Old nessebar bulgaria attractions. Open the left menu of Nessebar. What to see and where to go in Nessebar

A very long time ago, about three thousand years ago, on a small peninsula, a little over 800 meters long and only 300 meters wide, a fishing town was founded, which has now turned into a beautiful and interesting museum city for tourists, included in the UNESCO list, as a settlement belonging to the world cultural heritage. A winding dam 400 meters long leads to Old Nessebar, on the sides of which the gentle warm sea splashes, swans sway on the waves, and an old mill stands on the road. Tourists, entering Old Nessebar, plunge into the romance of the ancient, as if descended from the pages of fairy tales, narrow streets. Everything here is saturated with history, and the cobbled streets still keep the echo of the steps of people who walked along them in ancient times.

Old city

Behind the dam, right behind the monument to the patron saint of fishermen - St. Nicholas - parking lots for cars were built, since entry into the city protected by UNESCO is, of course, prohibited, but this circumstance should not frighten tourists, because it is not difficult to get around the peninsula, and you can have a bite to eat in cozy coffee houses or restaurants that can be found on any street. There are many small shops selling all sorts of things and street stalls in the city, you can even buy freshly caught fish in the local port. Particularly interesting are the paintings sold on the streets by local artists, which you can buy for yourself as a souvenir. To fully feel the atmosphere of this amazing city, you can rent accommodation in local houses of colorful construction, where a spacious wooden second floor is erected on the stone foundation of the first floor.

Story

Every year, archaeologists find traces of ancient civilizations and cultures lost in the millennia on the peninsula. Once, around the end of the seventh century BC, Melsambria, a Thracian settlement, was built in these places. Centuries later, the settlement turned into a city leading a lively trade with the countries of the Black Sea and Mediterranean coast. Archaeological finds dating back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries BC, when Nessebar reached its peak, can be seen in the city's archaeological museum. Natural disasters that occurred in antiquity did not bypass the peninsula either, almost half of its lands were swallowed up by the sea, and today, when the sea is calm and the weather is clear, you can see the remains of the ancient port, fortress walls and towers hidden at a depth of about a hundred meters from the coast .

Old Nessebar survived both the rule of the Roman Empire and the entry into the Byzantine Empire. The ruins of limestone towers, fortress walls, temples and aqueducts remind of those times. In 1304, Byzantine rule came to an end and Nessebar was annexed to Bulgaria by the Bulgarian king Theodore Svyatoslav Terter. Unfortunately, in the fifteenth century the city fell during the devastating war against the Turks for Bulgaria. Many unique architectural monuments, churches and even fortress walls were destroyed. For a long time, Old Nessebar was a “provincial” town, where residents lived off fishing and agriculture, and only in the twentieth century the city began to develop intensively thanks to the actively developing tourism in Bulgaria.

Sights of Old Nessebar

The main sights of the city include the architecture of houses built during the Bulgarian Revival period, that is, in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Roofs and balconies of white-stone buildings with wooden bay windows are decorated with reliefs and fine, skillfully executed carvings. You can get acquainted with the life of the inhabitants of this fertile era in the ethnographic museum.

The archaeological museum, opened in 1994, is very interesting in terms of its exposition, in which visitors can see gold coins and jewelry from the Thracian era and finds dating back to the era of Roman rule. This museum has a large collection of icons.

The miraculous icon of the Holy Virgin is located in the current church of the Most Holy Theotokos and believers on the eve of the holiday dedicated to the Holy Virgin come to her in the hope of being healed of their ailments. Some surviving churches have been turned into art galleries. The famous churches of Old Nessebar include the Church of St. Stephen, inside of which a carved iconostasis of the sixteenth century has been preserved. The temple acts as a museum and the entrance fee is 5 leva for adults and 2 leva for children.

The true pearl of the architecture of Old Nessebar is the Cathedral of Christ the Pantocrator.

The ancient town of Nessebar will enchant with its amazing history and unique beauty. Here you can enjoy delicious exotic dishes prepared from seafood, and stay at the hotels of the peninsula, which have a high level of service.

Old Nessebar is one of the oldest cities in Europe, with a history of more than 3,000 years. Until the 9th century, it was called Mesembria and was one of the main trading centers of the Black Sea, where they cast their own coins - silver, gold and copper. Now the ruins of the city are located on a small rocky peninsula, which is 850 meters long and 300 meters wide. Every year, archaeologists discover new traces of ancient civilizations and cultures here.

At the beginning of our era, Nessebar experienced a difficult period of Roman rule, and then became part of the Greek colonies and was destroyed by the Turks in the 15th century. The city regained its grandeur in the era of the Bulgarian National Revival. In ancient times, there were about 40 churches here, unfortunately, the ruins of only 9 have survived to this day, of which only one is active - the Church of the Holy Mother of God. Today, Nessebar is under the protection of UNESCO and is a real pearl of Bulgaria - a world masterpiece of architecture that has survived to our times. This place is perfect for an educational holiday with family and friends.

Old town of Nessebar

Nessebar (Nesebar) is one of the oldest European cities and the most beautiful cities in Bulgaria, founded over 2000 years ago. Despite numerous hotels and tourist complexes, Old Nessebar, located on a small peninsula, still remains exquisitely ancient and romantic.

From the beginning of the first millennium BC. e. there was a Thracian settlement, later turned into a Greek colony. From ancient times to the present day, the ruins of the fortress wall, towers, gates, reliefs, and the remains of Byzantine baths have been preserved in Old Nessebar. The land here still holds many secrets, so the excavations are still ongoing.

At the end of the 1st century, the first Christian woman-great martyr, Saint Irene of Macedon, died in Nessebar.

