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UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Bulgaria
Bulgarian World Heritage Sites · UNESCO sites in Bulgaria map · historical landmarks in Bulgaria
Bulgaria has 10 sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List — 7 cultural and 3 natural inscriptions, inscribed between 1979 and 2007. This map of UNESCO sites in Bulgaria covers every listing, with a short description, the inscription year and the nearest airports — the fastest way to see the country's most important historical sites and landmarks in one place.
Bulgarian World Heritage Sites range from Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe onwards; Boyana Church was the country's first inscription, added in 1979; Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe is the most recent, listed in 2007; recurring threads across the list include wild places.
One inscription is transnational, shared with neighbouring countries: Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe. Start with Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe, Ancient City of Nessebar and Boyana Church, then use the map above to plan a route between the rest.
- Sites
- 10
- Cultural
- 7
- Natural
- 3
- First inscribed
- 1979
Sites on the map
Inscriptions Bulgaria shares with other countries are not plotted here — you will find them in the list below.
Flying in
Airports closest to the most sites in this country.
- SOFSofia3 sites
- BBUBucharest3 sites
- SOBSármellék1 site
- BOJBurgas1 site
- VARVarna1 site
- PDVPlovdiv1 site
Keep exploring
All 10 sites in Bulgaria
List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Bulgaria
Every inscription with its year and category. Open a site for its story, map location and nearest airports.
| Site | Year | Type | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of EuropeThis transnational property includes 93 component parts in 18 countries. | 2007 | Natural | This transnational property includes 93 component parts in 18 countries. |
| Ancient City of NessebarSituated on a rocky peninsula on the Black Sea, the more than 3,000-year-old site of Nessebar was originally a Thracian… | 1983 | Cultural | Situated on a rocky peninsula on the Black Sea, the more than 3,000-year-old site of Nessebar was originally a Thracian settlement (Menebria). |
| Boyana ChurchLocated on the outskirts of Sofia, Boyana Church consists of three buildings. | 1979 | Cultural | Located on the outskirts of Sofia, Boyana Church consists of three buildings. The eastern church was built in the 10th century, then enlarge. |
| Madara RiderThe Madara Rider, representing the figure of a knight triumphing over a lion, is carved into a 100-m-high cliff near… | 1979 | Cultural | The Madara Rider, representing the figure of a knight triumphing over a lion, is carved into a 100-m-high cliff near the village of Madara i. |
| Pirin National ParkSpread over an area of over 27,000 ha, at an altitude between 1008 and 2914 m in the Pirin Mountains, southwes. | 1983 | Natural | Spread over an area of over 27,000 ha, at an altitude between 1008 and 2914 m in the Pirin Mountains, southwes. |
| Rila MonasteryRila Monastery was founded in the 10th century by St John of Rila, a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church. | 1983 | Cultural | Rila Monastery was founded in the 10th century by St John of Rila, a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church. |
| Rock-Hewn Churches of IvanovoIn the valley of the Roussenski Lom River, in north east Bulgaria, a complex of rock-hewn churches, chapels… | 1979 | Cultural | In the valley of the Roussenski Lom River, in north east Bulgaria, a complex of rock-hewn churches, chapels, monasteries and cells developed. |
| Srebarna Nature ReserveThe Srebarna Nature Reserve is a freshwater lake adjacent to the Danube and extending over 600 ha. | 1983 | Natural | The Srebarna Nature Reserve is a freshwater lake adjacent to the Danube and extending over 600 ha. |
| Thracian Tomb of KazanlakDiscovered in 1944, this tomb dates from the Hellenistic period, around the end of the 4th century BC. | 1979 | Cultural | Discovered in 1944, this tomb dates from the Hellenistic period, around the end of the 4th century BC. It is located near Seutopolis, the ca. |
| Thracian Tomb of SveshtariDiscovered in 1982 near the village of Sveshtari, this 3rd-century BC Thracian tomb reflects the fundamental structural… | 1985 | Cultural | Discovered in 1982 near the village of Sveshtari, this 3rd-century BC Thracian tomb reflects the fundamental structural principles of Thracian cult… |
Frequently asked questions about World Heritage in Bulgaria
- How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites are there in Bulgaria?
- Bulgaria has 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 7 cultural and 3 natural.
- What was the first World Heritage Site in Bulgaria?
- Boyana Church was inscribed in 1979. Located on the outskirts of Sofia, Boyana Church consists of three buildings. The eastern church was built in the 10th century, then enlarge.
- What is the newest World Heritage Site in Bulgaria?
- Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe, inscribed in 2007. This transnational property includes 93 component parts in 18 countries. Since the end of the last Ice Age, European Beech spread from a few isolated refuge are.
- Which sites in Bulgaria are natural World Heritage Sites?
- 3 of the 10 listings are natural: Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe, Pirin National Park and Srebarna Nature Reserve.
- Which UNESCO sites in Bulgaria are easiest to reach?
- Each site page lists the closest airports with distance, so you can pick the gateway city first and work outwards. The "Flying in" panel on this page shows the main gateways for Bulgaria.
- What are the main historical sites and landmarks in Bulgaria?
- The 10 UNESCO-listed sites above are Bulgaria's internationally recognised historical sites and landmarks, starting with Boyana Church (1979). Each entry links to a full page with a map, photos and travel notes.
- Is there a map of Bulgarian World Heritage Sites?
- Yes — the map on this page plots all 10 Bulgarian UNESCO World Heritage Sites; click any marker to open that site's page.