PIRT

Mountain Biking Tour

PROMOTING INNOVATIVE RURAL TOURISM IN THE BASIN REGION 2014 Table of Contents Introduction ...... 2 Itinerary 2. - ...... 3 Additional Sites Included in the Itinerary Nr. 2 ...... 17

Introduction

For a ticket to adventure, bring your mountain bike to the Black Sea Region. The four countries around the Black Sea- Bulgaria, Turkey, and Armenia, are a paradise for mountain biking with innumerable cycle routes on gravel roads, in the mountains and along rough cart roads. Their dramatic natural landscapes offer challenging and rewarding slick rock trails, lush green single track, ruins of ancient civilizations, canyons and secret paths to explore. The mountain biking in and around Black Sea is some of the best trail riding in . There are no restrictions on using bikes on the routes. Most of the routes are suitable for energetic mountain biking. Mountain biking is best between May and June or September and October.

Itinerary 2- The “Black Sea Discovery” Route is a scenic cross-border mountain biking route from to . This 735 kilometer long north- south route uses mostly unpaved backroads and passes through a number of iconic locations including the Tsonevo Dam, Natural Landmark Chudnite Skali, Nature Park-the largest protected area in Bulgaria with its typical , Dupnisa cave, İğneada Swamp National Park and Durugol lake.

Itinerary 2. Bulgaria-Turkey

Day Stops Timing Distances Total (approx.) 01. • Varna • Arrival to Varna. Varna city tour. Transfer to • Varna – Grozdyovo (57 km, 1 h 10 min) 57 km, 1 h 10 min • (House of Crafts, Priseltsi) Grozdyovo . Possible stop at the House of • Eco-Complex Sherba, Grozdyovo village Crafts in the village of Priseltsi. • Accommodation: Eco-Complex Sherba, Grozdyovo 02. • Eco-Complex Sherba-Eleshnitsa Reservoir- • The trail goes from the Eco-Complex Sherba to • Sherba-Asparuhovo (45 km) 45 km Tsonevo Reservoir-(Goat’s River Mouth)- Eleshnitza Reservoir, then continues around the • Side trip to the Goat’s River Mouth (8 50 km (including Chudnite Skali-Asparuhovo south side of Tsonevo Reservoir till Chudnite Skali km) the side trip to the Natural Landmark, to finally ends in Asparuhovo Goat’s River village. The route passes mostly through forest, Mouth) using forest and old paved roads. Possible side trips (presented in light blue color) include the trail to the Goat’s River Mouth and alternative way from Chudnite Skali to Asparuhovo, along an old railway track. • Accommodation: Guesthouses in Asparuhovo

The bridge over Goat’s River The old road

Nature around Tsonevo Dam Tsonevo Dam

Eco Complex Sherba-Asparuhovo 03. • Asparuhovo-Dobromir village-Balaban Creek • Transfer from Asparuhovo to the starting point • Asparuhovo-starting point (7 km, 10 min) 7 km, 10 min Gorge-Sini Rid village-Rock phenomenon located 1.7 km from Dobromir village. • Dobromir village-Kozichino (40 km) 40 km Dobrovanski Mushrooms-Kadish puddle- • The route passes through Balaban Creek Gorge, • Alternative route via a hill above Chudnite 45 km Kozichino village and then turns east to Sini Rid village and the rock Skali (11 km) phenomenon Dobrovanski Mushrooms. It ends in Kozichino village • Alternative sections of the route are presented in light blue color Accommodation: in Kozichino village

Balaban Creek Rocks in the Balaban Gorge

Road through Balaban Gorge Road near the Kadish puddle

Dobromir-Kozichino

Alternative section of the route via a hill above Chudnite Skali 04. • Kozichino- Dyulinski Pass - • The route goes from Kozichino village to Cape • Kozichino-Elenite (53 km) 53 km ()-Emine Mountains-- Emine, which is the easternmost point of the • Alternative section via Kosharitsa village 59 km Elenite , and then descends to Elenite. (7 km) 12 km, 20 min • • Possible stops include the village of Kosharitsa • Elenite-Nesebar (12 km, 20 min) (presented in light blue color) • Transfer from Elenite to Nesebar • Accommodation: in Nessebar

near Erketch near Dyulinski Prohod Pass

Cherkovishte peak Elevation 363 m

Cape Emine near Emona village

Kozichino-Cape Emine-Elenite

Alternative route via Kosharitsa village 05. • Nesebar • Cycling rest day. • Nesebar-Boiar, (20 km, 20 min) 121 km, 1 h 50 • “Boiar” Winery, Pomorie • Morning: the ancient of Nesebar (UNESCO • Boiar, Pomorie- (47 km, 40 min • Castle of Ravadinovo, Ravadinovo Heritage) tour. Boiar Winery tour with wine tasting. min) • River Reserve • Lunch: Boiar winery • Ravadinovo- Ropotamo River Reserve • Villa Philadelphia, • Afternoon: Castle of Ravadinovo sightseeing. Boat (13 km, 15 min) ride within the Ropotamo River Reserve. • Ropotamo River Reserve-Sinemorets • Depending on the preferences of the group other (41 km, 35 min) possible sightseeings can be included, such as a visit to the Salt Museum in Pomorie, wine tasting in the St. John Monastery in Pomorie, birdwatching in the Nature Conservation Center “Poda” or the Thracian sanctuary “Beglik Tash Observatory” sightseeing. • Accommodation: Villa Philadelphia, Sinemorets 06. • Sinemorets-Kosti- • There are two possible routes from Sinemorets to • Sinemorets--Kosti (26 km) 44 km Kosti village: • Kosti-Gramatikovo (18 km) 47.5 km a) Via Brodilovo-following the River •Sinemorets –Kosti (29.5 km) (pink) b) through forest (light blue) Accommodation: in Gramatikovo village

a) Road near Brodilovo Road near Kosti

b) Road through forest

Sinemorets-Brodilovo-Kosti

Kosti-Gramatikovo

Sinemorets-Kosti (through forest) 07. • Gramatikovo-Bulgarian/Turkish border- • Transfer from Gramatikovo to Dupnisa Cave. • Gramatikovo-Dupnisa Cave (80 km,1 h 102 km, 2 h 15 Dupnisa Cave-Istranca-Balaban-Demirkoy- Dupnisa Cave tour. 40 min) min Hamdibay-Palivor Ciftligi-Limankoy • The route from Dupnisa Cave to Palivor Ranch goes • Dupnisa-Palivor Ciftligi (53 km) 53 km through Istranca forests, using mostly forest roads or • Palivor Ciftligi-Limankoy (22 km, 35 paved roads with low traffic. min) • Accommodation: in one of the guesthouses in Limankoy

River near Dupnisa Cave

Istranca forest road

Landscape near Balaban

08. • Limankoy-Igneada-Igneada Forests- Hamam • Accommodation: Kiyikoy • Limankoy-Kiyikoy (56. 5 km) 56.5 km Lake- Saka Lake- Panayır Iskelesi-Kiyikoy

Igneada forests

Panayır Iskelesi

Road near Kiyikoy

Limankoy-Kiyikoy 09. • Kiyikoy-Kastro-Pirates cove (Korsan koyu’ndan)- • The route between Kiyikoy and Yalikoy uses • Kiyikoy-Yalikoy (37 km) 37 km Çilingoz water reservoir-Çilingoz -Kuzuludere mostly unpaved backroads and offers easy acces to water reservoir-Yalikoy several beatuful beaches and coves.

