The Forest of Folklore
Where the fertile Thracian Valley descends along the Maritsa River towards the Aegean, Strandzha is the rocky and heavily forested Thracian coastline of the Black Sea. Nestled between the Balkan Mountains and the Strandzha Forests, the region is home to several ancient towns, Bulgaria’s best wine region, and some of the most unique ecosystems in Europe.
- Strandzha National Park, one of the most extensive protected forests in Europe, with its unique ecosystem and landscape
- The unique folklore and traditions of the Strandzha region with its many charming towns and villages, e.g., Brashlyan and Malko Tarnov
- The ancient city of Nessebar with a tangible history dating back to ancient Greece
Rugged terrain and rich wildlife characterize the Strandzha region of Bulgaria. The area is located in the country’s southeastern part, bordering the Black Sea to the east and Turkey to the south. The landscape is dominated by the Strandzha Mountains, a hilly highland covered in dense forests of oak, beech, and chestnut trees. The rivers that flow through the region, such as the Veleka and the Rezovska, support the lush forests and the wide range of aquatic life, giving it an almost tropical feel. Despite its rugged terrain, the Strandzha region is home to a number of small villages and towns, many of which have a rich cultural heritage and traditional way of life.
- Accommodation: 4
- Transportation: 2
- Volume/Capacity: 5
- Infrastructure: 1
- Interactivity: 8
- Context: 3
- Monuments: 8
- Quality: 5
- Abstraction: 10
- Tradition: 6
