The Palace - a piece of Paradise

Not more than a century ago there were only three old water mills drowsing along the banks of the small river gently flowing into the sea. The vineyards scattered round the nearby hills were heavy with grapes ripening under the scorching sun. …

Balchik reminded of a God forsaken place of the romantic Orient when, in 1913 and for a certain period of time, it became part of Romanian territory. A lot of artists and poets fell in love with it, later Queen Marie of Romania spotted that picturesque locality by the river and decided to have her summer residence built there – her “Quiet Nest” at the seaside.

This is not a palace like any other, there are no imposing stately buildings, there isn’t any aspiration of grandeur or mighty power. The impression is quite different. Everything created by human hand is designed so well to match the surrounding landscape, as if it has always been here - the little stone villas covered with red Turkish tiles, which used to be the home of the Queen, her family and entourage, are everywhere around the magnificent park. The alleys find their way winding by the tall poplar trees, even the three lonely water mills are still here…

- Between 1913 and 1940, Romania occupied part of northeastern Bulgaria. Balchik becomes the southernmost part of the Romanian coast.

- Queen Maria Alexandrina Victoria de Edinburgh (1875 - 1938) unfortunately lived only two years after the completion of the Palace. After two more, Balchik was returned to Bulgaria.

- On the territory of the Palace is the "University Botanical Garden" - one of the largest in Europe