Devetashka Cave is a large karst cave situated near the village of Devetaki on the east bank of the Osam River. The site has been occupied by Paleo humans for tens of thousands of years, and has served as a shelter for various faunal species during extensive periods of time. It is now home to nearly 30,000 bats.
@robertmichaelpoole
🦇 THE BULGARIAN BATCAVE 🦇
Ivan Vazov National Theatre
The Ivan Vazov National Theatre is Bulgaria’s national theatre, as well as the oldest and most authoritative theatre in the country and one of the important landmarks of Sofia. It is located in the centre of the city, with the facade facing the City Garden.
@pixelsbyjivko
Asen’s Fortress
Asen’s Fortress is a medieval fortress in the Rhodope Mountains. The earliest archaeological findings about it date from the time of the Thracians, and the area was also inhabited during the Ancient Roman and Early Byzantine period. The fortress gained importance in the Middle Ages, first mentioned in the statute of the Bachkovo Monastery in the 11th century. It was conquered by the armies of the Third Crusade, and was later considerably renovated in the 13th century during the rule of Bulgarian tsar Ivan Asen II to serve as a border fortification against Latin raids.
@alevchukbg
Assen’s Fortress (or Assen’s Fortress; Bulgarian: Асенова крепост) is a medieval fortress located in the Bulgarian Rhodope Mountains, 2-3 kilometers south of Asenovgrad, on a hill on the left bank of the Chepelare River.
National Palace of Culture
The National Palace of Culture, located in Sofia, is the largest multifunctional conference and exhibition centre in south‑eastern Europe. It was inaugurated in 1981 to commemorate Bulgaria’s 1300th anniversary.
@arashotz
Shipka Memorial Church
The Memorial Temple of the Birth of Christ, better known as the Shipka Memorial Church, is a Bulgarian Orthodox church in Stara Planina. It is dedicated to the Bulgarian, Russian and Ukrainian soldiers who died for Bulgaria’s liberation in the Russo‑Turkish War (1877‑78).
@alevchukbg
Devil’s Bridge
The Devil’s Bridge is an arch bridge over the Arda River. It is situated at a 10 km distance from the town of Ardino in the Rhodope Mountains and is part of the ancient road connecting the lowlands of Thrace with the north Aegean Sea coast.
@robertmichaelpoole
Belogradchik Fortress
The Belogradchik Fortress is an ancient fortress located on the north slopes of the Balkan Mountains, close to the northwestern Bulgarian town of Belogradchik and is the town’s primary cultural and historical tourist attraction, drawing, together with the Belogradchik Rocks, the main flow of tourists into the region. It is one of the best‑preserved strongholds in Bulgaria and a cultural monument of national importance.
@ilian_georgievv
Flight over Belogradchik Fortress