Location: Dobrich is located in the Danube Plain on top of the Dobruja Plateau – one of the most fertile areas in Bulgaria. The town is located at a distance of 480 km in the north-east direction from Sofia, 30 km away from the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and 32 km form the Romanian border. Dobruja is a vast plain reaching Black sea to the east and towards north it becomes a plateau which is divided by river Danube on two halves between Bulgaria and Romania. For many years it was object of dispute between the two countries. Dobrich is the main city in the Bulgarian part of Dobruja plain, which is also called “Golden Dobruja”, name that came from the colour of ripe wheat. That area is also known like the “Bulgarian granary”. Dobrich is in the middle of a huge area sown with wheat, corn, sunflower etc.
Population: Dobrich has a population of 100 400 residents.
History: The town was established during the 16th century and quickly became a lively agricultural, commercial and craftsman's centre. This is due to its location on an important strategic road, which connects the centre of the Ottoman Empire to the lands across the Danube. During the 19th century, the town became famous for its annual fair, which attracted traders from all over the Empire. The development of the town during the first decades of the 20th century was affected by the political events, caused by the ongoing wars. After the Treaty of Neuilly from 1919, the town was occupied by the Romanian authorities and it returned within the borders of Bulgaria in 1940. During the communist era, the town was named Tolbukhin, in honour of the Soviet marshal from the WW II Fyodor Tolbukhin. Currently, Dobrich is the centre of the largest grain production region in our country, also called “Bulgaria’s Granary”.
Landmarks:
- Yordan Yovkov’s Museum: Dobruja is proud of the fact that one of the most appreciated novelists – Yordan Yovkov, who is recognized not only by the Bulgarian, but also by the international scholar community, was born here and obtained his inspiration here. The museum of Yordan Yovkov was established as a sign of the appreciation for him, and it discovers, stores, studies and disseminates the life and works of the author and helps the humanist messages of Yovkov become known by the widest audience possible.
- Architectural and Ethnographic Complex Old Dobrich: The complex stores and presents the traditional crafts of Dobruja from the end of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. Using old manual technologies and original tools, traditional objects of the pottery, blacksmith, embroidery, weaving, cooper, homespun, goldsmith and others were manufactured in more than 30 workshops.
- The museum Ethnographic house is in the city center area and occupies a house that was build in 1861. It sheds light over the way of life, traditions and manners of the different ethnic groups that lived in Dobruja at the end of 19th and the beginning of 20th centuries. In front of the house there is a cute little garden with a draw-well and horse cart gaily-coloured as was the tradition in Dobruja at the time.
- Art Gallery – rich collection with considerable value. Here a visitor can enjoy the art of classical Bulgarian painters like Vladimir Dimitrov “The Master”, Nikola Nikolov, Bencho Obreshkov, Zlatio Boyadzhiev, Boris Mitov and Stoyan Venev. Modern authors that could be found here are Dimitar Kazakov, Yoan Leviev, Tsanko Panov, Maya Gorova, Stefan Rodev, Nikola Manev. There is also a very interesting sculpture collection on display as well.
- The St. George Church was built in 1964 with donations from local patriotic Bulgarians. There used to be a church, built in 1843 at the same place, which burned down during the Crimean War (1853-1856). The temple was painted in 1889 and it impresses people with its typical Bulgarian Revival architecture and icons.
- Khan Asparuh Monument: The residents of Dobrich have also paid their tribute to the founder of the Bulgarian state – Khan Asparuh, by erecting the largest monument of him on their territory.
- Military Tomb: The largest military tomb in Bulgaria from the period of WW I is located in Dobrich. More than 3000 soldiers from four different religions and seven nationalities were buried there.
- Botanical garden Balchik the city Balchik is situated in a bay area on the Northern part of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, at about 45 km Nord from Varna and 35 km South-East from Dobrich. The biggest botanical garden in Bulgaria is here, integrated in the park of the former royal palace of the Romanian queen Marie. The garden is designed by Swiss landscapist Jules Jany. It covers total area of 6,5 ha and shelters about 2500 different plants belonging to 85 families and 200 different types. One of the main attractions of the botanical garden is its collection of giant cactuses and succulent plants, that covers an area of about 1 000 square meters, and which is the second largest in Europe after the exotic garden in Monaco.
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