Many people in Bulgaria define the Northern Black Sea Coast as the more aristocratic part of the Bulgarian coastline. Here, at the end of the 1960’s, the attractive and rich in different architecture styles resort of Albena emerged. Rusalka (water nymph) and Golden Sands are the other two top destinations of the Bulgarian Northern Black Sea Coast. The Bulgarian Sea capital Varna, being the biggest marine center, tops the rankings of the places with richest coastal landscapes. In their attempt to reach a higher refinement and style when offering their tour packages, the northern Black Sea resorts have long ago won many true fans. The town of Balchik is one of the places which attract tourists with bohemian atmosphere and aristocratic finesse. If we add the view towards the blue boundlessness of the Black Sea, we will easily find out why the Romanian Queen Maria chose to build her summer residence in this heavenly spot in the 1920’s.
Thus, a real palace, enclosed by a beautiful park, emerged on the Black Sea Coast near Balchik. The whole complex was a self-dependent farm stead with all necessary buildings and equipment. Once, there was a post office, garages and even a small military detachment at this place. Today, this architectural masterpiece continues to bear the name “The Palace”. Along with the botanical garden which surrounds the palace, it is one of the 100 national tourist sites in Bulgaria. Ivelina Radilova who is the head of the “”Palace” cultural center takes us around the place which was once the Queen’s cloister.
“The Palace in Balchik is one of the most remarkable tourist sites along the Northern Black Sea Coast as well as in the whole country”, says Mrs. Radilova. “The palace was very well preserved over the years and we continue to take good care of it at present. The Queen’s villa is among the most-interesting places visitors can see in this complex. It is entitled “The quiet nest” and was the private residence of the Romanian Queen. Today, a display which follows the history of the palace is situated in the villa. Visitors can see a restored version of the Queen’s bedroom, living room, bathroom and boudoir. The compartments look almost the same as the original ones. Another interesting place in the palace is the chapel which was named “Stella Maris” by Queen Maria. Today, it is functioning as an Orthodox chapel named “Assumption of Virgin Mary”. The building is a copy of a church from the 15th century, situated on the island of Cyprus. The Queen liked this building a lot and decided to make her residence in the town of Balchik look exactly the same. The image of the Queen herself was painted on one side of the gate and the one of her favorite daughter Iliana can be seen on the other side."
There are many other buildings with interesting architecture in the premises of the palace. According to Mrs Radilova, some of them were used in practice and others had mainly aesthetic functions.
“Of course, the palace gardens are also very remarkable,” Ivelina Radilova goes on to say. They have been a landscape masterpiece since the time they were created. When Balchik Palace became Bulgarian property in 1955, many botanists from the Sofia University started to work here. They have enriched the gardens with various exotic and interesting species from the Bulgarian and the international flora. The “Palace” cultural complex is unique with its position. Those who built the complex showed exceptional sense of the spirit of this place, the surrounding nature and the architecture of the town of Balchik”, says Mrs Radilova.
Because the complex was constructed over a lop-sided terrain, a huge part of it was terraced. Thus, smaller spaces formed quite naturally in the complex. Queen Maria gave different names to these plots. The “Gethsemane garden” for example was situated over the far-east part of the park, along the seacoast. Its entrance consists of an exquisite stone arch with beautiful gates made of wrought iron, just like one of the stone gates in the Gethsemane garden in Israel. The other garden bears the name “God’s garden”. Queen Maria wanted this garden to be so beautiful that God could enjoy it when coming down to Earth. Here is more from Mrs Radilova about the sights of the one-time residence.
“There are five or six stone thrones in the castle, but the Queen collected many other beautiful items as well”, explains Mrs Radilova. The park is a real open-air collection of different small elements. There are many beautiful stone crosses which were brought from Moldova. Many huge clay jars, the so-called “Pitosi, which were beautifully decorated, can be seen there”, concludes Ivelina Radilova.
No matter whether you will sacrifice one day on the beach, or will make a special spring or autumn trip to the beautiful sea, the touch to the atmosphere of the Palace in Balchik will charge you with real royal inspiration. Some of the villas in the complex were turned into hotels. The fans of sea food will find real treasure of taste and scents at the seacoast.
English version: Kostadin Atanasov
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