Global Staci

[This post is part of a 10-day driving itinerary for Sofia, Melnik, Plovdiv, and Veliko Taranovo.]

Days 1-3 | Sofia

Days 4-5 | Melnik

Days 6-7 | Plovdiv

DAY 8 | THRACIAN TOMB & SHIPKA PASS TO VELIKO TARNOVO

More Bulgarian history lessons today along mountainous roads, traveling northeast to Kazanlak, the center of the Valley of Roses, and stopping briefly in Hissar to see the ruins of the fortress wall dating back to Roman times.

In Kazanlak we visited the replica of the Thracian Tomb from the 4th century BC, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tomb was accidentally discovered in 1944 by soldiers who were fortifying the area for air raid protection during WWII. The original tomb is closed to preserve it, but the replica is exact.

We enjoyed another fabulous lunch at Restaurant Magnolia then headed off to Shipka Memorial Church, the glittering Russian church, now Bulgarian Orthodox, on the way to take Shipka Pass across the Balkan Mountain range. The grounds are a peaceful place to meander, the church being part of a larger monastery complex.

[PRO TIP: I had learned about the bizarre “UFO” aka Buzludzha Monument, dedicated to the creation of the Bulgarian Communist Party in 1891, but was disappointed to learn that it is permanently closed to visitors.]

In the late afternoon, we arrived in Veliko Tarnovo, once the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, at Hotel Gurko (Gurko St. 33).

DAY 9 | VELIKO TARANOVO, ARBANASSI & NATIVITY CHURCH

The charming Veliko Taranova, was the capital of the Second Kingdom and the last before Sofia became the capital city. While walking along the Samovodska market street, known for its craftsmen, we discovered the fun and funky Art Bar Hipster.

[PRO TIP: In Bulgaria we loved the shops Fetish, Pause and Gang, if you like to look for cool clothing.]

In addition to exploring the town, we walked to Tsarevets Royal Fortress to see the Patriarchal Church of the Holy Ascension and its modern frescoes. The entire complex dates back to the 11th century, but parts have been reconstructed recently. Our day finished with a short drive to the village of Arbanassi, Nativity Church, and Konstantsalieva House, both original and dating to the 17th century Turkish period in Bulgaria.

We ate our farewell dinner at the local “Mehana” (tavern) at Hotel Gurko, and despite my skepticism, the food was fantastic. Highly recommend.

DAY 10 | BORDER CROSSING TO BUCHAREST, ROMANIA

Our adventure ended with an early morning departure and drive to Ruse, the major port on the Danube, where we crossed the border into Romania. We said goodbye to our Bulgarian guide and met our local driver who easily navigated the border crossing and took us to the airport in Bucharest to catch our flight to Cluj.

[PRO TIP: Although Bulgaria and Romania are, as of 2024, a part of the Schengen Area, land crossings had not been approved, thus the border check.]