The cultural and economic heyday of Nessebar fell on the XIII-XIV centuries, but in 1452 Nessebar fell under the pressure of the Turks. From the time of the Ottoman yoke, the old fountain and Turkish baths have been preserved.

In 1956, Nessebar was declared a city-museum, and in 1983 the Old Town was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Among the sights that you need to see in Nessebar are the churches of Christ Pantocrator, St. John the Baptist, St. Sophia, etc., the monument to St. Nicholas, as well as the western fortress wall with a gate. In addition to the architectural beauties, Nessebar is rightfully proud of its beautiful sandy beaches, cozy cafes and restaurants, and very close to the city is one of the most famous resorts in Bulgaria - Sunny Beach.

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New Nessebar

New Nessebar is part of the resort town of Nessebar, located on the southern coast of Bulgaria. The city is more than two thousand years old, it is recognized by UNESCO as a museum city. New Nessebar is a modern part of the city, which is full of hotels, apartments for tourists, restaurants, banks, offices, cafes, souvenir shops, etc. New Nessebar provides tourists with everything necessary for a quality holiday, and the old part of the city provides an excellent opportunity for walking and sightseeing .

The old part of the city is completely opposite to the new one, it is located on a small peninsula, where historical buildings built in the 16-19 centuries, narrow streets, ancient churches, museums, etc. are concentrated.

Many consider the beaches of Nessebar to be one of the most beautiful in Bulgaria. They are located in the southern part of the bay, where the beach areas are bordered by picturesque sand dunes.

Nessebar is a great place for a family vacation, and those who like to light up at night can go to neighboring Sunny Beach or Burgas. In addition to historical sights and magnificent beaches, Nessebar has a water park and an amusement park, which can be reached by a free bus. The city also has many cozy taverns, restaurants and cafes.

Eco-bar "Michael's"

Eco-bar "Michael's" is a unique and, perhaps, the only bar in the world, the interior of which is completely decorated in the form of a stalactite cave. Tables and chairs here are located in recesses between hanging limestone icicles of the most bizarre shapes, and between the tables there are streams of water in the form of streams that flow into a small reservoir lined with greenery. By the way, on the pebbles of this pond you can see many small turtles.

The bar menu offers all kinds of non-alcoholic and alcoholic cocktails, as well as very tasty and varied fruit desserts.

Aqua Paradise Amusement Park

Aqua Paradise is a relatively new, very large amusement park located in Nessebar. The water park covers an area of ​​30,000 square meters. An incredible number of slides, tunnels, slopes, pools and attractions make this park the best and most preferred among tourists. The management of Aqua Paradise took care of the maximum safety of its visitors and every vacationer can relax and enjoy the entertainment without unnecessary fears. Slides and attractions wrap around ancient castles and huge water pools.

There are many small cafes and restaurants on the territory of the water park, which are ready to satisfy your hunger with delicious traditional dishes at any time. This is a great place to relax as a couple, with a fun company or with your family.

Windmill" Old town of Nessebar

At the entrance to Sary Nessebar - the peninsula, the first thing that meets on the way is a windmill. The old windmill, standing on the isthmus leading to the city, is a symbol of old Nessebar. Made of rather rough materials and darkened with time, at one time it obviously served its intended purpose, working due to the power of powerful autumn winds. Today, tourists are happy to take pictures against its background.

Church of St. Sophia "Old Metropolis"

The Church of Hagia Sophia, also known as the Old Metropolis, is an Orthodox church located in the town of Nessebar. It is part of the historical architectural reserve, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is assumed that the place where the church now stands was previously the center of the Old City. The construction of the cathedral dates back to the end of the 5th - the beginning of the 6th century. Researchers have established two periods of construction of the building. The temple acquired its current appearance during the First Bulgarian Kingdom - at the beginning of the 9th century. In the Middle Ages, the church served as a cathedral for the metropolitan diocese of Nessebar. In 1257, the temple was plundered by the Venetians, many religious relics were subsequently taken to the church of San Salvatore in Venice.

Church of Christ Pantocrator

This church in Bulgaria gained fame for its richly decorated facade. Rows of arches, triangular ceramic ornaments and various other decorations give the church a charming look.

Vinotheque Christi`s

Hristi's wine cellar is one of the main centers of wine tourism in Bulgaria and one of the most visited places in Nesserb by tourists. Here you can not only taste local Bulgarian wines, but also learn a lot of interesting things about the history of local winemaking from the owner of the wine cellar - Christina.

Initially, Christina was engaged in the sale of wine made in her winery to various shops and bars in the city, after which she decided to open this small, but already very popular tasting room in order to develop wine tourism in Nesserba and popularize Bulgarian wines abroad.

Guests of the wine cellar will have the opportunity to taste four types of locally produced wine from various grape varieties, including Gimza, Feteaska, Mavrud, as well as white, red, sparkling wines and a variety of Bulgarian brandy.

South Beach Nessebar

The southern beach of Nessebar, near the hotel "Aphrodite". A narrow sandy beach, about 2 km long. Lovers of big waves will like it, as it is located right by the sea. The South Beach has been awarded the Blue Flag, which the World Environment Facility honors the best eco-beaches. About half of the beach area is occupied by a paid zone, where you have to pay for sunbeds and umbrellas, and you are not allowed to sunbathe on your own towel or sand :-(

Bedroom Bar Club

Bedroom Beach Club is one of the establishments of Cacao Beach resort and entertainment complex and is focused on youth recreation.

The literal translation of the name is "bedroom", which corresponds to the main idea of ​​​​the institution - it is in some way a bedroom on the beach. The organizers invite you to sit down and end a hot day in the bedroom, with cold tea and fresh fruit on the "bedside" table. The bar also offers a wide selection of alcoholic cocktails.

