Private day tour from Sofia to Balchik botanical garden and Queen Maria Castle
If you are looking for a coastal town located on the Black Sea, which is not as busy and hectic as the other seaside resorts, look no further but book a day tour to Balchik.
Balchik is a small, picturesque town, located only 40 km away from Varna and 20 km away from Kavarna. The fresh, peaceful and relaxing atmosphere together with its interesting history make Balchik a perfect choice for a day tour.
Similar to many other cities in Bulgaria, Balchik’s history is rich and vivid. It was founded as a Thracian settlement and it was later colonised by Ancient Greeks. The city flourished and prospered during the 1-3 century after it became part of the Roman Empire. The Ottoman Empire conquered the city at around the 14th Century and gave the current name of the town. After the liberation of Bulgaria in 1878, Balchik developed as a major tourist destination as well as an important agricultural region for the country. In 1913, the town became part of the Kingdom of Romania. Nowadays, the most popular tourist attraction in the city is the Balchik Palace and Gardens which have remained from the Romanian administration.
Queen Marie, the wife of Ferdinand I of Romania, visited Balchik in 1921. She absolutely loved the location spread through the hills and wanted a palace to be constructed in the town. For a period of ten years util 1937 the Balchik Palace was built and became part of a complex with Botanical Gardens. The palace is relative modest in size, but the interesting style and the extensive gardens make the place unique and was originally named the Quiet Nest Palace. Italian architects designed the entire complex, which consists of residential villas, monastery, wine cellar, power station, a tiny chapel of Sveta Bogoroditsa and other buildings. You will be surprised by the unusual design as it combines Gothic, Islamic, Greek, Roman and Thracian elements.
The Botanical Gardens were established 3 years later but it is home to more than 3000 different plant species. It is not only the variety of flowers - tulips, roses, iris, jasmine, magonlis, water lilies and narcissi, but also the way they are exhibit among little streams and waterfalls and ornate arches. The extraordinary collection of cactuses makes the Botanical Garden world famous.
Strolling through the gardens while breathing in the fresh air with a smell of flowers is extremely pleasing and relaxing. A few hours are needed to fully appreciate and explore the entire complex. Book your private tour now and spend a lovely day surrounded by nature!
What you will visit on the tour:
- Balchik – Queen Maria Castle and the botanical garden;
- Kaliakra cape;
Tour Duration
- 12 to 14 hours, depending on the itinerary, pick up and drop off location tour duration may vary.