Kastro bay

Road near Kastro

Pirates cove

Kiyikoy-Yalikoy 10. • Yalikoy-Terkos basen-Evcik beach-Ormanli- •There are two varints for the section between Yalikoy • Yalikoy-Karaburun (43 km) 43 km Durugol lake-Karaburun and Ormanli: • Yalikoy-Karaburun (48 km) –variant b 48 km a) along beach (18 km) • Karaburun-Istanbul (64 km, 1 h 10 64 km, 1 h 10 b) via forest paths min) min From Ormanli village the route continues between Durugol Lake and the Black Sea coast and ends in Karaburun. • Transfer from Karaburun to Istanbul. • Accommodation: in Istanbul Evcik beach

Evcik beach

Durugol Lake

Yalikoy-Karaburun 11. • Istanbul • Istanbul city tour • Departure

Map nr. 9. “Black Sea Discovery” Mountain Biking Tour, Bulgaria

Map nr. 10. “Black Sea Discovery” Mountain Biking Tour, Turkey

Map nr. 11. “Black Sea Discovery” Mountain Biking Tour

Additional Sites Included in the Itinerary Nr. 2

Additional Sites Included in the Itinerary Nr. 2 Nr. Name Description Location/Address Contact/ Email/Skype Telephone Website/Facebook 01. Eco-complex Sherba Eco-resort Sherba is situated in the forest nearby Grozdyovo village, Grozdyovo village, (+359) 523 94 972 reservations@grifidh 70 km from Varna city. The complex consists of 19 elegant and cozy , (+359) 897 01 66 84 otels.com rooms (2 suites, 3 junior suites, 8 double rooms, 6 double deluxe 9000, Bulgaria rooms); 3 neat small villas (two 2-bedroom villas and one 1- http://www.bulgaria- bedroom); there are also 2 family houses (big family house – 5 GPS coordinates: hotels.com/en/varna/ rooms, private tavern, kitchen utensils and cutlery; small family 42° 59′ 23.1″ N eco-complex-sherba/ house – 3 rooms). The complex also comprises: a restaurant with 27° 29′ 39.07″ E open terrace, conference room, multifunctional sport field (tennis, (42.989858, football, volleyball, basketball, badminton), fitness room, SPA center 27.493638) with 3 saunas (classic, herbal therapy with herbs from the local eco- environment, chromo therapy); masseur; steam bath; jacuzzi; effect showers; mini waterfall. The forest of Sherba is known for its unique richness of flora and fauna. The biodiversity will meet you with big red deer populations and stag of a fallow deers, does, moufflons and wild-boars. Sherba’s plant kingdom represents a different world with plenty of rare species. In the venerable forest you will find a big variety of broad- leaved trees: beech-trees, , hornbeams, yoke-elm, lime-trees.

02. Eleshnitsa Reservoir Eleshnitsa Reservoir is located on the Eleshnitsa River, just few km Tzonevo Dam, Coordinates: East of Tsonevo Dam and 70 km from Varna. The area of the Dam is 42°59'32"N about 247 acres (1'000'000 sq.m). The Eleshnitsa Reservoir is known Municipality, 27°27'53"E for its unspoiled natural beauty and the vivid nature around it. Varna Province, Bulgaria

03. Tsonevo Reservoir Tsonevo Reservoir is situated in the valley of Luda Kamchia River, Tzonevo Dam, Coordinates: only 1 km from the village of Tsonevo. The reservoir ranks third in Dalgopol 42°59'10"N size in Bulgaria with water service of 17300 decares and water Municipality, 27°20'34"E volume of 329 mln. m3. Its old name was Georgi Traikov. Tsonevo Varna Province, dam is a well-known tourist destination due to its stunning green Bulgaria views, beautiful nature and preserved traditional countryside atmosphere. The reservoir has crystal clear waters, used for water supply and irrigation. The dam is rich in fish – bream, perch, rudd, and seat-fish, offering wonderful opportunities for fishing. Besides that, the afforested hills around the reservoir offer great possibilities for hiking, cycling and rock climbing. At Tsonevo dam there are bungalows and private lodgings in the adjacent villages of Tsonevo and Asparuhovo.

04. Chudnite skali (The Chudnite skali is very interesting natural rock phenomenon which Near Asparuhovo http://bulgariatravel. Wonderful Rocks) stands on the shore of the Tsonevo Reservoir, at a distance of 4 km village, Dalgopol org/en/object/128/C from the village of Asparuhovo. Its Bulgarian name is simply municipality, hudnite_skali_zabelej translated as “The Wonderful Rocks”. The main road connecting Varna Province, itelnost and , as well as the railway line Varna – Bulgaria passes in close proximity.

The Wonderful Rocks is a massif consisting of about ten beautiful rock needles, 40-50 meters high, shaped like castle towers. They were formed over the thousands of years by the effects of water and wind erosion. The phenomenon consists of three massifs. Three tunnels are dug through along their entire length, where an automobile road made of crushed stones passes. A hut with the same name, which offers accommodation, is situated directly against the Wonderful Rocks.

