Balchik, 31 km north of Varna, is a relatively large settlement with a population of around 13,561 inhabitants and lies directly on the northern coast in the southern Dobruzha.. It has a small harbour which attracts medium sized passenger and commercial vessels. This has been relatively late in the development of apartment complexes having only really attracted the attention of developers in the last 12 months.
A number of complexes are being developed here to cater for golf enthusiasts, as a number of golf courses are currently under development. These seem to offer the best value at the moment. The newly built Marina City Hotel located on the main promenade opposite the yacht port offers stylish accommodation close to a host of water sports activities and cafe’s and water’s edge restaurants. The municipality has also invested heavily in the construction of a new yacht marina with a capacity for 60 yachts. The yacht port lies close to Balchik’s main port, which specialises in the handling of vegetable oil, livestock and grain. Further visitors should discover the Mussel Farm known as Dalboka. The Dalboka Mussel Farm in nearbyZelenkaBayis the best place to sample the regions seafood delicacies.
Balchik- unique beach town
The seaside town of Balchik is situated very close to Varna, some 17 km from Kavarna, 30 km from Golden sands and some 60 kilometers north and 26 km from Kranevo. Its pictures town with small streets cover by cobble stones. Usually is visit through the summer from many European tourist, wishing to have their holidays in some small and quite place in Bulgaria.
Balchik- attractive tourist destination with rich history
The settlement sprang up as an ancient Greek colony named Krouni (or Krounoy), renamed later to Dionisopolis: throughout the 16th century known as the medieval Bulgarian town by the name of Karvouna under the local ruler Balik. The location was first inhabited by lonians in the 5th century BC. At that time, the settlement was called Kmuni or Krounoi after the Greek word for springs, due to the abundance of karst springs in the area. Later on it was renamed Dionisopolis after the name of Dionisius, the Greek god of wine and feasts. According to one of the most popular explnations, the town received this name after a statute of Dionisius was dragged there by the sea. The god’s image appeared also on the the coins minted there. Noteworthy, the town was a rather important centre on the northern Black Sea coast till the beginning of the new era and it was second in significance only to Varna (named Odessos at that time). Later on the town was included in the territory of Bulgaria. Around the 13th – 14th century AC it was moved to a natural fortification, called Dzhina Bair. Following tis rule by the Boyar Balik, it received its present-day name of Balchik. The town flourished and grew into a big corn-trading centre after the Crimean War (1853-1856). Yet after the Balkan War which ended 1913, it was annexed to the territory of Romania. Struck by the natural beauty of the place, The Romanian Queen Maria built a summer palace and a botanical garden there. The royal complex also included a chapel and a villa for Romanian aristocrats. The town turned into a luxurious resort at the time. After 1940 Balchik was again included in Bulgarian. Balchik has always been a key seaport of wheat export from Dobroudzha. Between the two world wars Balchik belonged to Romania. Balchik is a much visited seaside resort with decent beaches and sea. Within 5 km to the north is the Balchishka Touzla mud-therapy and recreation resort, and 7 km to the south is the renowned Black sea resort of Albena. Tourist information can be received from the Information centre by the municipality.
Balchik – places of interest
Apart from the palace complex and the botanical garden, which is the biggest and most diverse on the Balkans, the town also appeals to tourists with its ancient spirit, reflected into steep pebbled streets and houses made of traditional Balchik stone. The palace complex consists of a central palace with a high tower, numerous buildings, a terraced park, summer houses made of stone facing the sea, a throne under an old tree where Queen Maria loved to watch the sunset, and a small chapel where her heart is preserved. There are more than 3,000 rare and exotic species of plants in the botanic garden, which has made it a part of the teaching facilities of Sofia University. The whole complex was called ‘Quiet Nest’. Besides the palace and the botanic garden, the Art Gallery of the town, which houses also the town’s museum, is also an interesting place to visit. There is also a small ethnographic museum and a beautiful old church called St. Nikola Church. A Renessaince complex with the old school, which is quite well preserved, can be other possible destinations of a walk. The coastal alley, which is about 4km long, is also a nice place to stroll, the same way as the harbour and the small streets of thwe town are.
Outside the city, the area of Touzlata is located 4 km east of the town. It is well known for its curative mud, which was the main reason to build a balneological centre there beside two lakes, formed by old landslides. A large recreational complex, a lot of villas, bungalows and a camping site are can be also found there. There is a mineral spring with water temperature of above 30 C degrees. Two big camping sites – Sandrino Camping and Beliyat Bryag Camping are also located near Balchik. They offer various opportunities for rest and water.
