Buy & Sell Bulgaria Insight Newsletter

What is common between Marseille, Genoa and Barcelona? The forest of masts in their yacht ports. According to the statistics, in the Mediterranean, there are 3500 yachts 30 meters high and above, not to mention the smaller ones. That means not only money for “parking” the vessels, but also increase in number of wealthy tourists.

At present, Bulgarian seaside towns and complexes are aiming at the yacht business as well. When the Dinevi brothers built a magnificent yacht port near the village of St Vlas (see to the right), the city of Varna decided to transform its active industrial harbour into a yacht port and entertainment area.

The idea is of the local chairman of the municipal council Borislav Gutsanov and has already been named “The Gutsanov project”. The Varna councilors, the branch chamber and the state gave him a green light and the first sod will be turned till the end of this year. The project comprises of two stages – the construction of a new, modern terminal for containers in the lake, below the current unattractive Romany neighbourhood, Maskuda. The port will cover an area of 220 decares near the railway. The depth is 16-18 meters, which will allow big vessels to flit and will make things easier for them as they cannot presently enter the harbour. “We will be able to actually compete with Constanta, where 1,25 million container carriers pass through per annum, which in comparison to the Varna harbour – barely 100 000”, said the chief of the port Capt. Danail Papazov.

In the place of the present freight piers at port Varna-East, an enormous entertainment area will be formed. Instead of docks men, there will be tourists and yachtsmen. The port itself, which covers an area of 347 decares, will be transformed into a yacht one, surrounded by an aquarium, hotel, park zones and many small places of public resort.

The work group – Borislav Gutsanov, the port’s chief Papazov and the chairman of the Bulgarian Maritime Chamber Capt. Veselin Genov have been introduced to the execution of such a project in Genoa and Barcelona.

Jovanni Novi, chief of the port in Genoa, told them: “With the present “Port Antico” (an old industrial harbour turned into a yacht port) we earn more than we used to do with the freight one”. “Pantoons girdle the piers, where hundreds of expensive yachts have flitted, the old stores are turned into luxurious hotels, aquariums, shops and places of public resort. The project there was worth around 500 million euro, for which negotiations with a Japanese bank have commenced. We receive rent amounting to 1000 euro per meter per boat per annum, and additional payment is made for prestigious positions”, is what they say in Genoa.

78% of the population in Varna support the new project.

It is now summer, time for relaxation, chilling out and having some entertainment, a time of the year, which everyone eagerly expects. It is time for your Summer holidays, nice weather, trips and a lot of new experiences. Bulgaria has been more and more attractive for the tourist attractions and recreation activities it offers. These are some of the main factors which drive the property interest towards our country. Have a closer look into the various entertainment opportunities in the different parts of Varna - you may be surprised by the variety of locations and attractions. Without any doubt the main summer attractions are the sea and the sandy beaches. Apart from that Varna has a lot more to offer. City landmarks include the Varna Archaeological Museum, exhibiting the Gold of Varna, the Roman Baths, the Battle of Varna Park Museum, the Naval Museum in the Italianate Villa Assareto displaying the museum ship Drazki torpedo boat, the Museum of Ethnography in an Ottoman-period compound featuring the life of local urban dwellers, fisherfolk, and peasants in the late 19th and early 20th century.

The Sea Garden is the oldest and perhaps largest park in town containing an open-air theatre (venue of the International Ballet Competition, opera performances and concerts), an aquarium (opened 1912), a dolphinarium (opened 1984), the Nicolaus Copernicus Observatory and Planetarium, the Museum of Natural History, a terrarium, a zoo, an alpineum, a small European-style Luna Park, a Children’s Corner, and other attractions. The National Revival Alley is decorated with bronze monuments of prominent Bulgarians, and the Cosmonauts’ Alley contains trees planted by Yuri Gagarin and other Soviet cosmonauts in the 1960s. The Garden is a national monument of landscape architecture.

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Varna, the “water town”

The new town appeared in the period of 580-560 B.C., at the same time when the other ancient Greek towns were also founded on our Black Sea coast. Its founders, the Miletian Greeks, settled gradually and without any problems in the already existing settlement, called Odessos and adopted the name given by the natives.

That name is first detected in the works of the poet Skymnos of Chios and the historian Strabo. In the 5th century Theophanus referred to it as Odissopolis. It is assumed that the name is of Karian origin and is translated as “water-town”.

From the VI century onwards the name of Odessos is no longer found in the historical documents. Varna is first mentioned in the chronicles describing the advancement of Khan Asparukh and his people who “…came to the so-called Varna, close to Odessos…” and the consequent settlement of Bulgarian tribes in those areas.

In the beginning of the century archimandrite Inokenti presents interesting details from his researches. He also mentions the theory that the name Varna originates from the avarian word “var”, meaning city.

Some hypotheses maintain that at the time of Emperor Tiberius (14 -27) the town was, for a short time, called Tiberiopolis. And during the reign of Empress Irene towards the end of VII century there was another short period in which it took her name - Irinopolis. In the ancient times Theophanus referred to the town as Odessopolis and other authors - as Ulissopolis.