A lot of interesting caves, rock massifs and holes, some of which are inhabited by large are situated in the region. The nearby rocks which have routes for rock climbing are also interesting. They are situated at a distance of 10 minutes walking from the natural phenomenon “The Wonderful Rocks”, uphill along a steep path, at the place of an abandoned quarry. The rocks have the shape of an arch, with typical ceiling in their upper part. One of the first climbing competitions was conducted here, and 8 routes were especially designed for this purpose. Gradually the rocks were additionally equipped, and at the moment 18 routes are equipped from 6th to 10th category. 05. Asparuhovo village The village of Asparuhovo is a small picturesque village, located at Asparuhovo http://hotels.guide- the foot of the Stara planina, in the defile of the Luda Kamchia River, village, bulgaria.com/NE/varn at the bank of Tsonevo dam. It is situated 85 km southwest of Varna. Municipality a/dulgopol/asparuho The international road E7 which connects , Bulgaria and Dulgopol, Varna vo Turkey passes through the village. The beautiful nature, the Province, Bulgaria proximity of the Tsonevo dam, the intriguing architecture of the houses, the folklore and ethnographic values make the village of Asparuhovo an interesting tourist sight. Hidden at the foot of Stara planina this marvelous place illustrates the unique Bulgarian culture and traditional cuisine and offers wonderful opportunities for recreation and unforgettable experiences. The village offers several accommodation options (please see the provided link).

06. Ethnographic Complex The ethnographic hotel complex “Ovchaga” is located in the village Asparuhovo (+359) 887 07 00 02 [email protected] “Ovchaga” of Asparuhovo near Tsonevo Dam, 85 km away from the city of village, http://ovchaga.com Varna. Until today, the Asparuhovo village has preserved the Municipality colorful folklore traditions and distinctive spirit. The restored Dulgopol, Varna traditional houses of the "Ovchaga" complex are open year round Province, Bulgaria and offer comfort and relaxation to its guests, immersing them in the unique atmosphere of long gone eras. "Ovchaga" offers 44 beds in 4 houses with 12 rooms and 4 studios. The houses are built and furnished entirely in the authentic Kamchia style. Each room has a private bathroom and TV. The complex has a restaurant with 90 seats where visitors can enjoy homemade wine and brandy, as well as the authentic taste of various dishes from Kamchia. The complex has also a children’s playground, nursery and a fishing pond. The guests can participate in the excursion "Bulgarian village" and see demonstrations of traditional crafts - pottery, weaving, as well as folklore and traditions typical to this region. 07. Guesthouse Panorama Guest House is situated near the village of Asparuhovo, Asparuhovo (+359) 888 40 76 60 [email protected] “Panorama” on the shore of Tsonevo dam. The house has 12 rooms with two village, beds - total 24 guests. Each room has a balcony overlooking the lake Municipality http://dng.my.contac Tsonevo and private bathroom with shower. The guesthouse offers Dulgopol, Varna t.bg summer barbecue with oven, sink and seats for 30 people, which Province, Bulgaria has also a panoramic view to the dam and to the grassed garden of the house. There is also a large dining room with seating for 50 - 60 people and fully equipped kitchen.

08. Guesthouse “Mariana” Guesthouse Mariana offers 6 double and 1 single room. There is a Asparuhovo http://hotels.guide- yard with a shelter for 10 persons and a fireplace. On guests disposal village, bulgaria.com/a/1571/ there is also a tavern with a fireplace and well-equipped kitchen, Municipality guest_house_mariana where the guests can prepare their own food or native housewives Dulgopol, Varna .htm could prepare local dishes on request. The tourists could take a Province, Bulgaria donkey cart for a ride, taste the house wine and try the handmade yogurt. A row-boat and a paddle boat are for rent and you can practice your fishing skills in the dam-lake. 09. Guesthouse “Kamelia” Guesthouse Kamelia is located in Village Asparuhovo, Municipality Asparuhovo, (+359) 517 32 514 Dulgopol at the side of Tsonevo lake (dam). It offers 33 beds. Municipality Dulgopol, Varna Province, Bulgaria

10. Dobrovanski The Mushrooms of Dobrovan (Dobrovanski gabi) are three rock Dobrovan village, Mushrooms formations with the shape of enormous mushrooms on one of the Bulgaria hills around the old village of Dobrovan. They are located 10m from one another. The biggest and the most beautiful one is the middle mushroom, with height of 4m. Their formation is due to the different solidity of the sandy layers and the atmospheric processes which affected to them over the years. Dobrovanski gabi are especially impressive and are declared a natural landmark. 11. Kozichino (Erketch) One of the most picturesque Stara Planina villages is called Kozichino. The village is also known as Erkech and is the Kozichino, Pomorie village only Bulgarian settlement that has managed to preserve the language and traditions of old . Situated at Municipality, Burgas an altitude of 530 m this village will grab you with its unique charm. Province, Bulgaria

The first evidence of the village’s existence dates back to the First Bulgarian Kingdom (the second half of the 7th http://www.bulgariai century). During the Ottoman reign, village residents were responsible for protecting Diulinski pass and were nside.eu/en/articles/ allowed to be armed. Kozichino- Village/932/index.ht Over the past few years Kozichino managed to turn into an attractive tourism destination, especially for foreigners ml spending their vacation in Bulgaria’s coastal resorts. Kozichino managed to develop ecological and rural tourism opportunities. Tourist can take a donkey cart ride through the village. In the yard of the restaurant “Kladeneca”, https://www.faceboo you'll see the ethnographic exhibition and an authentic water mill, anvil and wool-carding machine. In one of the k.com/media/set/?se houses there is an ethnographic exhibition with authentic traditional clothes and costumes. You can visit a t=a.70553416947745 distillery and you can taste the most popular alcoholic drink in Bulgaria. There is also a 200 year old lemonade 2.1073741884.49248 machine. Lemonade is made in a traditional way and bottled in the original bottle with a ceramic plug wire. A 1370782734&type=3 functioning windmill can still be seen in Kozichino. Something anachronistic that you will spot in the village is an ostrich farm functioning there. http://bulgariatravel.t v/landmark/get/126 St. Martyr Petka church is one of Kozichino’s landmarks. It was constructed from 1845 to 1848 and is one of the

few fully preserved authentic churches. Locals decided to set the church up in a low region. Construction took http://steveinyo.blog place during the night, so that the Ottoman rulers would not find out. Sometimes, Ottoman soldiers destroyed the spot.com/2010/10/bu work of Kozichino residents, who however, started reconstructing the church during the night. lgarian-discoveries-iv- folkloric.html You will certainly be most impressed by the village residents. They have managed to keep all traditions alive. Listen

to the songs of the local folklore group. Each Kozichino resident will be glad to invite you home and to offer you http://www.daytripsb rakia and a traditional salad. Everyone will be glad to offer you accommodation and to get you trying local dishes. ulgaria.com/excursio n/255/Meet-Bulgaria- If you decide to visit Kozichino, keep in mind that the village is remote and located in the mountains, 30 km away Walk from and 47 km away from the coastal city of Burgas. The road leading to it is in poor condition but the beautiful places you will discover while traveling make the difficult trip worth it. The surrounding landscape is http://www.daytripsb dotted with horses and covered with lavender fields (blossom in June) and sunflowers fields (blossom July- ulgaria.com/excursio September). n/224/The-Villages- and-The-Countryside- %28Meet-Bulgaria- trip%29

