{"id":17596,"date":"2022-07-12T08:08:38","date_gmt":"2022-07-12T08:08:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dailytravelpill.com\/?p=17596"},"modified":"2022-07-12T08:08:53","modified_gmt":"2022-07-12T08:08:53","slug":"ravadinovo-castle-bulgaria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailytravelpill.com\/ravadinovo-castle-bulgaria\/","title":{"rendered":"Ravadinovo Castle – The most beautiful castle in Bulgaria?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019re a fan of castles, then you need to visit Bulgaria! You\u2019ll find plenty of them throughout the country, but none are more beautiful than Ravadinovo Castle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Located near Sozopol and Burgas, Ravadinovo is also known as \u2018In Love with the Wind Castle\u2019 and is one of the most beautiful castles in Bulgaria. Ravadinovo Castle doesn’t have a very long history and its story is quite intriguing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"ravadinovo<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The castle is the perfect place to take awesome photographs and is a great family day out. So, let\u2019s take a look at everything you need to know for your trip to Ravadinovo!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Ravadinovo Castle History <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Generally, when you think of a castle you picture a medieval building with hundreds of years of history. However, that\u2019s not the case with Ravadinovo! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Construction of the castle only began in 1996 and it\u2019s located on private property. It was built by Georgi Kostadinov Tumpalov, a former sportsman and the castle’s architect. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Georgi had a dream of building a castle that exists only in fairytales, and he definitely achieved that goal. He worked day and night along with his family and neighbours, to build this architectural masterpiece.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"ravadinovo<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The castle is built entirely of stone; 20,000 tonnes of it in fact! The stone used is called metamorphosed limestone, and it was taken from the Strandzha Mountains. It\u2019s found throughout the grounds too, including within the chapel and cellar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Metamorphosed limestone contains micro diamonds, which strangely enough makes the castle change color slightly depending on the time of day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the morning, the stone takes on a slight pink tinge, whilst during the day it\u2019s colored like white marble. Under the full moon, Ravadinovo is even more impressive as it seems to glow underneath the night sky. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"ravadinovo<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The shape of the castle was also taken into consideration, as it\u2019s in the shape of a crest. This symbolizes commitment, love, and trust. Although the castle was built in the 1990s, additions are still being made even to this day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What I find very interesting is that Georgi, the castle’s owner and architect, currently lives in the castle. Although he is not a king and isn’t a noble descendant, he managed to build his own castle and he opened its gates to the world!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. What to expect at Ravadinovo Castle <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Visiting Ravadinovo Castle honestly feels like you\u2019ve stepped into a fairytale! With picturesque towers and beautiful gardens, you\u2019d imagine it to be the setting of one of Disney\u2019s enchanting movies. If you visit in the summer, you\u2019ll be treated to the sight of lush ivy climbing the walls too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As soon as you’ll get to the castle, you’ll notice the huge gate guarded by two imposing towers. The path to the gate is decorated with floral motifs and as soon as you step inside the castle’s gardens you’ll be amazed by everything that surrounds you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"ravadinovo<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Although you can\u2019t actually visit the inside of the castle as it\u2019s private property and most rooms are not finished yet, it\u2019s well worth the visit. The castle itself is stunningly beautiful, but there are also plenty of other attractions here too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During your trip to Ravadinovo Castle, you\u2019ll want to spend some time exploring the fantastic gardens. They are absolutely beautiful and are home to several freshwater lakes, and thousands of exotic plants and trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll also get to see a variety of waterfowl as you wander around including black, and white swans! If you\u2019re heading there as a family, then you can take part in the castles \u2018Real Escape Game\u2019. You\u2019ll be locked in a room for an hour, and will have to solve all the puzzles as a team to get out! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"ravadinovo<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ravadinovo is also home to a beautiful winery, where you can taste Bulgarian wine that\u2019s been brewed on-site! The interior of the winery is stunning, so if you have time – definitely spend some time here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll also find a chapel here too that\u2019s known for its beautiful stained glass windows, colorful murals, and unique architecture. If that\u2019s not enough for you, there\u2019s even a small zoo and a kid’s play zone for the little ones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"ravadinovo<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll also find an art gallery on-site, but you\u2019ll have to pay extra to head inside as it’s not included in the entrance fee. As you can see, there\u2019s so much to do! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the most interesting attraction inside Ravadinovo Castle’s gardens is Georgi’s statue, sitting right at the entrance. He is depicted as a brave king, holding a sword in his hand. Actually, when I visited I saw Georgi wandering around the gardens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"ravadinovo<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ravadinovo is arguably one the best castles in Europe<\/a><\/strong> due to its unique story, amazing architecture, and magical appearance. To make the most out of your visit, I\u2019d recommend spending at least 2-3 hours here. This way you can wander around the gardens without rushing, take those \u2018Disney-style\u2019 photographs, and simply relax. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. How to get to Ravadinovo Castle <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are a couple of different ways to reach Ravadinovo Castle, but you\u2019ll likely be visiting from Sozopol or Burgas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Sozopol<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ravadinovo Castle is found just 5km from the seaside town of Sozopol. It\u2019s only an 8-minute car journey, so it\u2019s easily accessible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t have a car, then there are plenty of taxis within the town center and along the beachfront. Just be wary of being overcharged, especially as this is such a short distance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are also plenty of tours that run to Ravadinovo from Sozopol, but be prepared to pay much more for this. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Burgas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Burgas is a bit further away and is around 32.5km from Ravadinovo Castle. The journey will take approximately 28-minutes by car, or you can grab a taxi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cheapest way to reach the castle is by public bus<\/a><\/strong>, but it does take longer. Expect to spend around at least 35 minutes on the bus, but it\u2019s worth it if you\u2019re traveling on a budget. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if you\u2019re planning to explore more of Bulgaria then it might be best to rent a car instead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Ravadinovo Castle entrance fee and opening hours<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Opening hours<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Monday – Sunday: 8:00am – 8:00pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Entrance Fees<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The admission ticket for Ravadinovo includes entry to the park, the zoo, the wishing well, and the kid’s play zone. It also includes your parking and entrance into the winery and chapel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to visit the Art Gallery, play the escape game, or visit the Builder\u2019s Rooms you\u2019ll have to pay extra. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a quick breakdown of the fees:<\/p>\n\n\n\n