Town of Melnik: the smallest town in Bulgaria
Location: The town of Melnik is the smallest town
in Bulgaria with just 230
permanent residents. It lies in the south-western slopes of the Pirin Mountain and is some 23 km away
from the towns of Sandanski and about 180 km to the south of Sofia. The town, together
with the neighbouring Rozhen monastery is declared a cultural and historic
reserve.
About the town: The breath-taking Melnik pyramids rank among the most
remarkable natural phenomena in Bulgaria. Over an area of
about 17 sq km millennia-long erosion has created a truly unearthly world. It
is up to the visitor’s imagination to distinguish obelisks, ancient towers,
pyramids, and giant mushrooms among the various forms of erosion. And while the
sand-like rocks seem quite fragile at first sight, this natural phenomenon has
proven extremely resistant to wind and water and has survived intact for ages
now. What is even more intriguing is the practical use of a number of these
pyramids around for nothing else but wine cellars! Apart from the unique
natural surroundings, the town also boasts for the fascinating architecture of
its old Melnik houses, most of which were built during the Bulgarian
Renaissance to testify for the grandeur and richness of the commercial hub with
25,000 inhabitants, which Melnik once used to be. Some of these are the famous
Kordopoulov’s House with its impressive wall paintings and huge private cellar
and the Boyar House, the latter being the oldest house in Bulgaria. The ruins of the St
Nicholas monastery (12th century), Slav’s fortress (13-14th century), the Roman Bridge and the old Turkish
bath are other places of interest there. Moreover, some 7km away from the town,
up in the Pirin Mountain, one can ride to one
of the largest and most beautiful monasteries in Bulgaria - the Rozhen
monastery. The town and the area were famous and still are with their local
variety grapes producing rich, full body red wine. About 300 years ago the
local wine merchant used to ship their first quality wine well beyond the
boundaries of the country reaching places like Kiev, Moscow, Venice and Constantinople. The town still keeps
its wine tradition almost in every house there is large cellar offering the
well know Melnik wine to tourists and guests. There several hotels, numerous
Mehani (pubs) as well as private lodgings catering for the thousands of
tourists visiting the town each year. An one can see why by just glimpsing at
some pictures from the town.
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