THE BULGARIAN CONTRIBUTION TO WORLD HERITAGE

For several decades now, under UNESCO aegis, attempts have been made to preserve the planet’s most valuable cultural and natural heritage.
The UNESCO World Heritage List now features over 700 landmarks with 9 Bulgarian wonders (7 cultural and 2 natural sites) included among them.

Madara Horseman (8th - 9th century)
The only one of its kind in Europe, the magnificent bas-relief is cut into the sheer rock at a height of 23 m. A horseman can be seen followed by a dog and a lion pierced by a spear, in their natural size. The composition is comparable to the East Iran triumph scenes and the Ancient traditions as well. The details speak in favour of the Bulgarian origin of the bas-relief. There is a supposition that the relief reflects khan Tervel as a winner. The Greek inscriptions give information about the events which occured in Bulgaria and Byzantium in that period.

Kazanluk Thracian Tomb (4th - 3rd century BC)
A Thracian beehive-type tomb from the end of the 4th and the beginning of the 3rd century BC. It consists of an antechamber, a stone corridor (dromos) and a domed chamber, built of stone and brick.

The murals on the walls are of great artistic value. They reflect battle scenes and the symbolic farewell with the Thracian ruler accompanied by three racing chariots.

Sveshtari Thracian Tomb (3rd century BC)
Discovered in 1982 under a large hill. Richly ornamented, the central chamber was decorated as a facade of a temple with depicted horseman who takes a golden garland from the hands of a goddess with a religious procession following her.
The three walls have high reliefs with 10 carriatides.

Boyana Church (13th century)
Marking the beginning of portrait painting in European art, the portraits of Sebastocrator Kaloyan and his wife Dessislava are the oldest realistic images of monumental art in Mediaeval Europe.
The wonderfull frescoes were created by a Bulgarian artist a century before the Italian Renaissance, before Giotto.

Rila Monastery (10th century)
The largest monastery in the Balkans, monument of the mediaeval Bulgarian culture, Rila Monastery is a genuine treasure-house of artworks, valuable frescoes and historic documents.
The monastery church is famous for its splendour, woodcuts and icons.

Nessebur (2nd millenium BC)
The ancient museum town is situated on a rocky peninsula, linked with mainland by a narrow isthmus. Founded by the Thracians more than 3,000 years ago, the small town is a genuine treasure-house of architectural and artistic monuments. The town’s more than 40 ancient churches are a splendid example of Byzantine architecture.

Ivanovo Rock Monasteries (13th - 17th centuries)
A natural museum of Bulgarian painting, with 20 mediaeval churches, chapels and monastic cells hewn into the craggy gorge of the Roussenski Lom river by the village of Ivanovo, near Rousse. In the Covered-up church one can see many inscriptions, portraits of saints, and other surviving items, among which the church-donor’s portrait - most likely the czar Ivan Asen II.

Pirin National Park
Alpine relief, 176 mountain lakes, white-fir and black-pine forests and about 100 varieties of endemic, endangered and rare plants, including the edelweiss and the famous Baikusheva fir, almost 1,300 years old.

Sreburna Wildlife Reserve
Sreburna is a fresh-water lake, located near the Danube and extending over an area of 600 hectares, at 16 km to the west from the town of Silistra.

The lake’s animal world is represented by 6 kinds of fish, 14 species of amphibians, 160 bird varieties, 35 species of mammels and 120 pairs of Dalmatian pelikans which nest here. It is believed that their number throughout the world does not exceed 1,200 pairs.
Special monitors have been installed among the thick reeds for undisturbed wildlife observation.

The Thracian tomb is situated in the north-eastern part of Kazanlak
One of the most famous monuments of Thracian culture, included in the World Register of Historical Sites, in 1979, was discovered in 1944. A corridor, 1.95 m in length, 1.12 m in width and 2.24 m in height leads to a domed tomb, 3.25 m in height and 2.65 m in diameter at the base.The building material is brick, used two centuries later by the Romans. The frame is of blocks of stone and clay is used as bonding material. It is situated in the southern part of a mound, at ground level.

The entrance is from the south side. The tomb became world famous for its unique mural, done in wet fresco and tempera. The artistic decoration covers an area of 40 square meters and is an extraordinary art gallery, taking the visitor a long way back in time. The pictures show battles and scenes from daily life, realistically displayed, with great dynamism and details in the clothing and armour.

The scenes of a funeral procession, the musicians, the Thracian ruler and his wife, the chariots, the horses and other depictions are all very interesting. The tomb dates from the late 4th century - early 3rd century B.C. Nearby an exact copy has been built for tourists.

