Melnik and Rupite: sand pyramids and wine tasting

• Bulgaria

Melnik is the smallest town in Bulgaria, famous with its sand pyramids and the splendid Bulgarian red wine. Churchill was fan of the local Melnik wines and used to keep bottles in the storage of his Marlborough mansion. After the morning drive, we will go for a walk among the old traditional houses and see some of the Bulgarian crafts still preserved today. During our trip we will also visit Rupite area. At the foot of an extinct volcano there is the home of the most famous Bulgarian prophetess Baba Vanga.

Melnik

Melnik is one of our favorite destinations in Bulgaria, a cosy place for nature and love lovers. The sand pyramids were formed by erosion of clay soil and their height reaches 100 m. The wine, made of the unique Bulgarian grape variety Broadleafed Melnik, is of high quality, with aroma of ripe cherry, herbs and aged in oak barrels it develops nuances of tobacco and leather. That was one of the favorite wines of Churchill.

Rupite and Baba Vanga home

Rupite is a famous picturesque area in South Bulgaria, famous with the home of Vanga, the most famous Bulgarian prophetess who died in 1996. In an early age during a huge storm, her body was thrown up in the air by the strong wind meters away. Thus, she lost her vision but got special supernatural powers. Over the years grandma (baba) Vanga helped millions of people with predictions, advice and consolation. From politicians to poor families, people were queuing in front of her small house waiting for their turn. The money Vanga gained through her lifetime, she donated for the construction of St Petka of Bulgaria church, built in 1994. There is a special energy in her home area which you will feel once you are there. Nearby is the extinct volcano hill Kozhuh and Rupite area is famous with its healing mineral springs with a temperature of 75° C. Kozhuh hill is a remainder of the only volcano on the territory of Bulgaria. In 1962 it has been declared a natural site because of the rare animal and plant species.

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