12. Kosharitsa village One of the villages that develop successfully rural tourism is situated in the region of Nessebar and is called Kosharitsa, Pomorie Kosharitsa. The village is located in the eastern part of Stara Planina Mountain, six km away from the coast. Municipality, Burgas Kosharitsa is suitable both for clubbing fans and for those who need a peaceful vacation. The proximity to Sunny Province, Bulgaria Beach resort will allow you enjoy night life in the resort. The village offers incredible view. Look to the east and you will see old Nessebar and Pomorie. Numerous findings from Thracian times make historians believe that the region http://www.bulgariai was populated in ancient times. Kosharitsa was mentioned for the first time during the Russo-Turkish war nside.eu/en/articles/ registers. Kosharitsa-

Village/689/index.ht Kalinata preserve is near the village. Kosharitsa’s vicinities have been included in the European environmental ml network Natura 2000 since the migration route passes over it. If you like mountain biking, Kosharitsa offers numerous opportunities for the practice of that sport. A few water basins nearby provide excellent opportunities for fishing lovers. Fishing is also possible due to the proximity to the sea. Hunting is possible in the nearby forests. Several eco paths start from Kosharitsa and will allow you to take a pleasant walk in the mountain region. 13. Emine , Bulgaria Coordinates: (27o 43.90' East 42o 44.67' North) http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sitefactsheet.php?id=408 Area: 68,811 ha http://bulgariatravel.org/en/object/295/Irakli_zashtitena_mestnost Altitude: 0 – 515 m

A coastal headland formed where the easternmost point of the Stara Planina mountains meets the Black Sea. The coast is rocky, with vertical cliffs, dry grassland, Paliurus scrub, and sparse stands of secondary Quercus forest. Emine IBA covers Cape Emine – Natural Landmark and – Preserved Area.

Cape Emine is situated 79 kilometers south of Varna, 54 kilometers north of Burgas and only 14 kilometers south of . It covers 50 hectares and was declared a landmark in order to preserve remarkable geological and botanical sites. The cape is a vertical, almost 60 meter high cliff with a lighthouse. There are remains of a medieval monastery and remains of the fortress Emona in the area of cape Emine. Also, it is the ending point for the European pedestrian road E-3.

The protected area Irakli is located 7 kilometers north of the village of Emona, 9 kilometers of the town of Obzor and 30 kilometers of Nesebar. The total area of the preserved site is 42.3 hectares. Irakli was declared a protected area in order to protect typical coastal of rare and endangered plant species (sand lily, spurge, sea woundwort, Tatar spurge and Sea holly) and birds. Some of the plants are listed in the Red Book of Bulgaria and are protected by the Biodiversity Act.

The headland is a major migratory bottleneck site, where huge numbers of soaring waterbirds and raptors pass overhead in autumn, especially Ciconia ciconia (92,272-172,928 per season during 1990-1996). It is also one of the most important breeding areas for Olive-tree Warbler (Hippolais olivetorum) in the country. Populations of IBA trigger species include: Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), Yelkouan Shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan), Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus), Levant Sparrowhawk (Accipiter brevipes), Lesser Spotted (Clanga pomarina), European Roller (Coracias garrulous), Wood Lark (Lullula arborea), Semi-collared Flycatcher (Ficedula semitorquata). 14. Ancient City of Nessebar Burgas Province End of 2nd Millennia BC Coordinates: (N42 39 21.996 E27 43 48) Date of Inscription: 1983 Criteria: (iii)(iv) Property : 27 ha Buffer zone: 1,246 ha

The town of Nessebar, situated on a small rocky peninsula 36 kilometers northeast of Burgas, is one of the most picturesque places along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. Due to its unique combination of ancient history, numerous cultural monuments and Revival architecture, the Ancient Nessebar was included to the UNESCO List in 1983. The town of Nessebar was established at the end of 2 000 B.C. by the (Menebria). Greek colonizers turned it into a Greek Polis (Messembria) at the end of 6th c. B.C.; Rome joined it to the Empire in 1st c. B.C.; and A.D. 4th c. saw Nessebar within the frontiers of Byzantium. Nessebur, conquered by the Bulgarians in 812, reached its new zenith between the 13th and 15th centuries. Together with Constantinople, the capital of Byzantium, it fell under the reign of the Osman Turks in 1453. In 1878 Nessebar welcomed the Russian liberation troops.

The Ancient city of Nessebar is a unique example of a synthesis of the centuries-old human activities in the sphere of culture. It is a location where numerous civilizations have left tangible traces in single homogeneous whole, which harmoniously fit in with nature. The urban structure contains elements from the second millennium BC, from Ancient Times and the Medieval period. The town has served for over thousands of years as remarkable spiritual hearth of Christian culture. Nessebar's churches can be best described as a cross between Slav and Greek Orthodox architecture, and are some of the finest in the area.

The city’s remains, which date mostly from the Hellenistic period, include the acropolis, a temple of Apollo, an agora and a wall from the Thracian fortifications. Among other monuments, the Stara Mitropolia Basilica and the fortress date from the , when this was one of the most important Byzantine on the west coast of the Black Sea. Wooden houses built in the 19th century are typical of the Black Sea architecture of the period. The archaeological study of the Nessebar peninsula and its aquatory done during the last four decades revealed rich collections of significant cultural monuments illustrating the history of ancient Messambria and medieval Nessebar. A large part of them are present exhibits in the new Nessebar Archaeological museum. Over 100 houses have been restored in the town, and the Ethnographic Museum is located in one of them, built in 1840.

Churches: 1. Christ Pantokrator (13th-14th cc.) 2. St. Stefan (10th c.) 3. St. John Aliturgetos (14th c.) 4. St. John the Baptist (10th-11th cc.) 5. St. Spas (17th c.) 6. St. Archangels Gavrail and Michael (13th-14th cc.) 7. St. Paraskeva (13th c.) 8. St. (Old Bishopric) (5th-6th cc.) 9. St. Todor (14th c.) 10. Active orthodox church The Assumption (20th c.)

