Über Bulgarien
Nesebar
Location: Nesebar is a town in South-East Bulgaria. It is located at the Black Sea Coast, next to the largest Black Sea resort – Sunny Beach and 36 km north from Burgas. The old part of the town is located on a peninsula that used to spread on a territory that was once twice bigger, but today has a length of 850 m and a width of 350 m, connected to the land through an isthmus with a length of about 400 m.
Population: 10 324 inhabitants.
History:
Nesebar is one of the most ancient towns in Europe, which emerged more than 3200 years ago. The first settlement at this place was constructed by the Thracians. In 6th century B.C. Greek colonizers from Megara arrived in the settlement and concluded a treaty with the Thracian leader Mena, establishing a city-state named Menebria (the city of Mena). Greek people pronounced it Mesambria, Roman people pronounced it as Mesembria, while the Byzantines pronounced it Mesemvria. The city developed rapidly, water supply and sewage, churches, a gymnasium and a theatre were constructed. The city developed as an important centre, which maintained active commercial contacts with the cities of the Black Sea, the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.
In 72 B.C. Mesambria was conquered without any resistance and became part of the Roman Empire, where it preserved its relative independence, but remained aside from the main commercial roads and its development slowed down. The division of the Empire turned out favourable for the city, which then became the second most important city on the road between the East and the West. New fortress walls, churches and baths were constructed, most of which were prototypes from Constantinople.
After the establishment of the Bulgarian state (681), Mesemvria changed its territorial belonging several times. It became a Bulgarian city for the first time in 705, during the rule of khan Tervel, after that it was within the Bulgarian territory again during the rule of khan Krum, tsar Simeon the Great, while in the period 1201-1263 – it was within the Bulgarian territory during the rule of the Tsars Todor Svetoslav and Ivan Alexander. Nesebar, as the Slavs called the city, was conquered and pillaged in 1366 by the knights of count Amadeus VI of Savoy, after which it was sold to Byzantium and in 1453 it fell under the Ottoman rule.
During the Ottoman rule the economic and cultural life in Nesebar did not cease. Churches were constructed and a number of monasteries maintained the intellectual activityes in the region. The commercial relations with the foreign cities were not terminated.
After the Liberation of Bulgaria Nesebar was a small town, inhabited mainly by fishermen, vine-growers and linen producers. The city started to experience growth again after the construction of the resort complex Sunny Beach in 1959. Today Nesebar is one of the most attractive and romantic places on the Black Sea coast. Besides its rich history, the town is also famous for its spacious beaches, its natural sand dunes, as well as its port, which is important stopover for many cruising ships.
Landmarks: Nesebar is one of the greatest historical treasuries for Bulgaria, due to which in 1956 it was pronounced as a museum town and an architectural and archaeological reserve of national significance. Due to the numerous well-preserved monuments from different eras, in 1983 Old Nesebar was included in the List of the World Cultural Heritage of UNESCO.
Location: Nesebar is a town in South-East Bulgaria. It is located at the Black Sea Coast, next to the largest Black Sea resort – Sunny Beach and 36 km north from Burgas. The old part of the town is located on a peninsula that used to spread on a territory that was once twice bigger, but today has a length of 850 m and a width of 350 m, connected to the land through an isthmus with a length of about 400 m.
Population: 10 324 inhabitants.
History:
Nesebar is one of the most ancient towns in Europe, which emerged more than 3200 years ago. The first settlement at this place was constructed by the Thracians. In 6th century B.C. Greek colonizers from Megara arrived in the settlement and concluded a treaty with the Thracian leader Mena, establishing a city-state named Menebria (the city of Mena). Greek people pronounced it Mesambria, Roman people pronounced it as Mesembria, while the Byzantines pronounced it Mesemvria. The city developed rapidly, water supply and sewage, churches, a gymnasium and a theatre were constructed. The city developed as an important centre, which maintained active commercial contacts with the cities of the Black Sea, the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.
In 72 B.C. Mesambria was conquered without any resistance and became part of the Roman Empire, where it preserved its relative independence, but remained aside from the main commercial roads and its development slowed down. The division of the Empire turned out favourable for the city, which then became the second most important city on the road between the East and the West. New fortress walls, churches and baths were constructed, most of which were prototypes from Constantinople.
After the establishment of the Bulgarian state (681), Mesemvria changed its territorial belonging several times. It became a Bulgarian city for the first time in 705, during the rule of khan Tervel, after that it was within the Bulgarian territory again during the rule of khan Krum, tsar Simeon the Great, while in the period 1201-1263 – it was within the Bulgarian territory during the rule of the Tsars Todor Svetoslav and Ivan Alexander. Nesebar, as the Slavs called the city, was conquered and pillaged in 1366 by the knights of count Amadeus VI of Savoy, after which it was sold to Byzantium and in 1453 it fell under the Ottoman rule.
During the Ottoman rule the economic and cultural life in Nesebar did not cease. Churches were constructed and a number of monasteries maintained the intellectual activityes in the region. The commercial relations with the foreign cities were not terminated.
After the Liberation of Bulgaria Nesebar was a small town, inhabited mainly by fishermen, vine-growers and linen producers. The city started to experience growth again after the construction of the resort complex Sunny Beach in 1959. Today Nesebar is one of the most attractive and romantic places on the Black Sea coast. Besides its rich history, the town is also famous for its spacious beaches, its natural sand dunes, as well as its port, which is important stopover for many cruising ships.
Landmarks: Nesebar is one of the greatest historical treasuries for Bulgaria, due to which in 1956 it was pronounced as a museum town and an architectural and archaeological reserve of national significance. Due to the numerous well-preserved monuments from different eras, in 1983 Old Nesebar was included in the List of the World Cultural Heritage of UNESCO.
- The Archaeological Museum – this is where one can see the exposition “Nesebar during the centuries”, which presents numerous cultural monuments that illustrate the history of the antique Mesambria and the medieval Nesebar.
- The Church of Saint Sofia, also known as the Old Bishopric was constructed in the late 5th and early 6th century.During the Middle Ages it served as a cathedral for the bishopric eparchy centered in Nesebar. It is situated in the old quarter of the town which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site list
- The Church of St Stephan or the New Bishopric was constructed during the 10th – 11th century and it has preserved mural paintings of great artistic value from the period of 14th - 18th century. It used to be an operating church till the end of the 19th century.
- The Church of John the Baptist (11th century) – is located close to the port and is considered the greatest achievement of Bulgarian architecture from that period.
- The Church of Christ Pantocrator (13th - 14th century) is located in the town centre and it is one of the best preserved churches from that period in Bulgaria. Today it hosts an art gallery.
