If you’re a fan of castles, then you need to visit Bulgaria! You’ll find plenty of them throughout the country, but none are more beautiful than Ravadinovo Castle.
Located near Sozopol and Burgas, Ravadinovo is also known as ‘In Love with the Wind Castle’ 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.
The castle is the perfect place to take awesome photographs and is a great family day out. So, let’s take a look at everything you need to know for your trip to Ravadinovo!
1. Ravadinovo Castle History
Generally, when you think of a castle you picture a medieval building with hundreds of years of history. However, that’s not the case with Ravadinovo!
Construction of the castle only began in 1996 and it’s located on private property. It was built by Georgi Kostadinov Tumpalov, a former sportsman and the castle’s architect.
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.
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’s found throughout the grounds too, including within the chapel and cellar.
Metamorphosed limestone contains micro diamonds, which strangely enough makes the castle change color slightly depending on the time of day.
In the morning, the stone takes on a slight pink tinge, whilst during the day it’s colored like white marble. Under the full moon, Ravadinovo is even more impressive as it seems to glow underneath the night sky.
The shape of the castle was also taken into consideration, as it’s 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.
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!
2. What to expect at Ravadinovo Castle
Visiting Ravadinovo Castle honestly feels like you’ve stepped into a fairytale! With picturesque towers and beautiful gardens, you’d imagine it to be the setting of one of Disney’s enchanting movies. If you visit in the summer, you’ll be treated to the sight of lush ivy climbing the walls too.
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.
Although you can’t actually visit the inside of the castle as it’s private property and most rooms are not finished yet, it’s well worth the visit. The castle itself is stunningly beautiful, but there are also plenty of other attractions here too.
During your trip to Ravadinovo Castle, you’ll 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.
You’ll also get to see a variety of waterfowl as you wander around including black, and white swans! If you’re heading there as a family, then you can take part in the castles ‘Real Escape Game’. You’ll be locked in a room for an hour, and will have to solve all the puzzles as a team to get out!
Ravadinovo is also home to a beautiful winery, where you can taste Bulgarian wine that’s been brewed on-site! The interior of the winery is stunning, so if you have time – definitely spend some time here.
You’ll also find a chapel here too that’s known for its beautiful stained glass windows, colorful murals, and unique architecture. If that’s not enough for you, there’s even a small zoo and a kid’s play zone for the little ones.
You’ll also find an art gallery on-site, but you’ll have to pay extra to head inside as it’s not included in the entrance fee. As you can see, there’s so much to do!
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.
Ravadinovo is arguably one the best castles in Europe due to its unique story, amazing architecture, and magical appearance. To make the most out of your visit, I’d recommend spending at least 2-3 hours here. This way you can wander around the gardens without rushing, take those ‘Disney-style’ photographs, and simply relax.
3. How to get to Ravadinovo Castle
There are a couple of different ways to reach Ravadinovo Castle, but you’ll likely be visiting from Sozopol or Burgas.
From Sozopol
Ravadinovo Castle is found just 5km from the seaside town of Sozopol. It’s only an 8-minute car journey, so it’s easily accessible.
If you don’t 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.
There are also plenty of tours that run to Ravadinovo from Sozopol, but be prepared to pay much more for this.
From Burgas
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.
The cheapest way to reach the castle is by public bus, but it does take longer. Expect to spend around at least 35 minutes on the bus, but it’s worth it if you’re traveling on a budget.
However, if you’re planning to explore more of Bulgaria then it might be best to rent a car instead.
4. Ravadinovo Castle entrance fee and opening hours
Opening hours
Monday – Sunday: 8:00am – 8:00pm
Entrance Fees
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.
If you want to visit the Art Gallery, play the escape game, or visit the Builder’s Rooms you’ll have to pay extra.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the fees:
- Adult: 20 BGN (around 10 Euro)
- Children up to 7 years: Free
- Students: 16 BGN (around 8 Euro)
- Handicapped: 10 BGN (around 5 Euro)
- Pensioner: 14 BGN (around 7 Euro)
If you purchase your ticket online, the website often offers discounts of 10% so you can save a bit of money this way.
The castle is also partnered with Neptune Water Park, so anyone who buys a ticket to the castle is entitled to 20% off the water park entrance fee within 3 days. However, this doesn’t apply to e-tickets, so it’s up to you how you purchase your ticket.
5. Where to stay in Sozopol
Sozopol is a beautiful town with a lot of history. If you’re looking for the best accommodation for your budget, here are some options:
- Budget – House Gabi – excellent location, clean and spacious room, family-friendly, good facilities
- Mid-Range – Guest House Slavyanka – located in Sozopol Old Town, beautiful view, clean rooms, friendly owners
- Luxury – Viva Mare Beach Hotel – beautiful pool, breakfast included, children’s playground available on site, spa & wellness centre
6. Conclusion
Ravadinovo Castle is one of the most beautiful castles in Europe and is a must-visit! Although it doesn’t have the history of Belogradchik Fortress or Asen’s Fortress, it has so much to offer.
With beautiful gardens, plenty of facilities, and lots of activities to get involved in – there’s something for everyone. So, don’t miss out on visiting Ravadinovo Castle during your trip to Bulgaria!
If you have any more questions or queries about this unique destination, then don’t forget to drop them in the comments below. May the travel bug bite you!
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Aurelia Teslaru is a professional travel blogger and the writer behind Daily Travel Pill. With a 4-year experience as a travel writer and photographer, Aurelia only shares travel guides about destinations that she visited.
She has been to more than 40 countries during the past 10 years and aims to explore 50 countries before turning 30 years old. Aurelia is a digital nomad who transformed her passion for travel into a lifestyle. Read more about her here.
To follow her adventures, check out her Instagram and Facebook pages!