The highest point in the northeastern part of Strandja Mountain, the Bakarlaka Peak, offers an incredible view on the Black Sea.

The mountainous relief gradually flows into the water. To the north, the view touches Cape Emine, to the south, Arkutino. You can also see Chernomorets, located in a kind of land depression near the shore of a small bay, with

a beautiful beach and shores resembling a blooming flower

No less magical is the opposite view - from the sea to Cape Akra (see photo above).

The town is located only 24 km southeast from Bourgas and 8 km north from Sozopol. On the southern coast of the great Bourgas bay, its coastline isover 9 km long, with golden sand, crystal clear water and azure, calm sea. The area is unique with its long sandy beaches, alternating with rocky shores, forming fabulous bays and peninsulas.

Chernomorets has a mild and humid climate, late spring and long, warm summer. The sunshine periods in the year is between 2100 and 2200 hours, the summer water temperatures are between 20-26 ° С, and the air temperatures reach 32 ° С.

The nature around the city is rich and diverse. The combination of forest and sea makes the place unique with its lush vegetation. And in the quiet courtyards of the houses in Chernomorets every season there is a unique scent - daffodils, lilacs, roses... Not to mention the summer, when delicious figs, pomegranates and persimmons seduce everyone.

The fauna of Strandja Mountain and the coast is also extremely diverse. Strandja Nature Park is among the first in Europe in terms of its fish richness. The identified 269 bird species are world treasures. The great migratory bird route in Europe, Via Pontica, passes over Chernomorets. Huge flocks of white storks, pelicans, swans, honey buzzards and spotted eagles can be seen here. The usual mammals for the area are wild boars, deer, and rabbits.Seagulls hunt along the shore and in the water. Several species of sturgeon have been known since ancient times –great sturgeon, sea bass and others. The largest are the shoals of bonito, blue fish, mackerel, horse mackerel. There are also mullet, turbot and other types of small fish.

There are a dozen species of mussels along the coast, but the most common is the black mussel, which is the food of many marine animals and birds. Almost everywhere the underwater rocks are covered with black mussels, green and brown algae.

Nearby is the Cape Akra, which attracts with its beauty and romance, near the bay of Vromos, where the remains of a Byzantine fortress wall have been found. They spread in the atmosphere a charming scent derived from the intertwining of past and present.

Scientific facts and ancient legends tell...

Archaeological excavations on the territory of the present town of Chernomorets prove that the earliest settlements here date from the late Neolithic era (5400-5200 BC). What follows is a rich and turbulent millennial history, passing through all known historical periods, through the civilizations of the Thracians, Romans, Byzantines, Avars, Slavs, Ottomans, Zagortsi... to our days.

Legend has it that the late medieval settlement of St. Nicholas originated on the site of today's "Dimitri Yurt", 2-3 km southwest from Chernomorets. Over time and with the growth of the settlement, its inhabitants were forced to move to the Otmanli village, and later, at the beginning of the 16th century, they were also forced to leave it. One group headed southwest, another to the northeast. The second settled on the Atia Peninsula, in the area of ​​Hunnia. There the settlers decided to build a large stone church. However, it attracted pirates and people went again to seek refuge... According to the research of the teacher Georgi Chernev, the first settlers of today's Chernomorets were about twenty families who came in 1680’s from Atia, Otmanli and Chengene Skele bay. Loaded with a dozen ox and buffalo carts with scarce furniture, they set up a separate village on the shore and named it Agios Nicholas or St. Nicholas. It bore this name until 1951, when it was renamed Chernomorets. It was declared a city in 2009.

Today Chernomorets numbers a little over 2000 people and it has a town hall administratively related to Sozopol’s Municipality.

The St. Nicholas Church

According to an old legend, during a stormy night a large ship of a rich Byzantine merchant crashed near Cape Accra. Anticipating his death, the nobleman promised - if he was saved - to build a chapel of St. Nicholas, the saint patron of sailors and fishermen. The waves pushed the ship into the small bay. Keeping his vows, the merchant built a chapel. Later, in 1858, the church of St. Nicholas was built in its place.

