
Strandzha Nature Park
Strandzha Nature Park is the largest protected area on the territory of Bulgaria that stretches over 1161 sq km. It was declared a protected area by virtue of Ordinance No. RD350 of 14 July 2000. It is located in the southeastern part of country, its southern border coincides with the Bulgarian sovereign border with Turkey, and it spreads as far as the Black Sea Coast to the east. The Nature Park lies on the territory of Strandzha Mountain which spreads in both Bulgaria and Turkey.
The park comprises five nature reserves, fourteen protected areas, and eight natural landmarks.
Interesting fauna and flora species-remnants of past geological periods (relicts) inhabit Strandzha. 64 relict species live on the territory of the park, seven of which cannot be seen anywhere else in Europe.
This is the only place in the entire continent where the typical forests from the end of the Tertiary (approximately 1.8 million years ago) have been preserved. Deciduous forests cover about 80% of the territory of the park. Their average age is higher than the ages of the other trees in the country. One can often come across Oriental Sessile Oak trees, Oak trees, Oriental Beech trees, and Tanniniferous Oak trees that are 1.5 – 2.0 m in diameter and over 500 years old in the natural ancient woods.
Strandzha Park is the Bulgarian protected area with the greatest number of vertebrates – 413 species, 31 of which are relict, such as the Dysdera Asiatica spider, the Stibaropus Henkei bug, the Heteropterus Morpheus butterfly, etc. 600 invertebrates live in the park. Nearly 70 types of fish inhabit the coastal waters on the territory of the park, and there are also 42 freshwater species.
Via Pontica avian migratory route passes through the coastal areas of Strandzha Park. Every year millions of birds fly through this air corridor swopping their mating places in Northern Europe for the winter shelters in Africa. This makes the park extremely important for the survival of scores of rare and protected bird species. 270 kinds of birds are spotted on the territory of the park. The populations of 50 species are of European importance: White Stork (Ciconia ciconia), Black Stork (Ciconia nigra), Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina), etc.
The rich biological diversity of the park is a result of the geological specifics of Strandzha, its climate, and its unique geographical position – it stands on the crossroad between Europe, the Mediterranean, and Asia. Within territory of just a couple of square kilometres tourists can cross a venerable oak forest, then walk through a typical Mediterranean zone and a wet bay forest to finally reach the seashore. There are several marked eco-trails on the territory of the park.
Apart from the biological diversity of protected fauna and flora species, nestinarstvo – an old ritual with pagan roots where people dance on hot embers, is one of the symbols of Strandzha. In Balgari Village dances are performed every year on the Day of St. Constantine and Helena – 21 May. In Kosti Village they are performed on Ilinden (the Day of Elijah – 20 July), while in Brodilovo Village they take place on the Day of St. Pantaleon (27 July). Nestinarstvo is included in the List of World Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO.
Petrova niva Historical Area (Petrova Field Historical Area), which is related to the Ilinden Uprising (the culminating point in the struggle for national liberation of the Bulgarians from Macedonia and Thrace against the Ottoman rule), is located near Stoilovo Village. Tourists can visit the memorial monument erected there in memory of the people who lost their lives during the uprising, the museum exhibition and St. Petka Ossuary Chapel. The Monument of the Preobrazhenie Uprising was declared a historical monument of culture of national importance by virtue of publication in State Gazette, issue No 97 of 1970.
An important Thracian beehive-shaped tomb lies in Mishkova niva Area (Mishkova Field Area), not far from Malko Tarnovo. Since the area is situated within the border region with Turkey tourists who wish to visit the tomb must contact the Tourist Information Centre at Malko Tarnovo in advance. The information centre provides guides.
The villages in Strandzha have preserved their architecture and offer accommodation in small family houses and family hotels. There are camping sites along the Black Sea Coast and the valleys of Veleka and Mladezhka Rivers are preferred spots for tenting.
Two information-visitor centres operate in the town of Malko Tarnovo and Gramatikovo Village. They provide information about tourist routes and accommodation, as well as contact local guides and tourists.
Thracian Beehive-shaped Tomb in Mishkova niva Area
No opening hours. Tourists can visit the site after they file a request in advance at the Malko Tarnovo Tourist Information Centre which provides guides.
Prices: groups of up to 10 people – BGN 4 per person
Lectures (given only in Bulgarian) – BGN 7.
Groups of more than 10 people – BGN 3 per person
Lectures (given only in Bulgarian) – BGN 5.
The access to Petrova niva Area is free.
Information-Visitor Centres
Information-Visitor Centre – Malko Tarnovo
Opening hours:
1 April – 31 October – 9.00 am – 12.30 pm and 1.30 pm – 6.00 pm.
November – end of March – the centre opens upon request in advance. There are no admission fees to the centre. It provides information about tourist routes, biodiversity, educational materials, accommodation, etc. It also contacts local guides and tourists.
Information-Visitor Centre – Gramatikovo Village (the Forest Collection)
Opening hours:
May – end of October – 9.00 am – 12.30 pm and 1.30 pm – 6.00 pm.
November – end of April – the centre opens upon request in advance.
There are no admission fees to the centre.
Training courses and seminars can be held at the centre. Educational films are played there. It provides information about tourist routes, biodiversity, educational materials, accommodation, etc. It also contacts local guides and tourists.
In case tourists wish so, the centres can contact guides who are local people. That is why it is recommended that foreign tourists contact and inform the centres in advance.
Strandzha Nature Park Administration Office –
11 Bulgaria Blvd., Malko Tarnovo
Information-Visitor Centre – Malko Tarnovo –
11 Bulgaria Blvd., Malko Tarnovo
Information-Visitor Centre –
Gramatikovo Village (the Forest Collection) – in the centre of the village
Tel: +359 5952 31 60;
Tel: +359 5952 36 56
e-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.strandja.bg
Start from Burgas and take first-class (A) road 98 to Malko Tarnovo. The road digresses from Route E87 in Poda Area near Burgas and passes through Bosna Area and Zvezdets Village to reach Malko Tarnovo. There is a border checkpoint with Turkey 9 km away from Malko Tarnovo.
The personnel of the information centres provides services to tourists in Bulgarian and English.
The villages in Strandzha are not only located far away from the routes but they are also distant from each other. Generally, no medical aid is available in them. Mobile phones cannot always be relied on because in many places the network signal is either weak or missing altogether. The network signals of the Turkish mobile service providers are stronger in the border regions so do not be surprised if your mobile phones switch to roaming regime and start using Turkish network services even though you are on Bulgarian territory.
Rules of conduct on the territory of the park: protect the birds and their nests; do not disturb the animals; fishing is allowed only in the areas marked for this purpose, during the hours specified, and with the allowed fishing gear; protect the flowers; protect the rock formations; camping, car parking and lighting fires are only permitted in the appointed places; when on the territory of the park and the protected areas tourists may only move along the marked routes. There may be wild animals on the roads. Drive carefully.
TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER – locality of Pryaslopa, town of Malko Tarnovo
Contacts
Tel/Fax: +359 5952 2023
e-mail: [email protected]
Malko Tarnovo
Services
The basic goal of the two centers is to contribute to the complete use of the abundant resources potential of the municipality, improving and diversification of its tourist offers and its popularization on the internal and the international market. The centers maintain a detailed data base about all available natural and cultural tourist landmarks and attractions, as well as about the offered installation and services. They perform coordination between various entrepreneurs for the forming of a tourist product, as abundant as possible, development of advertising materials and presenting of the tourist offers of the Municipality on regional, national and international tourist markets.
Virtual map
Pictures
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