Traditions and Landscapes

Typical old style villages which population once were engaged to keep the Eastern Balkans passes in this traditional borderland. The most distinctive features of the landscape are the herds of sheeps, horses and East-Balkan pigs grazing free at the meadows and in the woods.

One of the most charming seaside vineyards in Bulgaria placed just above the natural landmark The White Rocks. The famous local white wine Dimyat is made in Byala and the fishermen prepare their special fish broth.

The oldest stud-farm in Bulgaria found in the mid-19th century by Midhat Pasha, the Governor of Ruse, for the purposes of supplying the Ottoman Empire’s army with horses. The surrounding steppe area is the richest plant habitat for steppe species in Bulgaria. You could enjoy the variety of entertainments concerned with a horse offered in the farm.

The first lighthouse on the Western Pontic coastline dating back to mid-18th century. The cape, where the beautiful building of the Lighthouse is standing, is the easternmost point of Bulgaria. The nearby fishermen village is exclusively interesting attraction to attend.

A small orthodox monastery nested down in a woody valley among the endless grasslands of Dobruja. The curative spring of the monastery and the small river are some kind of oasis for the people and the herds in the pasture landscape.

TDry valley of Taban is an unspoiled small canyon not far from the Danube River without any infrastructure in it. There is half a dozen rock-hewn sanctuaries and temple since 4th century BC. Here was the legendary sacred mountain of Zalmoxis, Thracian orphic preacher, pronounced for a messiah and a god. Villages with diverse architecture are scattered around, once abandoned then settled by Gypsies turning them to some kind of communes. The best example is the settlement of Davidovo in wallachian style.

The farm is placed on a steppe coastline, wide-open to the sea. The lack of sandy beaches and shallow water secure excellent mussel production. Here you can taste whatever mussel-dish you imagine with a glass of local white wine of course relaxing on the breeze seaside.

The town of Dobrich (Hajioglu Bazarjik) was famous Ottoman trade center. The old quarter still keeps some of the previous oriental atmosphere. Many craftsmen produce all kinds of traditional hand-made stuff in their small workshops.

The renowned village lies between the thick forests and bare rocks of Shumen plateau above overlooking the mild vineyard areas. The most appreciated Bulgarian bitter wine with herbs called Osmarski pelin is made here.

The town of Tutrakan is a traditional multiethnic fishing port on Danube. There is preserved fishermen quarter remembering the times when the biggest fishing fleet along the lower Danube was here. The local cuisine is worth tasting to feel the special rural Danubian atmosphere.

Fascinating authentic villages which keep the spirit of the Bulgarian Renessaince period alive. Situated deep in the Balkans these settlements entirely melt into the natural mountain landscape.

An isolated Alevi community in Gerlovo region, the village is famous with the colorful religious fests and with people strictly following their traditions and customs. Alevis are branch of Shia Islam known for their secret and pure existence.

Muslim villages

Most interesting holy sites in Dobrugea are situated close to the river among the vineyard areas of Ostrov and Niculitcel, surrounded by woody hills, overlooking the lakes and the river. In southern Dobrogea on the Garlitsa Lake banks are situated Dervent Monastery, found by a Bulgarian monk a century ago and in one of the dry riverbeds of the region a religious Romanian lawyer found the mystic St. Andrew Cave Monastery around the same time.

The village of Niculicel in northern Dobrogea is famous with the Romanian Aligote wine, the four Christian saints, found in the ruins of a Roman church and the only preserved medieval Bulgarian church in Dobrudja. In the rural vicinity were established two spectacular monasteries. The early 19th century Cocos Monastery found by monks from Athos peninsula keeps the heritage of the Bulgarian and the Romanian common living and some Romanian monks found Saon Monastery on the spectacular banks of Balta Capaclia, closer to the Danube River.

Russian-speaking people of Slava valley, centered in the hilly Babadag Plateau form a community which keeps old traditions and maintain interesting religious sites. These are the unique old rite Christian Orthodox Monasteries, the 19-th century one called Uspenia, where is the metropolitan headquarter and the 17-th century Vovidenia Monastery in Slava Rusa village, which is the only old faith abbess’s monastery from around the world and also the old St George Church in Slava Chercheza village.