Other cultural and historical monuments: 1. Byzantine fortified walls (5th c.) 2. Black sea wooden houses from the period of the Bulgarian Revival (18th- 19th cc.) 3. Rome baths (5th c.) 4. Turkish bath (17th c.) 5. Turkish fountain (18th c.) 6. Archeological museum 7. Ethnographical museum 15. “Boiar” Winery, Hotel “Boiar” winery is located near the town of Pomorie, on the main “Chaira” area Oenologist: Dimitar [email protected] and Restaurant road Pomorie – Burgas, next to the beach. On this splendid Anhialo (main road Boychev [email protected] soil, now Pomorie, still continues an ancient tradition – the grape Pomorie – Viticulturist: Serafim growing and production of high quality wines and rakia with which Burgas), Serafimov www.boiar-bg.com the area has been famous throughout its 25 century history. municipality Pomorie, Burgas (+ 359) 887 370 686 http://vinarskaizba.co In 1922 Boychevi family begun the development of vineyards and Province, Bulgaria (+ 359) 596 22 420 m/eng/ established a small winery, which was nationalized in 1952. During 1998, the brothers Simeon and Dimitar Boychevi together with Argir Fax: Hristoforov, resumed the old family wine growing tradition by the Coordinates: (+ 359) 596 225 83 development of 350 decares of vineyards situated in close proximity 42°33’41.2” N, to their new winery Boiar which represents the Eastern wine- 27°34’21.4” E growing region. The vineyards are planted with Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Viognier and Riesling. The winery is Regular wine

represented by the following brands: AMARELLE (natural cherry tasting and tour liqueur), ANHIALO (aged Muscat Brandy), ARISTOCRAT (quality wine of the winery are brandy). The winery also produces dry red and white wines, divided available on into two memorable series- Terra Anhialo and Avludzena. weekdays from 08.00 to 17.00 In Boiar winery one can take a part in organized wine tours. The and upon guests will be accompanied by oenologist who will present the reservation. winery, different varieties of wine and grape, the production area and the beautiful views of the vineyards and the Black Sea coast. The winery also has a hotel with a restaurant surrounded by a beautifyl garden. Tourist attractions near Boiar winery include:

 Nessebar Old town, an UNESCO Heritage sight with charming cobbled streets, many old orthodox churches (some of them part of Byzantine heritage, some from 10th-14th cc. AD), and beautiful old-fashioned fishing port.  The Thracian Tomb in Pomorie from 4th c. AD.  The Monastery of St. George in Pomorie with its brandy distillery and home-made wine.  The “Pomorie Lake” with salt museum.

 Sunny beach- the most famous summer resort in Bulgaria- very 24ttractive from late spring, summer until early autumn.  Little cozy mountain villages of the area.  Burgas, the second largest city at the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, with the island of St. Anastasia.

16. Ravadinovo Castle Just a couple of kilometers from stands the newest Ravadinovo, http://www.mydestin spectacular attraction on the Black sea - the Castle of Ravadinovo. Burgas Province, ation.com/bulgaria/at The castle stands in the middle of a farm field, just a stone-throw Bulgaria tractions/190137/the from the highway. This is not an authentic historical building (even it -castle-of-ravadinovo is still in process of completion), but it was built with understanding Working hours: and with attention to the all small details, so it looks like a real Monday - Sunday Video: medieval knight castle. The Castle of Ravadinovo combines various (8:30 am - 10:00 https://www.youtube building and decorating styles and materials and it is definitely pm) .com/watch?v=c77lf2 interesting to see what some ancient castles must have looked like a5k1w when they were new. Its architectural design is unusual, a bit extravagant and exotic for this country. Considering the fact that its construction began about 20 years ago, the Castle of Ravadinovo is definitely one of its kind; and a huge project too. The total area of the site is around 30 000 sq.m. There are many gardens and green areas and the building is overgrown with ivy. In front of the castle is situated an artificial lake. The castle hosts an art gallery, wine cellar and several large halls. There are no guided tours so visitors are free to wander around on their own. 17. Ropotamo Complex Burgas Province, Bulgaria http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sitefactsheet.php?id=407 http://ropotamo-reserve.com/ Ramsar Site http://bulgariatravel.org/en/object/190/Ropotamo_rezervat Coordinates: (27o 45.12' East 42o 18.13' North) Area: 3,868 ha Altitude: 0 – 224 m

Ropotamo Reserve Phone: (+359) 887767706 E-mail: [email protected]

The Ropotamo Reservation is situated at a distance of about 50 km south from Burgas, on the territory of the Municipality of . It is situated around the two banks of Ropotamo river. In 2002 it was declared Ramsar area for the Arkutino region and broadened in 2002, called Ropotamo Complex, with total area of 5,500 ha. There are multiple interesting and unique natural sites on the reservation territory – a firth part and an inlet terrace of the Ropotamo river with natural dense forests, natural sand dunes and a beach stripe, broad-leaved forests with Mediterranean elements. A deposit of Artemisia maritima is also found here. The Arkutino swamp is also situated within the reservation borders. Part of the reservation is the rock formations “The lion head”, the “Joyful rock”, as well as the St. Roma island, also known as the Snake Island.

The locality is a shelter for many species of national and international significance, among which 7 globally endangered bird species, 2 plant species, 8 spineless animals, and 7 . 5 Bulgarian and 12 Balkan endemites and 22 relict species have been found. The fauna in the Ropotamo reservation is presented by 21 species, such as (Sus scrofa), doe (Capreolus capreolus), deer (Cervus elaphus), jackal (Canus aureus), fox (Vulpes vulpes), marten (M. martes), otter (Lutra lutra), and more than 10 species of , 260 bird species, among which: (C.Ciconia), sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) and semi-whiteneck fly- catcher (Ficedula semitorquata), various species of herons, ducks, small cormorant (Ph. Pygmeus). 23 species are also found here, 9 species, water snakes (Natrix), turtle species, and about 50 fish species. Ropotamo is important as a breeding site for Ficedula semitorquata, and is also a notable migratory bottleneck site, where a minimum of 10,000 Ciconia ciconia pass overhead each autumn. Breeding species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Phalacrocorax pygmeus (4 pairs; max. 54 in winter), Aythya nyroca (3 pairs). Significant proportion (³1%) of national population breeding at site: Ixobrychus minutus (10-15 pairs).

