History Museum in Bulgaria’s Asenovgrad Saw 7,000 Visitors in 2016
The Museum of History in the picturesque town of Asenovgrad, which is more known for the well preserved medieval Asen’s Fortress (“Asenova Krepost”), had over 7,000 visitors in 2016.
Bulgaria’s Underwater Archaeology Center in Sozopol Seeks to Buy Research Vessel
The Center for Underwater Archaeology, which is based in the Bulgarian Black Sea resort of Sozopol, has announced a tender for the purchase of a new maritime research vessel.
Ottoman Era ‘Turban’ Gravestone Discovered during Renovation of 16th Century Arch Bridge in Bulgaria’s Svilengrad
An Ottoman Era gravestone has been stumbled upon in the southern Bulgarian town of Svilengrad during the renovation of a famous 16th century arch bridge with Norway/EEA money.
Military History Museums in Bulgaria’s Pleven Saw Almost 150,000 Visitors in 2016
The eight Museums of Military History in the northern Bulgarian city of Pleven, which are dedicated to the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878 partially liberating Bulgaria from the Ottoman Empire, saw a total of 146,000 visitors in 2016.
Reconstructions of Ancient Bulgar Costumes Showcased in Kaleto Fortress in Bulgaria’s Mezdra
An exhibition showcasing reconstructions of Ancient Bulgar costumes from the early period of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018) has been opened in the Kaleto Archaeological Complex “Kaleto” in the northwestern Bulgarian town of Mezdra.
Veliko Tarnovo Museum to Raise Bulgarian Flag on Trapesitsa Fortress after Successful Crowdfunding Campaign
The History Museum in Bulgaria’s Veliko Tarnovo has raised enough funds from donations in order to buy a sizable Bulgarian flag for the new open-air museum at the Trapesitsa Fortress.
Americans Largest Group of Foreign Tourists in Bulgaria’s Veliko Tarnovo, Trapesitsa Fortress Restoration Yet to Bear Fruit
US tourists are once again the largest group of foreign visitors to view the numerous archaeological, historical, and cultural monuments in Bulgaria’s Veliko Tarnovo, the successor of medieval Tarnovgrad which was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185-1396/1422).
Archaeologists Find Roman Fortress Wall, 2nd Century BC Colored Plaster in Nebet Tepe Fortress in Bulgaria’s Plovdiv
A previously unknown part of a fortress wall from the Roman Era and numerous fragments of plaster which are even older are the latest archaeological discoveries from the 2016 excavations of Nebet Tepe, the prehistoric, ancient, and medieval settlement and…
Japanese Man Becomes 1st Visitor of Tsarevets Fortress in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria’s Cultural Sites for 2017
Hiros, a software engineer from Japan, has become the first tourist to visit the Tsarevets Hill Fortress in Veliko Tarnovo, and, respectively, the first visitor of any of Bulgaria’s cultural tourism sites in 2017.
Bulgaria’s Tervel Showcases Finds from Newly Discovered Early Christian Basilica in Byzantine City Palmate
The finds from one of Bulgaria’s very intriguing archaeological discoveries in 2016, an Early Christian basilica found in the previously unexplored ancient city of Palmate, have been showcased in a new exhibition of the History Museum in the northeastern town…
Archaeological Landmarks in Bulgaria’s Shumen District Attracted over 140,000 Tourists in 2016
The archaeological, historical, and cultural landmarks in the District of Shumen in Northeast Bulgaria, which include the most important cities and monuments from the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018) have been viewed by more than 140,000 tourists in 2016.
