You are now in the far northeast where the flat golden plains of **Dobrudzha** meet the Black Sea. Your main destination is **Cape Kaliakra** which is a long thin strip of red rock reaching out into the water. You can drive your car almost to the very tip of the cliffs where the ruins of an ancient fortress still stand. The sea below is a bright turquoise color and you can often see dolphins jumping in the waves far below the rocky edge. It is one of the most dramatic coastal views in the entire country. Follow the coast south to the town of **Balchik** to see the Palace and the Botanical Garden. This was the summer residence of Queen Marie of Romania and features a unique mix of styles and a beautiful cactus collection. You can walk through the terraced gardens that lead down to the beach and explore the small stone villas. The garden holds over three thousand species of plants and flowers from all over the world. It is a quiet and colorful oasis that feels very different from the wild cliffs of the north. For a final stop on your coastal drive visit the fishing village of **Tyulenovo**. This area is famous for its natural stone arches and deep sea caves carved by the waves. You can see people diving from the rocks into the clear water or local fisherman bringing in their nets. There are no sandy beaches here but the rugged beauty of the limestone cliffs is perfect for a scenic photo stop. The roads in this province are straight and easy to navigate making it a very relaxed part of your road trip.

Dobrich (province) highlights

Part of these road trips

Follow the routes that cross this destination

The Scenic Route

The Heritage Drive

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History of Dobrich (province)

Dobrich is the **Dobrudzha**, the Bulgarian breadbasket. This vast, flat plateau has been a strategic prize for empires since the Scythians. The history of the province is defined by the **Treaty of Craiova** in 1940, which peacefully returned the region to Bulgaria after years of Romanian rule a rare example of a diplomatic victory in a century of wars. It is a land of massive agricultural scale and ancient nomadic routes. The coastline is dominated by **Cape Kaliakra**, a 2 kilometer red limestone finger stretching into the sea. It was the site of the legendary **40 Maidens** who jumped to their deaths to avoid capture, and the 1791 **Battle of Kaliakra**, the largest naval clash in the Black Sea, where the Russian fleet defeated the Ottomans. The ruins of the medieval fortress here sit atop layers of Thracian and Roman walls, guarding the northern sea entry. Driving the straight roads of Dobrich, you find the **Palace of Balchik**, a summer retreat for Queen Marie of Romania that features a **Garden of Allah** with over 3,000 species of cacti. Nearby, the **Shabla Lighthouse** the oldest on the coast marks the easternmost point of Bulgaria. From the bird sanctuary of **Durankulak Lake** to the Neolithic **Island City** found in the marshlands, the province is a blend of agrarian peace and dramatic coastal legends.

Dobrich (province)