The reservation visits are performed only along the 8 determined paths, marked for crossing by visitors. All land and water routes are marked by indicative board signs and information boards. The boat pier near Ropotamo River is the best observation spot, although, each spot near the river offers good birdwatching conditions. Shores of the Ropotamo river, known as the Bulgarian Amazon, can be explored by boat as well. The boats operate from Monday until Sunday from 9.00 till 20.00 o’clock. Boat ride last approx. 60 minutes. 18. Villa Philadelphia Villa Philadelphia is ideally located in the central part of Sinemoretz, Sinemoretz, (+359) 889 69 15 20 reservations@villaphi within 10-minute walks from two gorgeous beaches and a couple Burgas Province, ladelphia.com minutes from numerous restaurants. The view is one of the best in Bulgaria town with the sweeping intensely blue arc of the sea, expanses of green meadows and parts of the town landscape itself. The front of http://www.villaphila the building, with Bobby’s Café, faces the street and is easily delphia.com/index.ph accessible from the heart of town. Parking is available on the street p?l=en in front of the hotel. The guestrooms are located on the opposite

side of the building, away from the street and facing the sea. Villa Philadelphia has 4 guestrooms on the 1st floor, 2 on the 2nd floor, and 2 luxury studios on the 3rd floor. Room service and free wireless Birding Routes of internet are available. Strandza (brochure)

Villa Philadelphia is located in the Strandja National Reserve, and in http://www.friendsof the immediate vicinity of two other major IBA Protected bspb.org/userfiles/file Landscapes: Veleka, 1,546 ha; and the Veleka Mouth, 1,511 ha; and s/Broshura_Sinemore a short drive to a third: , 773 ha. There are over a dozen c2.pdf more sites within a 90 kilometer radius of Villa Philadelphia (Atanasovo lake, 1,050 ha; Poda Lagoon, 101 ha; Izvorska Mouth, All routes start from 151 ha; Ropotamo, 1,001 ha; lake, 167 ha; , 18 ha; Villa Philadelphia, Pyassachni , 12 ha; Arkoutino, 97 ha; Chengene Skele Cove, Sinemoretz 160 ha; Cape Emine, 1 ha and others.)

Villa Philadelphia’s tours are led by BirdLife members, as well as one of the few organizers that is fully-sanctioned by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BirdLife International’s Bulgarian Partner). Please visit www.friendsofbspb.org. Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds’ (BSPB) projects are actively fund through these tours. 19. Burgas Province, Bulgaria http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sitefactsheet.php?id=434 Nature Park http://www.strandja.bg/ http://www.friendsofbspb.org/userfiles/files/Broshura_Sinemorec2.pdf Coordinates: (27o 38.87' East 42o 4.35' North) http://www.strandja.bg/uploads/map.pdf Area: 115,417 ha http://www.discoverstrandja.com/activities-and-events/birding-in-strandja/ Altitude: 0 - 691m http://visitstrandja.com/birdwatching-holiday-Bulgaria-Strandja.php http://bulgariatravel.org/en/object/95/Priroden_park_Strandja Strandzha Nature Park Address: Yanko Maslinkov Str. 1, 8162, Burgas Province Bulgaria Phone: (+359) 5952/36 35, (+359) 5952/ 31 60 E-mail: [email protected]

Strandzha Nature Park is the largest protected area on the territory of Bulgaria that stretches over 1161 sq km. It is located in the southeastern part of country, its southern border coincides with the border with Turkey, and it spreads as far as the Black Sea Coast to the east. The Nature Park lies on the territory of Strandzha Mountain which spreads in both Bulgaria and Turkey. The park comprises five nature reserves, fourteen protected areas and eight natural landmarks.

Interesting fauna and flora species-remnants of past geological periods (relicts) inhabit Strandzha. 64 relict species live on the territory of the park, seven of which cannot be seen anywhere else in Europe. This is the only place in the entire continent where the typical forests from the end of the Tertiary (approximately 1.8 million years ago) have been preserved. Strandzha Park is the Bulgarian protected area with the greatest number of - 413 species, 31 of which are relict. 600 invertebrates live in the park. Nearly 70 types of fish inhabit the coastal waters on the territory of the park, and there are also 42 fresh water species.

Via Pontica avian migratory route passes through the coastal areas of Strandzha Park. Every year millions of birds fly through this air corridor swopping their mating places in Northern Europe for the winter shelters in Africa. This makes the park extremely important for the survival of scores of rare and protected bird species. 270 kinds of birds are spotted on the territory of the park. The populations of 50 species are of European importance. Strandzha Nature Park is one of the most important breeding areas in the country for Ciconia nigra, raptors such as Neophron percnopterus, Circaetus gallicus, Aquila pomarina, Aquila chrysaetos, Hieraaetus pennatus and Bubo bubo, and forest species such as Picus canus, Dendrocopos medius and Ficedula semitorquata. The mountain is a major migratory bottleneck site, where more than 33,000 Ciconia ciconia pass overhead each autumn. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Phalacrocorax pygmeus (common on passage), Pelecanus crispus (common on passage), Crex crex (occurs on passage).

The rich biological diversity of the park is a result of the geological history of Strandzha, its climate, and its unique geographical position – it stands on the crossroad between Europe, the Mediterranean and . Within a territory of just a couple of square kilometers tourists can cross a venerable forest, then walk through a typical Mediterranean zone and a wet bay forest to finally reach the seashore. There are several marked eco-trails on the territory of the park. Two information- visitor centers operate in the town of Malko Tarnovo and Gramatikovo Village. They provide information about tourist routes and accommodation, and also contact local guides and tourists. 20. Kosti village Kosti is a village in southeastern Bulgaria, part of Municipality, Burgas Province. It is located on the banks Kosti, Tsarevo of the Veleka River in the Strandzha mountains not far from the Turkish border, 20-25 kilometres south of Tsarevo Municipality, Burgas and 91 km southeast of Burgas. The village lies within Strandzha Nature Park. Around the village of Kosti is Province, Bulgaria Bulgaria`s oldest reserve - Silikosia, unique for the abundance of the Strandzhanska Zelenika, a splendid type of rhododendron, a protected plant that in Bulgaria can only be found in Strandzha and is considered a symbol of the http://kosti.free.bg/ mountain. http://www.bulgariai Traces of ancient metallurgical activity have been discovered in the vicinity of Kosti, as well as a big necropolis and nside.eu/en/articles/ several independent mounds of Thracian origin. The modern village was first mentioned in an Ottoman tax register Kosti- of 1498, according to which Kosti's population consisted of 22 Christian families. It also featured in a 17th-century Village/364/index.ht tax register, and during the Russo-Turkish War of 1828-1829 it was described as a Greek village. Statistics of 1898 ml count 185 Greek and 25 Bulgarian houses, whereas 1897 data only notes 300 Greek houses. Until the Balkan War, Kosti has mostly been inhabited by Greeks – fire dancers, who later on emigrated. After 1913 Bulgarian immigrants from Eastern settled in the village.

