Tsarska Bistritsa Palace.
Tsarska Bistritsa is a former royal palace in southwestern Bulgaria, high up in the Rila Mountains.
It is located just above the resort of Borovets and near to the banks of the Bistritsa River.
Built between 1898 and 1914, it served as the hunting lodge for Tsar Ferdinand of Bulgaria and his son Boris III.
The hunting lodge was nationalised after 1945, when Bulgaria became a Communist state. The democratic changes of 1989 led to the controversial return of the palace to Simeon II, the last monarch of Bulgaria and afterwards a politician, in October 2002.
Rila Monastery.
The Rila Monastery nestles within the peaks of the Rila Mountains, 1,147 metres above sea level. It is the most popular tourist site |
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among all monasteries in Bulgaria and never fails to wow tourists with its size, natural surroundings, architecture, wall paintings and ancient history.
The small mountain rivers of Rilska and Drushlyavitsa flank the monastery and is only 4 hours walking distance from the Malyovitsa peak, rising to 2,729 meters above sea level. The monastery is easily accesable by car and represents a developed tourist sight with all the accompanying facilities such as shops, restaurants, cafes and inns.
Lake Vlashka River.
The beautiful well-preserved natural and harmonic environment makes the reservoir extremely valuable as it is used all year round by tourists who combine a summer leisure holiday at the banks of a pure Swiss-like mountain lake with walking tours, excursions, scenic tours, mountain bike tours, photo safari, horse riding and fishing.
This is unique place hidden away from the crowds and is just 5 minutes walk from Maritsa.
The Chapel of Sveti Luka & Ivan Rilskis Cave.
The small chapel of Sveti (Saint) Luka, Ivan Rilski's nephew, lies about a half hour's walk from the Rila monastery. Inside, the first room contains interesting frescoes, but go through to the room beyond as that is a place of power. A row of saints stare out at you from icons that line the walls, concentrating their gaze towards you.
Twenty minutes further on through the woods, you come to the cave where Ivan Rilski spent the last twenty years of his life. For centuries pilgrims have come here to try and pass through this "miracle hole" and emerge on the hillside above, for it was said that only the pure in heart could go through.
So take courage and see if you can manage the short scramble upwards from the dark into the light to reap the reward of standing on the hillside above, surveying the views around you.
Sofia.
Sofia is Bulgaria's capital and largest city.
It is located approx 45 minutes from Raduil, at the foot of the mountain range Vitosha and is the administrative, cultural, economic, and educational centre of the country.
One of the oldest capital cities in Europe, the city's history dates back to the 8th century BC, when Thracians established a settlement here.
Historic landmarks include the 10th century Boyana Church (one of the UNESCO World Heritage protected sites), the Alexander Nevski Cathedral (one of the world's largest Orthodox churches), and the early Byzantine Church of St Sophia.
More modern architecture is represented by the Bulgarian National Opera and Ballet, the Ivan Vazov National Theatre, the Rakovski Street theatre district, Slaveykov Square's outdoor book market, and the NDK, which is Southeastern Europe's largest cultural and congressional centre.
Sofia also houses numerous museums, among which the National Historical Museum, the Bulgarian Natural History Museum, the Museum of Earth and Men, the National Museum of Military History, the National Archaeological Museum.
Sofia is a real up and coming destination and is well worth a trip whilst you are in Bulgaria. Sofia's geographic location, situated in the foothills of the weekend retreat Vitosha mountain, further adds to the city's unique atmosphere.
The city also has a vibrant nightlife scene with many different clubs, live venues, trendy bars, pubs, mehani (Bulgarian traditional taverns), casinos and restaurants.
Spa Villages.
Many of the local villages are spa villages with natural mineral springs and spa's making the whole area a special place to visit so what better way to spend a few hours than relaxing in the natural spring waters of Beli Iskar or Dolna Banya. |