Cultural Heritage

cultural-heritige

Founded on the crossroads between the East and the West, Bulgaria with a history of 1 320 years has always experienced a host of diverse cultural influences. It is the cradle of one of the most ancient civilizations, the Thracian one, monuments of which still reveal new and new aspects of the early stages in the development of European culture.

Оne of the best known surviving artefacts of Thracian culture is the Panagyurishte treasure. It is now exhibited at the National Museum of History in Sofia.
A large archaeological complex, Perperikon brings together information about different historical periods and civilizations. It is situated in Rhodope Mountains, 15 km away from the town of Kurdzali. Over the years archaeologists and treasure hunters explored the 470 metre high hill where Perperikon is located. A large part of the complex is probably still undiscovered. Historians believe that the megalith complex served as a stone sanctuary of Dionysus, a god that both Thracians and Greeks revered.
In August 2000, a sensational discovery occurred near the village of Starosel in central Bulgaria. Archaeologists found the enormous temple/grave of what is believed to be the first king of a unified Thracian empire. The site, 160 km east of Sofia, is thought to date back to the 4th or 5th century BC.
The Kazanlak Tomb Sanctuary dates back to the 4th century BC and has been on the UNESCO Protected World Heritage Site list since 1979. Its paintings are Bulgaria's best-preserved artistic masterpieces from the Hellenistic period. The tomb is situated near the ancient Thracian capital of Seuthopolis.