Thracian tomb Sveshtari is situated in Northern Bulgaria, near the town of Isperih.
This 3rd century B.C. Thracian tomb reflects the fundamental structural principles of Thracian cult buildings. The decoration of the burial chamber is exceptionally interesting, a unique blend of art and architecture.

The stone architrave, around the walls, is supported by ten caryatids. The wall opposite the door is painted in navy blue crayon and depicts the heroicisation of the deceased.

The central chamber is richly ornamented. The chamber was decorated as a facade of a temple with depicted horseman who takes a golden garland from the hands of a goddess with a religious procession following her. The three walls have high relief with 10 caryatides

The Madara Horseman is situated near the village of Madara - 14 km from the town of Shoumen
A relief portraying a life size horseman, followed by a dog is carved on a cliff, about 100 m high. The relief covers an area of 23 m2 . A dying lion is pictured at the feet of the horse. Greek inscriptions around the figure tell of Bulgarian rulers and important events. This is a rare monument, dating from the 8th to 9th century A.D. It is a unique symbol of young Bulgaria. The scene has been depicted realistically and without any unnecessary details. The work displays early Bulgarian medieval art. It was included in the World Register of Historical Sites in 1979.

The Unique Madara Horseman
An unusual place - a plateau rises in the middle of a plain which, when viewed from the west, resembles a petrified waterfall. The anonymous sculptor carved a relief of a majestic horseman 23 m above ground level in an almost vertical hundred-metre high cliff. The horseman is thrusting a spear into a lion lying at his horse’s feet, while holding a wine cup in the other hand. There is a god behind the rider and a dog runs after the mysterious horseman.

The Madara Horseman was carved at the very beginning of the 8th century, about three decades after the foundation of the Bulgarian State (681). The sculpture marks a triumph - the Byzantine Empire had recognised the new state. Furthermore, the Madara horseman marks a new epoch, the beginning of the new European world. Even today the horseman remains unique - nothing like it has ever been made. The inscriptions around the figures further clarify the profound historical meaning of the relief. The inscriptions, written in old Greek language and telling about some Bulgarian rulers, were made in three consecutive stages and are related to important events.

The oldest inscription mentions the name of the Bulgarian Khan Tervel, which dates the image relief to around the 8th century. They are the earliest proto-Bulgarian inscriptions, the earliest written data on Bulgarian history. The Madara Plateau is located in the Danube plain. It rises gradually up to its highest point and then suddenly drops like a stone waterfall to fertile fields. The rock cliff is one hundred metres high. Low down, in the crevices and small caves, man lived in prehistoric times. In antiquity the Thracian tribes inhabited the plain. There was an ancient Thracian sanctuary in the large open cave under the rocks, which is known today as the Nymphs’ Cave. Succulent plants and trickles of water fill this place with the natural juices of life respected by the Thracians and inhabited by their gods. Monumental in design and execution, this symbol of Bulgarian statesmanship is the only one of its kind in the whole of Europe.

The Boyana Church is one of the most important and valuable antiquities of exceptional historical and artistic significance. It is situated at the foot of the mountain of Vitosha. The oldest part of the church dates back to the early 11th century. According to an original manuscript, in 1295 the two - store part of the church was built and the rest was added in the middle of the 19th century.

The most interesting part of the monument are the murals done in 1259. The frescoes are rich in tone. The artist skilfully combines the requirements of iconographical canons with real life. 89 scenes are depicted, containing 240 human images - a real art gallery of the 13th century. The portraits of the founder of the church - patron Kaloian and his wife Desislava and of prince Konstantin and his wife Irina are the supreme peak of the skill of the artist. The monument was included in the World Register of Historical and Natural Sites in 1979.

The Ivanovo Rock Monasteries are situated 20 km from the town of Rousse.

Ivanovo Rock Monasteries - The chambers
This is an area where a number of medieval churches, monastic cells and chapels were carved on both sides of the river Lom. A colony of hermits lived here from the 3rd century to the 17th century. The natural vesicles in the Karst rocks were widened and moulded to meet the needs of the colony. The chambers are at a height of 6-10m. and are connected by series of stairs, passages and galleries.

Ivanovo Rock Monasteries - The frescoes
The walls are covered with pictures of biblical themes and compositions with many figures. Great artistic value, a refined colour scheme and admirable skill is displayed. The partly conserved frescoes are evidence of the notable achievements of the Bulgarian medieval art school. The remaining scriptures emphasise the significance of the literary school which developed in this area. The monasteries were included in the World Register of Historical Sites in 1979.

