Balchik Palace, Royal summer palace and botanical garden in Balchik, Bulgaria
Balchik Palace is a royal residence complex on the Black Sea coast comprising multiple buildings, terraced gardens, a wine cellar, a power station, a monastery, and a chapel. The different structures spread across the grounds in a connected arrangement, creating varied spaces to explore.
Queen Marie of Romania commissioned the palace between 1926 and 1937 when Southern Dobruja was part of the Romanian kingdom. The construction marked an important period of royal patronage and architectural development in the region.
Italian architects Americo and Augustino designed the complex blending Balkan and Ottoman architectural features. The layout reflects Queen Marie's openness to different religions, visible in the chapel and monastery built within the grounds.
The site may require separate entrances for the palace and botanical garden depending on your visit plans. The best time to visit is from May to July when plants are in full bloom and the grounds look their most colorful.
The botanical garden holds one of Europe's largest outdoor cactus and succulent collections, grown across a open hillside. These plants originate from many different regions worldwide and thrive remarkably well in the coastal setting.
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