The Thracian treasure from Rogozen is said to be Bulgaria's
archaeological find of the previous century or as many archaeologists
say: "The horn of plenty was poured out over Bulgaria once again
in 1986, when that great treasure was found."
Its uniqueness gave the archaeologists much material to work on,
as it revealed some ancient secrets unknown until now. The exclusive
find is now strictly guarded in the Vratsa History Museum, which
offers its visitors a rare journey through the ancient world of Thracian
art.
If you want to see Bulgaria's treasure of the 20th century, you should
visit Vratsa, located at the foot of Vratsa Mountain, famous for
its ancient history and beautiful nature. The region is also famous
for its world-renowned Ledenika cave.
The Rogozen treasure, the largest Thracian treasure found so far,
dated to the pre-Hellenistic Age, is one of the most interesting
things in this northern town. |
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Ivan Dimitrov, from the village of Rogozen, found the first 65
silver vessels while digging in his garden. Just a few days after
that the major excavations began, and the other items of the treasure
came to light for the people.
The "find of the century" represents a collection of 165
beautifully worked silver vessels. It is believed to have belonged
to a rich Thracian family involved in the ruling of the Triballi
tribe. There are 108 phials included in the treasure. Some of them
are decorated with geometrical and plant ornaments.
A total of 54 jugs are included in the Rogozen treasure as well.
Some experts say that these unique vessels could have been produced
only by the local tribe. Their ornamentation divides the Rogozen
jugs into two varieties: jugs decorated with geometrical, plant and
animal ornaments and motifs, and jugs decorated with mythological
scenes. |
Archaeologists say that before the Rogozen treasure
came to light there was no certain idea about a Thracian iconography
of the Great Goddess. Yet now the Rogozen treasure shows its domestic
image. The other deity is depicted as a horseman in different scenes
and actions. The most characteristic of them is the 'boar hunt'.
The treasure is said to have been made, collected and added to over
a long period, from the end of the 6th century BC to the mid-4th
century BC in the course of about 150 years. It was found hidden
in the earth because of the danger of the campaigns threatened to
be undertaken by the Macedonian rulers. |
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Three goblets are also among the greatest ever found, but they
are different in form and ornamentation. On the largest of them is
a picture of a solemn procession of animals: a bird of prey holding
a fish in its beak and a hare in its talons; a bearded he-goat with
huge horns is before it and there are three stags in front.
Specialists are now busy studying these great pieces of art. They
focus on the composition of the silver, the technique of working
and chiselling it, and the detailed deciphering and explanation of
the inscriptions. The scenes and images will be deciphered in the
language of art, if the right cipher is found.
This treasure also gives historians the chance to look for the real
place of the Triballi and their culture in antiquity and amid other
peoples and cultures. |
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Thracian
tomb – 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, 1.95m in length, 1.12m in width and 2.24m in height,
leads to a domed tomb, 3.25m in height and 2.65m 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. |
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The entrance is from the south side. The tomb became world famous
with its unique mural, done in wet fresco and tempera. The artistic
decoration covers an area of 40 sq m, and is an extraordinary art
gallery, taking the visitor far 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 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 IV c. - early III c.
BC. Nearby an exact copy has been built for tourists. |
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Thracian
tomb – Sveshtari
It dates back to the III c. B.C. and is included in the World Register
of Historical Sites in 1985. It consists of three chambers - an entrance
chamber and two antechambers. It is covered by a mound. The decoration
of the burial chamber is exceptionally interesting, a unique blend
of art and architecture.
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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. |
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The
Horseman of Madara - Madara
A relief, portraying a life-size horseman followed by a dog, is carved
on a cliff, about 100m high. The relief covers an area of 23 sq m.
A dying lion is pictured at the feet of the horse. |
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Greek inscriptions around the figure tell of Bulgarian
rulers and important events. This is a rare monument, dating from
the VIII – IX c. AD. 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. |
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The
Church at Boyana – Sofia
It 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 XI c. According
to an original manuscript, in 1295 the two-storey part of the church
was built, and the rest was added in the middle of the XIX c. |
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The most interesting parts 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 XIII c. The portraits of the founder
of the church, patron Kaloian and his wife Desislava and of prince
Konstantin and his wife Irina, are the pinnacle of the skill of
the artist. The monument was included in the World Register of
Historical and Natural Sites in 1979. |
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Rock
Monasteries - Ivanovo
This is an area where a number of mediaeval churches, monastic cells
and chapels were carved on both sides of the river Lom. A colony
of hermits lived here from the III c. to the XVII c. 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, galleries. |
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The walls are covered with pictures of biblical themes
and compositions with many figures. Great artistic value, refined
colour scheme and admirable skill are displayed. The partly conserved
frescoes are evidence of the notable achievements of the Bulgarian
mediaeval 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. |
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The
Rila Monastery
This 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 X c. 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 XIX c. It is the biggest renaissance
monument in Bulgaria. |
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An architectural and artistic composition of enormous
dimensions, it is the apogee of the work of 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 XIV c., is located in the yard.
The Monastery is still in use. There is a sumptuous library, a historical
museum and a few subject museum exhibition. The church was painted
by the most famous representatives of the Bulgarian renaissance artistic
school. The Rila monastery was included in the World Register of
Historical Sites in 1983. |
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Old
Nesebar
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 displaying the way of life of the different people
that have inhabited it. |
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On this tiny island, castle walls from Thracian times,
defensive structures, private and public buildings from the Hellenistic
period, mediaeval churches and renaissance buildings combine to
form a unique atmosphere.
Nearby is the famous Black Sea resort of Slunchev Briag. |
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The churches were built during the early Byzantine
period (V-VI) and during the middle ages (X-XIV). The oldest of
them are the basilicas, cruciform with a single nave. The murals
from the XIV-XVIII c. have an exceptional historic and artistic
value, displaying the traditions and craftsmanship of the artisans
and icon painters of that time. Old Nesebar was included in the
World Register of Historical Sites in 1983. |
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The
Nature Reserve - Sreburna
Sreburna was included in the list of 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, 1.5m 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. |
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Sreburna is a stopping place for many migratory birds.
It possesses one of the four 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 and plants. The reserve covers an area of 8,000 decares.
In the vicinity there is a nature museum and an ecological research
station. |
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Pirin
National Park
The main ridge of the mountains is aligned from north-west to south-south-east.
It is about 80km long and 40km wide. It covers an area of 2,585 sq
km 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, Kremenskite lakes, Valiavihkite lakes, Vlahinskite
lakes, Bunderishkite lakes, 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
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. |
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The park covers an area of 26,479.8 hectares, and
is the largest in the country. It includes parts of the mountains
which are more than 1,000m above sea level, with unique ecosystems,
areas with specific geomorphology, a large number of Bulgarian
and Balkan endemites and relics. There are a few trees declared
to be natural heritage, including the Baikusheva white fir, more
than 1,200 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 mountain is almost impassable.
Roads have been made from Bansko, Sandanski, Gotze Delchev, etc. |
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