Private day tour from Varna to Plovdiv with a stop at Bachkovo monastery and the Asen's Fortress in Asenovgrad

While you are visiting Bulgaria, you should certainly take a day tour from Varna to Plovdiv. It is not only the second largest city in Bulgaria, but it was also announced as one of the European Capitals of Culture for 2019. If you are still not convinced and need more reasons why you should visit - Plovdiv is one of the oldest cities in Europe with evidence of habitation dating back to the 4th century BC.

The first settlements of the city were the Thracians, but later on the city was conquered by Phillip of Macedonia and was named Phillipopolis. The town flourished and became an important regional centre during the Roman Empire. Over the centuries it was also invaded by Greeks, Turks, Romans, Celts, Slavs, etc. During each stage the city was changed, influenced by the various cultures and traditions. As a result of this, the city has so much to offer and is the favourite city for many Bulgarians as well.

Small cobblestone streets with beautiful and colourful traditional houses from the 19th Century are located in the old town of Plovdiv. Tourists like to stroll down the small alleys and explore the art galleries and museums and immerse themselves in the Bulgarian culture. The city is located on seven hills and the views across the city are absolutely stunning.

Plovdiv is also home to a large number of music and art festivals. The second largest monastery in Bulgaria - Bachkovo Monastery is located only a 30 minute drive from Plovdiv.

The monastery has quite an interesting history as it was built in 1083 by a military commander from the Byzantine service. It was dominantly a Georgian monastery with a school. Later on during the Second Bulgarian Empire, Tsar Ivan Alexander patronized the monastery. Unfortunately, during the Ottoman Empire a large part of the monastery was destroyed, which was then restored during the 15th Century. The monastery is hidden in between the beautiful Rhodope Mountains and is an excellent choice for a day trip.

To make your day tour around Bulgaria even more exciting, you will also visit a medieval fortress - the Asen’s Fortress near Asenovgrad. The location of the fortress is absolutely extraordinary as it is situated on a cliff approximately 300 meters above sea level. You will quickly notice that the Asen’s Fortress is invulnerable from three of its four sites. The sharp cliff on which it was constructed is almost vertical with a river meandering beneath. Similar to Plovdiv’s history, the Asen’s Fortress was used by Bulgarians, Turks, Romans, Byzantines, etc. and each era has left its trails.

The most notable part of the fortess is the Church of Holy Mother of God, which dates back to the 12th Century, praising it as one of the oldest in Eastern Orthodoxy.

Book your private day tour from Varna and visit some of the oldest and most interesting sites around Bulgaria. Your experienced driver will be your tour guide for the day and will tell you more about the outstanding history of these landmarks.