The town used to be the main political, military, economic and cultural centre from the foundation of the Bulgarian State in 681 till 893. Pliska is also among the most impressive monuments of Medieval European town-planning. Situated at a crossroad amidst a vast plain of rolling hills, the first capital of the Bulgarian State was protected with strong fortress walls. The location of the city was not left to the blind chance. Being a people of the steppes, the ancient Bulgarians preferred level terrains to put up their camps and settlements. The defense fortifications comprised three rings.
The outermost was a deep and wide moat, the middle one - a rampart whose thick stone walls once rose up to 12 metres in some places, and the innermost - a fortress built up of clay bricks.
Researchers have found three stages in the development of the ancient Bulgarian capital.
Khan Kroum’s Palace was built on an area of 500 square metres and is a remarkable architectural monument of the first stage.
There were secret passages and tunnels for the inhabitants to leave the town in case of emergency. The Palace had its own big water reservoir and baths modern for that time.
The second stage marked the peak of town design and construction. That was the time when Khan Omourtag ruled. Dating back to that period are the fortress walls, the so-called Small Palace with houses for the members of the royal family, the new baths with an intricate heating system, two pagan shrines and the richly decorated Throne Hall.
The third construction stage includes early Christian buildings of worship with impressive size. The most impressive architectural monument of that time is the Grand Basilica. With its 2920 square metres it was the largest Christian church on the Balkan Peninsula for its time. The imposing three-nave basilica was 100 metres long and 30 metres wide. It was in the centre of a monastery complex of sophisticated architecture.
Pliska is the town where the Christian faith was adopted as an official religion of the Bulgarian people in the 9th century. In the year 886 Prince Boris I received here the disciples of the creators of the Slav Alphabet the brothers Cyril and Methodius.
The reserve is one of the largest biosphere reserves in Bulgaria. It is established in 1973 to preserve the northern coniferous forests of Bulgaria. In 1977 it was included in the list of biosphere reserves under the program "Man and Biosphere".
See on the mapWater Holes Cave is located in Apriltsi Municipality, within the Central Balkan National Park on the northern slope of the massif of Botev Mount.
See on the mapAlbotin monastery is an inactive Medieval rock monastery included in Vidin diocese.
See on the mapUzana - the heart of the Balkans. In its embrace, the mountains has kept this extraordinary place where you can fully take charge with power and hours to enjoy its grandeur and beauty of nature.Far from the urban vanity you will find abundance of colors and shades, serenity and peace of mind. Here the warbling of the birds and the whisper of wild grasslands will put a spell on you forever.
The natural phenomenon Chervenitsa is a molded boulder, rising more than 150 m above the terrace of the river Iskar in village of Kunino. It is located about 46 km east of Vratsa and approximately 120 km northeast of Sofia.
See on the mapThe Lopushanski monastery is located in the Balkan Mountain in the valley of Dalgodelska Ogosta river. It is operational and consists of a church, residential and farm buildings and a white stone fountain, all surrounded by a stone wall.
See on the mapA unique museum in the whole Eastern Europe dedicated to the production of salt by solar evaporation of sea water, Pomorie
See on the mapNatural Reserve Taukliman typical landslide with length of about 4 km, formed between the edge of the Dobrudzhansko plateau and the coast.
The Early Christian basilica Sveta Sofia is an active Orthodox church in the center of Sofia city. The church was probably built in the early VI century on the ruins of early Christian tombs from II - IV century and the ruins of two earlier churches from IV-V century. It is located among the necropolis of the ancient Serdica.
See on the map"Monyak" fortress is one of the largest and high located fortresses in the Rhodopes near the village of Shiroko pole, Kardzhali Region
See on the mapVakarelski monastery "St Petka" was found in XX century and now it is working occasionally. It was functioning as nunnery.
See on the mapA unique Thracian temple near the village of Nenkovo, Kardzhali Region
See on the mapThe megalithic complex "Gluhite kamani" is one of the largest Thracian sanctuaries since BC, whose strength continues to act today to anyone who visits it.
See on the mapA medieval fortress located on a picturesque cliff above Arda River near the village of Bashevo, Kardzhali Region
See on the mapThe monastery of Lazdha or Ivaylovrad monastery "St. Konstantin and Elena" is situated close to Ladzha quarter in the town of Ivaylovgrad
See on the mapRakovitsa monastery Sveta Troitsa was was found in X-XI century and during the Middle Ages was an important literary and cultural center in Bdin area.
See on the mapThe Hisar tomb is a late Roman family tomb built in the second half of the IV-th century.
See on the mapElenska basilica is early Christian temple that is preserved to nowadays and is situated in proximity to the town of Pirdop
See on the mapA unique monument of culture with extremely precious frescoes and icons included in UNESCO's list with the World Cultural Heritage, village of Dobarsko, Blagoevgrad Region
See on the mapOne of the oldest fortresses in Bulgaria located on a high mountain plateau above the town of Provadiya
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