Discover Malko Tarnovo

The entire municipality of Malko Tarnovo lies within Strandzha Nature Park. By first deciding which themes matter to you, you can choose your destinations more deliberately and plan your stay accordingly.

Natural Landscapes and Views

Strandzha Nature Park includes five nature reserves, 14 protected areas and eight natural landmarks. The karst features of Strandzha include sinkholes, ponors and caves; the landscape is home to more than 130 caves. Strandzha also preserves forests dating from the Late Tertiary.

One striking viewpoint is Mount Golyamo Gradishte. It reaches 710 metres and lies about five kilometres southwest of Malko Tarnovo. From there, the view extends across the Strandzha hills and, on a clear day, as far as the Black Sea. The mountain offers a tangible point of reference for anyone wishing to discover the landscape not only through its geological formations but also through its ridges.

Town History and Historic Sites

The Historical Museum in Malko Tarnovo occupies three traditional houses built in the Strandzha National Revival architectural style. Its exhibits cover archaeology, icon painting, the Preobrazhenie Uprising, the ethnography of the Eastern Rup region and an interactive nature exhibition. Its interactive experiences include birds and a simulated night forest. The museum is listed as number 7 in Bulgaria’s list of 100 National Tourist Sites. As visitor arrangements may change, check the current options before your visit.

The Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God stands in the centre of Malko Tarnovo. It was built in 1745 and took its present form in 1830. Petrova Niva, near Stoilovo, is a nationally significant historic site associated with the decision to launch the Preobrazhenie Uprising in 1903. The municipality thus offers different ways to explore its history: a religious building with two notable construction dates and a site associated with a specific historic decision.

Village Architecture, Trails and Traditions

Brashlyan preserves narrow lanes, protected rural houses dating back two hundred years, an 18th-century church and a restored cell school. The village also offers an open-air agricultural museum, an ethnographic collection and the opportunity to try weaving on a loom. Check locally in advance whether this activity will be available during your visit.

Marked trails around Brashlyan lead to ancient trees, chapels, dolmens, burial mounds and rare plants, including wild orchids. If you are planning a hike, check current trail conditions locally. The combination of protected houses, crafts and trails makes Brashlyan a different focus from the historic sites in the town of Malko Tarnovo.

Traditions associated with the municipality include Kuker Day, Lazarovden, Yanevden, Peperuda, Filek and Christmas carolling; dates for individual celebrations may vary. In Zvezdets, an association preserves traditional crafts and displays products made from sheep’s wool, herbs and tree bark. The availability of these activities may depend on local circumstances.

Starting Point and Visit Planning

Malko Tarnovo is a starting point for visiting the Strandzha villages of Brashlyan, Stoilovo, Slivarovo and Gramatikovo. Visitor information centres in Malko Tarnovo and Gramatikovo provide information about routes and accommodation and put visitors in touch with local guides. Check current opening hours before your trip.

You must contact the Tourist Information Centre in Malko Tarnovo in advance to visit the Mishkova Niva tomb, as it is located in the border area. The centre can arrange a guide. Confirm permits and guiding arrangements in advance. For the other destinations, choose according to your interests: views and landscapes, town history, village architecture or marked trails.

Discover more destinations: Malko Tarnovo, Zvezdets, Byala Voda, Mladezhko, Burgas, Tzarevo, Nesebar and Primorsko.

Back to the regional travel overview: Burgas Province.