Available Excursions > Melnik > The Rozhen Monastery

 

 Melnik (pop. 800) is the smallest Bulgarian town, picturesquely situated amidst a fantastic scenery - strangely shaped pyramids of sand and limestone. During the 17th - 18th c. it become a flourishing tobacco and wine producing center, whose fame spread to many European countries. The beautiful fortress-like houses with broad wine-cellars cut in the limestone rocks date from this period.

Steep, strangely shaped sandstone rocks, lovely white houses perched on their slopes and a single street which leads to the finest example of the former splendor of this small southern town.

The Kordopoulos House - with Venetian stained glass windows, spacious rooms and salons, ornamental murals, weaves and fretwork, a wrought iron gate and large wine-cellar from which caravans with the famous Melnik wine once left for Salonika, Athens, Vienna, Rome, and even Marseille and Spain.

Melnik is the starting point towards the Rozhen Monastery.