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Gallery – The Thracian tombs near Kazanlak

The Valley of the Thracian Kings near Kazanlak is still hiding its secrets from the past. It is assumed that the region has more than 1,500 Thracian burial mounds and at the time are studied only about 300. The most famous tomb is the one discovered in Kazanlak , which is located in the town park ” Tyulbeto”. It is simply called the Kazanlak Tomb.  It is discovered accidentally  in 1944. From 1979 is included in the list of the World Heritage by UNESCO. The tomb dates from the third century BC. The original tomb stands closed and conserved to be preserved for the centuries to come. Next to it was built a replica , which even keeps track of destruction by the time as  the original. There tourists can come to explore the tomb and its paintings and even to take photographs. Admission costs 3 leva/approximately 1,5 euro/ for adults and 1 lev for students /approximately 0,5 euro/.  

The tomb of Thracian king Seuthes III or Kosmatka mound was built in the 5th century BC. In it it was found skilfully decorated golden wreath of the ruler, golden wineglass, knee pads, helmet and applications for horse trappings. As well as the head of the statue of Seuthes that has stood on a pedestal in the capital of the Thracians – Sevtopolis . The originals of the findings today can be seen in Kazanlak museum “Iskra” .

Temple in mound Shushmanets is dated 4th century BC. It was robbed in the antiquity. Today we can’t admire the gold inside but can see another treasure – the architecture of the temple. In the middle of the antechamber of the tomb rises single Ionic columns, which is inclined like the tower of Pisa , succumbed to the weight of the tomb and the ages. In the center of the circular chamber rises massive Doric column.

Perhaps the most mysterious and mystical is the temple in mound Ostrusha. It is dated from the mid-4th century BC. It consists of 6 rooms= The most impressive among them is the burial chamber. The tomb is also robbed in antiquity and we don’t know even knowing who it was made for. The burial chamber is very interesting because of the faceted and painted ceiling made from a solid block. From his gold ornaments and drawings today remains a bit. The best preserved is a portrait of a head in profile, carrying gold earrings and necklace. It is known as the beautiful Thracian, but according to some observers the person is a young man, probably close to the late ruler.

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My greatest pleasure in life is to travel. Undoubtedly there are a lot of amazing places around the world worth visiting at least once in life. However, Bulgaria is such a place where you will wish to come back again and again. In every season and every region of this small country, you can find unique wonders. So share my travels.