ABOUT THE TOWN OF OBZOR
The town of Obzor (population: over 2000 inhabitants) is situated 65 km south of
Varna, 73 km north of
Bourgas and 530 km east of
Sofia. It lies on the ridges of the
Balkan Mountains that slope towards the
Black Sea and along the Dvoynitsa River. The beach by the town is long 6 km (the longest between
Golden Sands and
Sunny Beach). Despite the convenient location, this remarkably pleasant spot is surprisingly uncrowded even during peak season.
HISTORY
The ancient name of the town was Navlohos in Helenic times, then it was given the name of Heliopolis (Town of the Sun) and in Roman times it was Templum Jovis (Jupiters’s Temple). The Romans built a fortress in the vicinity to protect their sea trading routes between Constantinopole and the Danube.
During the Middle Ages the town was part of the Karvun principality and the fortress, successor of the ancient towns, was named Kozyak. The Ottomanen conquerors ruin the fortress and the settlement was given the name Gyozken. Its present name Obzor is a translation of the old one.
LANDMARKS
The origins of the town can be seen in the small park, which is lined with columns and statuary fragments from a Roman temple to Jupiter.
On the west of the town are the remains of the medieval Bulgarian fortress Kozyak.
ACCOMODATION
Hotels of medium and low category and plenty of private lodgings at moderate prices during the holiday season are located in the town. There are also three camping sites with bungalows between the town of Obzor and the village of
Byala - “Luna,” “Prostor” and “Slantse”, as well as the
camping site "Bachvata". The camp is $2 - $4 per day; the hotel rooms are $10 - $15 per night. The private lodgings vary from $3 to $10 depending on their category.
CATERING
In addition to the hotel restaurants, there are small restaurants and refreshment stalls along the coast, as well as grocer’s shops and fresh fruits and vegetables.
TRANSPORT
Obzor is a major rest stop for buses and vans from
Bourgas and
Varna that regularly ply the north-south coastal highway, so getting there from either direction is not a problem.
SURROUNDING AREAS
The village of
Byala is situated 6 km north of Obzor. Once there was an ancient Greek fortress named Aspro.
14 km south of Obzor is Cape of
Emine, which overlooks the Bay of
Nessebar. Bulgaria’s stormiest cape has a lighthouse and the ruins of a medieval fortress, called Emona and a monastery.
The village Emona near Cape
Emine is famous for being the birthplace of the Thracian king Rez. He participated in the Thracian War and was killed by Odysseus and Diomedus according to Homer’s Iliad.
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