Thracian tomb of Kazanlak

The Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak is a vaulted brickwork "beehive" (tholos) tomb, close to the ancient Thracian capital of Seuthopolis.

The tomb is part of a large Thracian necropolis. It comprises a narrow corridor and a round burial chamber, both decorated with murals representing a Thracian couple at a ritual funeral feast. The monument dates back to the 4th century BC.

The murals are memorable for the splendid horses and especially for the gesture of farewell, in which the seated couple grasp each other's wrists in a moment of tenderness and equality. The paintings are Bulgaria's best-preserved artistic masterpieces from the Hellenistic period.

Year	Decision	Comments
1979	Inscribed	Reasons for inscription

Reviews

Rossitza Ohridska-Olson (USA):
Kazanluk Thracian Tomb (the original) can be visited by ordinary people if they pay and schedule ahead their visit. Talk to the local guide and ask for the process. Otherwise, there are several travel agencies which already obtained the permit through the Ministry of Culture and include the visit to the original in their tours.

Please also keep in mind that the frescoes in the original are very sensitive to temperature and humidity changes, so the visitation is controlled. We want to preserve this wonderful piece of architecture and art at least for the next 2500 years, as it was preserved till now.

Date posted: May 2009

Paul Tanner (UK):

I have mentioned to Els that it might be interesting to produce a list of WHS which one is not actually allowed, as an ordinary member of the public, to enter. The Thracian Tombs of Kazanlak fit into that category since only scholars “with good reason” can get authorisation from the Ministry of Culture!! However all is not lost as the Bulgarians have built what seemed to me to be a rather fine replica next door (some 50mtrs) to the main tomb.

You can walk on the mound of the original tomb but you need to go to the replica to get some idea of what is inside. How accurate the replica paintings are I know not but it is the only chance you are going to get to experience something of what a Thracian tomb from the 3rd or 4th century is like. (PS I think this was the case when we visited in 2000 but, as of 2006, it seems that the WHS inscribed tomb at Sveshtari can at times be visited - see review)

Kazanlak is a pleasant town which anyone doing a tour of Bulgaria is likely to include in their itinerary. It is a world centre for the production of Attar of Roses and the “Rose Museum” and fields are worth visiting. So whilst you are there pick up the Thracian tomb.

Bulgaria was very quick off the mark in getting its WHS sites accepted and by 1983 it already had 7 of its 8 current sites accepted and the 9th came only 2 years later (By that date UK had NO WHS!). I wouldn’t put any of them in the “Worth a Journey” class but a 1 week fly drive tour of the country should be enough to see all 8 and they provide a good introduction to the country’s historic and scenic variety. In my view Kazanlak is no more or less interesting than the rest

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