Episode BG64. Mini Bulgaria Park – Tour All of Bulgaria in One Hour!
Hello, Bulgaria! 🇧🇬
Imagine Bulgaria gathered in one place – temples, fortresses, bridges, monasteries and railway stations in reduced but incredibly accurate detail.
In the very heart of Veliko Tarnovo, right next to Tsarevets Hill, is an unusual place where you can take a few steps around Bulgaria. Mini Bulgaria Park opened in 2017 and features over 50 of the country’s most iconic buildings and monuments in scaled-down but accurate scale. It’s not just an attraction, but a true outdoor architectural gallery.
You can navigate directly to a desired moment in the video by clicking on the timer👆
0:00 – Intro
0:35 – Where am I?
2:00 – Beginning in Mini Bulgaria Park
2:42 – Trailer Bulgaria DropView
3:03 – Burgas District
3:40 – Lovech District
4:38 – Stara Zagora District
5:48 – Haskovo District
6:43 – Plovdiv District
8:43 – Kardzhali District
9:12 – Gabrovo District
9:32 – Blagoevgrad District
10:46 – Kyustendil District
11:23 – Sofia District
13:20 – Vidin District
14:33 – Hemus Highway
14:52 – Shumen District
16:05 – Ruse District
17:23 – Pleven District
17:39 – Veliko Tarnovo District
19:10 – Dobrich District
19:23 – Varna District
20:04 – Final Thoughts
💡 Other interesting places nearby:
BG62. The Asen Dynasty: POWER of Medieval Bulgaria!
BG63. Tsarevets Fortress: APEX of the Second Bulgarian Empire! FULL GUIDE!
BG66. Hotnitsa Waterfall: Secrets of the Canyon!
👉 References to other episodes:
BG14. Shipka Memorial – Monument of Freedom
BG18. Asen’s Fortress and Tsar Ivan Asen II
BG31. Monument “Founders of the Bulgarian State”
BG32. The Madara Horseman – Europe’s Only Cliff Relief
BG33. Medieval Pliska – Bulgaria’s First Capital
BG34. Khan Krum Rock Monastery and the Hesychasm Teaching
BG51. Belogradchik Rocks and the Belogradchik Fortress
BG55. Memorial Church “Nativity of Christ” – GUARDING the Bones of the Fallen at Shipka
BG57. The Battle for the Samara Flag and the MASSACRE in Stara Zagora
BG62. The Asen Dynasty: POWER of Medieval Bulgaria!
BG63. Tsarevets Fortress: APEX of the Second Bulgarian Empire! FULL GUIDE!
M2. Veliko Tarnovo: Full Tour of the City of the Tsars
📌 What will we look at in this article?
📝 Episode Summary
🔥 The most interesting moments
⭐ Location assessment
✅ Final conclusion
📝 Brief summary of the episode
In this episode 64 of the series, we conclude our three-day journey around Veliko Tarnovo with one of the most original and educational attractions in the city – Mini Bulgaria Park. Located next to Tsarevets in the Franki district, the park offers over 80 miniature models of the most significant Bulgarian cultural and historical sites grouped by region. I go through them and remind about already filmed episodes and hint about already filmed future series. The episode also serves as an interactive guide to Bulgaria in 1:25 scale.
🔥 What will you see in this episode?
I made a tour of absolutely all the layouts, and I won’t describe all of them in this article and will only focus on a few. I will also look at those layouts for which there are series already available. If any of these places caught your attention I have left a link in the article. You can easily find them and watch them and dive into the details.
✨ Interactive trains at the Varna and Plovdiv train station layouts
Here in the episode I show how the two trains diverge close to each other. Take the kids – this will be their favorite part!
✨ Rila Monastery model
Extremely impressive in its size, the model of the largest monastery in Bulgaria impresses with its authenticity. It is extremely well made, just like the other models in the park. The monastery is included in the UNESCO list and is a cultural and spiritual emblem of Bulgaria.
