Location

     The town of Dobrich (population: 100 379; 220 m above sea-level) is situated on the Dobroudzha Plateau by the small Dobrich River. It is 512 km north-east of Sofia, 92 km south-east of Silistra, 46 km north-west of Varna, 34 km north-west of Balchik, and 37 km south-east of Yovkovo, the frontier post at the border with Romania. Known as the capital of Golden Dobroudzha.

     History

     The remains found by archaeologists testify that there was human presence on the territory of Dobrich in antiquity and early Middle Ages. The devastating Pecheneg invasions of the first third of 9th century AD depopulated the interior of Dobrudja and the life in the settlements ceased for the whole period till the end of the 13th century.
     In the 14th century, a new settlement came into being in this crossroad area (roads from the Danube to the Black Sea and from Eastern Europe to the interior of the Balkan Peninsula passed through it). Its founder was the Turkish travelling merchant Hajioglou. In his honour and because of the important function of the town and the large food and livestock marketplace, it was named Hajioglou Pazarjik, which means "important marketplace" in Turkish.
     In 17th-19th century, the town developed as a crafts, commercial and agricultural centre. Its culture took shape, its church and educational work developed, girls' education was introduced. Its town planning started in 1869.
     The town was liberated from the Ottoman Yoke on 27.01.1878. It was renamed to Dobrich after the medieval Dobrudja ruler Dobrotitsa with a princely decree of 19.02.1882 (Bulgaria was a principality then).
     The town's development during the first decades of 20th century was influenced by the political vicissitudes resulting from the three consecutive wars, which were led by Bulgaria. The Day of the town of Dobrich is celebrated on 25 September, because on this date in 1940 the Rumanian occupation of South Dobrudja was ended and the Bulgarian army entered Dobrich.
     The town bore the name of the Soviet Marshal Tolbouhin for several decades during the Communist rule. The name Dobrich was restored with a decree of the President of 19.09.1990.
     Now Dobrich is one of the ten largest towns in Bulgaria - an important cultural, economic and administrative centre in the northeast economic region of the country.

     Relief

     The town of Dobrich's territory is a part of the Danube Hilly Plain, which is characterized by flat and even hills, shallow and wide valleys with slanting slopes, cut through by the valley of the Suha Reka River, which passes through the town.
     The town of Dobrich is situated upon a plain terrain. Terrains with a favourable incline prevail - from 1.5% to 6%. The incline at some places on the slopes of the valley of the Suha Reka River in the south part of the town reaches 12-15%. The Chorcholiikite hill with a 10-12% incline of the east and the north slopes and very slanting slopes is situated northwest of the town. The slopes of the valley, which is situated eastwards of the North Industrial Zone are steeper - at some places they reach 10-15%.

     Climate

     The territory of the Dobrich municipality falls into the Temperately Continental Climatic Sub-Zone of the European Continental Climatic Zone. The average annual air temperature is 10.2°C. The absolute temperature minimum was registered in January - minus 22.7°C, and the maximum - in August and September - plus 39.1°C. The springs are comparatively cool, the autumns are warm because of the warming influence of the Black Sea. In winter the impact of the northeast air masses is more pronounced, which causes the greater differences in the thermal level through the year.
     The precipitation is characterized as weak - averagely 540 mm per year, with a clearly shown continental regime. The summer maximum is in June, the winter minimum - in February. 80% of the annual precipitation falls in summer.
     Despite the comparatively low altitude above sea level the snow-cover lasts up to 2.5 months. The northeast winter winds cause the drifting and re-laying of the snow-cover and its heaping into deep snow-drifts.
     The region is windy, with a low percentage of calm weather - averagely about 20% per year. The main wind transfer is from the northwest, with a high velocity of the winter winds and a low velocity of the summer winds.
     The average relative air humidity is 78%. In the winter period the humidity reaches 85-86%, and in summer decreases to 68-69%.

     Transport

     Roads extend to the Black Sea coast, Romania and international roads to Poland, the Ukraine and Russia. The rail system connects Dobrich with the rest of Bulgaria and with Romania.The two ports in Varna and Balchik are at close proximity, as well as the Danube River. Varna International Airport, which is only 40 km from Dobrich, provides a convenient means of reaching selected Bulgarian cities and other various international cities.

