Season 2, Episode 41 - Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak (Bulgaria)

In this episode of Global Treasures, we cover the Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak. Established as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1979, this tomb contains Bulgaria’s best-preserved paintings from the Hellenistic period. Join us as we discuss the history, travel tips for visiting and more.

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Episode Transcript

Abigail (00:00):
Imagine a place that tells a story spanning centuries where
culture and nature intertwine tocreate something truly extraordinary.
That's the beauty of UNESCOWorld Heritage Sites.
I'm Abigail, and this is GlobalTreasures, the podcast that covers

(00:20):
the history, travel tips andlegends surrounding one of the 1,223
World Heritage Sites each episode.
These places have been identifiedas having universal, cultural or
natural significance that is soexceptional that it transcends national

(00:41):
boundaries and is of importanceto present and future generations.
Welcome to season two, wherewe'll explore the 45 sites that
UNESCO added in 1979 together.
Thank you for listening tothe Global Treasures Podcast.
We appreciate all of your support, and youcan continue to support us by subscribing

(01:05):
at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Podbean.
You can also follow uson TikTok and Facebook.
Please share this podcast withyour friends as well if they
love history and travel too.
In the heart of central Bulgarialies the Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak.
This ancient tomb is part of a vast royalnecropolis, nestled in the valley of the

(01:32):
Thracian rulers, a region that holds theremains of more than a thousand tombs
belonging to ancient royalty and nobility.
A necropolis is a large cemeteryfilled with monumental tombs.
The tombs themselves offer aglimpse into the daily lives and

(01:52):
belief systems of the Thracians, anancient people who once inhabited
the lands of southeastern Europe.
Known for their vibrant folkloreand elaborate funerary practices,
the Thracians left behind a powerfullegacy and rich history, which
is believed to have influencedboth the Romans and the Greeks.

(02:16):
Interestingly enough, the Greeks andthe Romans viewed the Thracian people as
savages and did not look kindly upon them.
Historically, the Thracian populationmingled with incoming Slavic tribes,
a blending of cultures that continuedwith the arrival of the Bulgars.

(02:37):
This eventually led to the developmentof the first Bulgarian Empire.
The Bulgars, Slavs and the Thraciansslowly blended together, producing
the Bulgarian people, whose culturereflects the ancient civilizations
that once prospered in these lands.
Dating back to the fourth centuryBC, the paintings within this tomb

(03:02):
are the best preserved examplesof Hellenistic art in Bulgaria.
Picture a narrow corridor leadingto a round domed chamber just large
enough to fit bodies for a burial.
Instead of a dark dank mausoleum,it's painted and decorated with
murals of Thracian couple ata ritualistic funeral feast.

(03:26):
These feasts were a tribute to thosewho passed away, as well as a means to
reinforce social ties and boast if youheld a place high in the social hierarchy.
Gifts, such as alcohol were oftendispensed as a symbolic gesture to
make sure their loved ones could enjoytheir favorite things in the afterlife.

(03:49):
The mural shows a seated couplegrasping at each other's wrists.
They're seated separatelyin different ornate chairs.
Horn musicians can be seen playinginstruments as they march in line.
It also depicts animals,specifically horses.
Saddled horses are being led in one scene,while another shows a porter, drawing

(04:15):
an awaiting chariot and a chariot racein progress at the very top of the dome.
The trim of the ceiling depictscattle skulls draped with scarves
across their horns and whatappears to be a floral pattern.
What all of this means symbolically,continues to be debated to this day.

(04:37):
The tomb was discovered accidentally inthe 1940s, and they were amazed that the
colors were still so rich and the picturesso vivid after thousands of years.
It's worth noting that this tomb alsohas ties to another UNESCO World Heritage
Site located in Bulgaria, Madara Rider.

(05:01):
Madara Rider is a relief from theseventh century AD, which looks
like a Thracian Horseman relief.
If you would like to go back and listen tothat episode, it's season two, episode 22.
Now that you have some of the context andhistory, if you want to visit the stunning
tomb, let me discuss some logistics andother travel tips you might find helpful.