✨ Belogradchik Fortress and Rocks
Belogradchik Rocks are one of the most unique natural formations in Bulgaria and are often ranked among the symbols of the country. Located near the town of Belogradchik, the cliffs stretch for about 30 km in length and reach up to 200 meters in height. They were formed more than 200 million years ago and bear names such as “The Madonna”, “The Monks”, “Adam and Eve” because of their bizarre shapes. The Belogradchik rocks are the subject of international interest, especially after the tweet of Elon Musk. In the BG51 series of his channel you see not only the Belogradchik Rocks, but also the Kaleto Fortress, which is carved partly into the rocks themselves.
✨ Nativity of Christ Monument in Shipka
The Nativity of Christ Monument is located in Shipka and was erected in honour of the Russian soldiers and Bulgarian volunteers who died in the epic battles of the Shipka Pass during the Russo-Turkish War of Liberation (1877-1878). The model presents the impressive temple guarding the bones of the fallen on Shipka. You can learn more about the temple in episode BG55.
✨The Shipka Freedom Monument
There is a wonderful model of the Shipka Freedom Monument in the park. This is one of the most important symbols of Bulgarian freedom and is dedicated to the heroes who fell in the Shipka battles. I have explored it in detail in episode BG14, which is also one of my first voiced episodes.
✨ The Asen Fortress and Tsar Ivan Asen II
The model of the Asen Fortress is very well done. You can see the very rock it is built on, as well as the statue of Tsar Ivan Asen II. I have told about the fortress in episode 18, in which I have also included the church “St. I have also included the fortress in my article.
✨Monument “Founders of the Bulgarian State” – Shumen
This monument is one of the most impressive in Bulgaria. It is huge, it is visible from the road. The model in the park recreates the whole composition. If you want to learn more, check out episode 31, dedicated entirely to the monument.
✨The Madara Rider – the only rock relief in Europe
The Madara Rider is unique – not only in Bulgaria, but in Europe. It is the only such rock relief. I’ve done a full tour of the place in episode BG32, so if you’re planning a visit, give it a look beforehand.
✨Medieval Pliska – the first Bulgarian capital
Pliska is a place of great historical importance. The layout in the park is very extensive, and in episode 33 I’ve covered everything in detail from the great basilica to the fortress walls. You’ll also find useful logistical tips there.
✨The Nativity of Christ Temple – Shipka
This temple is located in the town of Shipka and holds the bones of those who died in the Shipka battles. Its golden domes and the crypt inside are amazing. I filmed the whole tour in episode 55, which I highly recommend.
✨The Battle for the Samara Flag and the Stara Zagora Massacre
This model in the park represents the Samara Flag, one of the most significant symbols of the Liberation. The story around it is told in episode BG57, which is currently the most watched on the channel. There you will also see impressive footage of the place itself.
⭐ Location assessment
The assessment is entirely based on my personal impression and is made according to several main criteria considered separately. I use a 5-point scale where (1/5 – Very bad, 2/5 – Bad, 3/5 – Average, 4/5 – Good, 5/5 – Excellent)
| Criterion | Personal impression | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility 🚗 |
On-site parking, located next to Tsarevets and main thoroughfares. | ★★★★★ |
| History 📜 |
The most important objects of Bulgarian history are presented through more than 80 models. | ★★★★★ |
| Condition 🛠️ |
Detailed layouts and moving trains. Especially attractive for children. | ★★★★★ |
| Conveniences 🚻 |
There are benches, background music, lighting, restrooms and a food court within the park. | ★★★★★ |
| Price 💰 |
15 BGN standard ticket, 7 BGN for children and students – slightly high price for a family visit. | ★★★★☆ |
★★★★☆
✅ Conclusion
Mini Bulgaria Park is not just a tourist attraction – it is a way to tour the whole country in one place. Each model reminds you of real places that are worth seeing in person. And if you’ve been procrastinating on any of these destinations – this might just be the thing to get you going. For me, it wasn’t just filming an episode, but an opportunity to see Bulgaria through a different lens, but with the same value. And if you love to travel and discover – you can’t miss this place.
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