     Tourism

     The region has very good natural tourism resources which are maximum preserved in their natural form. The presence of a great number of mineral springs and medicinal mud are favourable to the development of all year round tourism. The offer of the sea holiday tourism in Dobrich includes the territory of Balchik, Kavarna, Shabla. There are favourable conditions for the development of business and congress tourism at the territory of the region as well as a good material base for the development of hunting cultural tourism. The first steps to the stimulation and development of the rural tourism have been also made.

     Landmarks

     Yordan Yovkov Historical Museum (in the town centre) - is a house-memorial of the great Bulgarian storyteller Yordan Yovkov. The interior of his house has been reconstructed. The exhibits reveal Yovkov's life and activities. There is a collection about the life and activities of the great Bulgarian actress Adriana Boudevska and the ballet master Anastas Petrov.
      The Ethnographic House Museum (in the centre of the town) is in one of the most interesting Revival houses (1861) and illustrates the living conditions, traditions, customs, crafts and culture of particular Bulgarian ethnographic groups emigrating from different parts of the country (the regions of Odrin, Kotel, Turgovishte, etc.).
     The Ethnographic Complex Stariyat Dobrich (Old Dobrich) - open-air architectural and ethnographic museum shows the typical architecture, way of life and economic past of the town of Dobrich from the end of 19th century and the beginning of 20th century. Here is presented the manufacturing process of the traditional Bulgarian crafts like tailoring, knitting, wood turnery, goldsmith's craft, etc. Sixteen workshops operate in the area of the museum Very attractive for the visitors is the opportunity to participate in the making of pottery, to visit the cafe and taste the traditional white jam.
     The Art Gallery exibiting more than 3000 masterpieces of art - icons, paintings, sculptures, black and white drawings, works of applied arts.
     Military Graveyard Memorial Complex-Museum, the remains of an ancient Roman settlement (3th-4th centuries) in the central and eastern parts of the town, the historical St. Georgi Church, the imposing monument of Khan Asparuh - founder of the modern Bulgarian state, and many other monuments.

     Surrounding areas

     The region of Dobrich consists of eight municipalities, including Balchik, Kavarna and Shabla. Here are also the romantic seaside settlements of Durankulak, Cape Kaliakra and Kamen Brjag.
     Six kilometres away from the town is Kobaklaka area situated in a thick oak forest. Here is to be found the three-star Dubovete Resort (the Oaks) with a restaurant offering 100 seats with exotic terrace. There is regular bus transport.
     The region called Botevska Gora (Botev's Woods) is 16 km south-west of the town in the immediate proximity of the village of Botevo. Nearby is the Vedrinski Dam offering good conditions for having a rest, taking sunbathes, practising water sports, water tourism, and fishing.
     The Batovo valley is 26 km south-east of the town and it offers excellent opportunities for camping, outings, tourism and rest in the realm of the marvellous nature.
     In this region are located two lakes, protected by the Bulgarian legislation - Durankulak Lake and Shabla Lake, where nestle several very rare birds species. The only reserve in Bulgaria, which includes sea territory is Kaliakra reserve. Shabla lake (5100 dka) comprises of two lakes divided from the sea by a wide sand line and connected by a canal. Here grow unique plants like the water lily and the yellow water rose.
     Durankulak village is the most north-eastern settlement in Bulgaria located only five kilometres from the Romanian border. It offers amazing recreation and sport opportunities including surfing, yachting, swimming, sunbathing, fishing, sailing... The sand and dunes are so clean, as if never visited by tourists! The Durankulak Lake diversifies the steppe landscape of the region. Located far from the developed seaports, the lake is among the most interesting ornithological environments. Variety of water birds can be observed from there - swans, cormorans, pelicans, red breasted geese and a number of marsh birds; some of which registered in the Red Book of the species in Bulgaria.
     Several kilometres southwards of Durankulak is situated the Cape Kaliakra Steppe Nature Reserve. This is a coastal headland with wide-open treeless steppe cut by steep rocky valleys running down to magnificent cliffs, which tower up to 100 metres above the turquoise sea below.
     Kamen Bryag village /"stone beach"/ is 30 minutes driving from Durankulak and is the favourite resting spot for those who like seclusion, primitive beauty and romance. Attractive caves, hollows, rocky bays and the wide expanse of the sea are a magnet for the visitors.
     Do not forget to visit the old town of Balchik and especially the palace of the Romanian Royal Family and the attached luxurious botanical garden.