Melnik, Historic mountain town in Sandanski Municipality, Bulgaria
Melnik is a town in Sandanski Municipality situated at 437 meters elevation with houses built into sandstone slopes. The settlement displays traditional architecture adapted to the steep terrain and rock formations.
The settlement developed from a Thracian settlement into a medieval trade center and flourished during the Bulgarian Revival period in the 18th century. This era shaped much of the town's surviving structure and character.
The town maintains traditional wine production methods, with cellars carved into rock formations storing locally produced wines from native grape varieties.
The town is accessible by bus from Sofia or Sandanski, with accommodations in restored houses and small family hotels. Good walking shoes are recommended for navigating steep streets and uneven pathways.
Sandstone earth pyramids rise around the town to heights of up to 100 meters, creating an unusual geological landscape. These formations resulted from erosion and give the area its distinctive appearance.
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