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 The Ethnographic Museum in Balchik is a charming place for the visitors. There are local costumes and jewelry exhibited. Also furnished rooms, traditional for early 20th Century. Crafts of the region are presented as well. There is also a History Museum, where a visitor can see things from ancient times up to the 20th Century history of Balchik. There is particularly nice pottery, sgraffito, which is local to the place from the proto-Bulgarian time. It has pale glazes with black pushed into the scratching. Another notable item is the Hellenic chariot that has been reconstructed from iron remains that were found in the area.
 The church in Balchik was built in 1845, which was still in the Turkish Ottoman period. It is built of stone, in Basilica form, it is just a hall church with two isles, columns with very naturalistic leaves on the capitals. There is a timber iconostasis and an extraordinarily high pulpit which is attached to one of the columns with a little staircase twisting up around and then an ornate curvilinear balcony. There is a timber ceiling, patterned, a full set of pews, a Bishop’s throne, old lamps, quite good icons on the iconostasis and also at the back of the church including one Cyril and Methodius showing their original alphabet. At the east end of the church is a free standing belfry in stone with a timber cupola and an external bell under it.
 The most visited places in Balchik are the Palace of Queen Marie, the “Quiet Nest” and the Botanical Garden. It is a complex of buildings spread out in an area full of gardens, trees, alleys, small waterfalls, nice restaurants, etc., which used to be the palace of Maria the Queen of Romania.
The House of Culture in Shabla, contains a small museum which shows some of the artifacts from the Byzantine fortress at Port Shabla, very nicely presented with short explanations in English. On the ground floor there is a small art gallery. There are some very nice paintings and wood carvings.
The Ethnographic Museum in Kavarna is really an excellent museum to be seen. You will be captivated by the 19th century middle class house with a garden, representing the high standard of living in those days.
 What can be arranged for the visitor?
- Studying the ancient Thracian civilization
- Diving in Kavarna
- Botany
- Bird watching
- Photo-safari
- Socializing with Dolphins in Krapetz and Kavarna
 Wreck diving (Underwater Heritage Trails): It is possible to organise diving tours for visiting of numerous ship wrecks, which "landed" in the area in different historic times. One of the best excitments is a visit of the ancient Port Town of the Roman period, near to Kavarna town, 25 minutes from Krapetz. You will see there ancient Roman tombs. The legend says, that the treasure of Alexander the Great is hidden there. Although archaeological diving is relatively new in the area, it enjoys a fast growing interest. Equipment can be rented.
Ak Yazala Baba Tekke, Obrochiste is built in 1512-1520. Its architecture is said to be unique in the whole Balkan Peninsula. The Tekke (Turkish for monastery) is respected equally by Moslems and Christians. Both religions believe that their saint is buried here: Moslems say it is Ak Yazala Baba, Christians say it is St. Anastasius. Both saints are believed to be patrons of the shepherds of the region.A group of Moslems leaving in the Dobroudja region, the Dely Orman region, are called Kazal Bashy (Kazal - Turkish red, Bash - head), that revere Ak Azala Baba above all. The Christians say that when St. Anastasius started from the shore of Asia Minor to Russia by boat the waves took him to the bay where Albena resort is situated now. |
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