Only once in the thousands-of-years-old history of the town were there no doubts about the time, its name and meaning. In honour of the 70th birthday anniversary of Joseph Stalin, taking into consideration the request of the citizens of Varna, the Council of Ministers issued a decree to rename the town. Thus on 21st December 1949 Varna became Stalin and a monument of the town’s patron was erected at the entrance of the Sea Garden. Time passed by and at their 1956 plenary sessions the Communist Parties of the Soviet Union and Bulgaria admitted still another mistake and the recent town name was regained. For those in the nostalgic mood, however, the old streets of Varna still keep drainage covers made in the town of Stalin.

Only 2-storey houses in the new neighbourhoods

Local Bulgarian newspaper “Tema”, 13th June 2007

To the south and north of Varna, only houses up to 2-storeys will be allowed to be built. This is proposed for the new town-plan of Varna. The plans cover the areas of Saint Nikola, Zelenika, Rakitnika, the areas surrounding Konstantinovo and Zvezditsa, and other surrounding areas.

The question of low buildings in these areas and high protection of the green areas, was raised in May this year, at a meeting with the Chairman of the Municipal Council, Borislav Gutsanov, and the Team Leader of the town-planning group, Prof. Nikiforov. Due to the threat of over-construction work, the proposal made in February by the local Parliament’s chief, the Municipal Council decided to stop anyone from building in these areas, until the new town-plan has been completed and approved. The final version of the project will be discussed at a session of the Municipal Council in July.

Town-planning group and Chairman of the Municipal Council

2nd Bridge in Varna

Local Bulgarian newspaper “Narodno Delo”, 13th June 2007

The second bridge over the Varna lake is planned to be built next to the village of Kazashko. This was the decision taken by the Chairman of the Municipal Council, Borislav Gutsanov and the town-planning group, which is preparing the preliminary version of the new town plan of Varna. The bridge will allow a direct connection from the Cherno More highway to the airport, leading to the holiday resorts and the Romanian border at Durankulak. Thus the traffic passing through the heart of the city will be diverted to a by-pass.

The preliminary version of the town plan includes the construction of a third bridge, which will be parallel to the existing Asparuhov Bridge. Fortunately, the bridge will neither impede with the new port terminals, nor with the attractive part of the city and the future yacht harbour, which will appear at the freed Varna-East coast.

Varna Lake is the largest and deepest lake on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. There is evidence that even in prehistoric times Varna lake shores have been inhabited by people. Various remains of ancient civilizations have been discovered here - flint tools, pile dwellings, dug-out canoes. The famous Varna chalcolith necropolis can be seen on the northern side in the region of Varna Western Industrial area.

The neighborhoods of Zvezditsa and Konstantinovo, where our land is, overlook the lake from the southern heights. Marina Gardens, Marina Hills, Golf Hills, Royal Oakwood, Acropolis, Old Vines, Marina Bay, Panorama and Politea, are areas we have chosen, because we see them as best spots in the region. You can see hills overlooking the Varna bay, amongst grape wines, and fruit orchards, where nature is at its best or land next to the waterfront where the sea laps at the edge of the land with a secluded bay, making it a beautiful and serene place.

Supporting the move for making the region a protected territory under the Natura 2000 program, there are many projects for these areas, including a golf course, luxury villas, homes and bungalows for those who love to combine the sport with comfortable living, swimming pools and all the facilities you expect of a small town, such as restaurants, shops, bars, medical facility and spa, an Equestrian Centre. By the Lake, as part of our further investment, there will be a professional water sports centre, horse riding school, archery field, the construction of a swimming pool, a Greek/Bulgarian tavern, an English pub, and we will build a new platform on the beach that will be used for shows and cultural presentations. Be part of the dream! Live your dream!

Reviewed by Lili Gospodinova

This is a very cozy restaurant, furnished in typical Bulgarian traditional style with a fire place and different antique items on the walls and around the tables. Prices are pretty good and food is fantastic. I’m sure you will find this restaurant very pleasant and enjoyable. Perfect for personal and business meals and very close to the Eurolink Group offices. We can take you there!

Rating of 7/10, enjoy a good meal.

In above picture you can see a happy smiling child, but there is a sad story behind the smile on her sweet face. She was born with Spina Bifida and has had three operations to try to correct her foot. Other problems she has are stomach troubles, but the main concern is that she’s in need of a kidney transplant. We would be most grateful if you could give us a donation to help this beautiful child. She has suffered so much in her short life, let’s help her have a better future.

Thank you for your big heart!

British Airways currently fly from London Gatwick to Varna every Thursday and Sunday, departing at 12:15 and arriving at Varna Airport at 17:40. Returns are the same days, departing at 18:25 and arriving at 20:05. During the Summer Season there are flights on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, departing at 15:05 and arriving at Varna Airport at 20:30. Returns are on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday departing at 21:15 and arriving at Gatwick Airport at 22:50. Expansion of British Airways services in Bulgaria demonstrates the company’s dedication to the rapidly developing aviation market and tourism industry in Bulgaria. Visit www.britishairways.com for further information and ticket reservations.

Bulgaria Air fly’s direct from London Gatwick to Varna on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Flights depart at 17:35 and arrive in Varna at 22:50. Returns are the same days, departing at 14:50 and arriving at London Gatwick at 16:35. Please note that flights on Wednesday’s have a connection through Manchester. Contact Bulgaria Air by visiting www.bulgaria-air.co.uk for further information and ticket reservations.

Note: Our clients can be collected at the airport.