The Aquae Calidae thermal baths date back to Roman times and today the site houses a museum with an exhibition, as well as a spa centre. Photo credit: Chernomorie-bg
For over a month now, the name ‘Burgas’ has been coming up more and more often. It is becoming increasingly popular beyond the country’s borders because it is set to host the 71st edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. In May 2027, Burgas will welcome the contestants and fans of the contest from across Europe and the world. They are all keen to find out a little more about the history of the city they are about to visit!
Burgas is a young and developing city. However, evidence of life dating back millennia has been discovered in parts of the city and within its residential complexes and neighbourhoods.
Six settlements from the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods, dating from the 6th–5th millennium BC, are known to have existed at various locations in Burgas – near the fishing harbour, in the ‘Izgrev’ complex, in the ‘Vetren’ neighbourhood, and at the ‘Burgas’ burial mound.
Several archaeological sites are known from the 1st millennium BC. During excavations in the ‘Vetren’ neighbourhood, pottery from the Early Iron Age was discovered.
A large settlement with a harbour dating from the 5th to the 3rd century BC once stood in the Sladkite Kladenets area, within the boundaries of today’s ‘Pobeda’ neighbourhood. Pottery from the same period has been discovered during the construction of residential buildings and at certain locations within the ‘Izgrev’ complex.
There is evidence of a Thracian sanctuary on Shiloto Peak, within the ‘Meden Rudnik’ complex, which was in use from the 4th century BC to the 3rd century.
Several archaeological sites dating from the Roman period are known. First and foremost is the 4th-century necropolis discovered on the site of the present-day Regional Administration building. During the Roman era, the large Aquae Calidae thermal baths were built, along with several luxurious Roman villas on Cape Foros, near the Kraimorie neighbourhood, as well as a large villa dating from the 3rd–4th centuries north of the Sarafovo neighbourhood. Excavations at ‘Aquae Calidae’ continue to this day. There is a museum and a spa centre there, thanks to the healing mineral waters in the area.
There is now a modern spa centre at Aquae Calidae
During late antiquity – the 6th–7th centuries – the fortification walls of Aquae Calidae and the Foros Peninsula were constructed. The tower in the Poda area was also built at that time.
The name Burgas is first mentioned in historical sources from the 13th century. At that time, the Byzantine poet Manuel Phil wrote about Pyrgos, which, according to medievalists, is in fact present-day Burgas. Pyrgos is a Greek word and literally means ‘tower’.
The earliest known map on which Pyrgos (Burgas) is marked dates from 1697 and was drawn by the Dutchman Nicolaas Witsen. By the 18th century, Burgas was already a well-known and bustling port, impressing travellers and cartographers alike. The bay was visited by almost every type of vessel typical of the time. At that time, the town had over 1,000 houses. From 1854, Pirgos became the centre of a kaza (district) comprising 68 surrounding villages, and was elevated from an ‘iskele’ (harbour) to a ‘kasaba’, i.e. a small town.
In 1869, the first Bulgarian church, named after Saints Cyril and Methodius, was consecrated in the town, and a Bulgarian school was also established, with Boyan Keremidchiev as its first teacher. On 20 April 1869, the first Bulgarian service was conducted in the church by Father Georgi and Metropolitan Seraphim.
On 6 February 1878, almost the entire population of Burgas welcomed the special ‘flying’ Russian detachment, commanded by Colonel A. M. Lermontov, heralding the city’s liberation from Ottoman rule. The following day, 7 February 1878, the first Bulgarian municipality was established in Burgas. Niko Popov was appointed mayor and Panayot Rusaliev deputy mayor. This marked the beginning of Burgas’s upward development.
In 1891, a town plan was drawn up and adopted, marking out the layout of the streets and neighbourhoods. Of particular significance were the opening of the Yambol–Burgas railway line (1890) and the construction of a modern port in Burgas (1903).
At the beginning of the 20th century, the town underwent rapid industrialisation. A large-scale educational initiative began in 1888 with the establishment of the Burgas Municipal Library. The ‘Probuda’ community centre, founded in 1908, had a reading room and organised performances and literary evenings. In 1912, history teachers and public figures established the ‘Debelt’ Archaeological Society, which in 1946 developed into the City Museum and later the Regional Museum. After 1920, regular classes were held in five primary schools and several secondary schools – the Girls’ School, the Commercial School and the Boys’ School, the German and State Technical Schools, the French Boarding School, and others. The city and the sea inspired artists, actors, poets and writers. During the 20th century, Burgas developed into a cosmopolitan centre, with numerous successful enterprises, an airport and a large oil refinery.
Today, the port is open to visitors via the Public Access Area, which hosts the largest music events on the southern Black Sea coast.
Burgas is now a thriving city with ambitions to become a leading educational centre in south-eastern Bulgaria, boasting two universities and branches of several higher education institutions. This year, the country’s first multi-specialist hospital for the active treatment of paediatric diseases, ‘St Anastasia’, opened its doors in the city. This modern healthcare facility offers treatment to children not only from the seaside city.
From April to the end of October, the city welcomes tourists from across the country and Europe thanks to its international airport, railway station and coach stations.
St Anastasia Island
It is the only city in the country that administers an island. A few kilometres out to sea lies the island of St Anastasia, which welcomes tourists from spring to autumn.
Tourism, culture, education and healthcare are all part of the identity of today’s Burgas, a city that never stops developing!
