FROM STRANDJA TO AEGEAN – THE UNKNOWN SITES

BURGAS - (BEGLIK TASH) - MISHKOVA NIVA – – – KEŞAN - ENEZ - ERIKLI – UZUNKÖPRÜ –

4 days – 3 nights

1st day

11.00 – Departure from Burgas -

12.00 Arrival in the of Primorsko

Municipality of Primorsko is the first municipality – product of democracy in Burgas region. It was created voluntarily by the will of the people from the town of Primorsko, village of Pismenovo, village of and the village of Novo Panicharevo in 1997 (Decree No. 258 of 18.07.1997 of the President of Republic of ). Subsequently, the municipality was joined voluntarily by: Kiten (in April 2001) and the village of (April 2002).

Municipality of Primorsko is located in the southeastern part of Republic of Bulgaria. To the east it is bordered by the , to the west and to the north by municipality of and to the south by the municipalities of Tzarevo and Malko Tarnovo.

The total area of the municipality of Primorsko is 350.7 sq. km., which is 4.61% of the territory of Burgas region and 0.32% of the territory of Republic of Bulgaria. The territory of the municipality covers six land areas: of the town of Primorsko and the villages of Kiten, Novo Panicharevo, Yasna Polyana, Veselie and Pismenovo.

The town of Primorsko is the centre of the municipality. The town is located 450 km away from the capital and 50 km away from the town of Burgas – the fourth largest town in Bulgaria.

At 1 p.m. - Lunch in the town of Primorsko

At 2.30 p.m. - Arrival at Beglik Tash

The Thracian sanctuary Beglik Tash is located in the highest part of Beglik Tash cape (128 m altitude) near Primorsko. It covers an area of 6 decares. The land it is situated on is forest land, it was a part of the hunting lodge of the former communist head of state (who governed from 1954 to 1989). Precisely for this reason one of the greatest discoveries about Thracian history on the Bulgarian Southern Black Sea coast and in mountain remained unknown to science until 2003.

The entrance to the sanctuary is from southwest. A rock trail leads to a stone "matrimonial bed". Two sacrificial stones surround the bed. Deep bathtubs have been carved in them, connected with chutes for transfusion of ritual liquids: wine, milk, olive oil, rain water. A stone throne follows, from which deep cut chutes and crossing lines start, joining in a large quadrangular "sharapana". The eastern part of the circle is occupied by three "menhirs" (large rounded stones). A "divine step”, 0.6 m long and 0.34 m wide, is cut on the top of the highest of them. This same "divine step" is discovered in the opposite southern point, at the foot of the rock terrace. The divine steps mark the innermost sacred space, designated only for those who are initiated to take part in the mysteries.

The central area of the sanctuary is best studied so far. It is slightly raised above the surrounding terrain and rock elements, which have served for the performance of rituals, are located in a circle with a diameter of 56 m. They have preserved their natural character but have been moved and further shaped by human hands with characteristic sacral symbols and characters.

An astronomical clock, made of 16 flat round stones and a huge dolmen, representing the "glowing cave", where the goddess-mother gives birth to her son, Sun God, and "the maze" – the way of the test, can be seen behind them.

Pottery, stone utensils and weapons, flints, coins, etc. were found during the archaeological excavations, which show that it was created in the middle of II century BC and was destroyed in the beginning of IV century AD. The lack of later construction on it has preserved the unique sacral elements in their original form.

5 p.m. Accommodating in a hotel in the town of Primorsko – dinner, free time, overnight stay

2nd day

9.00 a.m. Breakfast

10.00 a.m. Departure to Mishkova Niva The most famous monument of the ancient Thracian culture in the area of Strandzha mountain is the sanctuary in Mishkova Niva locality.

The sanctuary Mishkova Niva is a part of a large complex, which is located about 3 – 3.5 km southwest of Malko Tarnovo, on the left bank of Deliyska River in immediate proximity to the state border with Republic of . It consists of a fortress at Golyamo Gradishte peak, mines at its foot, mound necropolis, recessed suburban villa from the Roman period, as well as the so-called Great mound. The complex has been known yet from the early 20th C and was initially reported as a sanctuary of because of the inscriptions, carried over from the site to the town.

Golyamo Gradishte is the highest peak in the Bulgarian part of Strandzha mountain – 710 m altitude. Its name comes from the fortress on the top, which served as a shelter, the watch - tower and the region's security up to and during the Roman period but was destroyed by treasure hunters in the last quarter of 20 C. The fortress wall was built of crushed stones of different size and shape, tightly arranged without solder. The thickness of the wall is about 1.20 - 1.30 m. Pieces of bricks and metallurgical slag are noticeable in it on some spots. The space, surrounded by the fortress wall, has a diameter of about 100 m. Meagre remains of premises are found inside.