The Rila Monastery is a holy place for all Bulgarians, for it preserved their pride, national identity, faith and hope through the centuries. It was founded in the 10th century by followers of the Bulgarian hermit saint Ivan Rilski. The monastery is one of the most significant cultural centres in Bulgaria, where through the centuries intensive spiritual, educational and creative activities flourished. It was in close contact with spiritual centres abroad. After a devastating fire, the monastery was completely rebuilt in the 19th century. It is the biggest renaissance monument in Bulgaria.

It is an architectural - artistic composition of enormous dimensions, an apogee of the work of the renaissance craftsmen, icon-painters, wood-carvers, artisans in the artistic area where architecture and the decorative and monumental painting of stone, wood and metal are combined. The defensive tower of Khrelio, built in the 14th century, can be found in the yard.

The Monastery is still in use. There is a sumptuous library, a historical museum and a museum exhibition with a few subjects. The church was painted by the most famous representatives of the Bulgarian renaissance artistic school. The Rila monastery was included in the UNESCO World Register of Historical Sites in 1983.

The Old Nessebar is situated 30 km from the town of Bourgas
Situated on a peninsula in the Black Sea, connected with the mainland by a narrow isthmus, this is a town with a history going back millennia. Each era has left its permanent marks and today the town is unique. A huge museum displays the way of life of the different people that have inhabited it. On this tiny island castle walls from Thracian times, defensive structures, private and public buildings from the Hellenistic period, medieval churches and renaissance buildings combine to form a unique atmosphere. Nearby is the famous sea resort of “Slunchev Briag”.

The churches were built during the early Byzantine period (5th and 6th centuries) and during the middle ages (10th to 14th centuries). The oldest of them are the basilicas, cruciform, with a single nave. The murals from the 14th to the 18th centuries have an exceptional historic and artistic value, displaying the traditions and craftsmanship of the artisans and icon-painters of that time. Old Nessebar was included in the World Register of Historical Sites in 1983.

The Sreburna Nature Reserve is situated 15 km from the town of Silistra.
“Sreburna” was included in the list of the biosphere nature reserves under the aegis of UNESCO in 1977 and in 1983 it was included in the World Register of Natural Heritage. It is situated in Northern Bulgaria, at the delta of the river Danube. It is a lake, 1.5 m deep, fed by water from the river and Karst water. The temperature of the water during winter is 0°C, and in the summer up to 28°C. The natural habitat favours the growth of a wide variety of animal and plant species. Of great interest are the 160 species of birds, 90 of which nest and breed here. “Sreburna” is a stopping place for many migratory birds. It possesses one of the 4 known colonies of the curly-headed pelican in Europe. There is also a considerable colony of herons and other rare water birds. There are many species of mammals, river animals, different plants. The reserve covers an area of 800 hectares. In the vicinity there is a Nature museum and an Ecological research station.

The main ridge covers an area of 2585 km2 of exceptional natural beauty - high peaks, many glacial massifs, 176 lakes. About 90% of these lakes are more than 2,100m above sea level. 119 of them were created by glaciers. The most famous of these are: “Popovo” lake, the “Kremenskite” lakes, the “Valiavihkite” lakes, the “Vlahinskite” lakes, the “Bunderishkite” lakes and the “Vasilashkite” lakes. The sharply contoured landscape and the blend of Central European and Mediterranean climates ensure a wide variety of flora and fauna. In 1962 part of the mountain range was proclaimed as a national park, initially named “Vihren” and later on renamed “Pirin”. Noting the uniqueness of the park and its global significance, UNESCO included it in the World Register of Natural Heritage.

The park covers an area of 26,479.8 hectares. It includes parts of the mountain range which are above 1000m above sea level with unique ecosystems, areas with specific geomorphology, a large number of Bulgarian and Balkan endemites and relicts. There are a few trees declared to be a natural heritage, including the “Baikusheva” white fir, more than 1200 years old, 16m high and with a circumference of 5.70m.

The park also contains 70 glacial lakes, many caves, waterfalls, majestic abysses and cliffs. The areas of natural beauty include the Bunderishki caves, Kasana, Kioshkata, the rock formation Pirostiata, the Demianishki Skok and Iulenski Skok waterfalls, the natural reserve “Baiuvi dupki - Jinjiritsa” etc. The mountains are almost impassable. Roads have been made from Bansko, Sandanski, Gotze Delchev etc.

The main ridge of the mountain is aligned from Northwest to South-Southeast. It is about 80 km long and 40 km wide.