The northern Black Sea coast of Bulgaria often remains out of the tourist spotlight during the summer season… But Tyulenovo is a paradise, where the lack of a sandy beach also leads to a lack of overdevelopment, huge complexes and many tourists. Peace and quiet reign, broken only by the loud roar of waves crashing on the rocky shore and the buzzing of the uncompromising northeastern mosquitoes.
Where is located and how to get there
Territorially the village falls into Dobrich district and is located 90 km from Varna, 11 km from Shabla and 40 km from the border with Romania. Small houses with large yards predominate, and the local population is only about 50. The main road E87 remains slightly off to the side, and with it the noise from the constantly passing cars in the summer. This creates a sense of remoteness and isolation that can make you forget about the world around you!
Where to stay – Hotel Old Time
We ended up in the most luxurious hotel possible – Old Time! And by “luxury” I definitely don’t mean the material base, as you can guess from the photos… The wonderful attitude from the owners, the great food and the relaxed atmosphere ensured that we didn’t miss anything! Especially the child, who was taken care of by everyone throughout our stay. The rooms are spacious, clean and well furnished, and on the second floor, where we were, there is a small terrace with tables. The pool is an excellent addition and we spent a significant amount of our time around it.
The breakfast was plentiful and with homemade products, and in the evening we tried different things from the menu. They made no mistake, everything was very delicious! The garden is cool and has a pleasant atmosphere, with only aggressive mosquitoes spoiling the perfect experience…
See more places to stay in Tyulenovo
The seals in Tyulenovo
Let’s move on to the answer to the most intriguing question… are there seals in Tyulenovo? Yes, there was, but not today! At the beginning of the 20th century, representatives of the monk seal species settled around the shore of the then village of Kaluch Koy (translated from Turkish as the village of the sickle), and in 1942 it was given its current name. Seals have not been spotted in the area for decades. Information states that the last remains of a pinniped of this species were found in a sea cave in 1978.
Legend of the Princess of Balchik
The most common theory about the appearance of seals in this part of the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast is related to Princess Maria – the creator of the palace in Balchik. She received a gift – a pair of seals, which she raised in a fenced area around the palace. But she decided to free them and release them into the sea, and they reached the shores of present-day Tyulenovo. The underwater caves and northern winds proved to be extremely favorable for their way of life. So they settled there, adapted and created their generations…
Oil production
Passing by the oil rigs, I remembered the long-ago hours studying for my Geography exams, when I read that it was in Tyulenovo in 1951 that the first oil field in Bulgaria was discovered. The date May 31st became emblematic for the village, and to this day the local fair is held on that day. Initially it was estimated that the deposits there amounted to about 1.5 million tons and would be extracted in about 15-20 years. But the initial ideas about the nature of the deposit were not accurate and it is being exploited without interruption to this day, with over 3.5 tons of black gold already extracted!
Around Tyulenovo
Today the village is famous for its picturesque coastline and the wonderful rocky shapes that nature has created! A walk along the well-trodden paths around the shore, under the scent of the forest herbs growing around, is the most common thing to do in Tyulenovo. If you are coming by car, you can park next to the beautiful church of St. George.
The small fishing port is the place where you can start. The few more easily accessible rocks are often occupied by children jumping into the water. You can wander around the fishing boats pulled ashore and feel the scent of the sea wafting from them. If you want to see the land from a different perspective, ask for a local who runs boat tours. They will be happy to show you around, and in addition, you will receive interesting stories…
The Arch and Other Rock Phenomena
The Tyulenovo cliff coast is a natural masterpiece, formed by the destructive action of seawater and the karst process. Most of the rocks have unique shapes and bizarre names given to them by the locals: “Ashalak”, “Kipriya”, “Dupkata”, “Martina”, “Kanarata”, “Samotnika” and others. The last one is my favorite – it rises somehow majestically from the water, slightly to the side of all the others… It even stands out slightly haughtily and proudly on its own! It is a preferred place for rock climbing enthusiasts.
One of the places stands out from all the others and becomes a symbol not only of Tyulenovo, but also of the entire Bulgarian northern coast – the Arch. In 2020, the Ministry of Environment declared it a natural landmark and climbing on it is strictly prohibited. But there is still no ban for photographers, and tripods set up at sunrise, with cameras pointed at it, are completely common. I admit that I wanted to do it too, but I couldn’t get up that early…
💡 After the collapse of the Azure Window rock arch on the island of Gozo in Malta in 2017, this rock phenomenon remains one of a kind in Europe!
Caves and monasteries
The sea may seem inaccessible to the average tourist, but many divers are captivated by the curiosity to explore the waters rich in underwater caves. The longest such cave in Bulgaria (Tyulenova Cave) was also discovered here, with a length of 107 meters! And in the direction of Kamen Bryag there are rock monasteries, sanctuaries and tombs, on the walls of which there are images of crosses, ships and other drawings. Most likely they are a legacy of the ancient nomadic people of the Sarmatians, who lived in these lands until the 4th century.
Views of the endless horizon
If you aren’t prepared for such extreme activities, there are many interesting benches to sit on and watch the unfolding seascapes. You can also get close to the edge of the sheer cliffs and look 20-30 meters down at the sea waves crashing against them. And then raise your head to the endless blue horizon and just breathe deeply from the invigorating timelessness…
Nearby beach
About 14 km away is one of the most impressive beaches north of Varna – Shablenska Tuzla. There is paid parking at the entrance, and you can use Lunara Beach as a reference point. It has a spacious free area and paid straw umbrellas with soft sun loungers. The several restaurants offer delicious food, and their prices are relatively good. The beach is best known for its healing sea mud. The only downside is its stormy northern temperament, which often predisposes to waves and rough seas…
The Shabla lighthouse
The last stop of our walk was the Shabla Lighthouse! This is the oldest (1856) and tallest (32 m) lighthouse in Bulgaria! Given the rocky coastline of the region, he plays a very important role in navigation around our northern Black Sea coast. We left the car at the nearby park and headed to the lighthouse… But let’s just glimpse it from afar! Unfortunately, it is located in a military zone and access to it is restricted. It’s open for visits only on August 18th – International Lighthouse Day. And what a great tourist attraction it would be…
