Protected Objects in the World Natural
and Cultural Heritage List of UNESCO
The Horseman of Madara
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It is situated in north-east Bulgaria near the village of Madara and 20 km. from Shumen. It is a rock relief on a cliff at a 23 m height It shows a horseman in his natural size, followed by a dog and a defeated by a spear lion. There is an old-Bulgarian writing in Greek and the names of several Bulgarian khans (Tervel, Kormisosh and others) can be seen. The inscription dates back to the time of Khan Omurtag (816-831). This is the only rock relief in Europe from the early Middle Ages. |
The Kazanlak Tomb
| This dome Thracian tomb from the Elenian period is found in a hill near Kazanlak. For the richness of the tomb one can judge by the impressive wall-paintings. It is not big but the beautiful drawings of plants, human figures and horses exceed the human imagination. The Kazanlak tomb is the only preserved monument of art of Thrace of IV-III c. B.C. |
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The Sveshtari Tomb
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It is situated near the village of Sveshtari and is a Thracian-Elenian tomb from the first half of the ²²² c. B.C. It is made of smoothly processed stone blocks from soft limestone. The 10 women figures are a unique sculptural composition. The burial ritual, the construction techniques, the architectural design and decoration witness that a Thracian ruler is buried in the tomb. |
| It is situated 120 km. to the south-west of Sofia at an altitude of 1100 m. in the mountain of Rila. It is founded by Ivan Rilski in the X c. Later it becomes a center of the early medieval culture. It is burned down several times. On its present place it is built during the Õ²V c., and in ÕV²²² c. it has gained its present look. The monastery is the most famous monument if Bulgarian architecture and culture from the period of the national renaissance. It has 300 monk cells and 4 chapels. For the numerous pilgrims several guest rooms are furnished named after the village that gave the money to build them - the Teteven, Chirpan, Koprivshitsa one, etc. The walls and ceilings are decorated richly with paintings and wood-carvings. |
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The monastery has a rich wall-painting decoration. Many icon painters from
famous artistic centers (schools) like Bansko, Samokov and others have participated in the
decoration. Only Zahari, the icon painter dates and signs his wall-paintings. For the
authorship of the others can be judged by their style and mentioning in the history of the
monastery. The wood-craving has a great share in the decoration of the Rilski Monastery - exquisitely crafted iconostasises, ceilings, verandas and parapets. |
| Some of the most valuable Bulgarian book monuments are kept in the
monastery. Despite of the fact that its book heritage has been destroyed many times it has
always been am important Bulgarian cultural and educational center. In 1961 it is announced a National museum and in 1976 a National historical reservate. 600 000 tourists visit the monastery annually. |
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The Boyana Church
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It is situated 8 km. to the south-west of Sofia. According to the preserved inscription on the north wall the church is built and decorated with the funds of Kaloyan in 1259. It is famous in Bulgaria and abroad with its wall-paintings with high artistic values. Their originality and artistic power are based on an exceptional for the time realism and a new for the Middle Ages aesthetics. A special interest as a piece of art with a historical and document value are the portraits of Kaloyan and his wife Desislava. The figures are in full stature in solemn poses and clothes. |
| The old town is situated on a small peninsula in the Black Sea connected with the land by a narrow isthmus. It is announced an architectural and archaeological reservate. It is famous with the remains of 40 medieval churches, from which 14 are better preserved. The churches have been built between the ²V and Õ²V c. Approximately 60 renaissance houses are preserved, built in the end of ÕV²²² c. and the beginning of Õ²Õ c., united in architectural ensembles. With its picturesque situation, rich architecture and history Nesebar is one of the most colorful towns in Bulgaria which is visited by numerous tourists from all over the world. |
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From the medieval Bulgarian art there are only few monuments preserved. The wall-paintings in the rock monasteries near the village of Ivanovo are preserved as if by a miracle. In the cliffs on both sides of the Rusenski Lom river are several caves used during Õ²² – ÕV c. for churches, chapels and cells. They are situated at a height of up to 36 m. above the rivers. The walls of the churches are covered with wall-paintings from different epochs. The historical data and wall-paintings show that the cells were inhabited until the ÕV²² c. |
Srebarna Biosphere Reservate
| It is consisted of the lake Srebarna and the territory around it, near the Danube and 16 km. west of Silistra. Srebarna is one of the most interesting and typical wet zones in Europe with an exceptionally rich flora and fauna. In the reservate almost half of all found in Bulgaria birds are nesting. The most typical one is the curly-headed pelican. There are also wild geese, ibises, etc. |
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Pirin National Park
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It occupies the most part of the Pirin mountain. The forests take 60% of
its territory. The trees that are between 280 and 1000 years old are announced natural
landmarks, The 16 m. high Baikusheva white fir is more than 120 years old. The National park is intended to preserve the original landscapes of the mountain which have a great scientific, aesthetic and recreational value. The mountain relief includes hard to reach granite and marble peaks, hard to pass ridges (Koncheto), abyss caves and beautiful lakes. Pirin is a mountain with lots of flora and fauna species. Only here in Bulgaria the edelweiss can be found. Wild goats, bears, deer live in the mountain. The legendary Pirin mountain is one of the most beautiful pictures Bulgarian nature has painted. |
