At the end of last July we spent three wonderful days in the heart of Strandzha Mountains in the area of Malko Tarnovo. This was our second visit to the region. We were there 7 years ago. At that time, our goal was to visit the most important sights within the town and to try to feel a bit of its atmosphere. We liked the area and not only that – we were truly amazed. We understood that there were plenty of interesting places to see and what we had already seen was a very small part of everything.
Since then, we have been making plans to go back there and visit as many places as possible. In the last summer we put those plans into action and went to Malko Tarnovo for a couple of days. This article is dedicated to all of the places we visited during our 3 days in Strandzha.
Let me firstly say, that Malko Tarnovo is a small town in Burgas region, located 74 km south of Burgas and 5 km far from the Turkish border. It is the only town in the interior of the Bulgarian part of Strandzha Mountains.
Travel resources
You can visit some of the most beautiful places in Bulgaria via organized daily tours. Have a look here for several options from the biggest Bulgarian provider for day tours from Sofia – Traventuria.
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Historical Museum in Malko Tarnovo
The Historical museum is definitely the place that you should start with your visit in the town of Malko Tarnovo. The expositions of the museum are exhibited in four typical Renaissance Strandzha houses, which are monuments of culture. The museum has several individual expositions – archaeological, historical, ethnographic, etc.
The Great Vris and the Little Vris
These are two springs in the center of the town of Malko Tarnovo, located on the main square. The springs are part of the town’s symbols.
It is supposed that the Great Vris was built on the site of an old Thracian sanctuary.
Church of the Assumption
The church is located in the central square of the town. It was built in 1830 on the site of an old church, which in turn was built on a Thracian sanctuary.
Mishkova niva
One of the most interesting places around the town of Malko Tarnovo we visited, was the Thracian sanctuary in the Mishkova Niva area. It is one of the oldest Thracian sanctuaries in Strandzha. Besides, the dome temple, which is a kind of a center of the sanctuary, has unique architecture and it is one of the most important monuments of the tomb building in Thrace.
The Mishkova Niva area is located about 4 km southwest of Malko Tarnovo, behind the border fences. It can be reached by car.
Keep in mind that before heading to Mishkova niva, you must go to the Border Police service and sign up there because the sanctuary is beyond the borderline.
The tomb of the goddess Bastet in Strandzha
Оne of the most mysterious and strange places in Bulgaria, the presumed tomb of the goddess Bastet, is located close to the aforementioned Thracian tomb in the same Mishkova niva area, under the Goliamo Gradishte peak.
The place was indicated by the Bulgarian prophetess Vanga, based on an old map found by a treasure hunter. According to the prophetess, a woman carried by Egypt was buried there, who held a rod of extraterrestrial matter in her hands. There was a story written there for two millennia ago, and a prophecy about how the world will go two thousand years ahead.
Golyamo Gradishte peak
Golyamo Gradishte is the highest peak in the Bulgarian part of Strandzha Mountains. It is 710 meters high and is a 5-minute walking distance from the Bastet’s tomb. There is a very beautiful panoramic view to the town of Malko Tarnovo and to the surrounding peaks of Strandzha. We were told that the Black sea was visible from this point in clear weather, but unfortunately, we couldn’t spot it.
You can also see the remains of a Thracian fortress in the woods below the summit.
City of the Dead in the Propada area
About 4.5 km north of the town of Malko Tarnovo is located the Propada area. There, on a high hill, you can see a Thracian necropolis, consisting of many tombstones, graves and 4 tombs. There is an asphalt road leading to the site. You can traverse the necropolis using a footpath.
Thracian rock sanctuary Kamaka
Kamaka, meaning “The Stone”, is a rock sanctuary situated on a hill, located about 10 km far from the town of Malko Tarnovo on the way to the town of Tsarevo. Bear in mind, that the road from Malko Tarnovo to Tsarevo is in very bad condition. I travel a lot, mostly by car, but I can’t remember to have come across recently on a so bad road that is part of the state road network.
The sanctuary Kamaka is compound of several large rocks having different signs on top of them. One of the rocks has a shape of a mushroom. There is a narrow hole in the base of this rock, called “Proviralo”. It is believed that if one successfully passes through the “Proviralo” will be healthy throughout the whole next year.
Dokuzak waterfall
The Dokuzak waterfall is located about 7.5 km far from the town of Malko Tarnovo, just before the village of Stoilovo. The waterfall is reachable by car. It is not tall but is powerful and very beautiful, with many folds. Its waters fall into many streams and are poured on edges and highly embossed rocks which makes it look as if the water flows from everywhere.
Village of Brashlyan
The village of Brashlyan is an architectural museum under the sky with authentic Strandzha houses dating in 17-18 century. There you can feel as if time has stopped. The village of Brashlyan is located about 15 km northwest of Malko Tarnovo.
Petrova niva
Petrova niva (I would translate this as “The field of Peter”) is a site in Strandzha, located to the north of Malko Tarnovo. The interesting thing about this place is that on June 28, 1903, a decision was made there to hold the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie uprising aiming at the liberation of Edirne Thrace and Macedonia from Turkish slavery.
There is a monument there built in honor of the rebels.
Ecopath Springs and caves near the village of Mladezhko
The Mladezhko village is located about 38 km north of Malko Tarnovo. The ecopath Springs and caves begins at the end of the village. There is a parking lot, very close to the river and a bridge that crosses it. The path starts right after the bridge and reaches the spring of the local Mladezka river and interesting 2 caves just above this spring. Pleasant and easy to walk path with interesting views, indeed.