The idea of ​​the institution is territorially embodied in the division of the recreation area (open and closed terraces with tables and sunbeds around the pool) and the bar with the dance floor.

The bar hosts themed parties and concerts by famous DJs.

The most popular attractions in Nessebar with descriptions and photos for every taste. Choose the best places to visit the famous places of Nessebar on our website.

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Basic moments

This city is one of the oldest settlements in the world, where life has never been interrupted for thousands of years. By the decision of the Bulgarian government in 1956, its historical center with numerous monuments of antiquity was given the status of an architectural and archaeological reserve, and in 1983 Nessebar was included by UNESCO experts in the prestigious World Heritage List of world civilization.

The Old Town is the historical district of Nessebar. This is an ancient settlement with powerful fortress walls, ancient buildings, millennial churches, located on a small rocky peninsula, separated from the continent by a narrow isthmus, well fortified with a stone fort. In this picturesque corner of Nessebar with its winding cobblestone streets, there is an absolutely amazing architectural development, typical of the Bulgarian Renaissance, which began after the country was liberated from the Turkish yoke. The modern part of the city, called New Nessebar, is built behind the isthmus, on the continent. Here you will find hotels, apartments, studios, hostels for every taste.

The long beaches of Nessebar, stretching to the north and south of the city, are famous for their golden sand and clear sea water. Almost every one of them has rental points for all kinds of equipment for water sports. For lovers of long-distance sea travel, there are centers that organize cruises on boats and yachts.

The inhabitants of the city are friendly to tourists, many speak Russian, English, and speak other European languages. Special praise deserves the local cuisine, which has absorbed the traditions of hearty Balkan cuisine and the sophistication of Turkish dishes.

History of Nessebar

The foundation of Nessebar dates back to the Bronze Age. Archaeological finds suggest that the city is at least 3,200 years old. The Thracians who inhabited these lands at that time erected fortifications on a small peninsula, built two trading ports on the southern and northern sides of the fortress, where nature has already created comfortable natural bays protected from storms. The city was named Melsambria, in memory of the legendary founder, leader of the first settlers Mels. This legend is mentioned by the Roman historian and geographer Strabo in his encyclopedia, written in the 1st century BC. e.

Outside the fortifications, the settlement was surrounded by orchards and vineyards. Since ancient times, excellent wines have been made here, and artisans have made excellent weapons, metal products, known in all cities on the Black Sea coast, with which the inhabitants of Nessebar were actively trading. Thracian ships brought here dishes from Egypt, fabrics and clothes embroidered with gold from Asia Minor, fruits and spices from North Africa. Fragments of the Thracian fortifications have survived to this day, they stand out in the later northern city wall with their archaic masonry.

One of the natives of ancient Melsambria left a bright mark on world literature. According to legend, the famous fabulist Aesop was a Thracian, and he was born here around 620 BC. e.

Later, the Dorians Greeks, who arrived from the city of Megara, settled in Nessebar. They expanded and strengthened the Thracian defensive walls, erected temples and a theater, and built schools. At that time, the city prospered and already minted its own coins - bronze, silver, gold. It is noteworthy that archaeologists find them in ancient settlements on the coast of the Black and Mediterranean Seas - this indicates the extensive trade contacts of Nessebar.

It is known that in 425 BC. e. Nessebar joined the community of Greek cities, which was headed by Athens. Since the Hellenistic period, several structures have been preserved in Nessebar - the agora, the marble acropolis, the Temple of Apollo.

In 71 BC. e. the legions of the Roman commander Mark Lucullus approached the walls of Nessebar. The townspeople decided not to resist and opened the fortress gates without a fight. So Nessebar was not destroyed and became part of the Roman Empire under the name of Mesemvria, becoming an important cultural and commercial center of the province of Roman Thrace. At the same time, the city retained the right to issue its own money, it was also granted trade and political privileges. The Romans built public buildings here, marble baths with pools, equipped a water supply system and other engineering communications.

In the 1st century, here, on the town square, one of the first Christian martyrs, Saint Irene of Macedon, was executed by order of the Roman governor.

In the early Middle Ages, after the collapse of the Roman Empire, Nessebar belonged to its eastern part - Byzantium. In the IV century, the townspeople adopted Christianity. During this period, the oldest surviving church in the city was built in the name of Hagia Sophia.

The second half of the 1st millennium was a troubled time in the history of Europe and was marked by the Great Migration of Peoples. In 681, the Danubian lands of the Byzantine Empire were invaded by hordes of Turks-Bulgars, who came from the distant Sea of ​​Azov. Militant invaders founded their vast Bulgar Khanate in Thrace. Well-fortified Mesemvria turned into a military outpost on the restless border between Byzantium and Bulgaria. In 812, the city was besieged by the troops of the Bulgar Khan Krum, and two weeks later Mesemvria fell. Many residents died, the survivors fled. Bulgars and Slavs settled in the city, who came with the Turks from the east.

Half a century later, the Byzantines regained Mesemvria. But in 917, in the vicinity of Nessebar, the bloody Battle of Aheloy took place, in which the troops of the Bulgarian king Simeon defeated the Byzantine army. Emperor Leo Foka, who led the campaign, fled to Constantinople on a ship that was waiting for him in the harbor of Nessebar. For several centuries, Nessebar was the subject of military conflicts between Byzantium and the Bulgarian kingdom.

In 1366, the city was stormed by the Crusaders under the command of Count Amadeus of Savoy. The lucky count sold the city to the Byzantine emperor for 15,000 gold ducats, but already in the next century the Turkish army overthrew Byzantium, and in 1453 the Ottomans captured Nessebar - a few months before the fall of Constantinople. The city was heavily damaged.

