Ravda

Situation

The resort town of Ravda is situated in the immediate vicinity of the city of Nessebar and is one of the most dynamically developing tourist resorts in Bulgaria.

That is mostly due to the favorable location of the village, with the main route from Varna to Burgas being just a kilometer away, and Burgas International Airport situated at a distance of only 19 km. The distance between Ravda and the country's largest tourist resort / complex - Sunny Beach - is 8 km.

Thanks to its many transportation connections, Ravda is easily accessible for tourists, guests and visitors. There is non-stop bus transportation for the lines Ravda - Nessebar - Sunny Beach and Nessebar - Ravda - Burgas, as well as a seasonal tourist auto-train that follows the route Ravda - Nessebar.

Natural characteristics

One of the main geographical attractions of the area is the cape of Ravda which sets apart two bays. The first one is called "the south beach" and is known for its wide beach line covered in fine golden sands. The second bay is equally attractive, particularly for people who enjoy a bit of calm and quiet. It is situated between the capes of Ravda and Acortiria in the direction of the city of Nessebar. Its shores along the cape of Ravda are steep, but after that the sea slowly retreats and rocks are substituted by sand. It should be noted that the beach of Ravda extends over a total area of 57 000 m².

Ravda's wonderful landscape is beautifully combined with its soft favorable climate. The high amounts of sunshine, up to 2100- 2200 hours per year, set apart this whole region from the other tourist destinations. During the summer, air temperatures are between 28 and 30 C, and the temperature of the water is 20 - 26 C.

History

Ravda appears on the map for the first time around the year of 1700 AD. Up until 1924, the village was inhabited primarily by Greeks. After the "Mollov - Kafandaris" treaty between Bulgaria and Greece, it became a Bulgarian settlement for Bulgarians from Aegean Macedonia. This settlement process continued until 1932. The first task undertaken by the newly arrived refugees was to extend the school constructed by the Greek residents, and by 1943 the village also had its communitiy centre, built solely by volunteers and using private funds.

The spiritual focal point for locals is the temple "Sveta Paraskeva", constructed in 1884 by local Greeks Vasilios and Teodorakis. Ravda residents provided their own funds in order to build this shrine. The church is still preserved in its original state in modern times. By voluntary subscription and under the initiative of the church board and the city hall, in 1998 the temple was partially restored and renovated.

Ravda today

The dynamic development of tourism has lead the village to quick but sustained prosperity. Ravda's population amounts to about 2 000 local residents. There are also a large number of foreign nationals who live in the village during the summer season. The old part of the village now has a completely redesigned look. The houses have been restored, extended and modernized, with a large portion of those being completely rebuilt in order to ensure compliance with all modern requirements. Over the period 2005 - 2011 over one hundred hotel and apartment complexes with the highest levels of luxuries and amenities were built in Ravda. The village is constantly growing in all directions. Along its northeastern end, the village is practically connected to the town-museum of Nessebar. Along the entire panoramic road which connects the two settlements, there is a plethora of boutique hotels and apartment complexes which are situated in the immediate vicinity of the beach. The calm and cozy atmosphere of this specific resort area is very highly sought after both on the internal, and on the international tourist markets.

Ravda is also developing fast towards the south - it is just a matter of time before it will practically touch the boundaries of the neighboring resort of Aheloy.

The huge natural potential, as well as the excellent investment climate, are drawing in more and more people who would like to settle down and work here. This is one of the reasons for the quick development of the new north district of Ravda, where the streets bear the names of Bulgarian rivers.

The municipal administration building is situated in the centre of the resort and houses the town hall, the police station, the post office, the bank office, the medical centre, as well as the tourist information centre.

The local elementary school "St.St.Kiril and Metody" which is named after the two brothers who created the Cyrillic alphabet, is famous for its 120 years of history.

In 2010, the municipal government constructed a modern transportation connection for the route Burgas - Sunny Beach, which greatly facilitates the transport connection from Ravda to surrounding localities. Subsequently, there has been a large number of hypermarket stores constructed at the entrance of Ravda over the last 2-3 years - such as LIDL, MASTERHAUS, HELIOS, among others. Their presence provides local population, property owners and Ravda's many tourist visitors with an excellent opportunity to obtain quality services at reasonable prices.

Aside from maintaining a good infrastructure and excellent communications that serve the local population, as well as visitors to the village of Ravda, the local government has also undertaken a variety of other initiatives. Among those was opening a stadium in 2004, with the facility constructed at the most appropriate location, in the vicinity of the main route Varna - Burgas. It is used as a training base by many Bulgarian and foreign sport clubs.

During the summer season, the level of interest shown by tourists, guests and visitors is huge, and their numbers increase annually. Despite its high profile though, Ravda has managed to retain its charm as a destination for a quiet and romantic holiday.

Tourism

Ravda is an attractive tourist centre for people from all four corners of the world. Situated on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, Ravda is well suited for marine recreational tourism and offers excellent holiday conditions for you, as well as your family and friends.

If one needs to escape the hectic and dynamic rhythm of the big city, Ravda is an excellent choice for a place to relax. This is a spot filled with tranquility and romance.

During the 80's and the 90's, Ravda was a renowned tourist location for children and students. However, over the last five years, thanks to the efforts of local entrepreneurs and foreign investors, the renewed village can now offer wholesome recreation for people of all ages.

The number of available beds exceeds 8000. Family business in all its various forms is stimulated. Accommodation is predominantly in luxurious apartment complexes, family hotels, as well as private residences and boarding hotels which provide a huge variety of options. The buildings are constructed in a modern architectural style. Furniture and equipment levels meet the general tourism-related requirements, and the level of service is also good. In recent years, a number of new super-high category luxury hotels belonging to prestigious world-renowned hotel chains have opened their doors to visitors. Examples include hotels belonging to the chain "SOL NESSEBAR BAY / MARE", as well as the crown jewel of the resort "EMERALD RESORT", which offers its guests 5-star luxury at a world class level. These centres operate all year round and offer excellent opportunities for sports and spa services both to external visitors, and to the many guests of Ravda.

Everyone can find their own favorite pastime and entertainment in Ravda. Small restaurants, pubs, taverns, bistros, cafes and cocktail bars are abundant. The typical local taverns prepare traditional dishes from the Bulgarian cuisine with which quite a few of the tourists have already become familiar. Seafood and fish specialties are also present on every menu. The time spent under the open skies in any one of Ravda's numerous bars, cafes or discotheques can turn into an unforgettable memory.

In the tourist season of 2006, the biggest aquapark in the entire region - "Aquapark Nessebar" - opened its doors in Ravda and instantly became a huge attraction for hundreds of thousand of tourists.

Opportunities for sports and leisure-time activities in the region are focused primarily along the beach line. There are lessons and courses provided for a huge variety of aquatic sports - including surfing, water parachuting, diving, water ski, diving, among others. Also, you should not miss out on taking a boat ride, or renting a pedal boats or jets.

Tourists are generally impressed by the trips, tours, cruises and visits to the local "typical Bulgarian village". Submerged in the folklore atmosphere, there you can feel the Bulgarian traditions and customs, and hear our songs and dances.

A trip to the nearby villages and attractions in the vicinity is possible at any given time. By car, it only takes a couple of minutes to reach the most popular and modern resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast - Sunny Beach - which offers its guests unforgettable emotions and entertainment around the clock. If you can spare half an hour for a walk, you will find yourselves in ancient Nessebar which has preserved the history of numerous civilizations and is known as Bulgaria's treasury with good reason.