About Cape Kaliakra

Explore the surroundings of Lighthouse Golf & Spa Resort Bulgaria

Location

The Lighthouse Golf & Spa Resort Bulgaria is situated in Cape Kaliakra one of the most beautiful and historic Capes in Europe. Located close to the Romanian border, it is a favourite stop for tourists looking for pretty sights and interesting historic places to visit north of Varna. In addition to playing golf in the resort you can enjoy a variety of other attractions to make you vacation unforgettable.

History

The cape stretches 2km deep into the sea and consists of 60-70m-high limestone rocks, the inaccessibility of which has been the main reason for the construction of an ancient fortress named Tirisis there. The fortress was successively used by Tracians, Romans, Byzantines and Bulgarians. According to legends, the fortress was guarding the treasuries of Lyzimah, successor of Alexander the Great. Today there are quite many remains of those ancient settlements, which can be seen, exhibited in a small museum. One can also read there a legend telling the story of several Bulgarian girls who chose to jump from the high cape into the sea but not to be captured and converted to Islam by the Turks.

Environment

The Kaliakra cape was declared a protected area in 1941. The protected area has since been expanded already three times and currently reaches some 50 ha. It is one of the few places where the rare species of sea and bird life live. Nearby the Durankulak Lake is famous for hosting more than 250 rare species – fish, reptiles, amphibians, marsh birds and plants, many of them included in the Red Book of Bulgaria. The lake is declared a protected area. But it is not only nature that attracts experts and tourists to this place. On the Big island, in the lake, is located an archaeological park called by the scientists “Bulgarian Troy”. The stone architectural complex (the oldest monumental structure in Europe) and the temple of Kibela – The great goddess-mother, date some 7000 years back to the prehistoric times.