Rock carvings are preserved at about 30 m southwest of the highest point on the top in the ground rock. The traces from the rock carvings on the top in the form of pits suggest that during a very early period, probably in 2 - early 1 century BC, a rock sanctuary probably functioned in this place, which started functioning as a fortress in later periods. Having survived through the millennia, the site has not been studied by archaeologists.

The mound necropolis in Mishkova Niva locality was crowned by the so-called Great Mound, which was partially explored during the period 1981-1983. A monumental construction with external diameter of 25 m rises in the southern part of the Great Mound. The outer circle consists of 3 rows of blocks of white local marble with external and internal face. The blocks, which formed the last, third row of the enclosure, have а precisely carved upper surface in the form of an arch.

The height of this enclosure is 1.80 m. The entrance to the cupola tomb, which consists of a covered dromos (corridor) and a round chamber, whose upper part ends with a dome, is in the southern part of the circle. The entrance was crowned with a pediment, decorated with a shield, spear and two open palms. The construction is made of well- carved marble blocks, secured with clamps. The floor of the dromos and the chamber are covered with stone flooring.

A rectangular room was found at the western wall of the dromos, which is built using crushed granite stones – a technique, different from that of the tomb. The walls are plastered with mortar inside. Its purpose is not clear. The observations from the lateral wall of the dromos show that there were two blocks there, which were probably removed, so that one could enter the room, and put in their place again. It seems that they are parts of an older building, built of the same material, like their inner circle – crushed granite stones. This inner circle surrounds big granite slabs – remains of a heavily destroyed dolmen – and closes in the north-eastern outer corner of the dromos of the cupola building built later.

A site of big marble blocks with large marble troughs is revealed in front of the well- preserved entrance of the outer marble circle. A small stone heap is located a few meters to the west of them, in which, according to the oral information, a water pipe was seen, leading to Golyamo Gradishte. The ancient road to the sanctuary can be seen from the site in southern and south-eastern direction, down the horizontal line of the slope.

According to the citizens of Malko Tarnovo marble altars of Apollo Aularios with captions, a caption with a dedication of Heracles and votive tablets with images of the Thracian Horseman, preserved in the town’s museum, originate from this complex site, in which very few archaeological materials from 2-3 C have been found. One of the inscriptions indicates that the sanctuary is related to a mining and metallurgical centre with a fortified Roman suburban villa (mansion), because the text represents a dedication by the manager of the iron mines.

The cult facility in Мishkova Niva is а centuries - old topos of faith, which evolved from a megalithic monument (dolmen) with an enclosure (krepis) into a sacred space (temenos). This transformation probably occurred in the beginning of the intensive development of the ore mines. Up to now the dolmen seems to have been used as a place for worship of a mythical ancestor in the surrounding necropolis. The rectangular room, attached to the western wall of the dromos, speaks in favour of this. During a later period the remains of the dolmen, which was turned into a place for glorifying the divinized ancestor-hero (heroon), and its krepis were included in a sacred enclosure (temenos), where God Apollo was worshipped.

Most probably the territory between the remains of the dolmen with the earth mound above it, with its krepis and the marble circle is sacred land, in which votive gifts and dedications were placed, and the rectangular room served for storing the treasures of the ancestor - hero. An opulent cupola edifice of marble was added to the entrance of the temenos during the time of economic flourishing of the area, which could also be a real tomb of a local aristocrat, a new heroon. It is not clear when the entrance was decorated with the pediment – before or after the cupola building was erected. Probably at this point entry into the space between the two stone krepises started to be banned and the gifts were left in the newly-built premises and in the old one, which is rectangular, too. This proves the ideological and religious connection between the two constructions.

This type of sacred places – of real or mythical ancestors, honoured as heroes, were very well known in the whole Southeastern Europe, but the one in Mishkova Niva is the largest and best preserved. They were organized around old burial facilities and a necropolis was formed around them. These heroes-ancestors were usually revered along with or in the sacred territory of the sanctuary of God.

The life of the cult complex may be dated between the middle of 2 century BC up to the age of late Antiquity (4-6 C). With all its changes, architectural and functional, the complex remains a proof of the Thracian Orphic faith in energy immortality and one of the most popular monuments of the ancient spirituality in .

