Varna (province)

Varna (province)

Welcome to the maritime capital of the north. Your first stop should be the **Varna Necropolis** located near the edge of the lake. This is where experts found the oldest processed gold in the world. You can see these six thousand year old treasures in the local history museum. The skill of these ancient people is still very impressive to see in person today. It is a great way to start learning about the deep history of the coast. Take a short drive inland to see **the famous Stone Forest**. Hundreds of hollow stone pillars rise from the sand like a petrified woods. Some are seven meters tall and look like they were built by ancient giants. Scientists say they formed millions of years ago on the old sea floor. Walking among them feels like you have landed on another planet. It is a very popular spot for photos and a quick leg stretch. Return to the coast to walk through the massive **Sea Garden**. This park runs for many kilometers along the edge of the beach. You can find an aquarium and a naval museum within the green space. The paths are wide and shaded by very old trees. It is the best place to park the car and breathe in the fresh sea breeze. You can spend an entire afternoon here before moving on to the next province.

Varna (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 Varna (province)

Varna is home to the **Varna Necropolis**, where the world oldest processed gold dating back to 4600 BC was discovered. This **Golden Civilization** existed before the Pyramids of Giza, proving that a complex, wealthy society occupied these shores long before the Greeks. The province Roman history is equally massive; the **Roman Thermae** are the fourth largest in Europe, featuring a sophisticated underground heating system that served as the ancient city social engine. In 1444, the province was the site of the **Battle of Varna**, a definitive clash where Sultan Murad II defeated a combined European Crusade, sealing the fate of the Balkans for the next half millennium. The **Aladzha Monastery**, carved directly into a 40 meter limestone cliff, served as a vertical sanctuary for medieval monks seeking solitude. It stands as a rare example of cave monasticism that utilized the natural karst landscape for spiritual defense. Modern Varna Province reflects its 19th century status as the **Sea Capital**. The **Euxinograd Palace**, the first summer residence of the Bulgarian monarchs, was built with French architecture and stocked with a world class wine cellar that still operates today. Driving through the **Stone Forest**, you encounter 50 million year old hollow rock columns that look like a petrified forest, a geological anomaly that has served as a sacred site for every culture to inhabit the region.
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