Balchik

Balchik is a lovely town nested in the northern part of the Black Sea. Here the beauty of nature truly enchants. It so captivated the Romanian Queen Maria that she built her summer home, Quest Nest, here. For this purpose she hired world-renowned architects and botanists to create one of the most uniquely beautiful places in the world. The palace incorporates several different architectural styles reflecting with Mauritanian elements, Christian culture and typical Bulgarian residents from the Revival. The desire of the Queen to unite many religions finds its physical expression in the Arabic and Roman inscribed slabs of stone around the garden, the minaret towering over the palace and the chapel built in the yard of the complex.

Another landmark of the town is the world-famous botanic garden with the second-largest collection of giant cacti in Europe. The garden is also known for its variety of sizes and species of plants collected over the years from around the world, these include the metasequoia – a contemporary of the dinosaurs – until recently considered extinct. The garden is exquisitly beautiful and is a favorite spot for both romantic and inspirational walks.