1 p.m. Departure to the village of Brashlyan

The village of Brashlyan is located in Strandzha mountain, 14 km northwest of Malko Tarnovo, 64 km south of Burgas, two kilometres from the road Malko Tarnovo - Zvezdetz and 4 km away from the border with Turkey. As the whole territory of Malko Tarnovo municipality, it is a part of Strandzha Natural Park. The population, as in the rest of the villages in Strandzha, has decreased strongly and is composed of elderly people.

The village of Sarmashik originated in 17 C, when the inhabitants of the three hamlets, Yurtet, Selishte and Zhivak (its Thracian name is Kikon (Kykkos) from the Thracian Kik - mercury; according to an ancient legend the singer Orpheus was born there) settled in the Lower Quarter, the oldest part of the village. It was mentioned in Ottoman tax registers from the second half of 17 C and in 19 C it was a large stock - breeding centre. Inhabitants of the village participated in Heteriyata of 1821. passed through the village too, as the house he stayed at has been preserved until today.

The Sarmashik affair, which preceded Preobrazhenie Uprising, developed in Sarmashik. On 2 April 1903 a part of a band of the Internal Macedonian - Odrin Revolutionary Organization was surrounded by Ottoman troops in Balyuva House (today an architectural and historical monument), killing the voyvod of the band Pano Angelov and the member Nikola Ravashola. The inhabitants of the village participated actively in the uprising too. Sarmashik was strongly damaged during the suppression of the uprising. All 150 houses were looted and the population fled.

The village of Sarmashik joined Bulgaria in 1913 after the Balkan War. From the middle of 20 C a large part of the inhabitants of the village migrated to Malko Tarnovo and later to Burgas. Of the 650 inhabitants in 1926, today the population has decreased to about 50 people. Many of today's residents of Malko Tarnovo are from Brashlyan - they are called "Sarmashani" by the old name of the village.

From 1982 the entire village of Brashlyan has become an architectural and historical reserve, whereas authentic houses, typical of the architecture of Strandzha of 18 - 19 C, have been preserved in it. 76 houses are architectural monuments of culture, 9 of them – of national importance. It is believed that the oldest house in the village was built in 17 C.

With the efforts of the local Society for protection of the natural and historical heritage "Brashlyan" and the municipality, the monastery school (which functioned in the period 1871-1877), the chapels St. Panteleymon, St. Petka and St. Leftera, the Bell Tower of the church St. Dimitar (late 17 C) were restored and an ethnographic collection and an open- air museum of traditional agriculture have been organized. A few kilometres away from the village there are traces of Thracian sanctuaries and dolmens.

The village of Brashlyan is located within Strandzha Natural Park and the land area of the village borders Vitanovo reserve, the valley of the river and the trout fish farm on the river Katun.

1.30 p.m. Lunch in the village of Brashlyan

2.30 p.m. Departure to Malko Tarnovo

Malko Tarnovo is situated in the central part of Strandzha mountain. European road E87 passes through the town. Malko Tarnovo Border Control Point is in the immediate vicinity. Malko Tarnovo is located 76 km south of Burgas and 5 km away from the border with Republic of Turkey. Its population numbers 3 527 inhabitants.

It is situated in a karst valley, surrounded by high wooded hills, the town is the only one in the territory of the central part of Strandzha mountain in Bulgaria. The highest peak of Strandzha mountain in Bulgaria - Golyamo Gradishte (709 m altitude) rises west of Malko Tarnovo.

An older name has not been preserved, although the village has existed yet in Antiquity (IV-III century BC). There was a metallurgical centre here, belonging to the territory of Biziya (today’s town of Vize in Republic of Turkey), the last capital of the Thracian kings.

A big turning point in cultural and economic aspect occurred in 330, when Emperor Constantine moved the capital of the empire from Rome to . Thus Strandzha, from a peripheral mountain, proved to be in immediate proximity to the new economic and cultural centre. As the closest and largest centre for the extraction of ore, the mountain undertook the entire supply of metal for the needs of the new capital. About 70 ancient mines were found only in the territory of Malko Tarnovo municipality, and in the vicinity of the town – four furnaces for melting.

A number of monuments have been found in the area of the town - megaliths, mound necropolises, antique buildings, a fortress, revealing the importance of the settlement during the Thracian and Roman epochs. The old mining in this region is touched on in a quadrilateral marble altar, found in Mishkova Niva locality. This monument and a number of other traces indicate that the centre of the Roman metal-extracting industry in Strandzha mountain was located near Malko Tarnovo.

In its appearance of today the town of Malko Tarnovo was established in 1628. During the first two centuries stock - breeding was strongly developed, which was the main occupation of the population to the beginning of 20 C.

Visit to the museum in the town.

