Zet Travel > Festival of Roses > Rose festival in Bulgaria 2013 Programme 02
Rose Festival in Kazanlak - Bulgaria Tour 2013
30 May - 03 May 2013, Programme 02
Itinerary: Sofia (1 Night) - Kazanlak (1 Night) - Plovdiv (1 Night) - Sofia (1 Night)
Highlights: Bulgaria is one of the biggest producers of rose oil in the world. The Rose is the Symbol of Bulgaria. The Bulgarian roses are inheritors of the so called Damascena rose and was brought to our lands during the 17the century. The Rose valley of Bulgaria includes Karlovo and Kazanlak fields with area is about 3,300 square kilometers - extending more than 130 km along the Stara Planina mountain, surrounded by two mountains, which help create a specific climate.
The festival program includes the traditional rose-picking ritual and rose - distillation that gives you a true feeling of authenticity and the coronation of Queen Rose. The festival ends with a street procession in which the main role is allotted for the participants of the International Folklore Festival. There are other interesting events, taking place during the festival weekend - choir a cappella and folklore concerts, art shows, exhibitions, wine-tasting, shows.
Day 01 (30.05.2013): Welcome to Bulgaria
Arrival in Sofia - a 8500 years Old Town and has long been an important crossroads between Asia Minor and Europe. Sofia's monuments attest to the many cultures and civilizations that flourished here. A beautiful city on its way to grow to a big and modern European city, with nice green areas, beautiful ancient churches and buildings from the beginning of the 20th century and incessant night life.
Welcoming and transfer to your hotel 4*
Day 02 ( 31.05.2013): Tour in Sofia - Kazanlak "The Valley of the Roses and the Thracian Kings"
Morning: Sofia panoramic tour and visit the 4th century St. George's Rotunda famous for its unique frescoes and original architecture; The magnificent Alexander Nevski Memorial Church is a splendidly decorated masterpiece of late 19th - early 20th century architecture; St. Sophia basilica, 6th century, is one of the most valuable pieces of early Christian architecture in the Balkans. Battenber Square with its emblematic landmark; The former Royal Palace, the Presidency building, and the building of the Bulgarian National Bank. The National Theater designed by the architectural firm of Helmer & Felmer from Vienna; The Central Military Club, built in the same neo-Renaissance style.
After the Lunch departure to Kazanlak (193 km) - the capital of the Rose valley and Thracian kings. The rose had an important role in the history of Kazanlak region and is an unchangeable part of the life style of the local people.
Programme of Rose festival:
16.00 Accommodation in Hotel 'Kazanlak" 3*
17.30 Aromo theraphy demonstartion
19.00 Festive dinner
21.00 Official opening of the Rose Festival
Day 03 (01.06.2013): Rose Festival, The second biggest City and the Ancient Plovdiv
07.00 Breakfast
08.00 Morning departure to the rose fields
08.30 Take part of the rose picking and introduction to the tehnology of rose distillery to learn more about the traditions of rose oil productions, tasting of rose products
11.30 Visit to the Museum of Roses and The Thracian Kazanlak Tomb - from the late 4 century B.C., in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The frescoes are the finest masterpiece of the Thracian art discovered to date.
12.30 Festive lunch - barbeque with floklore programme
Afternoon - departure to Plovdiv (93 km) - Bulgaria's second biggest city, which treasures a history that goes back thousands of years, traces of which have survived to the present day. Later, during the period of the Roman Empire, it was a major centre of the province of Thrace; many archaeological finds dating from the 2nd - 3rd century, testify for those glorious times. The Old Quarter was built in the 18th-19th centuries as the centre of the Bulgarian National Revival architecture. Along steep cobblestone lanes, behind stone walls and iron-studded heavy oak gates, one could glimpse at verdure and flowers, surrounding the typical Plovdiv symmetrical houses with their painted facades, oriels and jetties and grid windows.
Arrival and accommodation in the hotel 4*
Day 04 (02.06.2013): Tour in Plovdiv - Sofia
After breakfast - visit the Old Plovdiv, built in the IV century before Christ from King Philip of Macedonia. Sample list of recommended sites of interest: The typical Plovdiv symmetrical houses with their painted facades, oriels and jetties and grid windows; The St. Constantine and St. Helena Church completed in 1832, contains murals painted in 1836 by Zachary Zograph, the best known Bulgarian National Revival painter; The Roman Forum, Stadium, Fortress Walls, and above all, the fabulous Amphitheatre, which was built during the time of Emperor Trajan (98-117). It has 28 rows with tiers of marble seats, which can accommodate over 3 500 spectators and today it is still functioning. Plovdiv is Bulgaria's second biggest city, which treasures a history that goes back thousands of years, traces of which have survived to the present day.
Lunch. Next is a visit to the Bachkovo Monastery. Founded in the 11th century by two Georgian brothers, this is the second largest Bulgarian Monastery after the Rila Monastery. In the monastery there are extremely valuable frescos of biblical subjects from 16-th century. The Icon of Virgin Mary, the patron saint of the monastery, is considered as miraculous.
Stop in the village of Brestovitza. This village has always been a symbol of Bulgarian red wine. And when you want to run away from the tension of the every day life and you are looking for the pleasant comfort of the Bulgarian countryside, this is the place for you. Your best option is "TODOROFF" Wine Cellar. Only 15 min drive from Plovdiv or 140 km from Sofia. At the foot of the Rhodopes Mountain you will find yourself in a quite different atmosphere. Atmosphere, created thanks to the combination of pure nature, rich historical inheritance, ancient spirit of Thracians and hosts' eagerness to make you feel wonderful - wine tasting, tour around the cellar accompanied by lecture, myths, legends, wine producing technologies and methods of wine storage.
Departure to Sofia (150 km). Arrival and accommodation in the hotel 4*.
Day 05 (03.06.2013): Departure
Free time. Optional tour to Rila Monastery.
Transfer to Airport. End of the services.
Price per Person in Double Room
|
For a party of 2 - 3 pеrsons |
For a group of 4 persons |
For a group of 6 persons |
|
740 € |
640 € |
590 € |
Supplement for Single Room: On request
The Tour includes:
Supplement 10 EUR for Seat places for the Opening of Rose festival.
