UNESCO

UNESCO List of World Cultural and Nature Heritage

Nine national sites are included in the UNESCO List of World Cultural and Nature Heritage:

The Boyana Church is admired for the unique frescoes dating

back to 1259, which are considered masterpieces of European Medieval

art of painting. It is located in Boyana Quarter, 8 km from Sofia.

Ivanovski Rock Monasteries. A monastery complex in the rocks above Rousse

with tens of well preserved inscriptions and wonderful wall paintings –

an exceptional monument of Bulgarian Medieval art.

It is located in the rocks above Roussenski Lom River, about 18 km from the town of Rousse.

Kazanlak Tomb. A Thracian tomb dating back to the end of the

4th- the beginning of the 3rd century BC. The frescoes in the burial

chamber and in the corridor are of extreme artistic value. It is

situated on the Tyulbeto Hill nearby the town of Kazanluk.

Madara Horseman. A bas-relief cut in Madara rocks. It is the most

impressive piece of monumental art from the Early Medieval Epoch,

evidencing that the Bulgarians are of Indo-European origin and culture

and a highly civilised statehood people. This monument is the a one of a kind  in European cultural history and is located in the village

of Madara, about 16 km from the town of Shoumen.

Pirin National Park. Being part of the beautiful Pirin Mountain, the National Park

is noted for its specific relief and unique flora and fauna species. It

includes the Bayuvi Doupki-Dzhindzhiritsa

Biosphere Reserve, as well.

The park occupies the highest ridges of Western Pirin.

Nessebar, the Old Town.  An architecture-historical and archaeological reserve with

ancient archaeological remains of various periods, original churches

from the 5th – 17th centuries and more than hundred authentic Revival

houses.

Sreburna Reserve. A biosphere reserve including the Sreburna

Lake and the neighbouring areas. It is created to preserve rare flora

and fauna species. The reserve is situated 16 km west of the town of

Silistra.

The Rila Monastery. The most monumental monastery complex in

Bulgaria of extremely high architectural and artistic value. Founded in

the 10th century, rebuilt and expanded in 13th – 14th centuries, centre

of literature in the 15th century and completed in its present

magnificent outlook in the 19th century. It is situated in Northwestern

Rila, about 3 km from the town of Rila and about 120 km from the city

of Sofia.

Sveshtari Tomb. A Thracian tomb dating back to the first half

of the 3rd century BC. The central burial chamber is heavily decorated

and with imposing high relief of caryatids. It is located nearby the

village of Sveshtari, 7m south-west of the town of Isperih.

The first four sites were included in the list of world heritage in 1979, the

next four – in 1983 and the last one – in 1985. The diverse natural,

cultural and religious features of these venues make them attractive to

visitors and at the same time offer excellent opportunities for having

a walk, making observations and research, for taking photos, spending

one’s holidays, for sports and tourism. There are plenty of souvenirs

sold in specialised shops in the parks and reserves, which in the

greater part are hand-made and may be found decorating Bulgarian

houses. They attract the foreign visitors with their craftsmanship and

are taken abroad as a small piece of the spirit of Bulgaria.