The town’s and the region’s historical and ethnographic heritage are well represented at the premises of the Historical Museum in Malko Tarnovo.

The museum was established in 1983 under the name "Strandzha Museum Complex" and since 2002 it has been restructured in a Municipal History Museum; yet until today it is the only cultural institution in the territory of Strandzha mountain. The exhibition area is located in four Strandzha houses from the Revival period - cultural monuments, which belonged to wealthy families of traders from the end of 19 C.

The history museum in Malko Tarnovo has a carpet workshop too, offering demonstrations of weaving on an authentic loom.

5 p.m. Departure to Keşan (Crossing the border at Malko Tarnovo Border Control Point)

8 p.m. Arrival in the town of Keşan – accommodating at a hotel, dinner, overnight stay

3rd day

9.00 a.m. Breakfast

10.00 a.m. Looking around Keşan

The town is one of the nine district centres of the district of Odrin (), the administrative centre of 6 municipalities. Keşan is situated at the crossroads between the East and the West, between the North and the South, not far from the Turkish-Greek border, near the Aegean and the Sea of Marmara, right at the intersection of ancient roads between Edirne and Gelibolu on one hand and and on the other. The town has a population of around 62000 people. The main occupation in the area are agriculture and trade. Wheat, sugar beet, sunflower seed, barley, maize, different types of vegetables and of course rice are grown here. The traditional festival of rice is held in the town in the autumn. The history of the area can be traced back to 30 centuries BC when Thracian lived here, which the numerous artefacts found here during the archaeological excavations held are a proof of.

11.00 a.m. Departure to Enez and Gala lake

Enez (Enos in Bulgarian, Ainos in Greek), located on the southeastern coast of River, right where its waters meet the .

In Antiquity the town here was named Ainos and was one of the important ports of Eastern on the eastern bank of Evros. The town is mentioned by and in their works. It is believed that the town was founded by colonists from Mytilene ( island) and Kime around 7th C BC. In 375 BC, during the Peloponnesian War, the town took part on the side of and was a member of the Athenian maritime union until 345 BC. From 341 BC it belonged to the Atalidi dynasty from the ancient town of , the capital of the Pergamon Kingdom. Enos passes into the hands of Rome after the last king of the dynasty Atlus III – called with the nickname The Crazy, bequeathed all his kingdom and wealth to the Roman Empire. In Late Antiquity the town was the capital of the province of Rhodope and an episcopal centre. According to the ancient chronicler Prokop, emperor Justinian built the great fort and the city walls. A medieval fortification, which belonged to the genovese family Gatiluzio, which governed it from 1376 until its conquest in 1456 by the troops of the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed The Conqueror, is situated today at the site of the ancient . In 1912, during the the Balkan War, Enos was conquered by the Bulgarian army. The town is the end point of the line Midia – Enos, the territory, which according to the Peace Treaty, was ceded by the to the Balkan Union and Bulgaria, but a few months later the line was adjusted by the Treaty of Bucharest of 1913 and the town was returned to Turkey.

The preserved and restored acropolis of Enez rises at a height of 25 meters above the level of the sea and the river, perched on the hill – preserving memories from glorious times of the peoples having passed through the district, revealing a wonderful, breathtaking view to the Aegean Sea and the delta of Maritsa and inviting to a romantic meeting at sunset, when you are here, you can watch one of the most beautiful sunsets on the Aegean Sea.

Sightseeing of the remains of the Fortress and the church Saint Sophia - "Wisdom of God".

After the town was captured by the Ottoman Turks by order of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, the Episcopal Church was converted into a mosque – which bears his name FATIH - conqueror. It is located in the south-eastern part of the acropolis and has impressive size for its time - 21 to 38 metres, without the apse, and rivals many churches, built in Constantinople at the same time. Unfortunately a big part of the church, which was converted into a mosque, was destroyed in a big earthquake in 1965 and it has not been fully restored yet, but the municipality of the town hopes to provide enough funds for the restoration of the site, part of the European and World Cultural Heritage.

Sightseeing of the remains of chapels and small churches in the area of the fortress and the harbour. Sightseeing of Tashalta necropolis and the tomb of Has Yunus Bey.

The Byzantine monastery and the church were converted in 1456 in a tomb of Yunus Baba - commander of the fleet of the Ottoman Empire. Sightseeing of the remains of the ancient Roman road Via Egnatia and bridges over Maritsa and its tributaries, remains from its fortress walls around the harbours. In Antiquity Enos was known as the "dual port” - the first one located by the sea and the other by the river. By the middle of XIX C, when the mouth of the river at Enos was covered with silt, the lower stream of Maritsa was used for river transport, whereas with high water one could reach along it and even .