Interestingly, during the stay of the city under the rule of the Turks, none of the local Christian churches was rebuilt into a Muslim mosque, as was practiced by the Ottomans everywhere. The townspeople were against it, and the conquerors, avoiding conflict, built their temple and minaret next to the ancient Christian churches.

Turkish rule here lasted for about four hundred years, until the 20s of the century before last. In 1829, a military squadron of the Russian Empire approached Nessebar from the sea, and from land the city was surrounded by Russian lancers. After the first shots of the ship's cannons, the Turkish garrison of Nessebar surrendered, and the city was forever freed from Turkish oppression. Residents of the city gratefully remember the support of the Russians. Among the sister cities of Nessebar are Russian St. Petersburg and Sochi.

For more than a century, Nessebar has remained a quiet place, the inhabitants of which were mainly engaged in viticulture and fishing. As a resort and tourist center, Nessebar began to develop in the late 50s of the last century.

Geography and climate

Nessebar municipality occupies the northern part of the Black Sea coast of the administrative region of Burgas. Historical monuments, clear sea, natural diversity of coastal mountainous terrain, rich flora form the peculiar appearance of Nessebar, which remains charmingly attractive in any season and in any weather.

The Old Town occupies a peninsula jutting out into the Black Sea, measuring only 850 x 350 meters. To the south of the isthmus that connects the Old Town, located on the peninsula, with the New Town, on the continent, there are the only sand dunes of its kind in Bulgaria and a magnificent beach about 2 km long.

Nessebar is almost four hours drive from Sofia, one hour from Varna and half an hour from Burgas.

The climate in Nessebar is temperate continental, the tourist season here lasts from May to September. You can sunbathe on the beaches already in early May, during the day the air temperature rises to +20 ° C, but the water in the sea is still cold. During this period there are rainy and cool days. The swimming season opens at the end of spring, when coastal waters warm up to +18...+20 °C. From the second decade of June, the sea warms up to +23 ... +25 ° С, such indicators are often kept until mid-September. In general, vacationers can enjoy the sun and swimming for about six months, even at the end of September the air temperature is at +21 ... +22 ° С.

The peak season in Nessebar falls on July-August. The air temperature exceeds +30 ° C for weeks, the sun is quite aggressive, it is better to plan excursions in the afternoon. On windy days, the waves wash ashore with seaweed, but the staff quickly cleans up the beaches.

The heat subsides by September, here this period is called the velvet season. Tourists with school-age children go home, the resort beaches become quieter and more spacious.

From October to April, the flow of tourists decreases, but true connoisseurs of antiquity say that autumn is the best time for a calm and thorough acquaintance with the sights of Old Nessebar, when you can wander through the deserted streets blown by the fresh sea breeze, take wonderful photographs of city landscapes, arrange a romantic dinner in a quiet fish tavern. By the way, prices in restaurants and shops, hotels and apartments during this period are minimal.

Sights of Nessebar

The main street of Nessebar, Khan Krum, leads to the narrow isthmus that goes to the peninsula where the Old Town is located. Nature has created here an ideal place for the defense of the settlement - there is no other way overland to the city. Guests are greeted by an old windmill, and then the impressive ruins of the city gates with a powerful tower and the remains of stone fortress walls rise. The fortified entrance to the city was erected in the III century by the Romans on the site of an even more ancient fortress. Behind the gate begins the central street of the Old City, which bears its ancient name - Messembria.

The narrow streets of Nessebar, paved with granite paving stones, are filled with tourists from all over the world during the high season from morning to evening. They come from the hotels of the continental Nessebar, come from the hotels of the nearby resort of Sunny Beach or the remote resort centers of the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria to get acquainted with the sights located in the ancient city.

Here, each house is an old manor, which serves as a source of solid income for its owners. In any of the houses of Old Nessebar you will find any outlet - a souvenir shop, an antique shop, a grocery store, a wine cellar, a bar or a tavern. According to a long tradition, the buildings are two-story, the first floors are made of stone, the second - wooden, hanging over the basement. The houses are covered with colorful tiled roofs. Many of them were built in the era of the Bulgarian Renaissance, in the XVIII-XIX centuries. The windows and balconies are decorated with flowers, emphasizing the festive mood that prevails on the streets.

About a third of the ancient city is now flooded by the sea. Under water, one can distinguish the fortress walls that go into the depths, overgrown with algae. Bulgarian archaeologists conducted several underwater expeditions, during which well-preserved structures of ancient times were discovered. An interesting exposition in the Archaeological Museum acquaints tourists with their finds.

In tiny Old Nessebar, there once stood exactly 40 ancient churches. With a population of several thousand people, it was the city with the largest number of Christian churches per capita, as well as the building area in all of Bulgaria, and maybe the whole world. Unfortunately, time and numerous sieges of the city in past centuries did not spare its temples. Almost all of them are destroyed, archaeologists have so far discovered the ruins of 26 basilicas, some of them are hidden under the sea waves.

In some churches, the entrance is paid, the funds raised are used to finance restoration work. It is convenient for 20 leva to purchase a single subscription to visit the Archaeological Museum and the six most interesting temples.

The oldest of them was built one and a half thousand years ago. In 1929, an archaeological expedition discovered under a layer of soil on the northern shore of Old Nessebar the foundations and remains of the walls of the basilica of the Holy Mother of God, built in the 6th century. This church was part of a monastery complex that was destroyed by an earthquake and submerged in the 14th century. The surviving ruins have been cleared and overgrown with ivy. This is one of the best places for photo shoots, a recognizable calling card of Nessebar. Images of the basilica are published in all tourist booklets and city guides.

