Tyulenovo — the arch at the edge of the world
The only rock arch on continental Europe, red cliffs and Bulgaria's longest underwater cave — the village named after seals.
The village at the edge of the world
Tyulenovo is a small, wild coastal village between Kamen Bryag and Shabla, about 80 kilometres from Varna. It feels like the end of the world — dramatic views, a solitary atmosphere and limited tourist infrastructure that keeps the place authentic.
The village is named after the monk seals (monachus monachus) that once inhabited the sea caves. Although the seals long ago disappeared from these waters, Tyulenovo still draws people with its nature, underwater secrets and centuries of history.
The queen's seals
The village is named after the white seals that inhabited the caves of the area. In the 1940s the Romanian queen of Balchik received seals as a gift and released them into the coastal waters around Tyulenovo. The last traces of a seal were found in 1978.
Before that the village bore the name 'Cham Mahalle' — 'Swamp Quarter' — reflecting the marshy character of the area.
Monk seals
Monachus monachus — inhabitants of the caves near the village.
A gift from the queen
In the 1940s the seals were released into the waters off the village.
Cham Mahalle
The former name — 'Swamp Quarter'.
Unique in Europe
One of Tyulenovo's most remarkable natural landmarks is the rock arch — a natural stone formation that starts at the shore and descends into the sea. It is the only arch of its kind on continental Europe.
In 2020 the arch was declared a natural landmark, and climbing on it is forbidden to preserve its integrity. The best view is from the shore, where stone and sea meet in incredible harmony.
Unique in Europe
The only rock arch of its kind on continental Europe.
Protected
A natural landmark since 2020; climbing is forbidden.
Sea erosion
Shaped by millennia of wave erosion.
History carved in stone
Tyulenovo's coast is home to red cliffs rising 20–30 metres above the sea. Rich in iron oxides, they change colour with the light — golden at sunrise, deep red at sunset.
The caves in the cliffs were used since ancient times — as dwellings, later as merchants' storehouses, and the rock-cut monasteries linked to the Sarmatian civilisation of 15 centuries ago testify to the deep spiritual history of the place.
- Red cliffs 20–30 metres above the sea
- Named formations: 'Ashaluk', 'Kipriya', 'Dupkata', 'Martinata'
- Rock monasteries of the Sarmatian civilisation
- Underground towns with sanctuaries and hermits' cells
- Rock art — ships, circles, crosses
Secrets below the water
Tyulenovo hides Bulgaria's longest underwater cave — 107 metres, where the last remains of a monk seal were found in 1978. The waters also offer shipwrecks from various eras.
A curious fact: villagers once lured ships onto the rocks with false fires — a practice that left a lasting mark on local history.
☀ Tip
Diving near Tyulenovo is for the experienced and only with a local guide — the caves are long and narrow, and the currents are treacherous.
| Location | 80 km from Varna, between Kamen Bryag and Shabla |
|---|---|
| Access | Free access to the area |
| Infrastructure | Limited — few eateries and places to stay |
| Highlights | Rock arch, red cliffs, underwater caves |
| Attention | Climbing on the rock arch is forbidden |
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