Newly Found 13th Century Ivory Cross Reveals Name of Senior Cleric from Second Bulgarian Empire
A 13th century bone cross with intricate engravings has been discovered in the city of Veliko Tarnovo in Central North Bulgaria, the modern-day successor of the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185-1396/1422) Tarnovgrad, revealing the name of the senior…
‘Archaeology Travel’ Founder Thomas Dowson: Bulgaria’s Is New Cultural Tourism Destination for the English-Speaking West
ArchaeologyinBulgaria.com has interviewed Thomas Dowson, a UK-based archaeologist and founder of Archaeology Travel, a service specializing in cultural tourism and international guided tours. Dowson recently explored Bulgaria as a cultural tourism destination, and his travel report “Move Over, Italy &…
Impressive Late Antiquity Female Gold Jewels Found in Bulgaria
An impressive set of female gold jewels from the 5th-6th century AD has been turned in to Bulgaria’s National Museum of History in Sofia.
Bulgaria’s ‘Old Capitals Act’ Seeks to Boost Development of Pliska, Veliki Preslav, Veliko Tarnovo & Vidin
A new piece of legislation dubbed the “Old Capitals Act” is supposed to boost the development, promotion, and research of Bulgaria’s medieval capitals which are today on its territory.
Gabrovo Marks 182nd Anniversary since First Industrial Production in Bulgaria (and Ottoman Empire) with Special Exhibition
An exhibition dedicated to the 182nd anniversary since the opening of the first industrial production in Bulgaria, and, for that matter, in the Ottoman Empire of which the country was part at the time has been showcased in the city…
Unseen Western European Silver Coins Used in Ottoman Empire Showcased by Museum in Bulgaria’s Stara Zagora
A hoard of Western European silver coins from the 16th-19th century which were used in the Ottoman Empire has been shown to the public for the first time in the traditional annual numismatic exhibition of the Regional Museum of History…
‘Unseen Treasures’ Showcased for 35th Anniversary of History Museum in Bulgaria’s Shumen
A new exhibition entitled “Unseen Treasures” has been opened by the Regional Museum of History in the northeastern Bulgarian city of Shumen to celebrate the 35th anniversary since the opening of its present building and permanent display.
Archaeologists Discover Unknown Fortress Walls, Byzantine Gold Coin in Rusocastro Fortress near Bulgaria’s Kameno
Two unknown fortress walls and three unknown fortress towers as well as a 14th century Byzantine gold coin have been discovered by archaeologists during the 2016 excavations of the major medieval fortress of Rusocastro in today’s Southeast Bulgaria.
Archaeologists Find 2nd Antiquity Fortress at Prehistoric, Thracian Rock Shrine near Bulgaria’s Angel Voyvoda
A second previously unknown Antiquity fortress has been found by archaeologists a prehistoric and later Ancient Thracian rock shrine in an area known as Hasara near the town of Angel Voyvoda, Mineralni Bani Municipality, Haskovo District, in Southern Bulgaria.
Bulgaria’s Burgas Wins EU Funding with Turkey’s Kirklareli to Develop Aquae Calidae – Thermopolis Archaeological Preserve
The ancient spa resort Aquae Calidae, known as Thermopolis in the Middle Ages, whose ruins lie in Bulgaria’s Black Sea city of Burgas, will be developed further as a cultural tourism site with EU funding under the Interreg Program for…
Archaeologists Find Stoa, Main Street, Sewerage of Late Antiquity City Parthicopolis in Bulgaria’s Sandanski
The stoa, a covered public walkway with a colonnade, the main street, and the sewerage of the Late Antiquity city of Parthicopolis have been unearthed by archaeologists during excavations in the town of Sandanski in Southwest Bulgaria.
Archaeologists Find Medieval Marketplace of Rahovets Fortress near Bulgaria’s Gorna Oryahovitsa
A medieval square which hosted the marketplace of the Rahovets Fortress near the town of Gorna Oryahovitsa in Central North Bulgaria has been discovered during its 2016 summer archaeological excavations.
6th Century AD Secret Passage of Tuida Fortress in Bulgaria’s Sliven Sheltered over Restoration Plans
The entrance of a secret passage from the 6th century AD in the Tuida Fortress in the Eastern Bulgarian city of Sliven has been sheltered in order to protect the intriguing facility and to provide for its future restoration.
