Location
Balchik is a small seaside town in Northern Bulgaria which combines the romance of its steep streets with the beauty of the sea.
For a long time it has been known as the White Town for the mainly white colour of its lime rocks.
Balchik has a 21 centuries history and has preserved traces of many cultures. All that can be seen in the Historical museum situated in the town centre.
The nearest big towns are Varna /40 km/ and Dobrich /35 km/. Albena, one of the biggest Bulgarian resorts is only 10 km away. There is regular bus transport to them. On the north /35 km/ the furthest eastern point of Bulgaria - cape Kaliakra juts out deep into the sea..

History
A town and seaside resort, situated terrace-like on a small bay on the Black Sea, 31 km North of Varna, 37 km south-east of Dobrich and 500 km East from Sofia. Third in significance Bulgarian port after Varna and Bourgas, used for medium-size passenger and trade vessels. Population of 13,500.

It springs to life towards the end of the 6th C. B.C. as the ancient Greek colony Crunoi (later Dionysopolis) in place of a Chalcolithic (4th-3rd millennium B.C.) and a Thracian (1st millennium B.C.) settlement.
The exceptional view of the town from the sea impressed the great Ovid who exclaimed: "O white stone town, I salute thee for thy inimitable beauty!". The Milesian colonists believed that the goddess of beauty, Aphrodite, was born there out of the sea foam. The spouting karst springs gave the town its first name Krunoi (meaning spring or source in Old Greek). The next name was Dionysopolis. During the Middle Ages the town was named after the local feudal lord, Balik In Roman times it has the statute of a municipius. Later on it was included in the territory of Bulgaria. In 13th - 14th century it moved to Dzhina Bair, a natural fortification. It was ruled by the Boyar Balik, and so it was called Balchik. After the Crimean War (1853 - 1856) the town flourished and grew into a big corn-trading centre.

After the Balkan War in 1913 it was included in the territories of Romania. Struck by the natural beauty of the place Queen Maria built a palace and a botanical garden, a chapel and a villa complex for the Romanian aristocrats. The town turned into a luxurious resort at that time.
After 1940 Balchik was again included in Bulgarian territory.
The town has many historic and natural attractions, narrow beach strips, hotels, camping grounds.

Apart from the palace, the palace complex and the botanical garden - the biggest and most diverse in the Balkans, the town is attractive to tourists with its ancient atmosphere that has been preserved for centuries now.
It is interesting to walk along and observe the Tatar Quarter with the pebbled streets and the houses made of stone and adobe.
The old palace - built in 1924-1931 by the request of the Romanian queen Maria. The authors of the construction design are Italian architects.

SUMMER FUN
With breathtaking sunrises over white sandy beaches and calm seas, and a climate envied by many more westerly resorts, the picturesque town of Balchick is set to become one of Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coast  most sought after resorts. Air temperatures in the summer months May - September vary between 24°C and 30°C and sea temperatures vary between 17°C and 25°C, warmer than the Mediterranean. There are more than 240 hours of sunshine in May and September, and more than 300 in June, July and August.

GOLF & SPA
The Balchik area is becoming more and more attractive both for investment and traveling with the development of the golf tourism. The engagement of the world class designers as Gary Player and Ian Woodsman will make the country a preferred European golf destination and flourish the tourism in the area.  Two of the new golf courses located in Balchik area: Balchik - "Black Sea Rama Golf & Villas"; designer - Gary Player, The value of this project is about € 70 million; Balchik - "Lighthouse Golf & Spa Resort"; designer - Ian Woosnam. The value of the project will be € 56 million. 

SAILING
With a nearby yacht marina to be constructed (estimated completion in 2009) and further international golf courses planned, Balchik is set to become the most exclusive area on the Black Sea Coast and a centre for golfing and sailing. The charming Black Sea Resorts of Golden Sands, Albena and St. Constantine, unique for their unforgettable atmosphere and unique blend of natural surroundings; sea and golden sand are just a short drive away.
The marina project is expected to be the biggest on the entire Black sea shore and to be equipped by the world acknowledged French company "PORALU". It is going to offer perfect conditions for sea tourism and sports for amateurs and for professionals.

