Description
Close to the Romanian border lies Kaliakra, a long and narrow headland east of Kavarna. It is one of the most beautiful and historic capes in Europe. The coast is steep with vertical cliffs that sometimes reach up to 70 meters to the sea.
The name "Kaliakra" comes from the Byzantine Greek words "καλός" ("beautiful") and "άκρα" ("headland" or "fort"). Even before the arrival of the Byzantines, the cape was inhabited in 4000 BC by a Thracian tribe known as the Tirizi's.
It is a nature reserve, from where you can admire dolphins and cormorants. It is located on the Via Pontica, an important bird migration route from Africa to Eastern and Northern Europe. Many rare and migratory birds can be seen here in spring and autumn and, as much of this coastline, it is home to several rare breeding birds.
It also contains the remains of a fortress that was used in history by Tracians, Romans, Byzantines and Bulgarians. You can visit the ramparts, the aqueduct, the thermal baths and the residence of the Despot Dobrotitsa.
The Bolata Cove with a small sheltered beach is located just north at the mouth of a picturesque canyon, which is also part of the nature reserve.
According to legend, the fortress guarded the treasure chests of Lyzimah, the successor of Alexander the Great. Today there are quite a few remains of those ancient settlements on display in a small museum. The cape of Kaliakra was declared a protected area in 1941. It is therefore not surprising that this picturesque stretch of coastline has been the inspiration for countless myths and legends, linked to a history that goes back to the earliest written records and beyond.