Kosti was one of the Greek villages of inland Strandzha, culturally and linguistically very distant from then-Greek- inhabited nearby coastal towns like Tsarevo (Vassiliko) and . Original Greek houses have been preserved in Kosti. They differ significantly from the typical village houses of Strandzha and the town houses of the coast. The houses in Kosti typically have two stories of crude stone, with the top floor cased with thick oak boards. They feature an unusually large fireplace on the top floor and the reported lack of any windows (which were later added by the Bulgarians who settled), as the only light to enter the room would come from a small opening in the ceiling called okno. The population was mainly engaged in agriculture, cattle breeding and logging (wood was in demand by the Ahtopol shipyard).

An ancient Bulgarian tradition, nestinari or fire-dancing, is still performed in four villages. Kosti is a characteristic nestinari village, with a hundred of the 400 families being hereditary practitioners of this custom. Kosti’s attractions include the church of St. St. Cyril and Methodius, which was destroyed during Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising and later on rebuilt. The church features an imposing iconostasis by the woodcarver Pandil, as well as old icons. Besides that, the village had another ritual-building housing for the eight nestinari icons, including the main icon, that of feast and regional patron Saint Constantine.

21. Gramatikovo village Village of Gramatikovo is located on the eastern slopes of the Strandzha mountain (South-East Bulgaria), 34 km Gramatikovo, Malko west of the town of Tsarevo and 25 km east of the town of Malko Tarnovo. Gramatikovo is the biggest village in Tarnovo Municipality, the Strandzha Mountain region with the population of approx. 1000 people. Burgas Province, Bulgaria Various legends tell how Gramatikovo was set up. According to one, the village was founded by monks, theologians and writers in the 16th century. Ancient finds in the region prove that this area was inhabited since Antiquity or Latitude: 42.0670013 early Middle Ages. Nearby were found the traces from an old Roman road, old mines, mound necropolises, two Longtitude: treasures of colonial bronze coins of Byzia and many other finds. 27.6499996 Altitude: from 100 to The location of the village of Gramatikovo in the interior of Strandja and in the valley of the Veleka River has 199 played an important role for the determination of the means of livelihood for the inhabitants of the village through the centuries until the present moment. The one-storey half built in the ground, two-room house is very typical for the architecture of the region. Some of old houses are preserved today. They are completely restored both inside and outside. The rest of the houses are built in modern Bulgarian style, with outside staircases.

Religious landmarks in the Gramatikovo region include the St. Trinity monastery and St. 40 Martyrs church. The church was burned down Circassians and renewed between 1905 and 1906.

Visitors can sense the village’s authenticity through the folklore shows, sightseeing and craft demonstrations organized there. 22. Dupnisa Cave The most fascinating cave in Eastern Thrace, Dupnisa Cave (Dupnisa Sarpdere, http://www.hurriyetd Mağarası) lies in the northwestern province of Kırklareli, near Kirklareli ailynews.com/old- Sarpdere village. Opened to tourism in 2005, it is the first and only Province, Turkey cave-ready-to-attract- cave in Thrace that has been available to public. Furthermore, tourist.aspx?pageID= Dupnisa Cave remains the only subterranean area open to novice Working Hours: 238&nID=28343&Ne and experienced spelunkers alike in Thrace. The cave is 3,200 Wet Cave is open wsCatID=379 meters long and has three different entraces. Spring water comes from 15 May-15 out of the cave to create the Rezve Stream, which eventually flows Nov to form the frontier between Turkey and Bulgaria. Dupnisa consists (AM-sunset) of three caves formed in marble 180 million years ago. The “Kuru” (Dry) and “Kız” (Maiden) caves constitute the upper portion of the Dry Cave is open cave and run 2,720 meters, while the “Sulu” (Wet) Cave is located year round 60 meters down from the former. The Kız Cave is closed to tourism (9AM-sunset). due to the bats living in the cave, but 250 meters of Sulu Cave and 200 meters of Kuru Cave are open to tourism – the latter of which is open to tourists 12 months a year. The Wet Cave is still pretty much in forming stage, with most vertical surfaces covered with surreal- looking stalactites. Beyond 250 meters, the Wet Cave is only open to experienced spelunkers. At the end of the path through the wet cave start the concrete stairs—this is the part of the cave that is called "dry cave", where you will inevitably meet some bats. There

are 16 species of 60,000 bats living in the Dupnisa Cave. During the breeding period of bats, a big part of the cave is closed to visits.

The old Thracians used to conduct rituals, involving human sacrifice, to their most respected god of wine, Dionysos in the cave. There is a theory that the very name of Dionysos evolved from Dupnisa, or Nyssa, the other name the cave was known by in ancient times. 23. Fatih Iron Foundry Since the 16th century the Demirkoy village was the site of one of the Demirkoy village, main metal workshops of the empire, the Fatih Iron Foundry, and Kirklareli mainly produced cannon balls. Dating back to Byzantine period, and Province, Turkey then restored by the Ottomans in 1400s, this is the place which lends the town its name and is where the cannons used in Ottoman siege of Constantinople of 1453 (i.e. Fall of Constantinople) were cast. One of few examples of medieval industrial heritage in the region, some of brick towers and stone bases of the buildings are still intact, despite being totally abandoned since 19th century. The foundry is located about 3 km out of the Demirkoy village. The ongoing excavations at the site began in 2001. 24. Hamdibey Village Hamdibey village is in the district Demirkoy of the Kirklareli Hamdibey village, Province. Hamdibay used to be a Greek village before the Kirklareli commutation. The village, with its typical Anatolian Orthodox Greek Province, Turkey architecture, is among the main attractions in the region. The Greek writing still remain on walls of some of these houses.

25. Palivor Çiftliği (Palivor Palivor Ranch is situated 11 kilometers from Igneada, famous for its Palivor Çiftliği Kadri Aksel [email protected] Ranch) stunning beaches on the Black Sea coast, in Avcılar village in the Avcılar Köyü (+90) 53 02 43 56 34 Demirköy district of Kırklareli province. It is a family-oriented eco- Palivor Mah. http://www.palivor.c living community offering the finest farming activities and outdoor İğneada Demirköy om/ recreation options available. Located in the picturesque Istranca Kırklareli, 39650 http://www.palivorcif forests, the Palivor Ranch is 220 km from Istanbul. In the 1700s- Avcılar, Turkey tligi.com/?a/hakkimiz 1800s, Palivor was one of the ranches where people of Bulgarian da.v3 and Greek origin resided, wine was produced, and animals were bred. Facebook: https://www.faceboo Palivor Ranch introduces a unique eco-living experience in a k.com/PalivorCiftligi collection of private ranch and orchard homes. The accommodation will provide you with a TV and air conditioning. There is also a dining table. Featuring a shower, private bathrooms also come with a Videos:

hairdryer and free toiletries. You can enjoy mountain view from all https://www.youtube the rooms. Extras include a barbecue, a desk and an outdoor seating .com/user/palivor/vid area. Offering a restaurant, at İğneada Resort Palivor Çiftliği you will eos find a garden, barbecue facilities and a terrace. Other facilities offered at the property include a shared lounge, an ironing service and laundry facilities. The property offers free parking. Local products include yoghurt, honey, cheese, meat, etc.

