Traveling through history /Municipality Nessebar (Bulgaria)
TOURISTIC ROUTE
(Burgas, Varna, Dobrich, Constanța and Tulcea / Bulgaria and Romania)
Dr. Ana Georgescu- Hamat
1) FOREWORD
Cultural tourism plays an important role in economic and cultural development of each country.
That’s why it is important to highlight the importance of tourist routes, and for this purpose, we present the Black Sea shore route, archaeological sites and tourist attractions from the coast of Bulgaria and Romania, especially since part of them are in the patrimony and management of the Museum of National History and Archeology (acronym MINAC- MNHAC), and here we mean both exhibited heritage pieces, as well as the archaeological sites managed by the museum (the ancient cities of Tomis and Histria), but also Tropaeum Traiani, Ulmetum, Capidava, Oltina, Albești, Hârșova. Not all of these sites are on the shore of the Black Sea, so we will mention only the sites near to the sea.
From Bulgaria, we have chosen Nesebar, Emona, Biala, Varna, Durankulak, Kavarna and others.
The touristic routs of the Black Sea shore have at least 64 objectives, between them 19 natural monuments, 8 religious’ monuments, 18 historical and archaeological sites and 19 others monuments.
On a regional level, the coast of the Black Sea is suitable for housing since ancient times and it has a high touristic potential, marked by two basic components: natural (landscapes, favorable climatic conditions, therapeutic value) and anthropogenic (historical and archaeological artifacts, monuments and works of secular and religious art, museums and museum collections, ethnography and folklore elements, recent accomplishments).
Objectives of archaeological interest must be integrated into larger structures, presented together with objectives of eco-tourism interest, thus being much better valued. In this way, the touristic-cultural richness of the Pontic area line will be better admired, known and understood.
Our objectives are located in Constanta, Tulcea, Dobrici, Varna and Burgas region. Methodologically, the objectives will be presented starting from the current city Nesebar, following the line of the sea to the town of Sulina.
From 18, half are located in Bulgaria, and the rest are situated in Romania.
Constanța is the residence of the county with the same name, being one of the most urbanized city from Romania. The population who lives in the city’s numbers 539.902 inhabitants, they living in the three municipalities (Constanța, Medgidia and Mangalia) and nine cities (Băneasa, Cernavodă, Eforie, Hârșova, Murfatlar, Năvodari, Negru Vodă, Ovidiu and Techirghiol). Besides the urban areas, it is also composed by 58 communes. It has a population of 756.053 inhabitants and a surface of 7.071,29 km, it is situated on the 5th place according to the population and on the 7th place according to the surface among the country’s counties. It is bordered on with Bulgaria, the county Călărași, the county Ialomița, the county Brăila, the county Tulcea and the Black Sea. The county of Constanța is, together with the county Timiș, situated on the first place among the counties regarding the contribution to Romania’s PIB, namely 17, 4 billion RON each.
2. IMPLEMENTED COULTURAL ROUTES
Booth country has implemented cultural- touristic routes regarding the shore of the Black Sea.
A. Marine strongholds of Bulgaria
Kamen bryag – Kavarna – Balchik – Varna – Byala – Nesebar – Burgas – Sozopol – Kiten – Sinemorets
Ancient and medieval city Akve Khalide
Maritime Museum, City of Varna
Fortress Kastritsi – Evksinograd
Late Antiquity and Medieval Fortress, Ahtopol
Nesebar Architectural-Historical Reserve
Thracian Fortress Urdoviza, Kiten
Thracian Sanctuary – Beglik Tash
Early Christian Basilica (IV – VI century), Varna
Fortified Home of a Ruler, Sinemorets village
Permanent Archaeological Exhibition – “Secrets from the Sea Floor”, Kiten
B. In Romania, the Constanta County Counsel has proposed and implemented 9 turistic route recognized at European level, 5 touristic route recognized at national level and 2 routes recognized at transnational level[1].
[1]Consiliul Județean Constanța. Rute Culturale, http://www.cjc.ro/sectiune.php?s=175.