The majestic ruins of the basilica of Hagia Sophia, also built in the 6th century, attract attention. Here was the first residence of the metropolitans of Nessebar.

One of the well-preserved churches, art historians call the most beautiful in Bulgaria. This is the Basilica of Christ Pantocrator, which gives the most complete picture of the buildings of the Byzantine architecture of the XIV century on the territory of Nessebar. Patterned rows of red bricks alternate with yellow ones, creating a fascinating pattern of masonry walls. Elegant arches are decorated with white stone inserts. The interior decoration and frescoes have been lost. The church has a small museum where you can see a collection of medieval maps depicting Nessebar and its surrounding territories, neighboring countries located on the shores of the Black and Mediterranean Seas. Entrance fee - 3 leva per person.

The well-preserved Church of St. Stephen or the New Metropolis was built in the 10th century. The architect built this three-aisled basilica of stone and red plinth, a durable Byzantine brick. In the masonry of the outer walls, one can distinguish architectural elements taken from the ruins of ancient temples - pedestals of statues, fragments of marble and granite columns. The interior walls are painted with magnificent frescoes by Byzantine masters. It has been established that three artists, invited by the Metropolitan of Nessebar from Constantinople, worked on the murals. In the altar part you will see a skillfully restored metropolitan throne made of carved wood, church utensils of the 16th century. Artifacts excavated by archaeologists are displayed in the church fence. Entrance is paid - for adults about 6 levs, for children - 3 levs. In the temple it is allowed to take photos without using a flash.

The 16th-century Basilica of St. John Alyturgetos is also well preserved. It is located to the right of the city gate, next to the Roman amphitheater. Festivals and other cultural events are often held here. Interestingly, the temple was never consecrated for services (Aliturgetos in Greek - Unconsecrated). The reason for this was the death of several workers who fell from high walls during the completion of construction.

The only functioning church of Old Nessebar is located on Krayberezhna Street. It was erected in 1883 in the name of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the patroness of the city. The murals of temple interiors are of great artistic value. There are caskets with the relics of saints revered in Bulgaria and a miraculous icon with the face of Our Lady Hodegetria of Byzantine writing, created in the 13th century. According to legend, the elders of one of the monasteries of Mount Athos presented the icon to the temple. For 700 years, the image has darkened, believers call it the Black Icon. August 15, the day of memory of the Assumption, pilgrims come here from all over Bulgaria. On this day, celebrations dedicated to the City Day are held at the walls of the church, a crowded religious procession marches along Nessebar, at the head of which the priests carry the miraculous icon under the protection of military sailors.

Photography in the temple is prohibited, admission is free. On Sunday morning liturgy, a wonderful church choir sings here.

Beaches

The coastal zone of Nessebar is divided into several beaches. The best is the South Beach of the resort, equipped near the southern quarters of New Nessebar. You can get here by city buses No. 3, 7, 11. There are paid and free parking lots, toilets, changing rooms, cafes and taverns. The beach overlooks the open sea, here you can always swing on the waves and watch the ships passing in the distance. It also offers beautiful views of the Old Town.

This sandy beach with a gentle entrance to the sea is clean and well-groomed, it is provided with sun loungers, sunbeds, umbrellas. For 10 leva you will be given a beach set for the whole day: an umbrella + two plastic sunbeds. With your towel or beach umbrella, which you can buy in one of the shops in Nessebar, you can go to a special area, which is 15 meters from the sea, and sunbathe there for free.

South Beach is the owner of the Blue Flag, awarded for cleanliness, decent ecology, developed infrastructure and safety. Lifeguards patrol the sea here.

There are several beaches in the Old City. The landscapes here are fantastic, there are practically no storms, but the shore is pebbly, the bottom is rocky, covered with algae. It is recommended to walk here in rubber shoes, among the pebbles there may be a sharp shell rock. There are also many concrete beaches, mostly wild ones. The most famous beach on the peninsula is Old Nessebar, located near the Seaport. Its coastline faces southeast and is protected by the bend of Nessebar Bay. For a sunbed and umbrella here they will ask from 5 leva.

Not far from the isthmus connecting the Old Town and the New Town, near a large coastal park, there is a popular wild beach.

The beach to the north of the New Town, smoothly flowing into the 15-kilometer beach area of ​​Sunny Beach, is called Severny. By the way, in the neighboring resort it is called Yuzhny, which often causes confusion.

The northern beach, like the southern one, is well equipped, the prices for renting beach accessories are identical here - from 8 leva. About a third of the beach is occupied by a free zone.

From New Nessebar, bus number 11 takes 20 minutes to the neighboring resort town of Pomorie. There are also excellent sandy beaches, but there are fewer vacationers. For 50 leva per day, you can rent a cozy wicker canopy with four deck chairs at the very edge of the surf, ice cream, fruits, drinks and snacks will be brought to you from the nearest cafe. Nearby is the ancient monastery of St. George, which is worth seeing.

Leisure

Beach football and basketball are popular on the coast of Nessebar, equipment for outdoor games and water skiing are offered everywhere. In the port, you can rent a motor boat or scooter to explore the city from the sea.

Diving enthusiasts from all over Europe come to Nessebar to see its main underwater attraction - the sunken city, which is often called the local Atlantis. There are specialized centers in the city where there are courses for training beginner scuba divers and organize both one-day diving off the coast (day and night) and yacht trips to other, remote diving sites.