2.30 p.m. Leisure time for coffee, lunch or sweet temptations in the centre of the town of Enez

3 p.m. Departure to Gala lake

Gala Lake National Park has been a protected area for already 11 years and covers an area of 15000 acres. In 1991 5850 acres around the lake were declared a nature reserve, and later, scientists - ecologists and biologists from the Thracian University in Odrin assisted for the announcement of this area a protected area and a national park. It is worked here on the protection of the environment and nature, birds and aquatic inhabitants of the river and the lakes Pamuklu and Small Gala. The area is under the protection of the International Convention on the Protection of Wetlands of Europe and the Ministry of Environment and Forests of the Republic of Turkey.

About 163 species of local birds, 27 species of migratory birds, spending the winter in the lake, and 90 species of spring and autumn migratory birds can be seen in the park. More than 16 species of fish, among which – whitefish, carp, northern pike, European eel can be seen in both lakes. Fishing and hunting in the reserve are prohibited. Photo break at the lake. Photo break at the lake.

6 p.m. - Departure to Erikli

7 p.m. - Arrival in Erikli

Elikli is a resort town in the region of Keşan. The history of the area can be traced back to 30 centuries BC when Thracian lived here, which the numerous artefacts found here during the archaeological excavations held are a proof of. A short break in the town. Time for coffee, shopping at the outlet centre of Keşan.

Departure to Erikli, a coastal settlement, located on the Gulf of Saros on the White Sea. The bay stretches in the most north-eastern part of the sea between Gallipoli peninsula and the mouth of the river Maritsa (Merich in Turkish, Evros in Greek). The archipelago Saros - Saros Adalar is situated here, a group of small islands in the European part of Turkey. It consists of 3 small islands - Big Island (Buyukada or Yunus adasi – Dolphin Island), Middle Island (Kuçukada or Defne adasi – the Island of Bays) and Small Island (Minikada or Böcek adasi – the Island of Insects). The bay with the same name as the archipelago is 75 km long and 35 km wide. The nearest islands in the White Sea are Imbros (Gökçeada) and Samothrace, but they are in the open sea off the Gulf of Saros.

The habitat of Saros is far away from industrialized areas, clean, with favourable water currents. It is a popular summer resort for domestic tourism and recreation with sandy beaches and crystal clear sea. Diving, windsurfing and fishing are the most often practised water sports here.

Accommodation at a hotel. Leisure time to stroll around Erikli. Dinner

4th day

10.00 a.m. Breakfast

11.00 a.m. Departure to Uzunköprü

1 p.m. Arrival in Uzunköprü – exploring the town

Uzunköprü (in Turkish: Uzunköprü) is a town in the European part of Turkey, Edirne vilayet. The town is a district centre and a municipality. It is located on the lower valley of Maritsa river, on Ergene river. Translated from , the name of the town means a long bridge.

The town owes its name to the long bridge (in Turkish: Uzun köprü), crossing Ergene river. It is a historic landmark and emblem of the town. It was built between 1426 and 1443 by the eminent in his time architect Muslihiddin by order of the Ottoman Sultan Murad II. The bridge, built from crushed stones, has 174 arches, it is 1 329 m long, its width exceeds 6.80 m. Some of the arches are of the pointed type, others have an oblong shape. The old stone bridge of Uzunköprü is known as the longest stone bridge in Turkey.

At the beginning of XX C Uzunköprü was a small town, the centre of Uzunköprü district of the Ottoman Empire. According to professor Lyubomir Miletich, in 1912 183 exarchic Bulgarian families with 1011 people lived in the town.[1]

At the outbreak of the Balkan War in 1912, 12 people of Uzunköprü volunteered in the Macedonian-Odrin volunteer corps.

The Bulgarian population of Uzunköprü emigrated after the second Balkan War in 1913. Some of the refugees were accommodated in the village of Arhiyanli.

2 p.m. Lunch in Uzunköprü

3 p.m. Departure to Burgas

PRICE: 299 lv.

The price includes: * transport with a licensed tour bus (mini bar, video, hot drinks)

* 3 overnight stays with breakfast in a 3* hotel in Primorsko, Kesan and Erikli

* Guide service along the route

* Medical insurance - assistance with Euro 5000 coverage

The price does not include:

* Dinner at the hotel or in a restaurant in the town – optional

* An organised Fish evening of about Euro 30 (depending on the choice of menu and live music)

* Expenses of personal nature

* An excursion to the ancient Enos and National Park Gala - Euro 10

The excursion will take place with a minimum number of tourists - 20 people.