Rute Cultural Turistice in judetul Constanta recunoscute si certificate in sistemul european la nivel regional
Rutele Cultural Turistice in judetul Constanta recunoscute si certificate in sistemul european la nivel national
Rutele Cultural Turistice in judetul Constanta recunoscute si certificate in sistemul european la nivel transnational
For the Danube Delta we have 19 routes[1]:
Traseul nr. 1
Tulcea – Canalul Mila 35 – Girla Sireasa – Girla Sontea – Canalul Olguta – Dunarea Veche – Mila 23 sat – Crisan – Maliuc – Tulcea
Traseul nr. 2
Tulcea – Canalul Litcov – Canalul Crisan – Caraorman – Hotelul Lebada – Maliuc – Tulcea
Traseul nr. 3
Tulcea – Maliuc – Hotelul Lebada – Canalul Crisan – Caraorman – Lacul Puiu – Popas BTT Rosu – Lacul Rosu – Împutita – Canalul Busurca – Sulina – Tulcea
Traseul nr. 4
Murighiol – Canalul Dunavat – Canalul Dranov – Golful Holbina – Lacul Razim – Gura Portitei
Traseul nr. 5
Jurilovca – Gura Portitei
Traseul nr. 6
Hotelul Lebada – Dunarea Veche – Canalul Eracle – Girla Lopatna – Canalul Lopatna – Lacul Trei Iezere
Traseul nr. 7
Hotelul Lebada – Dunarea Veche – Canalul Magearu – Dunarea Veche – Bratul Sulina – Hotelul Lebada
Traseul nr. 8
Traseul turistic Tulcea – Chilia Veche pe ruta: mun. Tulcea – canalele: Mila 36 – Sireasa – Sontea – Razboinita – Stipoc – Pardina – loc. Chilia Veche
Traseul nr. 9
Tur Chilia pe ruta: loc. Chilia Veche – brat Chilia – bratul Babina – bratul Cernovca – canal Sulimanca – Lacul Merheiu Mic – Lacul Merhei – Lacul Matita – Lacul Babina – canal Radacinoasele -canal Pardina -loc. Chilia Veche
Traseul nr. 10
Tur Sf. Gheorghe pe ruta: loc. Sf. Gheorghe -canalele: Zaton – Buhaz – Palade –Crasnicol – bratul Sf.Gheorghe – loc. Sf. Gheorghe
Traseul nr. 11
Traseul turistic Sulina –Periprava, pe ruta: Sulina – can. Cardon – can. Sfistofca – Periprava
Traseul nr. 12
Traseul turistic Sulina- Periprava, pe ruta: Sulina – can. Cardon – Golful Musura – bratul Musura – bratul Stambulul Vechi – brat Chilia – Periprava
Traseul nr. 13
Tur Uzlina pe ruta: loc. Uzlina – can. Uzlina – lacurile: Uzlina si Isac – canal Isac 3 – gârla Perivolovca – brat Sf. Gheorghe – loc. Uzlina – cu extensie lac Isac- canal Isac 2- canal Litcov – canal Ceamurlia – can. Crisan – brat Sulina – Centru de Informare si Documentare Ecologica Crisan
Traseul nr. 14
Traseul turistic Jurilovca – Periboina – Istria pe ruta: loc. Jurilovca – lacul Golovita – canal V – lacul Sinoe – cherhana Periboina – punctul Cetatea Istriei – canalul II – lacul Zmeica – lacul Golovita – loc. Jurilovca
Traseul nr. 15
Traseul turistic Tulcea – Mila 23 pe ruta: mun. Tulcea – bratul Sulina – canal M.22 – garla Sontea – Dunarea Veche – loc. Mila 23
Traseul nr. 16
Traseul Crisan – Mila 23 pe ruta: loc. Crisan – Dunarea Veche – canal Bogdaproste – lacurile: Bogdaproste – La amiaza – Trei Iezere – garla Lopatna – canal Eracle – Dunarea Veche – loc. Mila 23
Traseul nr. 17
Traseul Sulina – Sf. Gheorghe pe ruta: oras Sulina – canalele: Busurca – Imputita – cordon litoral – Tataru – loc. Sf. Gheorghe
Traseul nr. 18
Traseul Sulina – Sf. Gheorghe, pe ruta: oras Sulina: canal Busurca- canal Rosu – Imputita – lac. Rosulet – cherhana Rosulet – lac Rosu – baza turistica Rosu – lacul Puiu – can. Mocansca – lac Erenciuc – brat Sf. Gheorghe – loc. Sf. Gheorghe.
Traseul nr. 19
Lac Casla- Garla Somova- Lac Potica- Lac Parches – Lac Telincea
[1] Delta Dunării, http://delta-dunarii.blogspot.com/.
