Nessebur
The old town of Nessebur stands on a
small rocky isle at the northern end of the Bay of Burgas.
A
narrow, artificial isthmus connects it to the mainland. An ancient
town originally developed towards the end of the 6th century BC it was an
important trade and craft centre during the Hellenism and the Middle Ages.
Thanks to its beautiful architecture and numerous monuments built between the 3rd century BC and the 8th century AD, the town has been declared a world cultural site and is included in UNESCO's list of World Cultural and Wildlife Heritage sites.
The picturesque town is one of the
oldest in Europe, having emerged as a fortified Thracian settlement over
9,000 years ago and having changed hands many times before being captured
by the Bulgarians in the 7th century.
Nessebur has an old town and a new town, but it is the old quarter that gives the peninsula its character and is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site. A popular tourist attraction, it charms visitors with its narrow cobblestone streets, period wooden houses, courtyards, taverns and romantic atmosphere.
The old town is famous for its
medieval churches, with beautiful facades and well-preserved interiors,
which are the remnants of the Slav and Greek Orthodox communities that
were part of the peninsula's history. Nessebur is an architectural
and historic monument of Bulgarian culture and is one of the most favoured
tourist resorts
along
the southern coast.
Today, Nessebur is still a fishing village with many attractive wooden fishermen's houses lining its winding, cobbled streets.
© Bulgaria Hot Spots 2005
