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Bulgaria in UNESCO World Heritage
Bulgaria is a country with over than 13 century old history. The great number of unique monuments and archaeological findings remind of its rich historical past – antique towns, tombs and sanctuaries dating back to the Thracian, Greek and Roman times. The medieval fortresses, necropolis and monastery complexes are witnesses to the power of the First and the Second Bulgarian Kingdoms. On the country’s territory there are nine sights, which are included in UNESCO`s list of World Cultural and Natural Heritage. |
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The Bojana Church
The church is among the most significant monuments of Bulgarian Medieval architecture and icon paintings. The painted in bright colors unique frescoes are vital and realistic, and are considered as some of the masterpieces of European medieval art.
The church is located about 8 km away from Sofia city center. |
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The Ivanovo Rock Churches
It is a rock monastery complex of monk cells, situated on both sides of the River Lom, about 18 km from the town of Ruse. The walls are covered with paintings of Bible scenes and compositions with numerous figures. The partially preserved frescoes testify to the remarkable achievements of the Bulgarian Medieval School of art. |
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The Thracian Tomb in Kazanlak
It is one of the most famous monuments of the Thracian culture, included in the List of UNESCO. The tomb is dating back to the end of the 4th and the beginning of the 3th centuries B.C. It consists of an antre-chamber, a corridor and a burial chamber. The mural paintings in the burial chamber and in the corridor are of exclusive artistic value.
The tomb is located on the Tyulbeto Hill in the north-eastern part of the town of Kazanlak. An exact copy has been made nearby, designed for visitors. |
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The Madara Horseman
This is a rock relief cut at a height of 23 m on to the almost vertical Madara rocks. It is the only one of its kind in Europe.
̉he monument symbolizes the victorious campaign of the Bulgarian rulers during the Middle Ages, about 3 decades after the foundation of the Bulgarian State.
The Madara Horseman is about 16 km away from the town of Shumen. |
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The Old Town of Nessebar
Nessebar is one of the oldest towns in Europe. The old part of the town, built on a picturesque peninsula, has been declared architectural, historical and archaeological reserve. Impressive traces of old Greek, early Byzantine and medieval fortress walls can be seen all over the small island.
The churches in Nessebar are the symbol of the town. During the Middle Ages there had been built about 40 churches, which represent the rich architectural heritage of the Eastern Orthodox world. |
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The Rila Monastery
It is the biggest and the most famous monastery in Bulgaria. It is located in the skirts of the Rila Mountain, at the altitude of 1147 m. The entire complex is quite impressive for its size. The 4 floor residential part consists of no less than 300 cells, 4 chapels, a kitchen, a library and guestroom for donors. The exterior is no less intriguing for its high and severe stone walls cut through by small windows – reminding of a military fort rather than a monastery.
The monastery was founded in the 10th century by the hermit Ivan Rilski, whose relics are exhibited for pilgrims in the main church. St. Ivan Rilski lived in fact in a cave about half-an-hour walk away from the present monastery.
The Rila Monastery has enjoyed great respect and privileges ever since it was established. For instance all the Bulgarian tzars made generous donations to it. The official support helped the monastery grow into a cultural and religious center. |
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The Tomb of Sveshtari
It is a Thracian tomb of the first half of the 3rd century B.C. The discovered in 1982 tomb has a unique architectural decor with polychrome half-Hyman, half-plant caryatids and painted murals.
The Svestari tomb reflects the fundamental structural principles of Thracian cult buildings.
It is near the village of Svestari, 7 km to the northwest of the town of Isperih. |
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Pirin National Park
It takes up a significant part of the marvellous Pirin Mountain. The park covers an area of about 40 333 hectares and treasures an enormous variety of forest, sub-alpine and alpine eco systems, as well as the beauty of all forms and shapes of the alpine relief. |
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Srebarna Reserve
The Nature Reserve is situated in the northeastern part of Bulgaria, near the village of Srebarna, about 18 km from the town of Silistra and 2 km from the River Danube, on the Via Pontica – a bird migration route between Europe and Africa.
The biosphere reserve includes the fresh water lake Srebarna and its surroundings. It covers an area of about 600 ha and is the breeding ground of almost 100 species of birds, many of which are rare or endangered.
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