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August 08, 2007, 12:48 AM BG, 9:48 PM GMT

History and Religion

Published on August 16, 2006 at 5:41 PM BG
Updated on August 21, 2006 at 9:57 AM BG

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Historical monuments in Bulgaria

Monuments of history play an enormous role in forming an attractive image of Bulgaria abroad. They lie at the basis of an extremely promising sphere of cultural tourism, capable of turning the country into one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.

It is usually said that Bulgaria is a country that is little known in the world. However, there is a surprising number of monuments of culture that are well known abroad. Some of them are on the UNESCO world heritage list. A series of major exhibitions in France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Japan, USA and elsewhere have played a significant role in the popularization of Bulgarian monuments of history and culture. For example, in the 1970’s and 80’s the world public was fascinated by the Thracian and pre-historic relics found in our lands. They literally experienced a cultural shock, when they saw the world’s oldest processed gold from the Varna chalcolithic necropolis (5th millennium BC) and the Thracian gold treasures from Panagyurishte and Vulchitrun. Enormous interest was generated in the culture of the Thracians, who inhabited our lands, and who are mentioned by Homer himself in his works.

The relics from the time of the Thracians comprise the first group of historical monuments in this country and today, the Thracian topic immediately springs to mind when Bulgaria is mentioned. It occupies a prominent place in tourist guides and specialized publications. The Thracian tomb at Kazanluk, with its beautiful frescoes and that in Sveshtari, with its unique sculptures, pre-historic and ancient collections, housed at the Varna Museum of Archaeology, the museums in Plovdiv and Sofia are especially popular. “The unique tomb architecture, the exquisite decorative objects are something that simply has to be seen. It is a wealth few countries have to offer in such abundance,” writes one of the authors of a prestigious Western travel guide.

The second large group of monuments, which accounts for a major portion of the information and people’s idea of Bulgaria, are the frescoes dating from the Middle Ages. The frescoes from what have become known as the Ivanovo rock churches in North Eastern Bulgaria, as well as the 13th century Boyana church frescoes near Sofia have become emblematic of Bulgarian art abroad. Interest in icons has also been growing. It is no coincidence, that the albums of Bulgarian icons enjoy immense popularity abroad, while the icon exposition in the St. Alexander Nevski cathedral vault is invariably included in any tourist itinerary of the Bulgarian capital Sofia.

Here we come to the third group of monuments - the so-called “living monuments” – independent architectural sites and whole ensembles from the time of the Bulgarian National Revival in their natural surroundings also occupy a central place in tourist itineraries across Bulgaria. We find them in all parts of the country - in small towns like Koprivshitza, Tryavna, in Kotel, Zheravna, in the Revival-time neighbourhoods of Lovech, Veliko Turnovo, Blagoevgrad. With its unique ensemble of ancient streets, churches and houses, alongside art galleries and green areas, the old part of the second biggest city in Bulgaria - Plovdiv enjoys a well-deserved popularity abroad.

This is also true of a number of Bulgarian monasteries. First in the list is, of course, Rila monastery, founded in the 10th century by the hermit-monk St. Ivan of Rila, the celestial patron of the Bulgarian people. The publications about the monastery mention the combination of nature and human achievement, the synthesis between architecture, wood-carving and wall-paintings. Art critic from Munich Friedbert Vicker, who conducted studies and wrote popular texts about the monastery, writes that it is “an embodiment of Bulgarian Revival-time culture, a symbol of the national cultural heritage”. Of course, the popularity of a number of other Medieval and National Revival time monasteries is not to be underestimated as well.

The list of monuments, which have found a place in travel guides in other countries, includes an ensemble of unique churches in the Bulgarian Black sea town of Nessebar, the churches and the old houses in Arbanassi, Northern Bulgaria, the functioning workshops in the open-air ethnographic complex Etura near Gabrovo in the central part of the country.

“A wonderful voyage”, “traveling to an ancient civilization”, “a country of ancient cultures” – with these words, tourist guides promote Bulgaria and the wealth of its cultural and historical heritage.

Edited in English by Paulia Bojkova