The Euxinograd Palace, it’s a place that no many people have the opportunity to visit it.

And its located just 8 kilometers north of Varna, by the sea, is the first and oldest out-of-town residence of Bulgarian rulers of the last Bulgarian kingdom.

Euxinograd is famous for its magnificent gardens, a world-class park art and the palace is a cultural venue of national importance.

EUXINOVGRAD Estate

The whole “Euxinograd” extends over about 900 acres of land owned by the Bulgarian state and includes, in addition to the main building of the palace, greenhouses for rare plant species and fresh flowers, a French garden and an English park, a wine cellar with vineyards, a sports complex , several holiday villas, the former residence of the Head of State, a hotel and administrative part with a restaurant, as well as several buildings where the royal servants and the stable were housed in the past.

The history of the Euxinograd

The Prince Alexander of Battenberg arrived with a wagon from Varna, escorted by guards. Important events surrounding the announcement of the Unification are connected with the Prince’s Palace. It was here that on September 6, 1885, Prince Alexander I, who arrived a week earlier on vacation, signed the Decree on the Unification of the Principality of Bulgaria with Eastern Rumelia.

The original name of the palace was Sandrovo, in honor of the Prince Alexander, but after his abdication and King Ferdinand taking the throne, by a decree of 1893 he renamed the residence, the name being inspired by the ancient Greek name of the Black Sea – Pontos Euxinos, which means “hospitable sea”. That is, the translation of Euxinograd can be both a hospitable city and a city on the Black Sea.

The built-in pediment from the palace of Saint-Cloud The central pediment of the palace of the French castle of Saint-Cloud (from the French – Château de Saint-Cloud) (18th century) was built under the main terrace of the palace. It depicts the French royal coat of arms and was carried in a wagon on the Orient Express stone by the corner in 1891. St. Cloud was destroyed in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War. The castle was emotionally connected to Ferdinand I’s family after his parents’ wedding (August von Sachs-Coburg-Gotha and Clementine Bourbon-Orleans) was there on April 20, 1843, and it was the motive to save some of it.

The park Euxinograd

The landscaping and design of Euxinograd park, which is surrounded by vineyards, began in 1890, and was executed over several decades. During which time, more than 50,000 trees were purchased from Marseille and fertile soil was brought from the mouth of the Kamchiya River.

The design is a combination of both the English and French landscaping styles, English garden and garden à la française, and was mostly designed by Édouard André. French-made bronze figures and a sculpture of Neptune adorn various areas.

The Vineyard

Four white grape varieties are grown on the estate. These include Vratsa Muscat, Chardonnay, Traminer and German Riesling, they have a closed cycle given that they pick up the grapes, cultivate the vineyards and make the wine in the cellar. The wine-cellar was built in 1891. Since then it has changed little, for the sake of authenticity. It makes the famed Euxinograd cognac (Euxignac) left to age from 10 to 20 years.

Through the years the royal winery has won several gold medals in European fairs for the first-class drinks that it produces.

The interior of the Palace

The grounds of the palace resemble the French Renaissance palaces of the 18th century. The interior impresses with large halls, exquisite decorations, stylish English furniture, authentic marble fireplaces, clocks inlaid with gold, marvelous paintings, walls covered in golden silk wallpapers.

Euxinograd has three floors. The first houses the principal reception room, the second: the private apartments of the royal family and the third: the servants. The furniture is made of mahogany and walnut wood

The Euxinograd Palace today

The palace is currently a governmental and presidential retreat hosting cabinet meetings in the summer and offering access for tourists to several villas and hotels.

Bulgarian Premier Boiko Borissov with French President Emanuelle Macron

How to visit

Guided tours of Euxinograd Palace and of the park, which is a monument of landscape architecture

Monday to Friday 10:00 – 15:00 h

on weekends and holidays 9:00 – 14:00 h

Admission

Adults – 5 lv./person

Children under 16 years and senior citizens – 3 lv./person

The tour is organized for groups of 5 to 20 people.

Duration: up to 1 hour and 30 minutes.

For further information contact:

tel. + 359 52 393 140, 393 150

e-mail: residence_euxinograde@abv.bg

Source: www.foreigner.bg