Nessebur

Nessebur has about 9 500 habitants. It is a lovely picturesque place situated on a small rocky peninsula and linked to the mainland by a narrow neck of land, 400 m long.

The town is located 36 km northeast of Bourgas and 427 km east of Sofia. It is one of the oldest European towns and is declared a monument of culture under the protection of UNESCO. The ancient Greek polis Mesemvria appeared in the place of the Thracian settlement Mesambria(2nd millenium BC). In no time the polis became an important trading, craft and cultural center. A majestic statue of Apollonius was erected in it. During V-VIII centuries, Mesemvria was one of the most significant Black sea centers. In the end of this period it was a center of episcopate and also a naval base of Byzantium. In 812 Khan Krum captured the town but in 864 Tsar Boris yielded it to Byzantium. Its greatest efflorescense was reached under Tsar Ivan Aleksandur in the 10th century when about 40 churches and monasteries were built through donations. When Nessebur fell under Turkish yoke the fortified walls and many of the monasteries were demolished but its significance as a sea port did not change. The town has existed for about three milleniums - first as the Ancient Mesambria, then as Mesemvria from the period of the Middle Ages and finally as the Bulgarian Nessebur.

Today Nessebur is a flourishing sea resort. New quarters with numerous holiday houses and hotels arise out of the old part of the town, situated on the peninsula. There is a wide choice of restaurants, private hotels and villas, and, of course, a magnificent beach in the new quarters. Local people are exclusively engaged in the tourism. Nessebur is an architectural and historical reserve with old restored houses. The Bulgarian National Revival architectural ensemble encompasses about 80 houses. The architectural design is typical of the Black Sea coast house- two- storeyed, wooden houses with many windows, overlooking the sea.

The Medieval churches are the most impressive architectural monuments and are supposed to have been 41. Preserved up to the present day are "St Ivan Baptistki" church, turned into an art gallery, "St Stefan" church with mural paintings from the X-XII centuries; Pantokrator Church, raised in the 14th century with preserved ceramic rosettes and "St.John Alyturgetos" church, situated near to the port, a real masterpiece of the Bulgarian architectire.

In Nessebar there are also archeological and ethnographic expositions. In the Ethnographic museum tourists can see national dresses, things of popular customs and many others.

The bus and water routes to Nessebur are regular. Renting a jet or a boat, this paradise town can be seen from the sea.