6 km from the famous Sunny Beach, on a hillside, is the young and rapidly developing resort of Bulgaria - Sveti Vlas. The name he received in honor of the god of trade Veles.
Who is the Slavic god Veles
If you believe the traditions, then he was born not from the union of a man and a woman, and not even from other deities. The legend says that once the goddess of love walked in the heavenly garden and caught a pike in the lake. Hungry, she ate the fish, and threw her remains on the field. There the cow Zemun grazed. She feasted on pike bones, and subsequently a creature was born to her that no one had ever seen. It was like a man, and a bull, and a bear at the same time. They called the newborn Veles, which means "shaggy." After a while it became clear that he can change his appearance and obey the laws of nature.
Veles was loved by all the gods except Perun. He considered him his enemy. There are good reasons for this. Veles led a not very righteous lifestyle and seduced Perun's wife, Dodol. She soon gave birth to a son from Veles, who was named Yarilo. Perun cursed Veles and sent him out of Right to earth. Here he lived for many years, taught people crafts, trade, and music. The admiration of mortals did not like the gods, and they sent him to Nav. There Veles met his beloved Yaga and married her.
Symbol of the god Veles
Once in the resort of St. Vlas, you are simply obliged to purchase a charm Star of Veles. Locals believe that the symbol has tremendous power: it protects its owner and even contributes to the development of intuition and magical abilities.
Saint Vlas is a small and quiet resort. It is just perfect for families with children. The infrastructure here is not very developed, but local authorities are working on this issue. From year to year, the resort is getting better, offering tourists a wider range of leisure services.
Not so long ago, it was just a coastal village at the foot of the Stara Planina ridge. There was nothing but the cleanest sea and coniferous forests. Comparing old pictures of the area and modern photos, one canโt even believe that this is one and the same resort.
Holiday at the resort
Today Sveti Vlas (St. Vlas) is a complex of apartments with developed infrastructure. Tourists are attracted by gorgeous panoramic views, a cocktail of sea air and the scent of coniferous forests. Here, at the foot of the ridge, a natural zone has formed with a mild climate, which doctors especially recommend to children and the elderly.
The resort of St. Vlas in Bulgaria is suitable not only for couples with children and senior citizens. Rest here can be both sedate and quiet, and active and vibrant. Offers:
- show programs in night clubs;
- delicious food in restaurants on the waterfront;
- yachting;
- water gymnastics;
- fencing lessons from the best masters;
- Beach volleyball.
Five kilometers from St. Vlas is the famous Sunny Beach. If you feel bored in a calm town, then in a matter of minutes you can get to the center of the bustling resort life.
Apartments in Saint Vlas, Bulgaria
The Black Sea resorts are good in that you can find any class of accommodation here. Prices for holidays in St. Vlas are more than pleasant. To date, tour operators have identified the best apartments in this resort:
- Sun Coast Apartment;
- Casa Real Apart Complex;
- Oxygen Apartments;
- Mars Apartments in Complex Shipka;
- Apartcomplex Top;
- Villa Antorini Apartments;
- Delfin Apartments;
- Mars Apartments in Tryavna Beach Complex;
- Penthouse Apartment Crown Fort Club.
History of St. Vlas
In the II century BC e. the first settlement appeared on this territory. It was called Larisa. In the XIV-XVIII centuries on the territory there were several Orthodox shrines that were defeated during the raids of the Ottomans. The area has long been under the yoke of Turkish rule and had different names. She regained her modern name only in 1886.
Until 1920, the area was inhabited mainly by Greeks. A series of wars contributed to the relocation of a large number of Bulgarians. The Greeks went to Western Thrace, which was by then transferred to Greece.
The active development of St. Vlas in Bulgaria began in 1963. This was facilitated by the official recognition of the city as a resort. The area became famous in the 2000s. Here the infrastructure began to actively develop, many apartments appeared. The fame of St. Vlas was contributed by the nearby resort complexes Sunny Beach (Slanchev Bryag) and the ancient city of Nessebar.
Beaches of St. Vlas, Bulgaria
Places for swimming in St. Vlas are located in small bays. Their total length is 1.5 kilometers. The most famous, "Marina" and "Central", are located on two sides of the largest port in Bulgaria - Marina Dinevi. St. Vlas can be proud of the harbor that sailors all over the world know and love.
