Varna is the third largest city in Bulgaria and the largest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. It has a long history dating back 7,000 years and was an important center of Christianity between the 9th-14th centuries when it was under Ottoman rule. Varna remains a cultural and tourist center known for its beaches, archaeological sites, and cultural festivals.

1. “Everything, far from the sea, is province”
Ernest Hemingway

2. Population: 358 524 people
The town is situated on the north-east coast of
Varna lake. Varna is the biggest town on the
Bulgarian Black Sea coast. It is the third biggest
town in Bulgaria.

3. Varna is a cultural and tourist centre. According to a national
survey Varna is the best town for living in the country.

4. History
The town history can be traced back to a period of 7000 years
ago. Archeologists have found the oldest remains of villages
along the Black sea coast by our town

5. Odessos fortress, whose name is a translation of the
older name Varna, was founded in 6th century BC.

6. At the end of 6th
century the fortress
was destroyed and
in 7th century the
founder of the
Bulgarian kingdom
Khan Asparuh built
his palace in its
place

7. An old graveyard covering
the area of 7500 sq.km was
discovered near Varna in
1972 which was dated back
to the end of the 5th and the
beginning of 6th century BC.
The golden treasure found
there is considered to be the
oldest gold in the world.

8.  Between the 9th and the
14th century Varna became
an important centre of
Christianity.
 In 1389 it came under the
rule of the Ottoman
empire.

9. The Polish king Vladislav III
called later Varnenchik and the
Transilvanian chief Yanush
Hunyadi led the Christian army
in the battle against the Ottoman
army. A park-musem was built
there to commemorate the
battle. The biggest housing
complex in the town is named
after Vladislav Varnenchik.

11. The Roman baths are the biggest antique public building
found in Bulgaria covering an area of 7000 sq.km.
Nowadays part of the baths is used as a stage for theatre
performances and concerts

12. Varna Aquarium was founded 100 years ago. All Black sea
species are exhibited there.

13. Nikolai Copernicus Astronomical Observatory with the
planetarium is situated in the Sea garden in Varna

14. Aladzha monastery is a rock monastery from 12th-13th
century situated near Varna in Golden sands nature park.

15. Varna railway station was built in 1925 and renovated
in 2005.

16. Evksinograd, a former summer royal palace, covers an area
of 8000 decares. It is situated not far from St. St.
Constantine and Elena summer resort.

17. The Sea garden is a favourite place for walks and rest. It was
designed by the Czech gardener Anton Novak

18. “Love is a folly” is the name of the international film festival
held in Varna which is one of the important art events in
Bulgaria.

19. Varna Summer, which started in 1926, is the oldest music
festival in the country in the field of the classical music.

20. The Palace of Culture and Sports is where many important
sport events take place

21. The olympic swimming pool

22. Varna is an attractive tourist
destination not only with its
nice beaches but also with its
shopping areas