Travel Guide to Dobrich, Bulgaria
Dobrich is located in the northeastern section of Bulgaria, Dobrich is one of Bulgaria’s ten largest cities. Much of Dobrich is formed on the Danube Plain a flat area with gradual, sloping hills. The town is located along both sides of the Souha Reka River.
Typically, the temperate in Dobrich is -22°C in the coldest part of the winter and averages 40°C in the summer. There is little precipitation throughout the year; most of it comes in the summer months. Winter air is more humid than during the summer, however, which makes it an intriguing spot for tourists who base their travels on the temperature.
- Province: Dobrich
- Population: 115, 861 (Year 2005)
- Altitude: 225 Metres
- Postcode: 9300
- Area Code: 058
- Geographic Coordinates: 43° 34′ North, 27° 50′ East
History
There is evidence that Dobrich was first settled around 4 B.C. Ruins from the 2nd century have been unearthed offering a meager glimpse into the area’s past. One of the biggest finds was a necropolis that housed Pagan gravesites.
It is known that Pecheneg invasions during the 11th century ruined the area then called Dobruja. For this reason, many centuries passed before the area became populated once more. In the 1500s, Turkish settlers came into the area. The town was called Pazarcik after the Turkish merchant who discovered the barren area. More than 1,000 houses, 100 shops, and 12 schools were built in this period. The town became an excellent location for craftsmen and farmers.
During the 19th century, churches were built and Bulgaria liberated the town from Turkish control. It was renamed Dobrich after Dobrotitsa, one of the medieval rulers.
From the early 1900s to 1940, Dobrich became part of Romania. On September 25th, the town was handed back to Bulgaria and the date was declared a town holiday. Eventually, Dobrich was claimed by the Communists. Renamed Tolbukhin, another few decades would pass before Dobrich returned to its former name. In the year 1990, Dobrich was given the chance to build its future.
Sight Seeing
The Historical Museum was founded in 1953. More than 160,000 exhibits are on display. Exhibits delve into the city’s history as well as offering special focus on area literature, ballet, and art.
The Ethnographic House was fully restored in the 1970s. A number of artifacts demonstrating the area’s national costumes, jewelry, pottery, and fabrics are on display. In the Ethnographic Museum, there is a section where traditional foods, including white jam and millet ale, can be sampled by guests.
The Art Gallery houses many works of art by Bulgarian painters and sculptures. There is also the Icons Hall where relics from the artists lives are all on display.
The Sveti Georgi Temple was built in 1843 but burned to the ground during the Crimean War. Fully restored in 1868, there are works of art by painter Kozma Blazhetov on display. There is also an impressive iconostasis.
The Dora Gabe State Puppet Theatre offers regular puppet shows. Children of all ages love the exquisite puppet shows and displays of puppets.
Music is extremely important to the town. Every September, the International Youth Musical Festival comes to town. Young musicians throughout Eastern Europe gather to combine their impressive musical talent. In May, young Europeans are able to display their talents in the European Pop-Rock Competition.
Several monuments are on display throughout the town. Khan Asparouh’s (founder of Bulgaria) Memorial Complex is the largest in the area and offers a dramatic backdrop for photographs.
Also, be sure to visit the Dobrich Town Park. More than 130 years old, the park is an excellent place to relax and unwind while enjoying the local flora.
Accommodation
Hotel Complex Rezidentzia offers reasonably priced accommodation. Twenty beds are found within the complex. An outdoor pool creates a cooling place for relaxation.
With 292 beds, Hotel Bulgaria is the area’s largest hotel. The four-star hotel is a popular choice with guests of all ages.
Sports Palace and Stariya Dobrich are the area’s remaining two hotels. Sports Palace has approximately 80 beds and Stariya Dobrich has 20 beds. Both hotels are smaller, but the rooms are comfortable and clean.
Industry
Dobrich is northeast Bulgaria’s second-largest industrial/economic center. There are three main components to the industrial development in Dobrich.
Machinery construction is the section in which the manufacturing of production machinery and parts are built. Mayak is one of Dobrich’s largest companies they make oil filters, air filters, and truck axles. Metal Agro 96 creates farm machinery. Akoumplast extrudes plastic parts for machines used in the food, beverage, and tobacco industries. Finally, EOS Holding builds machines that count money.
The light industry is another important industry. At Albena Stil, Loger Fashions, and Progress Cooperative, men and women’s clothing are produced. Dobrich Inc. and Barfus Ltd. make leather shoes. Dobroujanska Mebel and Bryast build furniture.
The third most important contributor to the area’s economy is food, beverage, and tobacco companies. Ptitseclanitsa, Vitabal, and Yaneks package meat and meat products. Alvina is the area’s sole producer of beer and wine. Kaliakra produces some of the area’s sunflower seed oil (a major component in Bulgarian cooking.) Finally, Savimex and Dobroujanski are large-scale bakeries whose main contribution to the area is bread and bread products.
Gastronomy
Bulgarian food is a blend of European cuisine, a touch of Mediterranean, and a dose of Turkish. Beans, milk, a feta-like cheese made in Bulgaria, paprika, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, apples, yogurt, and grapes are standard foods that are abundant in the country.
Meats and vegetables are usually grilled/roasted on a spit or placed in a ceramic pot and baked. All meals are served with freshly baked loaves of bread. Typically, bread is the most important aspect of Bulgarian meals.
When dining out, private caterers are usually the best choice. Here the family-owned establishments offer fresh meals and appetizers for an extremely low price. Standard dishes include shish kebabs, kebapheta (ground beef stuffed grape or cabbage leaves), kyufteta (meatballs), Shopska Salad (a salad made out of tomatoes, cucumbers, cheese, onions, and vinegar), and stuffed peppers. If a dish is fried, it is fried in sunflower oil (the country’s most popular oil).
In restaurants, expect a full dinner (appetizer, entre, and dessert) to cost under 10€. Meals are inexpensive and delicious.
Nightlife
Though not one of the most active areas when looking for a night out, there are a few discos and bars in Dobrich. Petiyat Element (The Fifth Element) is a trendy disco in the city center. The Playboy Disco is located in the business district and tends to have an older (the late 20s and up) crowd. You can also head to the adult strip club called Peepshow, which is also located in the business district. All three clubs offer dancing, hit music, and reasonably priced drinks.
Bulgaria is a local bar that offers regular live performances. This is one of the area’s hottest spots if you like to drink while a local band is strutting their stuff!
Summary
With restaurant and hotel prices in Dobrich being more than reasonable, the area is a perfect choice for those traveling on a budget. You can use Dobrich as your central location and then drive or take buses/trains to neighboring towns to explore the ancient ruins. Use your spare money on inexpensive souvenirs!
