Request More Information on this Development.

Albena: The Bulgarian Beauty

Located in northeastern Bulgaria on a long stretch of sand is the popular resort of Albena. It is situated 30 kilometers from Varna and 12 kilometers from Balchik, and stretches out into Varna Bay and the Black Sea. Albena is a small town in its own right, with a downtown area, streets, squares, and internal public transport.

Built in 1968, it is one of the most modern holiday cities along the Bulgarian coast. The resort was built beneath a relative high hill. It is made even quainter with the presence of the nearby forest of Baltata. A part of Baltata has been declared a protected area and is known as Batova Gora, named after the Batova River, in the valley of which the forest thrives. The north coast is steep and abundant in yellow sandstone and limestone. The resort's architecture resembles Walter Gropius' urban models, with terraced structures exposed to maximum sunlight and direct access to the beach. The coast is 5 kilometers long with a 150-meter wide beach with very fine, clean sand. The seawater is calm, warm, and crystal clear. The use of the beach and the sea is guaranteed from May through October.

Besides the actual resort town, nearby villages are also worth a visit. The village of Obrochishte located nearby boasts of a well-preserved fortress that dates back to the great Ottoman Empire. The remains of another fortress, this time dating back to the Roman times and the Middle Ages, can be found in the quaint village of Kranevo. Kranevo is also abundant in mineral springs. The coast between Albena and Kranevo is littered with steep rocky formations that are delightfully picturesque.

Albena is rich in tennis courts, gold courses, swimming pools, and children's playgrounds. It is also abundant in establishments where tourists can rent bikes, cars, sailboats, yachts, and horses. Presently, Albena has about forty hotels open for tourists year-round. Albena offers one of the most expensive accommodations along the Black Sea coast. With prices being far lower, the private lodgings of Kranevo are a good alternative for accommodations. There are also three big camping sites located between Kranevo and Albena offering accommodation to tourists in more affordable tents and bungalows. Spa and medical centers are also plentiful. The mineral water springs have a low level of mineralization, with calcium, magnesium, and sulfur being the main elements. They are hypothermic and kept at temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius.

It is said that the resort was named after the female heroine Albena created by the great Bulgarian writer, Yordan Yovkov. Indeed, never has a name been more fitting. This Albena, like its muse, is simply extraordinarily beautiful.

Dobrich: Nature's Sheer Beauty

Thirty-seven kilometers away from the Romanian border lies Dobrich Province in northeastern Bulgaria. The capital of the province is the city of the same name, known as the center of Dobrudzha, the country's biggest grain-growing region. With a population of 100,000, Dobrich is the eighth most populated city in Bulgaria and is located about 30 kilometers west of the Black Sea coast.

Dobrich's first evidence of settlement dates back to the third to fourth century BC. Ruins from the period have been found, most notably a pagan grave in the center of town. In the fifteenth century, a sophisticated town emerged. The seventeenth to nineteenth centuries found Dobrich developing into a trade agricultural center, famous for its handicrafts like weaving, leather-works, and homespun tailoring, and agricultural products such as wheat, cheese, and linseed. It was occupied by the Turks at the beginning of the nineteenth century. The town was set free from the powerful and grand Ottoman Empire on 1878. By decree of the equally powerful Alexander I, the town was named Dobrich four years later, after Dobrotitsa, a medieval ruler of the area. The whole province was annexed into Romanian territory after the Treaty of Bucharest in 1913. The move was confirmed by the Treaty of Neuilly in 1919. The city was renamed Bazargic and remained so until 1940 when the Bulgarian army re-claimed the town. The town was once again renamed to Tolbukhin under the Communist rule. A presidential decree issued on September 19, 1990 restored the town's old name to Dobrich.

The city boasts of several museums. Located in a beautiful house from the Renaissance period is the Ethnographic Museum. There is also a Historical Museum dedicated to the renowned Bulgarian writer, Yordan Yovkov. An exhibit of traditional arts and crafts can be found in the Old Dobrich ethnographic complex. There are also interesting ruins of a Roman settlement and the famous St. George's Church.

The region itself is rich with places to visit. In Balchik is a summer palace built by the Romanian Queen Maria. The complex includes a beautiful botanical garden, a throne built under an old tree where the queen loved to watch the sunset, and a chapel where the queen's heart is kept, following her last wishes. The famous resort town of Albena is only 32 kilometers away. The Dourankoulak Moor is famous for hosting a number of protected marsh birds. The Taukliman nature reserve features a number of small exotic islets. Also within a few kilometers of the area are the beaches of Ezerets, Kavarna, and Obrochishte.

Dobrich's thriving industry coupled with the sheer beauty of the place makes it ideal for travelers and residents alike.

Beautiful, Breathtaking Bulgaria

Originally called the Republic of Bulgaria, this country is found in Southern Europe on the coast of the Black Sea. This country, which is bordered by Greece, Serbia, and Turkey, among others, has a total land area of 110,912 square kilometers with only 3 percent of this in water.

Read More on Bulgaria