"Melnik, Bulgaria" Top 5 Page for this destination Melnik by ChristinaNest

Melnik Travel Guide: 104 reviews and 217 photos

An unforgettable place, a must-see in Bulgaria, the small historic town with its museums, famous wine, and Bulgarian Revival architecture, surrounded by the Melnik Pyramids, impressive rock formations. Each step you take on the path to the Rozhen Monastery offers a new breath-taking view, created by master Nature and her paintbrush, the Wind/Erosion.
Melnik is the smallest town in Bulgaria. In the past it was an important trading centre but now it looks more like a village. On the site there has been a settlement since Thracian times, it was known to the Romans too, in the times of Emperor Trayan. Melnik became a wealthy trading centre with about 1200 houses and more than 70 churches!! Later trade declined, partly because of a disease on the vines. New there are about 100 houses left with appr. 260 inhabitants but you can still see and feel the past splendour and wealth. There are some ruins left and you can learn a lot about the history of the place in the small but interesting historical museum.
You can walk to Rozhen Monastery either along the road that goes through a small villages and then Rozhen village, or take the trail that leads directly to the monastery through the pyramids. The way I did it was to walk on the road to Rozhen, and then take the trail back to Melnik.
This is one of my favourite places in Bulgaria and like to visit it as often as I can. If you decide to add Melnik to your travel wish list, I would appreciate it if you let me know :)

Pyramids

Rozhen Monastery

Pros and Cons

Pros:Where Culture and Nature compete
Cons:You want to go back again and again which isn't always possible...
In a nutshell:A short sentence about Melnik?... Are you kidding...

Last visit to Melnik: Aug 2003
Intro Updated May 2, 2006
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Reviews (13)

Sunsets & more Things to Do (9)

Climb the northern hills to experience a great panorama of Melnik and the pyramids, and wait for the sunset, you won’t... more travel advice

Visit Kordoupolov House Things to Do (9)

Visit Kordopoulov House (Kordopoulovata Kashta) is supposedly the biggest house in Bulgaria. It has four stories,... more travel advice

House 2 bottom right, view from northern hills - Melnik

Rooms 2 Hotels (2)

There are some hotels in Melnik but I've always stayed at some house where the owners rent a few rooms. It's cheaper... more travel advice

Visit near-by towns of Sandanski,... Things to Do (9)

You might combine your visit to Sandanski with trips to Sandanski, Petrich or other places. Or you might plan a longer... more travel advice

Restaurants (1)
Taverns

What to Pack (1)
Shoes, room for wine bottles and a big...

Comments (9)

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Jim_Eliason Aug 28, 2007 at 6:49 AM

Nice tips Christina!
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starship Oct 24, 2006 at 5:38 AM

Wow! What great mountains! A very quaint village and nice architecture---I can see why you like it so much. Nice page!
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CliffClaven Aug 10, 2006 at 9:28 AM

Melnik? Nazdrave!
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scottishvisitor Jul 8, 2006 at 12:55 PM

Very interesting page on a quaint place love the accommodation tips
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Rusket May 23, 2006 at 4:44 AM

Looks like I have to bring my hiking boots. Or maybe not, if it is going to be very hot in July.
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ellielou Apr 23, 2006 at 6:44 PM

another fascinating page and place...it's definitely on the 'to see' list....and may not get edited out!
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wroclawiak Apr 17, 2006 at 5:06 AM

Melnik - I love it. I like drinking wine. The perfect place for wine consumers and suberb views hunters.
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bijo69 Apr 13, 2006 at 5:15 AM

Melnik is indeed a lovely place! Great photos!!!
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nickandchris Apr 11, 2006 at 8:59 AM

What stunning scenery. Enjoyed this page.