For hardy travelers, several hiking routes have been developed. Among them are a hike to the nearby mountain slopes covered with pine trees, a walk along the sea coast with swimming on wild beaches and visits to nearby villages, where travelers can enjoy an ethnic concert and a delicious lunch of Bulgarian cuisine with homemade wines and brandy.

From Nessebar, a stone's throw from Sunny Beach. This bustling modern resort is located just three kilometers to the north. On its beaches there are even more points for renting boats, scooters, inflatable "bananas". Here you can also join a jeep safari and go to the hilly foothill valley.

Entertainment

In June, Nessebar traditionally hosts the International Children's Festival. At the same time, a festival of sand sculptures is held in Burgas, which attracts craftsmen from all over the world. Their works are short-lived, so if you are relaxing in Nessebar at this time, be sure to go and see. In mid-August, Nessebar celebrates City Day. It is celebrated on the day of the Most Holy Theotokos, who is the heavenly intercessor of the townspeople.

One of the most popular entertainment among tourists vacationing in Nessebar is boat trips. A short trip will cost about 30 leva. Excursion boats depart from the piers in Old Nessebar, sailing over ancient and medieval structures that are clearly visible under water, which sank to the bottom as a result of a powerful earthquake. In clear sea water, one can discern the outlines of the acropolis, the ruins of dwellings, public buildings, and defensive structures.

In the vicinity of Nessebar, extensive entertainment complexes have been built - Luna Park and Aqua Paradise. The cost of entrance tickets for the whole day is 32 BGN for adults and 15 BGN for children. Half day tickets are also available. By the time the attractions open at 10:00, there are decent queues at the box office. To avoid them, you should purchase tickets in advance from the administrator at the reception of your hotel.

The parks are equipped with modern attractions, a variety of carousels, water slides for children of all ages and adult thrill-seekers. Actors periodically play short shows, animators entertain guests by the pools. You can have a bite to eat in pizzerias and fast food kiosks, and have a hearty lunch in park cafes and taverns. Please note that you cannot bring food and drinks to amusement parks with you, the security service is vigilantly watching this, you will have to leave the products in a paid locker (4 leva). Valuables can be placed in a safe (6 leva).

Of the several nightclubs in Nessebar, Captain Jack's Night Club and Bedroom Beach are the most popular among vacationers. Nearby Sunny Beach offers a wide range of nightlife.

Purchases

There are no large supermarkets with a wide selection of goods, chic malls and fashionable boutiques in Nessebar, but there are plenty of small shops here. They can buy essential goods, food, drinks, beach accessories, good souvenirs. A good selection of souvenirs is presented in the private shops of Old Nessebar. Local potters, continuing a centuries-old tradition, produce ceramic dishes, and archeological finds often serve as models for vases, jugs and goblets. Another popular souvenir from Nessebar is handmade knitwear. They are rude, but bear the imprint of the old traditions of national dress.

For gourmets, a few bottles of excellent local wine will be a good souvenir. Follow them to Aheloy Street in Old Nessebar. Here, in the old house number 7, there is a wine cellar and a tasting room Winery Messembria. Wine tasting is accompanied by sommelier comments, then you can choose your favorite wine, it will be packed in a beautiful box and delivered to your hotel. White semi-sweet grape wine "Messembria" and sweet red and rose wines from figs are in special demand.

Another delicious souvenir from Nessebar is a package of lukanka, Bulgarian dry-cured sausage with onions and spices. Its shape is unusual and resembles an oblong cake or lush pita bread. The producers of this national product claim that the recipe for lukanka dates back to the 7th century.

For large purchases, you should go to the shops of Sunny Beach or Burgas. During excursions to neighboring cities in Bulgaria, buses stop at large shops, and tourists are given several hours for shopping.

Local kitchen

The cuisine of the seaside Nessebar is dominated by seafood and vegetables. Here they know how to cook delicious fish, squid, shellfish. All summer long, seasonal fruits and vegetables are sold in the markets - juicy bell peppers, tomatoes and fragrant greens, peaches, plums and other gifts from the surrounding gardens and orchards. By the way, there are no meat rows in the local markets. Fresh meat is sold only in specialized stores - butchers.

In city cafes you can have lunch for 15-20 leva (salad, meat or fish dish with a side dish, drink), and the portions are very large and satisfying. For 45-50 leva you will be offered a full meal for two with good wine. In many establishments, you can pay with American Express, Mastercard, Visa bank cards.

Among the stylish restaurants located in the historical center, tourists recommend "Old Nessebar" in the reviews. It serves fresh seafood dishes, barbecued pork ribs, and there are tables under a canopy in the open air. The veranda of the restaurant offers panoramic views of the harbor of the Old Town. It prepares dishes according to the recipes of the Bulgarian and Mediterranean cuisine. The signature dish is gyuvech - meat stewed with vegetables in ceramic pots.

A cozy restaurant "Akropol" is owned by a family from Macedonia. The hosts prepare delicious home-cooked food with their own hands, and they themselves serve dishes to guests. One of the restaurant's specialties is pork stew with mushroom sauce accompanied by boiled potatoes and pickled vegetables. For the first, they will offer Bulgarian chorba - a hot soup based on kvass. But at the beginning of the meal, you will be served a Shopska salad of bell peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet onions and olives, thickly sprinkled with grated sheep's cheese. Fragrant bread is also baked by hand here.

Italian cuisine is offered by the Mario cafe and the Kristal restaurant. It employs chefs specially trained in Italy.

