The Palace & Botanical Garden — a garden between two seas
Queen Marie's summer residence on the white cliffs above the Black Sea and one of the richest botanical gardens in Europe.
The royal garden on the white cliffs
The Palace and Botanical Garden in Balchik are among Bulgaria's most precious cultural monuments. Set on picturesque white cliffs above the Black Sea, the complex combines royal architecture with botanical wonders over nearly 200 hectares.
The summer residence of the Romanian Queen Marie was built between 1924 and 1936. The Italian architects Amerigo and Augustino wove together Old Bulgarian, Byzantine, Moorish and Transylvanian elements — a reflection of the queen's tastes and travels.
46 buildings and 170 architectural elements
The complex includes dozens of buildings, courtyards and gardens. Among the most famous corners are the 'Stella Maris' chapel ('Star of the Sea'), the 'Divine Garden', the 'English Courtyard', the 'Bridge of Sighs', the 'Wine Alley' and the 'Alley of the Ages'.
After 1940, when Southern Dobrudzha was returned to Bulgaria under the Treaty of Craiova, the palace became Bulgarian property. Today the complex is managed by the 'Palace' Cultural Centre and is declared a group cultural monument of national significance.
- 'Stella Maris' chapel — dedicated to the Mother of God
- 'The Divine Garden' — a green oasis with sculptures
- 'The English Courtyard' — a formal English-style garden
- 'The Garden of Gethsemane' — a place for silence and meditation
- 'The Bridge of Sighs' — a romantic arch over a stream
- 'The Wine Alley' and 'The Alley of the Ages'
- Queen Marie's tomb — a place of pilgrimage
The world in one garden
The Botanical Garden was created in 1955 by Professor Daki Yordanov of Sofia University. Today it grows more than 4,900 plant species from around the world over 194 hectares of protected territory.
The garden is famous for its collection of large cacti — the second largest in Europe after Monaco. Exotic species here include ginkgo biloba, metasequoia, rubber tree, sugar tree and magnolia.
Historic park
Centuries-old trees and historic alleys from Queen Marie's time.
Cacti
The second largest collection in Europe, after Monaco.
Rashadnik garden
An accessible section providing equal access for everyone.
The Botanical Garden in Balchik is site No. 24 on the list of Bulgaria's 100 National Tourist Sites. It also hosts the Balkan Ecological Centre, which takes part in scientific research and the conservation of the region's biodiversity.
🏅 Site No. 24
The garden is among Bulgaria's 100 National Tourist Sites — a must for every lover of nature and history.
| Address | 1 Acad. Daki Yordanov St., Balchik |
|---|---|
| Phone (Palace) | +359 579 76854 |
| Phone (Garden) | +359 579 76197 |
| Status | Group of cultural monuments of national significance |
| Management | 'Palace' Cultural Centre |
| Part of | 100 National Tourist Sites |
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