The dry valleys around Bozhanovo and the steppe habitats give the landscape a distinctive natural character. There are also practical reference points to help you choose where to stay: Bozhanovo lies west of the international E-87 road and about six kilometres from the Black Sea coast at Krapets. When looking for a holiday apartment, you can first weigh up which location detail matters most for your travel plans.

Dry Valleys and Steppe Landscape

The dry valleys around Bozhanovo are part of the “Kraymorska Dobrudzha” Natura 2000 site. Protected habitats include shrub communities, open calcareous plant communities and Pontic-Sarmatian steppe habitats. Different landscape forms can therefore be found side by side: areas characterised by woody vegetation and open areas with calcareous vegetation are both part of the landscape, as is the steppe.

Subcontinental peri-Pannonian shrub communities occur between Vaklino, Bozhanovo and Tvarditsa. The Bozhanovo dry valley is also home to open calcareous or basiphilous plant communities and Pontic-Sarmatian steppes. The open calcareous communities include rocky areas with lichens, mosses and Sedum species. Shrub communities occasionally include dwarf almond, a species of conservation value.

The composition of the steppe vegetation is also described in detail. The species listed include Stipa pennata agg., Stipa capillata, Chrysopogon gryllus, Dischanthium ischaemum, Agropyron brandzae, Koeleria brevis, Satureja coerulea and Thymus zygoides. Those interested in nature and the landscape will find more than a general reference to open areas here: the habitats and their plants are clearly identified.

Location and Choosing Accommodation

Bozhanovo lies two kilometres west of the international E-87 road. The Black Sea coast at Krapets is about six kilometres away. These details show the location in relation to the road and the coast without converting them into a travel time. When looking for a holiday apartment, you can consider which of these reference points is more important for your plans. The figures provide an indication of Bozhanovo’s location.

Archaeology and Tours at Lake Durankulak

The Durankulak–Hamangia archaeological complex is located at Lake Durankulak. It includes the Great Island settlement mound and its associated necropolises. These features give the site a clearly defined archaeological focus: the settlement mound and necropolises are both part of the complex.

The Durankulak–Hamangia archaeological route includes both walking tours and virtual tours. The route also offers opportunities to observe dozens of bird species. Its description thus brings together archaeological themes and birdwatching, without implying that the two interests are the same. If you are weighing up different priorities when planning your trip, you can consider them as two distinct aspects of this offering.

Shabla as the Wider Context

The wider Shabla destination extends beyond Bozhanovo’s dry valleys. The Municipality of Shabla has about 40 kilometres of Black Sea coastline; its beaches account for 22 percent of all beaches on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast. Cape Shabla is the easternmost point of Bulgaria. The lighthouse at the cape dates back to 1768 and is the oldest lighthouse still in operation in the Black Sea–Mediterranean region. These details describe Shabla as the wider regional context, not as features of Bozhanovo.

Wetlands are also part of this broader context. The Shabla Lake Protected Area includes the coastal lagoons of Shabla Lake and Ezerets Lake, which are connected by a canal. A total of 247 bird species have been recorded in the Shabla-Ezerets Lake Complex; the globally threatened corncrake and ferruginous duck also breed in the protected area. In the wider Shabla destination, Lake Durankulak is a globally important wintering site for waterbirds, particularly because of its large congregations of geese. The region’s natural features can therefore be divided into different themes: dry valleys and steppes around Bozhanovo, and coastal lagoons and a waterbird wintering site within the wider Shabla destination.

Discover more destinations: Ezerets, Gorun, Krapets, Durankulak, Tyulenovo, Shabla

Back to the wider travel overview: Shabla.