What makes Balchik your place for investments?
Thanks to its favourable location, Balchik becomes an increasingly attractive region for investment in real estate properties or for starting a small or medium-sized business with foreign participation. Tourism in the region develops with a very fast pace, and together with the golf playgrounds that are being constructed in Balchik and Kavarna region, a fast return on the invested capital can be achieved. In almost all settlements within the Municipality of Balchik there are real estate properties purchased by foreign investors. A lot of new houses have been constructed, which, together with the existing ones, contribute to the picturesque view and the good image of the settlements. Due to its close location to the sea, the constructed communications, the convenient transport connections and commercial network, the houses in Municipality of Balchik are suitable for renting. Together with this, we should also take into appropriate consideration the yacht marina, which attracts all kinds of water sports amateurs and favours the development of the yacht tourism.

The town of Balchik provides regular bus transport to Kavarna, Shabla, Dobrich, Varna, Albena and Sofia. Apart from buses, there are also numerous route taxis and private minibuses, taxis and water transport to Varna and Albena.
Port Balchik is part of the Varna port complex, which has been functioning since 1969 and is the third largest port on our Black Sea Coast.
It has a yacht and passenger terminal, which provides the basis for the development of yacht and sports tourism. The yacht and fishing port has a capacity for 70 yachts.
There is a landing strip for airplanes in the town. The landing strip is in a very good technical condition and is characterized with its particularly favourable geographical location – close to the Black Sea resorts Golden Sands, Albena and Rusalka. The expectations are that the air transport in Balchik will develop in the future and that it will take part of and reduce the passenger flow to Varna airport.

More Investment Facts about Balchik

Given the favourable economic development of the region, in the near decade Balchik could become a centre for chartered freight and passenger’s transport, and under certain conditions – even an international centre for introductory aviation training and one of the main bases of a future national rescue service.

1. Recently Balchik has been undergoing a major facelift with new hotels and infrastructure.
2. The location and access to it speak for themselves; an idyllic setting on the shores of the Black Sea and easy access from Varna International Airport. Just 35 minutes drive away, the airport is currently serving over 50 airlines and expects 1.7 million arrivals this year placing you in the best possible position to maximise your returns.
3. Real estate prices in the area are set to rise substantially with increasing media coverage of Ian Woosnam as the 2006 Ryder Cup Captain and public recognition of Balchik.
4. Further international golf courses are planned for the area, giving Balchick a reputation as the most exclusive destination on the Black Sea Coastline for golf and sailing. All the new golf courses will be open for business in 2007-2008, bringing tourism not only to the golf courses but also the hotels, spa, villas and apartments in the surrounding areas.
   • Balchik - "Black Sea Rama"; designer - Gary Player, The value of this project is about € 70 million.
   • Kavarna - "Thracian Cliffs"; designer - Gary Player
   • Balchik - "Lighthouse"; designer - Ian Woosnam. Ian Woosnam's The value of the project will be € 56 million. 
5. The pearl in the crown of Balchik is the summer palace of Queen Maria of Romania together with the unique botanical garden. The bright blue sea acts as a perfect backdrop in combination with the bright colours of the numerous flower species is a sight you would not miss. In the palace you will find a wine tasting centre where you can taste and purchase bulgarian wines.
6. Port Balchik is part of the Varna port complex. It has a yacht and passenger terminal, which provides the basis for the development of yacht and sports tourism. The yacht and fishing port has a capacity for 70 yachts.
7. The coastal alley, 4 km long, is a nice place to stroll, so are the harbour and the small streets around.
8. Near Balchik. The area of Touzlata is located 4 km east of the town and is well known for its curing mud. A spa-centre was built here beside the two lakes, formed by old landslides. The lake bottom is covered with black hydrogen sulphide peloid It receives patients suffering from joint disorders. A large recreational complex, a lot of villas, bungalows and a camping site are built here. There is a mineral spring with water temperature of 31 °C.
9. Near Balchik are the two big camping sites - Sandrino Camping and Belia Bryag Camping. They offer various opportunities for rest and water sports, clubs, bars, numerous bungalows for tourists having no camping equipment, small restaurants and stalls for sea and continental food.
10. 15 kilometres south-west of Balchik is the village of Obrochishte with a well-preserved fortress dating back to the early Ottoman rule.
11. Apart from the main stream of the tourists visiting Bulgaria and by all means not very known to the world, Balchik was preserved until today in its own multicultural authenticity. In this small town and in the region are living peacefully people whose ancestors are (in order of settling) ancient Greeks, Bulgarians, Turks, Tatars, Romanians.