Kavarna is one of the relatively bigger towns along the Black Sea coast: its population is 12,225, while the town's port handles passenger and cargo vessels of medium size. The town is situated 48km north of Varna and just 12km away from the picturesque Kaliakra cape. Kavarna is an exceptionally clean and welcoming town which has preserved its authentic appearance even in today's resort hysteria. It has a unique natural potential which is crucial for its social-economic aspect and development prospects. A large part of the territory (over 75%) is occupied by fertile arable land. The picturesque coastline of Kavarna is 42 km. The coast to the north of the town is high and steep, shining with its limestone rocks against the sea while the south of the town boasts with an excellent beach. In combination with its beautiful nature and interesting historical sights, the region around Kavarna is becoming an attractive tourist site for golf-lovers. This is due to the construction of two new golf courses which have already started. One of them is situated right between the town of Balchik and the town of Kavarna, on a plateau overlooking the sea. The second one will be situated along the coastline, near the sea, below the villages of Bozhurets and Topola, 3 km away from Kavarna. Gary Player - the most successful golf player of all times, the only person in the world who has won "British Open" in three different decades, says: "Bulgaria is going to have the best golf course in the world"!

     History

     The town dates back to Thracian times. In ancient Greek times, the area was dominated by the Greek fortress of Bizone established in the 5th century BC. In the 1st century BC, however, the town was almost completely ruined down by a severe earthquake. Later on, it was rebuilt and grew into a strong Bulgarian fortress - Karvuna, only to be destroyed again soon afterwards by an invasion of Tatar tribes in the Middle Ages. Following a thorough reconstruction by the Boyar Balik, the town became an independent principality named Karvounska Hora. After the foundation of the Bulgarian State the town changed its name a few times, from Karvuna to Karbona and then to Karnava, before it eventually received its current name, Kavarna. The Turks conquered it in 1393. Shortly before the liberation of the Bulgarian state from Ottoman yoke, Kavarna's witnessed a ruthless suppression of a rebellion of the local Bulgarian population, which ended up with setting the town on fire and a death toll of about 1,200 people. The town of Kavarna was once again rebuilt into agricultural and fishing centre.

     Landmarks:

     Nowadays Kavarna turns to an attractive place for a holiday, combining the modern comfort with a unique atmosphere, at the same time preserving its tranquility and charm. On the high hill of Chirakman, which is 3 km away from Kavarna, still can be seen remains of Roman fortresses and medieval towns.
     The National archaelogical preserve Yailata keeps significant monuments and remains from different historic periods.
     Cape Kaliakra is an archaelogical and natural preserve, famous for the legend about several maidens, who braided their hair together and jumped into the water, refusing to accept the Islam religion from the Turks. Nowadays cape Kaliakra is a peaceful nature reserve, where hooded cormorants nests, seals and dolphins cavort in the sea, and pink starlings and rock blackbirds frequent the cliffs and caves.
     The "Saint George" church was built in 1836 and the "The Holly Assumption" Church - in 1860. Both churches played an important role during the Ottoman rule and after the Liberation as educational and cultural centers. The churches are also related to the fights for the establishment of an individual municipality in the region. Their architectural structure and precious icons make them sites of great interest.
     The Turkish Hammam (baths) is a very significant monument of culture in the frames of an interesting for visitors tourist site. It was built in the beginning of the 15th century. The Hammam is massive stone tholos baths. Together with the original fountains dating back to the same period near the baths, the hammam is a very interesting architectural ensemble. It has been completely restored. Its hypocaust, thermal and water installations have been cleaned and are open. The bathing cabin (changing cabin) in front of the entrance was situated amphitheatrically in a half-circle.
     The old fountains - these were 12 spring fountains situated along the valley to the port. A part of them were destroyed and the rest were restored recently. The great amount of spring water forms a small river. It is used for putting a few mills and a primitive water-mill into motion.
     The old port barns - six of the grain barns at the port of Kavarna have been recognized as architectural monuments from the Revival period. The complex was built with solid curved stone blocks part of which had been taken from the Chirikman cape fortress. The complex had been shaped as a small Revival style settlement with interesting architecture and narrow coble-stone streets. During the Balkan war, the settlement was put to a severe bomb attack by the Turkish cruiser "Hamidie" that had been later torpedoed and destructed by Drazky ship.
     The stone bridge is a very interesting architectural site. It was built by local workmen during the Revival period and is the only one in the region. It has the typical for the time arch-like form, and was built over the small river that collects the waters from the numerous fountains along the ravine leading to the sea coast. The bridge is located in the skirts of Sheytan Bair hill.
     The ethnographic museum represents the oldest and most significant and specific architectural treasure of the population from the region. It is an old house from the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. The house belonged to a rich family. Its interior reveals the customs and culture of the people inhabiting that part of the country. Specific craftsmanship for this period like lace knitting and slipper-making are also comprised in the complex.

