Day tour to Melnik from Sofia

Melnik overview

Melnik is a declared architectural reserve. The first to settle in the area were the Thracian tribe Medi (the famous rebel Spartacus belonged to this tribe). The Slavs who came later in these parts, named the settlement Melnik after the sand formations surrounding it on all sides. Melnik became a part of the First Bulgarian Empire under the rule of Khan Presian I (836-852) and prospered greatly in the period. Melnik became the capital of an independent feudal principality ruled by Despot Alexius Slav in 1209 and had an economic and cultural prosperity. The town continued to flourish under Tsar Ivan Assen ІІ because of the duty-free trade with Dubrovnik (ruled by Venetians). In the late 18th century, the town had 1300 houses, seventy churches and a population of some 20, 000 people.

Your day in Melnik and Rozhen

Your V travel guide will pick you up from your hotel in Sofia at 8:30 and after a 2h30min drive with various landscape (highway, mountains, river canion and valleys) you will reach Melnik. The walk into the town is fairly short, some steep steps and streets will take to Kordopoulov's family house, where you will  learn about 19th century Melnik history, people, grapes, wine making and you will see a real wine cave. You will taste some wine also of course. We can have lunch in Melnik itself or on the way to nearby Rozhen Monastery (another 15 minute drive). At the Monastery we will enjoy a beautiful view of sandstone rocks and mountains before we set back home for our journey back to Sofia. We recommend Melnik for overnight stay (traditional dances and food) included in some of our Package Tours.