Tasty and inexpensive meals can be found in the ethno-restaurant "Aquamarine", located at the entrance to the Old Town. Its chefs are acknowledged masters of Bulgarian cuisine. Dishes combine traditional Balkan products, Turkish sophistication, Greek cuisine motifs. In hot weather, people come here to refresh themselves with tarator - a spicy cold soup based on sour-milk yogurt with fresh cucumbers, herbs, seasoned with garlic and wine vinegar. Tarator resembles okroshka. Crushed walnuts and almonds give the soup a thick texture and unique taste. It is served with crushed ice. For the second, be sure to order the branded sach - a national Bulgarian dish of three types of meat (veal, pork, chicken), stewed with sweet peppers, eggplant, tomatoes and other vegetables with sauce. Sach is cooked in a massive clay frying pan, it is served on the table with piping heat on a wrought iron stand. Instead of bread, a banitsa is brought to the table - a layered pie with cheese.

Portions in Nessebar restaurants are very generous, not everyone manages to overpower them, so here it’s in the order of things to ask the waiter to pack the rest of the food and take it with you.

Where to stay

Most of the Nessebar hotels are located in the New Town, where new hotels of various categories open their doors every year, today there are more than 300 of them. Chain hotels of world famous brands have been built. Among the staff there will definitely be workers who speak Russian. The cost of living is affected by the remoteness of the hotel from the coastline and beaches, rooms with sea-facing windows are noticeably more expensive.

Among the buildings of recent years is the chic Sol Hotel Nessebar Palace 5 *. The hotel has a vast territory with a park and swimming pools. It is comfortable to relax here with children, there are two-room family rooms with extra beds, for the smallest there is everything you need. You can invite a nanny, for older children there is a club in the hotel where children are entertained by animators. The restaurant always has a children's menu. The cost of living in a double room is from 110 € per day.

There are youth hostels in Nessebar with rooms for 3-4 people. During the peak season, accommodation will cost 15 € per person per day.

Local residents willingly rent apartments in residential areas to tourists. A small cozy studio can be rented for 30 €, apartment prices start from 50 € per day. If you wish, you can rent an entire estate on the outskirts of the New Town for 60-80 € per day.

Several hotels are located within the Old Town. Among them is Hotel Saint Nikola, located in an old building, but not devoid of modern comfort. The cost of the room is from 32 €. The balconies offer a view of the sea and the sights of Old Nessebar. The hotel has an inexpensive restaurant where excellent Bulgarian dishes are prepared, discounts of up to 10% are available for guests. The staff is friendly, the administrators speak Russian.

Transport

In New Nessebar, regular buses from the airport or from other cities stop near large hotels, a water park, and the entrance to the Old Town. Actually, the resort town is small, everything here is located within walking distance. If you are burdened with luggage, you can get to the right place by city bus (ticket price - 2 leva) or by taxi, the cost of the trip will not exceed 10 leva. There are many taxis in Nessebar, the fare, as a rule, is indicated on the glass of the passenger door of the car - about 3 leva / km. Taxis are metered.

Get to the Old Town by bus number 1. Since Nessebar and Sunny Beach are one municipal territory, bus routes start in New Nessebar and continue on the streets of the neighboring resort.

If you are planning to explore other resorts on the coast, it makes sense to rent a car. The rental price is from 40 leva / day, the driver-tenant must be at least 22 years old.

How to get there

The nearest airport to Nessebar is Sarafovo. It is located in Burgas, the largest transport hub in the country. Regular flights depart from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Burgas. Direct flights are operated by Bulgaria Air liners. The cost of a flight from the capital of Russia is 25,000 rubles, from St. Petersburg - 27,000 rubles. During the tourist season, charter airliners fly from major cities of the Russian Federation to Burgas.

There is also a railway connection Moscow - Burgas with a length of 2,200 km. This is a trailer car as part of the 059M Moscow-Sofia train. In Bulgaria, the car joins another train bound for Burgas from Sofia. In Moscow, the train departs from the platform of the Kievsky railway station daily at 09:30. The trip lasts two days, while it is necessary to go through passport control at the border with Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria. At each border point, the procedure lasts at least an hour.

From Burgas to Nessebar 36 km. These cities are connected by regular bus service. The intercity bus stop is located at the entrance to the airport, route number 10 goes to Nessebar from there. Buses run at intervals of 40 minutes to 1 hour, the cost of the trip is 8-10 leva, depending on the season and the tariffs of the transport company, travel time is about hours, on city streets with busy traffic, traffic jams and toffees are not excluded.

From the railway station of Burgas, you need to go to the Railway Station Square and go along the Alexandrovskaya pedestrian street, dotted with boutiques, to the Southern Bus Station. From here, buses to Nessebar leave every half an hour, the fare is from 3 leva, the journey time is 40 minutes.

Many tourists prefer to get to the resort from the airport or railway station by taxi, which will cost 45-50 leva.

Traveling to Nessebar from Moscow by car will take at least 30 hours if you plan the shortest route along the E95 highway through Ukraine and Romania. The distance will be 1,966 km.

Nessebar (Nesebar in Bulgarian) is a beautiful town on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. Excursions to Nessebar are offered to tourists of all Bulgarian resorts, and rightly so: the city is worth seeing. Reviews about Nessebar are always enthusiastic.
The city is divided into two parts: old Nessebar is located on a peninsula connected to the mainland by a narrow road. New Nessebar is located on the coast - it is a resort town, in which, in addition to hotels, there are also ordinary residential buildings. However, people also live in old Nessebar.