3. ACCESS
Access to the area can be done in multiple ways. Firs of all the main gates for entering the country are airports. For Romania, the most important airports for reaching Dobrogea region are the two airports from București, Interational Airport Henri Coandă and Băneasa Airport Aurel Vlaicu. The two main airports from Bulgaria, from which you can reach the main zone of this route are Varna Airport and Sofia Airport.
You can reach the Black Sea directly from the Danube, with the help of river boats, who can navigate until Sulina.
The Black Sea shore communicates with the rest of the area through the main roads transport axis, A2 and E772 from Sofia to Varna, on E87 and 39, E81, A4 along the shore of the Black Sea from Nessebar to Tulcea from where you can take the boat until Sulina. From Buchares until Constanta you can travel also to E81.
You can travel on the railway from Bucharest to Constanța (226 km), and from Sofia to Varna.
The principal boarder check point Bulgaria- Romania is in Vama Veche Point on the main road DN39, but you can also use other smaller check points from Ostrov-Silistra, Negru Vodă-Kardam. The check points from Lipniţa-Kainardja, Dobromir-Krushari are open just between 8-20. For an easy border check please use the border police site: https://www.politiadefrontiera.ro/ro/traficonline.
Ways to travel in Bulgaria and Romania
By plane:
Bulgarian international airports:
SOFIA – http://www.sofia-airport.bg
VARNA – http://www.varna-airport.bg
BURGAS – www.bourgas-airport.com
PLOVDIV – www.plovdivairport.com
Romanian international airports from Romania
BUCURESTI- Henri Coanda Airport – https://www.bucharestairports.ro/
BUCURESTI- Aurel Vlaicu Airport – https://www.bucharestairports.ro/baneasa/ro/
By Bus
The two countries have a developed bus transportation system (both internal and external). What is more – travel costs here are among the cheapest in Europe. Bus lines connect major towns with almost all European countries.
By Train
Although the railroad network is one of the most developed in Europe, trains are definitely not among the fastest. If you would like to travel shorter distance, it is better that you catch a bus. The advantage of railways is that they go through some really spectacular areas far from the main roads and motorways. Catching an international train is not recommended, esp. in the summer, because it is slower than the bus and is usually crowded.
By Taxi
Taxi is a relatively cheap way of transport but some taxis in the area of international airports and railway – as well as bus-stations, might have unreasonable prices! Ask on info-desks for recommended companies when taxi use is necessary or try to have a look at the price-list first (it is mandatory that the price-list is displayed on the front and right back window.)
4. NATURAL OBJECTIVES (sanctuaries, geological structures, karst complexes).
The counties from this study are situated on Via Pontica, a major bird migration route from Africa into Eastern and Northern Europe and they are home of numerous endangered species. Also in this region you can find a mixture of northern steps, with hills, fertile plains and the sand dunes specific to the pontic area.
1. Baltata reserve
Reserve “Baltata” is located near the village of Kranevo, Balchik Municipality and cover at the lower reaches of the river Batovska right to resort Albena. “Baltata” was declared a reserve by Order № 1784 1962 MS with an area of 183.2 hectares. In 1999 he was reclassified Maintained reserve area 203.2 hectares. It’s one of a few rare places in Europe where nature combined with human care. It has an area of 2 km2, and 36 species of mammals, 15 amphibians and 16 kinds of fish in the Baltata territory. Over 180 species are the birds found in the area – heron, mallard duck, and gray crane and.over 600 species of plants[1]. The proximity to the Baltata nature reserve provides unique possibilities for recreation and tourism to those who visit Albena. In these forests, you can choose to walk or to run and also you can observe the beautiful flowers and animals.
2. The Kamchia Biosphere Reserve is situated 25 km south of the town of Varna and is enclosed by the villages of Staro Oriahovo, Shkorpilovtsi and Bliznatsi. It is a former UNESCO-listed biosphere reserve on the northern coastline of Bulgaria, comprising the floodplain at the mouth of the Kamchia River. The biosphere reserve status was removed in 2017. Consisting largely of alluvial longose groves, (or the Longoz as it is also known), but also featuring some of the Black Sea coastline, the area of the protected habitats in the reserve, together with Kamchia Sands Protected Area, totals 1.200 ha. It was established in 1977 and protects the primeval.
[1] https://albena.bg/baltata-natural-reserve.
