Nesebar

The town of Nesebar is one of the oldest towns in Europe. It is the successor the ancient Thracian settlement called Mesambria founded in the Second century AD. Its name means town of Melsa. Since 510 AD it was turned into Greek colony town by Dorian settlers. They called it Mesambria and turned it a rival to the town of Apollo for the Black Sea trade. There was a theatre and a temple of the Greek God Apollo in it. Brass and silver money were coined there, and in the third century AD - golden ones. It was occupied in 72 AD by a Roman garrison. The town was of secondary importance during the Roman era. It started to play important role again in III-IV century. Around the year 680 the town was an Episcopal centre, and in VII-VIII century - an important, and strong and protected Byzantine naval base. In the year 812 Khan Krum  conquered the town. In 864 Boris I yielded the possession of the town to Byzantine, but king Simeon captured it again. Since XI century the Slav name Messebar or Nessebar has been used together with the original name Mesambria. 

During the Second Bulgarian Kingdom the town rulers were either Bulgarians or Byzantines. The peak of its development was during the reign of king Alexander I when the town was one of the most important centres in the Bulgarian State. The official documents issued in Mesambria gave evidence of donations given to Nessebar for the building of churches and monasteries; according to the legends - more than 40.

The crusaders led by Amedei VI of Savoy captured the town in 1366 and gave it to the Byzantines. The chronicles of Mesambria gave us information about the time when the town was enslaved by the Turks in 1371. The town kept its importance as an important  harbour during the Turkish slavery: ships were built; corns, wood, etc. were exported. After the liberation it was turned into a small fishing town.

In 1956 the town was proclaimed an architectural and archeological reserve. The remnants of an antique fortified wall with a gate dating from III-IV century, the churches from V-VI century and the ones dating from the medieval period (X-XIV century), which are fine works of the medieval Bulgarian and Byzantine architecture, the 60 houses of the revival  period, give the town unique appearance and atmosphere. 

About Sinemorets

A beautiful part of the Black Sea coast Sinemorets is a small village near the mouth of the River Veleka, in the most southern and the most beautiful part of the Black Sea coast. It is situated 6 kilometers from Ahtopol. Sinemorets beaches are in cosy, crescent-shaped bays, outlined by jagged cliffs, hugged by fresh, dark-green woods. The sand is white and exquisitely fine, the sea hospitable with a smooth and gradually descending bottom, the water is pleasantly warm and clear. Sinemorets is especially attractive to tourists because, until recently, it was inaccessible. The Veleka River The River Veleka springs from Turkey near the Bulgaria–Turkey border. Passing through the Strandja mountains, the river flows into the Black sea, near the village of Sinemorets. The River Veleka is one of the most romantic and ecologically clean rivers in Bulgaria. Here you can enjoy the magnificent nature of Strandja region. The Veleka is famous also because in the past the road to Turkey passed the two banks of the Veleka.

AHTOPOl

For those in search of restful relaxation with few distractions, Ahtopol may be the answer. This small town is situated 87 km south-east of Bourgas, near the border with Turkey, at the foot of the Strandja mountains. The Ahtopol sea coast has the highest number of sunny and hot days during the summer. The town has a 2 km long beach covered with fine sand and the water tends to be warmer and more placid here.

The name of the town has been preserved since ancient times. It was built on the place of a Thracian settlement. The Romans called it Peronticus. The town was colonized in teh 6th century before Christ. The Byzantine leader Agaton restored the town after the barbarian invasions and gave it its own name Agatopolis - City of Happiness, which the Bulgarians took in turn. At the end of 14th century the Turks conquered it and called it Ahtenbolu. It was burnt down and devastated by sea pirates many times. In 1912 it was burnt down again. The present day town was built anew. There are remains of a fortress wall and a large wall mural featuring the founding of the First Bulgarian State in 681. The Assumption church, built in 1776 has interesting frescoes. There are the St. Yani Monastery and a fountain, where a Thracian horseman is painted.

Kumping "Oazis"