Archaeologists Find Late Antiquity ‘Peacock’ Mosaic, Medieval ‘St. Peter’ Mural in Early Christian Great Basilica in Bulgaria’s Plovdiv
A previously unknown and very well preserved mosaic floor featuring an image of a peacock and fragments of a medieval mural possibly depicting St. Peter have been unearthed by archaeologists in the Early Christian and Early Byzantine Great Basilica in…
Kaliakra Cape Fortress near Bulgaria’s Black Sea Resort Kavarna Growing Ever More Popular with Tourists
The Kaliakara Cape Fortress, which is located on the picturesque Black Sea cape of the same name in Northeast Bulgaria, has been attracting a growing number of local and foreign tourists, with the local authorities in Kavarna Municipality now trying…
Bulgaria’s Montana Reopens Fully Renovated History Museum Exhibiting Ancient Thracian Treasure from Yakimovo
The fully renovated building of the Regional Museum of History in the northwestern Bulgarian city of Montana, the successor of Ancient Roman city and fortress Castra ad Montanesium, has been reopened with an exhibition of an Ancient Thracian treasure, the…
10th Century Golden Heart Jewel Worn by Bulgarian Empress Discovered in Medieval Capital Veliki Preslav
A remarkable golden jewel in the shape of a heart decorated with a five-color enamel, which may have belonged to the wife of Tsar Petar I (r. 927-969), has been discovered by archaeologists during excavations in Veliki Preslav (“Great Preslav”),…
Bulgaria’s Cabinet, Private Donors Contribute BGN 300,000 towards Restoration of 9th Century AD Great Basilica in Pliska
More than BGN 300,000 (app. EUR 150,000) have been contributed by the Bulgarian government and private donors for the ongoing archaeological restoration of the 9th century AD Great Basilica in Pliska, the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD)…
Archaeologists Find Grave of One of Last Senior Clergymen of Medieval Bulgarian Capital Tarnovgrad in Veliko Tarnovo
The grave of a person who seems to have been one of the last senior clergymen of Tarnovgrad, the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185-1396/1422), before its capture by the invading Ottoman Turks has been discovered by archaeologists excavating…
Archaeologists Discover Medieval Necropolis on Top of Late Antiquity Floor Mosaics of Great Basilica in Bulgaria’s Plovdiv
A necropolis containing a total of 18 burials from the Middle Ages has been discovered on top of the layers of floor mosaics of the Early Christian and Early Byzantine Great Basilica in the city of Plovdiv in Southern Bulgaria.
Bulgaria’s Cabinet Poised to Grant Black Sea Town Sozopol Ownership over St. Ivan Island Famous for St. John the Baptist’s Relics
Bulgaria’s Cabinet is prepared to transfer ownership of the Black Sea island “St. Ivan (St. John)”, known for its Early Christian and Early Byzantine monastery where relics of St. John the Baptist were discovered back in 2010, to the local…
Pre-Columbian Mediterranean ‘Round’ Ship Discovered for the First Time by Underwater Archaeology Expedition in Bulgaria’s Black Sea Zone
The world’s first ever well preserved sunken “round ship”, a medieval Mediterranean ship which was a precursor to the Age of Discovery vessels such as the ones on which Christopher Columbus crossed the Atlantic, has been discovered in Bulgaria’s Black…
Bulgaria’s Capital Sofia to Fund Search for Alleged Outer Fortress Wall of Ancient Serdica
The administration of Bulgaria’s capital Sofia plans to invest major funding in expanding the archaeological excavations in the city, including a search for the alleged outer fortress wall of its predecessor, the Ancient Thracian and Roman city of Serdica.
Bronze Age Discoveries Reveal Ancient Bulgar Capital Pliska Was Settled Much Earlier Than Middle Ages
Discoveries of a Bronze Age home and artifacts have revealed that the Ancient Bulgar city of Pliska in today’s Northeast Bulgaria, which was the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018) in 680-893 AD, was settled much earlier than previously…