History of Nessebar

Archaeological excavations in Nessebar continue The first finds on the territory of old Nessebar belong to the XII-XI centuries BC. It is believed that the city was founded by the Thracians, or rather, a certain Mena, in whose honor the settlement was named Menebria. Later the city became a Greek and then a Roman colony (Mesembria), then it was included in the Byzantine Empire, then - in the Bulgarian state.
During the Ottoman yoke, the city was gradually destroyed and ruined. First of all, this concerned Christian churches, of which there are many in the territory of the old city. During the Bulgarian renaissance, the town was built up with houses in a characteristic style: a stone ground floor with small windows and a wooden second floor protruding above it.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the city began to develop as a resort. In 1934, Nessebar was returned to its Bulgarian name - Nessebar (the Turks used the name Mesemvria). In the 50s, the mainland part of the city began to develop - the so-called. New Nessebar. And the Old City was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983. Today, archaeological excavations and restoration work are being carried out there. At every step there are picturesque ruins, both ancient masonry and a remake, stylized as antiquity.

Nessebar tourist

An idle mill is a symbol of Nessebar Today, there are 42 churches on the territory of Old Nessebar, which is quite a lot for a small, in general, peninsula. Only one of these churches is active.
The Archaeological Museum, the churches of Sveti Stefan and Sveti Spas, as well as the ethnographic house are part of the Museum "Old Nessebar". Other famous sights of the city are the remains of the fortress wall and the old mill, located on the isthmus, which connects the old part of the city with the mainland. This mill does not work, but is a kind of symbol of the city.
There are paid parking lots on both sides of the peninsula. You can park your car for free on the mainland. You can walk along the Old Nessebar only on foot.
Souvenirs in Nessebar are for every taste, but the production is mainly Chinese. The city center almost entirely consists of souvenir shops, some of which are open even out of season. The choice of souvenirs is quite large, but many of them are made in China, so if you buy, for example, Trojan ceramics or some other practical souvenir, be careful when buying so as not to get a fake.
It is also full of restaurants, the prices of which depend on the distance from the sea. The closer to the sea, and the more beautiful the view, the more expensive. And the views of the coast are beautiful everywhere. Whichever way you look - boundless sea expanses. Coastal resorts are visible from the peninsula - including,.

Useful

From Old Nessebar there is a beautiful view of Sunny Beach, Sveti Vlas, Elenite and the mountains. The peninsula is small - less than a kilometer in length, only 300 m wide. Once the city was larger, but long ago, during an earthquake, almost half of it went under water. In good weather, they say, this underwater part can be seen. You can explore the city in a couple of hours, but it’s better to allocate more time to visit the peninsula. Still, a tour in the style of "galloping through Europe" with an ever-hurrying guide does not allow you to fully enjoy the beauty of the ancient city, feel the charm of its narrow streets, breathe in the sea air and admire the magical views. An independent walk allows you to get to know Nessebar better.
Getting to the city is not difficult - buses go here from all nearby resorts. You can also get there.
New Nessebar is located on the mainland Despite the fact that the old Nessebar has the status of a museum city, people live in it and hotels function. There are many hotels in New Nessebar - by the way, they are cheaper than those located directly on the peninsula, but you still have to pay for touching the old days. By the way, in New Nessebar it is better (in the Old Town - sand and small pebbles, in the New - only sand).
To visit Bulgaria (especially in the southern part of the country) and not visit Nessebar is a big mistake. It is also easy to get here from the northern part of the coast, but the road through the mountain pass seems somewhat tiring to us personally. Although it is certainly worth to suffer once for the sake of touching the beauty of this place. A little advice: it is better to visit Nessebar not in the season when the city is full of tourists, but, say, in spring or in the middle of autumn. We were there for the first time at the end of October, and, I must say, there were still a lot of tourists.
But in the summer there is more entertainment besides walking along the streets. For example, you can go to, which, contrary to its name, is located at some distance from the city.

Nessebar Bulgaria- a resort town, a city of beaches, a historical place, located in the southeastern part of Bulgaria. Nessebar (in Bulgarian Nessebar, in English Nesebar) is also an ancient city with a rich history, was founded under the name of Mesimvria. The city of Nessebar Bulgaria is officially an architectural and archaeological reserve, protected by international organizations.

All the oldest historical monuments are located in the old part of Nessebar. You can visit: Archaeological Museum, Ethnographic Museum, St. Stephen Church, St. Spas Church.

The new part of Nessebar differs from the old one in its modern architecture and has various facilities for tourist recreation: restaurants, cafes, bars, discos. In the south-eastern part of the town of Nessebar is the South Park.

Near the town of Nessebar there are such resort towns as:, Ravda, Pomorie and

Distances: Sofia - Nessebar 407 km, Plovdiv - Nessebar 295 km, - Nessebar 98 km, - Nessebar 41 km.

The city of Nessebar Bulgaria - transport

There are different ways to get to the beautiful seaside town, but it is preferable and more convenient, of course, with your own car.

But if there is no car, and you don’t want to rent, then you can use the bus service. Bus transport connects the Nessebar region with all other parts of the country: Sunny Beach, Ravda and Saint Vlas. Traveling between Burgas and Nessebar can also be done by water transport.

There is no railway station in Nessebar, the nearest one is in the city of Burgas, which is approximately 40 km away. Regular buses connect the Burgas railway station with Nessebar.

You can get to the city of Nessebar and with the help of air transport. Burgas Airport is about 30 km away and there are own flights to Nessebar and its surroundings.

As one of the most popular and visited resorts on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, Nessebar is connected to many cities through the Apteka stop.

River transport connects Burgas and Pomorie with Nessebar and Sunny Beach. Due to the fact that in the summer and in the season there are many tourists, even traditional private sea transportation and taxis have appeared. Sea taxi prices are moderate.

There is also an ordinary taxi and it can come in handy in conditions when the night has come, because. work around the clock.

Useful links Nessebar

Official website of the city of Nessebar

Nessebar on the map

The beach of Nessebar

Walk around Nessebar