On the beaches of the resort, the whole range of recreational activities and services for tourists is presented:
- jet skiing, banana, water skiing;
- yacht rental;
- windsurfing lessons;
- children's entertainment areas with trampolines, animators.
You can also eat here without leaving the beach. There are numerous restaurants, fast food cafes, shops and pubs on the shore.
When is it better to go to the resort
Exhausting heat in St. Vlas practically does not happen. The best time for a holiday in Bulgaria is from the first of June to the end of September. The air here warms up to + 25 ... + 26 ยฐ C, and water - up to + 23 ... + 25หC.
Infrastructure
It is noteworthy that any construction during the holiday season is prohibited in Bulgaria. In St. Vlas during a vacation no one will disturb your peace by the noise of working tools and the dirt that accompanies construction and repair work.
Here you will not see dull and similar buildings, like twins. The hotel complexes are decorated with imagination. Almost every institution has its own style. In the courtyards there are bars, sports fields, tennis courts.
For shopping in St. Vlas, tourists go to two tourist streets - Tsar Simeon and Mack. With the latter you can also admire the yacht port. Tsar Simeon Street passes through the square where the administration of the resort is located. Bulgaria, and St. Vlas in particular, have long been chosen by celebrities and politicians. This resort is valued in terms of safety.
Church of St. Blasius
From the 3rd to the 17th century, an Orthodox church existed in the resort. It was later destroyed by the Turks. In 2007, in its place laid the church of St. Blasius. Today it is the main attraction of the resort.
The temple bears the name of the Holy Great Martyr Blasius, who lived in Cappadocia, at the moment it is the territory of Turkey. In 316, he was brutally executed for his devotion to Orthodoxy. The order to deal with Blasius was given by the Roman emperor Flavius โโGalerius Licinius. In the temple are the relics of the saint, which were transferred here under the patronage of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The ceremony of transmission and consecration was held in 2010. The relics were brought from Istanbul. They were accompanied by representatives of the Bulgarian Synod. In 2009, a particle of the Holy Cross of the Lord was invested in a golden cross on the church. It is not surprising that now many Orthodox tourists are traveling to the resort who want to see the shrine firsthand.
The largest yacht port in Bulgaria
Here is the most spacious yacht port in Bulgaria. In Saint Vlas, 300 vessels of a size not exceeding 25 meters can moor.
The port of Marina Dinevi also has:
- boutique hotel with 30 rooms;
- pool;
- disco;
- outdoor jacuzzi.
Twice a day, the excursion pirate ship Black Sam departs from the pier. It can ride both adults and children, and see the sights of St. Vlas. Bulgaria will seem like a fairyland to children.
Excursion to the ancient Nessebar
When you are completely tired of lying on the beach and driving volleyball with local athletes, go on an excursion to the ancient city of Nessebar. It is 10 km from the resort.
Traveling there you will certainly be offered in any hotel complex, hotel or just on the way to the beach. You can also get to Nessebar yourself by hiring a yacht with a captain for these purposes.
This is one of the oldest cities in the country, which is listed by UNESCO. Nessebar is 3000 years old. There are about 40 temples and many other "witnesses" of the centuries-old history of Bulgaria.
Travel agencies offer numerous tours to Bulgaria. You can also go to St. Vlas on your own. Which option to choose is up to you. First of all, independent vacations are recommended for tourists who plan to live in the resort for more than 3 weeks.
A long vacation organized by a travel agency will hit your wallet hard. If you prepare for it yourself, you can well save on holidays in Bulgaria. In St. Vlas, a complex for living with a pool and animators is not difficult to find if you do this in advance. Spending a little free time will save you money that can then be spent on resort entertainment.
Conclusion
The resort of St. Vlas has existed for 54 years. During this time, he became one of the most visited in Bulgaria.
In St. Vlas, tourists are attracted by:
- Quiet, unhurried and comfortable stay. The close proximity of major shopping centers, nightly entertainment.
- Lack of strong winds and a small number of cloudy days in a year. The sky above St. Vlas is almost always clear.
- Clean beaches and the azure sea.
- The ringing mountain air is so clean that you want to cut it with a knife and eat it.
- The sea here is always warm, even in December it warms up to +15 ยฐ C.
Make yourself a gorgeous gift - a vacation in Bulgaria. Sveti Vlas is a flourishing resort with a healing climate, which is always happy for guests!