Thracian tomb in Kazanlak

Sometimes coincidence is a good companion.

The tomb was discovered by Bulgarian soldiers digging up anti-air attack shelter in 1944. , accidentally encountering one of her walls. It is also the first Bulgarian monument included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1979. It dates from the end of the 4th century BC – the beginning of the 3rd century BC and is believed to have belonged to the Thracian ruler Roigos.

It consists of an entrance hall, a corridor, and a burial chamber. According to archaeologists, two corpses – one of a man and one of a woman- are laid in the tomb, supposed to be the ruler and his wife. It’s popularity is due to its unique frescoes of extremely high artistic value. For them, three basic colours are used – white, black, red and most of the paint being of mineral origin. This tomb is the only one completely preserved by this era in Bulgaria and one of the most attractive to visit in Europe.

In order to preserve the frescoes as much as possible, the access to the original tomb is strictly forbidden. But that should not bother you because there is an exact copy right next to the original one. The tomb is part of the Valley of the Thracian Kings, which also includes other tombs and temples. It is the region in Bulgaria with the highest concentration of Thracian tombs discovered.