Fortress Kastritsi - Evksinograd

The complex used to be a royal summer residence for the monarchs who ruled Bulgaria after the liberation of the country from the Ottoman Dominion (1878) – Alexander Battenberg, Ferdinand and Boris III.

Another landmark in the area of the residence is the ruins of the late ancient fortress Kastritsi in the northeastern part of the park.

Prince Battenberg visited Varna in 1880 and he was welcomed at the monastery “St. Dimitar”, which was situated at the same place, where now the residence stands. The monarch liked the local nature so much, that two years later the Varna municipality bestowed him the monastery and its adjoining lands.

Prince Battenberg immediately began building his palace, which was called by the local people Sandrovo (named after the Prince), but the project was completed in the period 1887 – 1900 by his successor – Prince Ferdinand. The exterior of the palace is very similar to the French Renaissance palaces of the 18th century. The interior is also quite impressive – large halls, beautiful decorations, stylish English furniture, authentic marble fireplaces, French chandeliers, and wall and fireplace clocks, inlaid with gold, rare paintings, hanging on walls, covered in golden silk wallpapers. In 1893 the palace of Sandrovo was renamed to Evksinograd. The new name came from the ancient Greek name of the Black Sea – Evksinos Pontos. One of the first power plants in Bulgaria was built at the palace in the same year.

Prince Battenberg immediately began building his palace, which was called by the local people Sandrovo (named after the Prince), but the project was completed in the period 1887 – 1900 by his successor – Prince Ferdinand. The exterior of the palace is very similar to the French Renaissance palaces of the 18th century. The interior is also quite impressive – large halls, beautiful decorations, stylish English furniture, authentic marble fireplaces, French chandeliers, and wall and fireplace clocks, inlaid with gold, rare paintings, hanging on walls, covered in golden silk wallpapers. In 1893 the palace of Sandrovo was renamed to Evksinograd. The new name came from the ancient Greek name of the Black Sea – Evksinos Pontos. One of the first power plants in Bulgaria was built at the palace in the same year.

The palace park is an integral component of the Evksinograd complex. Prince Ferdinand attracted French park architects to design the 800 decare park in 1888. The project involved a rare tree species collection – from black oak to Atlantic cedar, which are the only species on the Balkan Peninsula. The bare and stony areas were covered in fertile soil, mostly taken from the valley of Kamchiya river. Greenhouses were built northeast of the palace for wintering of the palm trees and flower production. More than 500 flower species and 200 sapling species are grown there and in the arboretum.

The park contains several district zones: central (with the palace), Greek garden, English garden, Riverside, Beach and production areas. Each one of them is unique by its specific look and characteristics. The most elegant and representative part of the park is the space in front of the palace, which has a lake with a bronze statue of Neptune, delivered from France.

Transport accessibility: Road, Public Transport