BALCHIK

MUSEUMS

Historical Museum of Balchik
In the city historical museum are preserved artifacts from the emergence of the city in the VI century BC. The exhibition includes finds from ceramics and glass, epigraphic monuments, a collection of coins, etc. The dynamic socio-political and economic life of Balchik after the Liberation in 1878 is presented by documents and photographs.

Ethnographic Museum
The building of the Ethnographic Museum is situated opposite to the building of the Historical Museum. The museum is located in a house from the Revival Period, which was an ownership of a tradesperson from Balchik. Domestic articles, jewels and traditional clothes are presented here. Traditional costumes from Dobrudzha and Kotel can be seen on the second floor of the museum, as well as interesting tools, such as carding machines (devices for wool combing), distaff, looms, etc.

The Revival Complex
The Revival complex includes Mutual School and the church "St. Nicholas ". The school building features an interior of class and teaching rooms from the mid-nineteenth century. Interesting are the original models of cold and firearms and other exhibits from the Renaissance.

Patron of the church "St. Nicholas" is the patron saint of sailors and fishermen. The church was built in the mid-nineteenth century. A permanent exhibition "Renaissance icons from Dobrudzha" is is arranged there.

GALLERIES

The Art gallery in Balchik is an interesting place. After the returning of South Dobdudzha to Bulgaria in 1940 the gallery was closed, and the exponents were taken to Romania. Restoration of the gallery began in the 1960s. Nowadays, works of art created by multiple Bulgarian authors are exhibited on an area of 800 sq. m. There is a foreign art hall and other 2 halls which accommodate temporary exhibitions on its first floor. A central place in the foyer of the second floor is occupied by the statue of God Dionysus. Here is the permanent exposition of the gallery. There are more than 1500 works of art made by Bulgarian and foreign authors in the gallery fund.

CHURCHES AND MONASTERIES

• Church "St. Nikolai"
Temple church "St. Nikolai" is a large three-nave church made of white stone. It was built in 1848, but later destroyed by the Greeks. In 1866 the church was rebuilt.

• The palace chapel "Virgin Mary"
The complex was built in 1873. Visitors can see old houses and nice cobblestone streets.

• The Temple of Kibela was found in 2007. According to archaeologists it dates back to about 280 – 260 year BC. 27 preserved inscriptions were found in the remains of the temple, and almost all images are of the Goddess Kibela.

EVENTS

Balchik is a center of many cultural events. Annually are held many festivals, among which are:
- May 24 - Celebration of Balchik;
- Children's festival "Smiles of the Sea";
- Balfest - international festival for documentary and reportage cinema;
- Cultural festivals in September;
- Festival of Science Fiction;
- Process-festival space. Depending on the theme many of the festival's works are made on the spot;
- Children's Festival "Horo of pearls";
- International Student Film Festival;
- Photo-fest "Balchik - ancient and modern."