In the beginning of November our journey took us to the small Black sea town of Pomorie where we had the pleasure to spend a full weekend.
You might wonder why I would visit Pomorie during the autumn, almost winter? Isn’t it a summer destination? You will be surprised how much there’s to do here even in the colder months.
Pomorie is actually known for its SPA and healing treatments which attract many visitors from all around the world.
Even though I spent just a weekend in Pomorie in a cold November, I managed to fully fill my time and take advantage of the best hotel for spa treatment here – Grand Hotel Pomorie, as well as see some of the best sights in the resort.
In this blog post I will tell you about the best things to do in Pomorie, as well as the SPA procedures you can indulge in. I will also share my impressions of Grand Hotel Pomorie – the biggest hotel in Pomorie and the most famous one for mud and lye treatment in Bulgaria.
Let’s start with the local landmarks which you shouldn’t miss when planning your stay in Pomorie.
Things to do in Pomorie
The Salt Museum
The Museum of salt was founded in 2002 on the coast of Lake Pomorie. This is the only place in Eastern Europe where salt is produced using the solar evaporation of the seawater.
The salt here is extracted by ancient Anhial technology, whose name comes from the old name of Pomorie – Anhialo. The salt pans in these lands existed before the foundation of the city during the 5th century BC and the settlers created a technology for salt production which is still used.
Every visitor of the museum has the opportunity to participate in the production of salt and get familiar with the intricacies of the craft.
Keep in mind that during the cold months, the museum is closed on the weekend which prevents visitors from seeing it. Despite that, the salt pools can be seen from the outside. Plan your trip in advance so as not to make my mistake and fail to visit one of the most important landmarks in Pomorie!
Opening hours:
September 15 – June 15:
Monday – Friday:
8:00 am – 16:00 pm
June 15 – September 15:
Monday – Friday:
8:00 am – 18:00 pm
Saturday and Sunday:
10:00 am – 18:00pm
Entrance fees:
Elders – 2 BGN.
Students– 1 BGN.
Guided tour – 3 BGN
Architectural reserve “Old Pomorie houses”
Walking around the old part of Pomorie you will certainly come across the architectural reserve “Old Pomorie houses”. You will find it in the Eastern part of the old city right next to the sea coast.
The buildings in the reserve date back to the 19th century and were built during the Revival. The architectural plan consists of ten houses placed on the cobbled streets of Pomorie, and carry the authentic Bulgarian spirit of the past.
The typical Pomorie house is a two floor building consisting of a stone ground floor and an upper awning. The ground floor is the place where the kitchen, the warehouse and the utility rooms were located. Wine, fish and fishing nets were often stored on the ground floor.
On the upper floor you will see an interesting facade of pine paneling. The reason for building the houses in this way is that the pine panels did not allow the moisture to penetrate the building and retained the heat of the rooms.
Unfortunately the houses cannot be seen from the inside as they are privately owned.
In the historic museum of Pomorie, however, you can find the exposition recreating the exact arrangement of what the Anhialo houses looked like. There you can learn more about the way of life of the local people from the past.
The Yavorov rocks and the monument of Peyo Yavorov
Pomorie is a city which is often connected with the Bulgarian poet Peyo Yavorov. In 1899 Yavorov moved to Pomorie to work on something and stayed here living in a wooden house near the sea coast.
In his free time the talented poet enjoyed solitude in the rocks near his house. He often visited this place to contemplate the vast expanse of the sea and draw inspiration for his work.
A year later, in 1900, Yavorov left Pomorie and the locals decided to express their respect to his talent by naming the rocks after him and building a monument at this location.
“Holy Transfiguration” Church
The “Holy Transfiguration” church is not only the oldest building in the architectural reserve “Old Pomorie houses” but also in the whole city of Pomorie. Its construction began in 1763 and inside you can see icons from ХVІІ – ХVІІІ century and some from ХVІ century.
Virgin Mary Orthodox Church
In the center of the city you will find an incredibly charming church built in 1980 from the famous Tryavna master Usta Genchov Kunev.
The appearance of the church is largely influenced by the Dormition of the Theotokos Cathedral in Varna.
In 1959 the church was rebuilt and the walls were painted by artists. The interior of this seemingly small church definitely impresses with beautiful painting and iconostasis. Be sure to enter it if you are passing by!
Things to do around Pomorie
Pomorie Lake
Just 2 km away from the city of Pomorie is located the Pomorie lake – a “golden mine” for healing mud and lye. In ancient times the lake was even called “sacred”. It resembles a hyper- saline lagoon of natural origin.
The lake is separated from the Black Sea by a natural sand strip and an artificial dike.The only thing that connects the lake and the sea is a canal in the southern part of the lake.
The bottom is covered with black mud which is rich in minerals. The mud in Pomorie has been used for healing purposes since ancient times and today it’s the place where you can indulge in SPA treatments.
