Bulgaria’s Valley of Thracian Kings

In the heart of Bulgaria, between the mountains Stara Planina and Sredna Gora lies the Valley of Thracian Kings.

The Thracians are tribes that settled in the region under the name Thrace, south of the Balkan Mountains, since the Bronze Age. Over the centuries, they have been absorbed by the most powerful cultures of Greece, Persia, and the Roman Empire. The earliest mention of the Thracian tribe was in Homer’s famous Iliad, where the Thracians were an ally of the Trojans in the Trojan War against the ancient Greeks.

Today, the presence of Thracians can still be felt through the numerous shrines, tombs, and settlement remnants found in Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey.

THRACIAN TOMB OF KAZANLAK

We start with the first Bulgarian monument included in the UNESCO World Treasury. Discovered by chance in 1944, it is a true masterpiece of Thracian architecture and painting, dating from the 3rd century BC. You can easily see it; it is located in a small park city of Kazanluk. It is important to mention that the visit is authorized only in the nearby museum that represents a copy of the architecture of the tomb and its decoration of frescoes.

The tholos has a narrow corridor and a round burial chamber, both decorated with murals representing Thracian burial rituals and culture. These paintings are Bulgaria’s best-preserved artistic masterpieces from the Hellenistic period.

This monument is the only one of its kind in the whole world. The exceptionally well-preserved frescoes and the original condition of the structure reveal the remarkable evolution and high degree of perfection of the culture and pictorial art of Hellenistic Thrace.

Helvetia and Griffons’ mounds (just east of Shipka) with perfectly preserved chambers and antechambers, dated to 4th century BC and open for visitors in 2017, with a preservation shelter build on each as well as a modern mini-museum near the entrance.

TOMB OF SEUTHES III

This funeral complex is among the most imposing in Thrace. It includes a rectangular monolithic burial chamber built like a sarcophagus, and two anterooms built in cut stone, one circular, the other quadrangular and preceded by a monumental facade. A long access corridor (dromos) also preceded by a monumental facade was added at a later stage.

At the entrance we find a bronze statue head representing a man with an aquiline nose, harmonious features, thick curly hair, long beard and mustaches. The exceptional mastery of the work places this head among the masterpieces of Hellenistic monumental sculpture. This is the most amazing finding here and it is believed to be done in order to recreate the myth of Orpheus. According to the legend, after his death, Orpheus’ head could tell what the future holds. The symbolic decapitation of the bronze statue could be done with the legend in mind – to initiate Seuthes the 3rd into the Thracian Orphism – a mystic teaching which promises eternal bliss in the afterlife.

OSTROUCHA TOMB

Another Thracian tomb with frescoes is the Ostrusha tomb, a few kilometres south-east of Shipka town. Due to ancient and modern tomb raiders, there is only a fresco of a woman left preserved. The tomb is from the 4th century BC and is hewn of a monolith, with another monolith on top as a roof.

The construction under the tumulus was discovered in 1993 and represents a complex of tomb-worship extended on a ground of 100 m². It consists of six rooms, one of which is the sarcophagus room. In front of the complex many broken pottery are revealed.

The coffered ceiling of the central burial chamber is very impressive. It includes exquisite murals – human portraits, compositions of people and animals. The tomb was looted in Antiquity, only the southwest part remains intact. A horse with rich horse ammunition, a gold plated collar and two silver vessels were found.

CHOUCHMANETZ TOMB

Just east of Shipka is the Shoushmanets tomb, an astonishing representation of the Thracian architecture. Excavated in 1996, this tomb begins with a wide corridor leading to a semi-cylindrical vault with a round dome covered in shine white plaster.

The ritual complex dates back to the 4th century BC and was used as a tomb. Its uniqueness is due to its architectural solution – the only Thracian temple with columns both in the vestibule and in the round chamber. The surfaces are covered with fine, white, glossy plaster. The plastic decoration of semi-columns and pilasters reflects the religious and philosophical conceptions of the Thracians for the construction of the world.

The tombs are in the direction of the town of Shipka, about ten kilometers north of Kazanlak and 15 minutes by car. It takes about 20 minutes per site. The tombs can be visited from 9:00 – 17:00 (local time) every day of the week.

In Google Maps, the places are easily located. Signs on the main road also give directions – Thracian tomb Shushmanets, Tomb of Seuthes III, Thracian tomb Griffins, Thracian tomb Ostrusha.

Do not hesitate to contact us for dates and to organize your stay in Bulgaria. Your program can be combined with visiting the lavender or rose fields in Bulgaria, the city of Kazanlak and the history of the Bulgarian rose or seeing an abandoned Soviet treasure in Bulgaria.

There are packages with a visit to the lavender / rose fields, meeting the owner of the garden, demonstrating lavender oil extraction and tasting lavender tea. See more here. 

Discover our suggestions for trips to Kazanlak and the valley of the Thracian kings:

The Greater Balkan, Self-drive tour 6 Days – here

Culture & Traditions, Self-drive tour 8 Days – here

Highlights of Bulgaria, Self-drive tour 10 Days – here

Group tour, Highlights of Bulgaria – here