General Information
There have been regulated five categories of protected territories with a special decree (officially published in state gazette, vol. 133, on November 11, 1998).
The following categories of protected territories are operative according to the Law of Protected Areas:
· National Park Pirin, The Central Balkan, Rila
· Nature Reserve - The Vratza Balkan, Sinite Kamuni (The Blue Rocks), etc.
· Reserve and Maintained Reserve - The Siloxia, Sraburna Bioshpere Reserve
· Natural Sight
· Protected Area
Rocks, waterfalls, caves, earthen pyramids, areas with various ecological systems, specific remarkable landscapes and objects of non-living character are included in the last two categories.
There is also a Law on Protection of the Culture Monuments and Museums.
Nine national sites are included in UNESCO List of World Cultural and Nature Heritage.
The Boyana Church. It is admired for the unique frescoes dating back to 1259, which are considered masterpieces of European Medieval art of painting. It is located in Boyana Quarter, 8 km from Sofia.
Ivanovski Rock Monasteries. A monastery complex in the rocks with tens of well preserved inscriptions and wonderful wall paintings an exceptional monument of Bulgarian Medieval art. It is located in the rocks above Roussenski Lom River, about 18 km from the town of Rousse.
Kazanluk Tomb. A Thracian tomb dating back to the end of the 4th- the beginning of the 3rd century BC. The frescoes in the burial chamber and in the corridor are of extreme artistic value. It is situated on the Tyulbeto Hill nearby the town of Kazanluk.
Madara Horseman. A bas-relief cut in Madara rocks. It is the most impressive piece of monumental art from the Early Medieval Epoch, evidencing that the Bulgarians are of Indo-European origin and culture and a highly civilised statehood people. This monument is the only of its type in European cultural history and is located nearby the village of Madara, about 16 km from the town of Shoumen.
Pirin National Park. Being part of the beautiful Pirin Mountain, the National Park is noted for its specific relief and unique flora and fauna species. It includes the Bayuvi Doupki-Dzhindzhiritsa Biosphere Reserve, as well. The park occupies the highest ridges of Western Pirin.
Nessebur, the Old Town. An architecture-historical and archaeological reserve with ancient archaeological remains of various periods, original churches from the 5th 17th centuries and more than hundred authentic Revival houses.
Sreburna Reserve. A biosphere reserve including the Sreburna Lake and the neighbouring areas. It is created to preserve rare flora and fauna species. The reserve is situated 16 km west of the town of Silistra.
The Rila Monastery. The most monumental monastery complex in Bulgaria of extremely high architectural and artistic value. Founded in the 10th century, rebuilt and expanded in 13th 14th centuries, centre of literature in the 15th century and completed in its present magnificent outlook in the 19th century. It is situated in Northwestern Rila, about 3 km from the town of Rila and about 120 km from the city of Sofia.
Sveshtari Tomb. A Thracian tomb dating back to the first half of the 3rd century BC. The central burial chamber is heavily decorated and with imposing high relief of caryatids. It is located nearby the village of Sveshtari, 7m south-west of the town of Isperih.
The first four sites were included in the list of world heritage in 1979, the next four in 1983 and the last one in 1985.
The diverse natural, cultural and religious features of these venues make them attractive to visitors and at the same time offer excellent opportunities for having a walk, making observations and research, for taking photos, spending ones holidays, for sports and tourism.
There are plenty of souvenirs sold in specilised shops in the parks and reserves, which in the greater part are hand-made and may be found decorating Bulgarian houses. They attract the foreign visitors with their craftsmanship and are taken abroad as a small piece of the spirit of Bulgaria.
· National Park Pirin, The Central Balkan, Rila
· Nature Reserve - The Vratza Balkan, Sinite Kamuni (The Blue Rocks), etc.
· Reserve and Maintained Reserve - The Siloxia, Sraburna Bioshpere Reserve
· Natural Sight
· Protected Area
Rocks, waterfalls, caves, earthen pyramids, areas with various ecological systems, specific remarkable landscapes and objects of non-living character are included in the last two categories.
There is also a Law on Protection of the Culture Monuments and Museums.Nine national sites are included in UNESCO List of World Cultural and Nature Heritage.
The Boyana Church. It is admired for the unique frescoes dating back to 1259, which are considered masterpieces of European Medieval art of painting. It is located in Boyana Quarter, 8 km from Sofia.
Ivanovski Rock Monasteries. A monastery complex in the rocks with tens of well preserved inscriptions and wonderful wall paintings an exceptional monument of Bulgarian Medieval art. It is located in the rocks above Roussenski Lom River, about 18 km from the town of Rousse.
Kazanluk Tomb. A Thracian tomb dating back to the end of the 4th- the beginning of the 3rd century BC. The frescoes in the burial chamber and in the corridor are of extreme artistic value. It is situated on the Tyulbeto Hill nearby the town of Kazanluk.
Madara Horseman. A bas-relief cut in Madara rocks. It is the most impressive piece of monumental art from the Early Medieval Epoch, evidencing that the Bulgarians are of Indo-European origin and culture and a highly civilised statehood people. This monument is the only of its type in European cultural history and is located nearby the village of Madara, about 16 km from the town of Shoumen.
Pirin National Park. Being part of the beautiful Pirin Mountain, the National Park is noted for its specific relief and unique flora and fauna species. It includes the Bayuvi Doupki-Dzhindzhiritsa Biosphere Reserve, as well. The park occupies the highest ridges of Western Pirin.
Nessebur, the Old Town. An architecture-historical and archaeological reserve with ancient archaeological remains of various periods, original churches from the 5th 17th centuries and more than hundred authentic Revival houses.Sreburna Reserve. A biosphere reserve including the Sreburna Lake and the neighbouring areas. It is created to preserve rare flora and fauna species. The reserve is situated 16 km west of the town of Silistra.
The Rila Monastery. The most monumental monastery complex in Bulgaria of extremely high architectural and artistic value. Founded in the 10th century, rebuilt and expanded in 13th 14th centuries, centre of literature in the 15th century and completed in its present magnificent outlook in the 19th century. It is situated in Northwestern Rila, about 3 km from the town of Rila and about 120 km from the city of Sofia.
Sveshtari Tomb. A Thracian tomb dating back to the first half of the 3rd century BC. The central burial chamber is heavily decorated and with imposing high relief of caryatids. It is located nearby the village of Sveshtari, 7m south-west of the town of Isperih.
The first four sites were included in the list of world heritage in 1979, the next four in 1983 and the last one in 1985.
The diverse natural, cultural and religious features of these venues make them attractive to visitors and at the same time offer excellent opportunities for having a walk, making observations and research, for taking photos, spending ones holidays, for sports and tourism.
There are plenty of souvenirs sold in specilised shops in the parks and reserves, which in the greater part are hand-made and may be found decorating Bulgarian houses. They attract the foreign visitors with their craftsmanship and are taken abroad as a small piece of the spirit of Bulgaria.