(05:27):
I'll also be sure to post links in theshow notes to help make planning your
trip a bit easier at no extra cost to you.
If you're flying in from anothercountry, you'll want to fly into
Plovdiv Airport and then take abus, train, car or taxi to Kazanlak.

(05:47):
There is public transportation bybus in case you don't rent a car.
You should know that certain ride sharecompanies don't operate in Bulgaria.
If you choose to stay in Kazanlak,you'll have plenty of hotel and
home stay options available.
In terms of getting tickets for the site.
Know that the original tombis not open to the public.

(06:11):
This, of course, is for preservationpurposes, so what you'll see is
an incredibly detailed replica.
You can't purchase tickets online,but you can buy them on site.
It's inexpensive, and certain daysof the month actually are free.
You don't have to worry aboutfighting off large crowds either.

(06:32):
It appears the site gets undera thousand visitors each year.
You can also visit the Museum ofHistory Iskra, which contains finds from
the Thracian town of Seuthopolis andover 50,000 other original exhibits.
Another popular stop in thearea is the tomb of Seuthes

(06:54):
the 3rd which is not a replica.
You'll be seeing the real thing.
It doesn't contain his remains, though.
He was likely cremated.
It doesn't have the grand frescoeslike the Thracian tomb, but it
contains a bronze head and a helmetthat are both in remarkable condition.

(07:14):
Finally, there's the ShipkaMemorial Church, which was erected
after Bulgarian independence.
This is a great spot for photos.
It is truly beautiful.
I do want to mention there are daytours from Sofia and other towns
and cities throughout the countrythat cover the tomb and a couple

(07:37):
of the other spots I mentioned.
But know that it's going to be a lotof travel to and from, potentially
two to four hours each way by bus.
So you may not have a lot of time tospend in the actual sites and museums.
Sometimes seeing less, but havingquality time in each spot makes

(07:58):
for a more worthwhile trip.
In terms of the weather, the wintersare mild with low temperatures in the
thirties, and that's degrees Fahrenheit.
It gets up as high as the midseventies during the summer, and
between May and August, there is amoderate amount of rain, so you may
want to pack a poncho or an umbrella.

(08:21):
While English is more widely spokenin tourist hotspots, Bulgarian is the
official language, so be ready with atranslation app or consider learning
a few phrases like please and thankyou for efficient communication.
But keep in mind that one ofthe best parts of traveling is

(08:41):
the learning that comes with it.
It's truly empowering and reminds meof all of the things that I'm adept at.
You may also want to bringcash to exchange for Bulgarian
currency upon arrival.
Certain credit cards may notbe accepted in smaller stores.
Per usual, I want to touchon the cuisine as well.

(09:04):
Kazanlak has cafes, food markets,bakeries, fast food, and fine
dining options available.
One dish that's worth trying ifyou see it on a menu is moussaka.
Although this dish is typicallyassociated with the Greeks, the
Bulgarian spin on this is really tasty.

(09:25):
Moussaka is minced spiced meatcombined with tomatoes and eggplant.
However, this version swaps outeggplant for white potatoes and
is topped with a bechamel sauce.
It's often served at celebrations.
Food shapes our individual andcollective or global identities and

(09:49):
serves as a means to nourish ourselvesphysically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Today, the Thracian Tomb of Kazanlakstands as a symbol of that deep
and complex history, a treasure ofBulgaria that connects its modern
identity to the ancient world.

(10:13):
Join us for our next episodewhere we'll explore Tikal National
Park located in Guatemala.
The center of this jungle containsMayan temples and palaces, and most
famously was used as a site forfilming none other than the Star
Wars film, Episode four, A New Hope.

(10:36):
Until then, keep exploring, keepwondering, and keep treasuring
the remarkable diversityof our world's heritage.