The property won the “Best Residential Property in Europe” by the International Property Awards in 2011. Nr. of houses for rent: 1

26. İğneada Longoz Forests Kirklareli Province, Turkey Biosphere Reserve http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sitefactsheet.php?id=779 Coordinates: (27o 58.00’ East 41o 50.00’ North) Area: 8,219 ha Altitude: 0 – 50 m

Attractions: Unique forest, lagoon, sand dune, freshwater ecosystems, birds, mammals and bats, landscape

Activities: Trekking, cycling, caving, fishing, wildlife photography, birdwatching İğneada Longoz Forests are a complex of seasonally-flooded forests, swamps, freshwater lakes and sand-dunes on the Black Sea coast near the Turkish-Bulgarian border. Surface water accumulation behind the dunes feeds the largely intact flooded forests, which are below sea-level. The c.10 km long pristine dune and beach system is of high botanical importance. Human activities include cattle- and -grazing, small-scale freshwater fisheries and reed-cutting. The İğneada Longoz forest is Europe’s largest floodplain forest and has been nominated by UNESCO for its Biosphere Reserve list. The site is also a migratory bottleneck, where more than 8,000 Ciconia ciconia regularly pass in autumn. Although no comprehensive counts have been undertaken, available data suggest that the IBA is also a bottleneck for migrating raptors. 27. Kıyıköy Kıyıköy is a village located on the Eastern Thrace’s Black Sea coast. Kıyıköy, Kirklareli It’s still known as Midye, which is derived from the town’s Greek Province, Turkey name (Medea). The place is located on a peninsular hill between two rivers and the sea. Both sides of the streams are sandy beaches. Behind the town is a forest.

Kıyıköy is identified with Salmydessus, where according to Greek mythology the Argonauts rescued Phineus from the Harpies. The main historical attraction in Kıyıköy is the St. Nicholas Monastery (Aya Nikola Manastırı). It is a quite small religious complex engraved into a rocky slope of a wooded hill, about 15-30 minutes walk from town centre, near the bank of the stream.

Other attractions include the red city walls and gate to the town centre and the traditional architecture of town houses. The castle and its ramparts were built during the 6th century and repaired by the Byzantine afterwards. The ramparts will make you feel that you have arrived in a historical place as soon as you enter into Kıyıköy. The castle was repaired in 1991. Kıyıköy is an old fishing town. There are a total of 18 Greek houses that are registered in the center. The municipality has initiated the necessary attempts to repair eight of them. There is a lighthouse in Kıyıköy just like in the other seaports. No information about its history has been found. A restaurant popular among the tourists is located next to the lighthouse. There is a hotel and several lodging houses

and small motels in Kıyıköy. 28. Ayanikola Pansiyon Situated on a 7500 m² estate near Pabuc Creek, Ayanikola Pansiyon Baglar Mevkii, Kiyi (+90) 532 418 13 87 ayanikolapansiyon@g is located in Kiyikoy. It is 500 metres from Selvez Beach and is Koy, Kirklareli , mail.com surrounded by the forest. 39480 Kıyıköy, The bungalows at the pet friendly Pansiyon Ayanikola feature a Turkey http://ayanikolapansi patio with garden or river views. Some units come with air yon.com/index_Eng.h conditioning. The private bathrooms include a shower, slippers and tml free toiletries. Daily breakfast is served in buffet style at the restaurant near the https://www.faceboo creek. A-la-carte menu is offered for other meals. 3 main dish k.com/groups/15889 alternatives are presented for dinner every day. Room service is 1157480751/ available. You can take a walk in the forest or you can discover the creek with http://www.booking. a boat tour. St. Nicholas’ Monastery is 200 metres from the property com/hotel/tr/ayaniko and Kiyikoy Fortress is 500 metres away. Town centre is a 5-minute la-pansiyon.no.html walk way. Free parking is provided.

29. St. Nicholas’ St. Nicholas’ Monastery (Aya Nikolas Manastırı)) is a Byzantine era Kiyikoy, Kırklareli http://greencorridors. Monastery Orthodox monastery, built during the time of Emperor Province, Turkey burgas.bg/en/objects (reigned 527-565). The monastery is located on the southern slope /view/76 of Kıyıköy town, at Pabuçdere road and it is 700 meters far from the town. The monastery consists of a chapel at the ground floor, cells for the monks and storerooms. In the basement, there is a holy well (hagiasma). The monastery was constructed entirely by cutting into a massive rock. It is known that the monastery was renovated in 1856 by Metropolitan bishop Matthaios, who built also a wooden annex in front of the monastery, which does not exist today. An inscription “St. Nikolas” in Greek alphabet letters is found engraved over the arched north entrance.

30. Terkos Basen Provinces of Istanbul and Kirklareli Natural site http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sitefactsheet.php?id=9592 Coordinates: (28o 21.00’ East 41o 25.00’ North) Area: 132,100 ha Altitude: 0 – 417m

Attractions: Birds, mainly waterfowls and raptors, freshwater ecosystems Activities: Birdwatching, cycling, wildlife photography

Terkos Lake is 50 kilometers to the north of Istanbul on the Black Sea coast, having an area of 25 square kilometers and surrounded by small forests. The lake is fed by Istranca River and it is one of the main fresh water sources of Istanbul. There are a couple of country style small hotels around it, and attracts many local people especially during summer weekends.

Spring and summer visit yield bee-eaters, orioles and warblers. The reedbeds are home to Purple, Little and Squacco Herons and Pygmy Cormorants. The pristine habitats near the lake are home to Short-toed (Snake), Greater Spotted and Booted . Other bird species include: Red-breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis), Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca), (Ciconia nigra), Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrid), Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus), White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus), Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus), Olivaceous Warbler and Syrian Woodpecker(Dendrocopos syriacus).