University Botanical Garden – Eco Park – city of Varna

The University Botanical Garden – Eco Park – the city of Varna was established in 1977 on the territory of a former nursery-garden, and since 11 May 2002, it has been opened for visitors as the first ecological park in the country. It was declared a protected area by Decree No РД-198 of 05 March 2004. Among its priority activities is the protection of various plant species outside their natural environment and of protected species of the Bulgarian and foreign flora.

This is the first eco-park in the country which combines artificial and natural ecological systems. The park is situated on an area of 360 decares. The plant collections include more than 300 species of exotic trees and bushes, and the herbaceous plants are more than 100 species. The botanical garden is also famous for its rich collection of irises, which are more than 250 variations. The ecological park offers exotic meetings with plants from the whole world: sea oaks, tulip-tree, ginkgo biloba, sterculia, parrotia persica, broussonetia papyrifera, evergreen oak, mamont tree, and many others.
More than 30 species of roses are grown in the Rose Garden and the Ecological Park.

The Academic Jockey Club is situated in the university botanical garden in the city of Varna. It offers horse-riding lessons on a manege with an instructor, free riding for advanced people, tours with a carriage, with a convertible car, with a painted cart – on the route of the ecological park.

The Academic Jockey Club every year organizes a Republican Horse-Riding Tournament for the cup of the Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” – it gathers elite horses and riders, as well as admirers of the horse sport.

Every year Varna organizes the celebration of Todorov Den (The Day of Todor) – traditional races, competitions with horse teams, donkey carriages, prizes for the most beautiful horses.

The University Botanical Garden – Ecological Park of Varna, possesses a biological station in which summer practices of university students are conducted, as well as green schools for students.

An information center with a botanical market is situated at the entrance of the Ecological Park, in which you can find information about current and upcoming novelties, to buy flower seeds, evergreen trees and bushes, exotic and various house and garden plants.