North of Varna there is a cluster of seaside resorts all
with fine - sandy beaches but differing in size and
style.
Just 5 kilometers north of Varna is the Euxinograd
Palace which was built as a royal summer residence
in 1882. The palace and its wonderfully kept formal
gardens resemble a French chateau. It is set in
beautiful wooded parkland which reaches down to the fine
sandy beach. On the edge of the estate the famous and
deliciou Euxinograd wine, cognac and rakiya are bottled.
The resort of Golden Sands is the
largest one on the Northern Black Sea coast. It is
situated 18 kilometers north-east of Varna. Its four
kilometre beach slopes gently into water which has no
dangerous currents. There is a wealth of sporting and
other facilities available, all very moderately priced.
Water-skiing, wind-surfing, paraskung, snorkelling,
tennis, volleyball, mini-golf and croquet can fill the
visitor's day, and a choice of restaurants, bars, discos
and nightclubs provide evening entertainment. Many
hotels have recently been refurbished and upgraded.
By contrast, Albena is the
youngest resort, it has modern architecture and a
youthful image. Its seven kilometre beach offers the
same wide range of sporting facilities as Golden Sands,
and there is a good selection of restaurants, folk
taverns and other evening entertainments.
Beyond Albena to the north is the
small town of Balchik There is a picturesque
harbour area, and from the jetty it is fascinating to
watch shoals of tiny fish darting about in the clear
water, while larger individual fish lurk in a predatory
fashion in the shadow of small boats. Coastal shipping
brings visitors for the day, and one or two new
restaurants near the harbour cater for them, but
otherwise Balchik is a quiet small sea-side town on a
wooded hillside.
The chief attraction in Balcik is the
wonderful Botanical Garden. Its ten hectares
surround the small summer palace of the Romanian Queen
Marie. (The area was part of Romania between 1913 and
1940). The attractive villa has the unusual addition of
a minaret. The gardens are set on a steep hillside, and
descend in six terraces to the sea - supposedly one for
each of the Queen's children. There are over three
thousand varieties of shrubs, roses and flowers, set
among streams, waterfalls, and ornamental channels.
There is a rock garden, a formal French one with clipped
box cones and geometric beds, and an astonishing
collection of cacti. Interspersed are stone thrones,
seats, pillars and ornaments collected by the Queen.
North of Balchik the coast is
virtually untouched by tourism, the road passes through
Kavarna, a port from where much of Dobrudja's
grain is exported. A minor road leads to Cape
Kaliakra, with its prominent red cliffs rising 60
metres above the sea. Today it is a peaceful nature
reserve, where hooded cormorants nest, seals and
dolphins cavort in the sea, and pink starlings and rock
blackbirds frequent the cliffs and caves.
Located 90 km from the city of Varna
and 40 km north of the resort of Albena, situated
admidst an old oak forest in exotic Birds' Bay,
Roussalka holiday vilage is the perfect blend of
unspoilt nature and original architecture. Facilities
available to curative mineral water showers (38 °C) in
the place of old Roman thermae, kindergarten and
children's sports, restaurants, Bar-Tavern housed in a
natural cave, day bar, night club, yacht club with 15
yachts and 15 canoe-kayaks, tennis courts, minifootball,
volleyball, basketball and archery. Fitness hall.
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