In 1995, a fire burned down the entire temple. The only to survive were a wooden cross with a frame, the gospelof the throne and the icon of St. Nicholas. Today they have a special place in the temple, rebuilt by citizens of Chernomorets and donors. The frescoes of the church create an atmosphere of inspiration and tranquility. The unique Garden of Eden around the temple, with its hundreds of plant species, also contributes to the peaceful atmosphere.

In May 2008, at the first sod of the new bell tower, the builders found an ancient iron cross. And they build it into it. This took place on the day of the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the holy place - an intimate guardian of faith and history.

Today the word of God is preached in the church by Father Stiliyan - the priest of Chernomorets. People often come to him looking for faith and hope, and he manages to show them that "Small miracles are all around us", we just have to find the way to them.

Everything about the history of Chernomorets can be seen in detail in the

Cultural Center - St. Nicholas Museum

It is an important asset in support of tourism and in the preservation of local traditions. It was built in 2014 under the project "Integration of cultural and historical values ​​and diversification of tourist products." The exhibits in it are conditionally divided into three expositions. In "Chernomorets - Millennium Beginning" visitors can see artifacts from more than 26 centuries.How the different cultures intertwine and how they leave their mark on the lives of the ancient people can be seen in the exhibition "the Bourgas Bay - crossroads of civilizations". Here are the latest discoveries from land and underwater excavations at Cape Akra. The third exhibition is dedicated to the life and way of life of the people who lived in these lands.

A tourist pearl

Today Chernomorets is an attractive tourist destination, thanks to the constantly evolving infrastructure, newly built residential buildings, hotel complexes, and entertainment venues.

Its new hotels and resorts bear the hallmark of intelligent construction, something highly valued by investors and tourists seeking peace and comfort. The holiday complexes impress with a modern and luxurious vision.

The city also boasts its numerous shops, small boutiques, some of them located in the street of arts. There you can find a variety of handmade objects, souvenirs, works of art and symbols related to the city, life and culture of the locals.

The unique atmosphere of the restaurants and the perfect service will make you feel real pleasure from your vacation in the beautiful resort village.

And the hospitality of the Zagortsi people is well known

The main part of the population of Chernomorets belongs indeed to this ethnographic group. It is known that these Bulgarians settled here during the time of Khan Krum, when he, during battles with Byzantium, conquered the old Roman fortress Debelt /812-813/ and received the Zagore region by contract.

The people in the village were farmers rather than stockbreeders. Natural conditions favored the development of vineyards and melons. The diversity of grape varieties and the tradition built over the years connects the way of life of the inhabitants with wine production. Fishing also developed. Men also knew well the qualities of stones so, for many years stone mining and stonemasonry were also the main livelihood.

The people of Zagore have created and well preserved their traditions, the melody of the Strandjian songs and the variety of their costumes. Today, their rich folklore heritage is kept alive by groups for authentic folklore at the community center of Chernomorets. These amateurs show it with pride and great pleasure on the stage during the festivals, but mostly to the tourists during the summer.

In fact, during the tourist season, cultural events in the city increase. They reach their culmination during the summer holidays, when local and foreign artists create an extremely pleasant atmosphere in the evening and make people's vacation unforgettable.

Traditionally in Chernomorets, homage to St. Nicholas, the saint patron of fishermen, sailors and merchants, is paid twice a year. In May, when during the festival the sea is "unlocked" to keep it calm during the year and flowers are thrown into its waters in memory of the fallen sailors and fishermen, and on December 6^th - St. Nicholas Day, during the town festival. Then a festive liturgy is celebrated for St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, wreaths are placed in the sea, a festive fish sacrifice is prepared and people celebrate. On this day, everyone prepares a festive table, on which the main dish is fish.

The contet was provided by Chernomorets Municipality.