     Tourism

     The rich cultural and historical heritage is a premise for development of cultural tourism. The area offers good conditions for hunting tourism - there are four hunting reserves in the municipalities of Dobrich, Balchik, General Toshevo and Tervel. A significant amount of mineral spas, as well as deposits of healing mud are located on the territory of the region. Kavarna is becoming an attractive tourist site for golf-lovers too. This is due to the construction of two new golf courses - one is to be between the town of Balchik and the town of Kavarna and the other - along the coastline, near the sea.
     The town also hosts national and international folk festivals and other cultural events.
     Since 2004 the town has turned in one of the centres of musical life in Bulgaria. Kavarna has been the host to several rock and roll concerts. In 2005 the most popular band to play in the town's stadium was Deep Purple. The other notable performers were mostly legends of German rock and Heavy metal music, such as Scorpions, Axel Rudi Pell, Gamma Ray, Masterplan and Destruction. On 27 August 2005 Accept, another German band, played here its last show ever. 2006 followed the tradition with concerts of more metal bands as well as some pop and dance musicians. For example, Russian pop star Filip Kirkorov sang there in September.

     Accommodation

     Besides the higher-class Siana Hotel and Dobrotitsa Hotel, a less picky holidaymaker can also get a good bargain at private lodgings. Besides, close to the town is the camping resort of Morska Zvezda (Sea Star), which offers reasonable prices for rented bungalows, own tents and caravans.

     Catering

     There are several big restaurants offering seafood and traditional Bulgarian cuisine in the centre of the town and close to the port. The small restaurants offer local dishes, pizzas, spaghetti, etc. The prices in the town are moderate and the products in the grocers' shops are cheap. The local producers sell fresh, fruits and vegetables. There are enough small snack-bars and pavilions in the town.

     Transport

     Kavarna is connected to Varna with a road passing through Balchik. Regular bus transport is complemented by private minibuses and taxis. One can also negotiate low-fare sea transport from the town to the nearby town of Balchik, the Kaliakra cape, nearby villages or camping sites with local boat owners.

     Surrounding area

     The surrounding area offers numerous places of interest. A must- see is Cape Shabla, which consists of limestone rocks covered with loess up to 10 meters high. The oldest lighthouse in Bulgaria stands on Cape Shabla. The archaeological excavations at the Shabla Cape are the most popular place of interest in the neighbourhood. These reveal the remains of an ancient Roman fortress, which has served as a commercial hub for a number of settlements along coast.

     Lake of Shabla is coastal fresh-water lake, surrounded by areas under cultivation to the west and south. The richness in fish waters and the large reedbeds of Shabla Lake along with the mosaic vegetation of the sandy dunes nearby are a premise for the presence of many water-connected birds during the nesting season like grebes, little Bitterns, Shelducks, Little Terns, Ferruginous Ducks, crakes, Little Ringed Plovers, Tawny Pipits, Lesser Grey Shrikes etc. Many egrets, herons, diving and dabbling ducks, waders and sometimes pelicans occur in the area for the period of the spring and the autumn migration. But the territory of Shabla Lake is most famous for its wintering geese. More than 50 000 Red-breasted Geese (which is approximately 60-80 % of the world's population of this species) and 100 000 White-fronted Geese use to spend the severe winters here. Flocks, comprising tens of thousands of grazing geese, during daytime could be observed in the agricultural fields in the vicinity. Attracting highly impressive numbers and variety of water birds (in some years more than 200 000 individuals) the waters of Shabla Lake are also of great importance in the cold months for many grebes, swans, ducks, gulls etc.
     The Shabla Touzla is not far from the lake. It is a lake lagoon, whose bottom is rich in hydrogen sulphide mud, used in mud treatment. In the region of the resort there are temporary departmental holiday making facilities. Both the lake and the Touzla are protected localities.
     The Dourankoulak Moor, situated to the north of Shabla, is yet another must-see location for naturelovers. It is famous for hosting a number of marsh birds, including such in the Red Book of Bulgarian fauna. It is not only nature that attracts visitors to this place - the remains of the largest Eneolithic settlement in Europe have been excavated on the big island in the Dourankoulak Moor.
     Rusalka Resort The resort of Rusalka was established in 1968 in the famous Taouk Bay - the Bay of the birds together with the Mediterranean Club. This is a typical bird's colony in a pretty rocky area near the sea. It is 14 km east of the town of Kavarna, 59 km north-east of Varna, 529 km north-east of Sofia and 1km away from the small village called St. Nikola. Several small bays offer different beaches - sand, pebbles, bigger stones and rocks. The underwater world is interesting due to the unique relief of the rocks. It is very popular with divers. There is a small bay with healing mud, yachting facilities, and an open theatre. The village of Kamen Bryag (Stone Shore) is in the vicinity of the resort and there are interesting rock formations, and wonderful rocky bays with a number of caves and reefs. This is a favorite spot for students, and independent tourists in search of privacy.