Keep reading to learn more about this special mud and lye which come from Pomorie Lake.
Thracian Tomb “The Hollow mound”
The thracian tomb is located just 2 km west from Pomorie and is an ancient tomb of stone and bricks built around ІІ-ІІІ century.
The construction itself is quite interesting – the tomb is arched with a semi-cylindrical vault in the center of which there is a hollow column, which expands upwards and merges with the outer wall.
Because of its unique architecture the tomb is the only one of this kind on the Balkans. It’s considered that in the past it was used as a mausoleum of a rich Pomorie family in which ancient rituals were performed.
The ancient tomb was one of the places around Pomorie which I was looking forward to visiting the most. The photos I saw beforehand were impressive.
Sadly, since 1. November 2020 the tomb is closed for visits unless they have formed a group of 15 and have booked a visit beforehand.
If you are on a vacation in Pomorie and you have the opportunity to come here, you should definitely check if the Hollow mound is open and visit it.
“Boyar” Wine Cellar
Since ancient times when Pomorie was known with the name Anhialo, the locals had the tradition of growing grapes and producing quality wines and rakia.
The wine cellar has existed from 1922 when one of the noble local families Boychev created vineyards. In 1952 the cellar was nationalized and in 1998 the family tradition was restored by the new generation – the brothers Simeon Boychev and Dimitar Boychev.
In the cellar “Boyar” you can join the organized wine tours and take a look around the cellar and the production center as well as taste their wines and rakia.
To learn more about these tours visit their website.
SPA treatments in Pomorie
The healing mud and lye of Pomorie
Since we were Pomorie, we had to take advantage of the typical for the region procedure with mud and lye.
The procedures are offered in Grand Hotel Pomorie where we had the opportunity to stay during our short stay for a weekend in Pomorie.
The healing Pomorie mud is extracted from the lake near the Black Sea. The lake however has a lot higher salt concentration – around 60 – 80%. Compared to the salt concentration of Black Sea which is just 18%.
Mud is unique for its chemical balance and its high content of sulfur and iron. The main diseases that are treated with the mud are those connected with the musculoskeletal system – low back pain and more. It’s believed to have a beneficial effect on skin diseases, the peripheral nervous system (discopathy, plexitis, periarthritis) as well as on improving the immune system.
The Black Sea lye is formed during salt production in the salt pans in Pomorie and Burgas which makes it unique for its region. During water evaporation in the lake the lye remains above the salt layer and has a dense oil-like texture with a yellow-brown color with a slight odor of hydrogen sulfide.
The healing properties of the lye are due to its rich mineral and organic composition which is similar to the one of the mud in Pomorie. The main elements which it contains are calcium, sodium, magnesium sulfate and others.
It is important to note that in order to have an effect from these procedures you have to undergo at least 5-7 treatments.
Also after every procedure you shouldn’t bathe in freshwater and use soap. After letting the lye and mud soak into your skin, you are allowed to bathe in salt water. Bathing with fresh water is only allowed just 2 hours after the procedure.
Before undergoing any of these procedures, one must consult with a doctor (there is one in Grand Hotel Pomorie). Mud and lye are not recommended for people with cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, varicose veins, some cancers and pregnancy.
Where to stay in Pomorie
Grand Hotel Pomorie
My visit to Pomorie was possible due to the invitation of Grand Hotel Pomorie – a hotel which combines comfort, SPA center, delicious cuisine and a sports zone.
The SPA zone of Grand Hotel Pomorie was completely renovated in 2020 and is turned into a really pleasant place in which you can fully relax.
The big inner pool is salted and the water in it also has healing effects which complement the results of the healing procedure with lye and mud. You can also take advantage of the herbal sauna, infrared sauna, steam bath, salt room, rain room and other SPA facilities.
While we were in Grand Hotel Pomorie we had to take advantage of the therapy with lye and mud. First we booked a 20-minute session with lye which is very relaxing. After that we directly dipped for 25 minutes in a bathtub full of pomorie mud.
Our stay in Grand Hotel Pomorie was more than pleasant and we would definitely come again. And as I mentioned, visiting Pomorie is worth it no matter the season and the weather!
Check free rooms in Grand Hotel Pomorie for your next holiday in Pomorie here.
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Travel ResourcesFor travelling in Bulgaria, I highly recommend renting a car so you are able to visit as many places as possible without being dependent on buses and trains. One of the biggest and most reliable car rental companies is Top Rent a Car. I’ve used their services and was very happy with them, so I can definitely recommend them. Click here to discover car rental options. You can find the best accommodation options at Booking. They have many discounts and excellent customer service. Click here to look for a place to stay in Bulgaria. Organized tours can spare you the hassle of planning the full trip by yourself. You can find a great selection of tours at Get Your Guide – click here. Make sure to have the offline map always installed on your phone, as they can save you so many troubles. I always use the free app Maps.Me. |
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