Rezovo: The wild Kastrich Bay

Kastrich Bay is an incredible place that lays between the resorts of Sinemorets and Rezovo. It impresses with its magnificent rock formations, which were sculptured by the forces of nature as well as the virgin forest that surrounds it. Also, the presence of any trace of human beings here is minimal, which enhances the sensation of contact with nature.

The place is suitable for sunbath as well as swimming mainly for nature lovers and divers that chose Sinemorets or Rezovo for their holiday at the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. It is not appropriate for pretentious vacationers cause there is no sand where can put the towel, but only large round stones.

 Could reach Kastrich Bay by a hiking trail, which crosses a forest, and takes about 20 minutes walking. Although the road is wide enough, to move by car, off-road type, that is forbidden. Kastrich Bay lays in a Protected Area “Silistar”, and only foresters have the right to move by a vehicle according to the order.

How to get to the wild Kastrich Bay – map, route and GPX file  
Download file: Kastrich-Bay-EN.gpx GPX file


USEFUL: For more information on how to open GPX files with a smartphone, see this link .

For planning your visit to the place or accommodation in the nearby settlements, can use the collection of assistive tools – Google Road Map with calculator in km, flights to Bulgaria, rental cars, weather forecast, hotel search, timetables of buses in the region, see this link.


Route description

The location of Kastrich bay is 8 km south of Sinemorets village and 3.5 km north of Rezovo village where is the border between Bulgaria and Turkey. It is 90 km away from the regional city Burgas, and it is also into the territory of Strandzha Nature Park.

When you stop at the location with a marker in the GPX file, there is a vast meadow where can park a car. After that, the distance is about 1.5 km downhill through the forest and displacement – 70 m.

The meadow at the asphalt road. You can park a car here and continue on foot
The meadow at the asphalt road. You can park a car here and continue on foot

Kastrich Bay - a wild bay nearby Rezovo village on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast
Kastrich Bay – view of the northern cape, which has the same name Kastrich

Kastrich wild bay - the southern part
A large rock at the southern end of the bay

Kastrich wild bay - the southern part with the natural swimming pool.
A small natural pool where the waters are calmer and warmer

The unusual, highly abrasive shores in the entire area, between Sinemorets and Rezovo, were the result of the streams of volcanic lava that flowed in the distant past. Later, to the resulting formations, the sea and the winds have influenced erosive for thousands of years. This is the Kastrich Bay we see now – magnificent and ancient, has swum through the storms of time to fascinate and delight us now.

Ancient fortress Kastrich

Historians guess that here, back in Antiquity, there was a fortress with the name Castrition. Subsequently, the frontier forces of medieval Bulgarian kingdoms used it. According to researchers – one could see the remains even in the present. Somewhere here are the walls that form a 20/30 m rectangle. Unfortunately, during our visit to the area, we didn’t find them. Perhaps with a little more luck, you will be able to see them.

Cape Kastrich

 A path through a pine forest will lead you to the northern cape (see GPX file). For those of you who would like to visit it, it is advisable to equip yourself with hiking shoes or sneakers, long trousers as well as insect spray – the path is narrow and the grass is high. From there it reveals a beautiful view of the bay.

View of the sea and the rocks of Cape Kastrich
View of the sea and the rocks of Cape Kastrich

 

Looking back at the Kastrich bay
Looking back at the bay
Kastrich Bay - another view of the cape
Kastrich Bay – another view of the cape

 On the rocks, we saw the rare plants Plumbaginaceae (Limonium gmelini) and Sea fennel (crithmum maritimum). We were able to shoot them flowered in early August.

Plumbaginaceae (Limonium gmelini)
 Plumbaginaceae (Limonium gmelini) – flowered. Very rare and protected by law. It is found only on rocks near the sea

 Sea fennel (crithmum maritimum)
 Sea fennel (crithmum maritimum). The species is included in the Biological Diversity Act of Bulgaria as a rare species

Preservation of Protected Area Silistar, where the Kastrich Bay lays

The entire area from Silistar Beach to Rezovo village where is the Cape Kastrich is protected. It is determined as one of the most important wetlands for the conservation of waterfowl – Protected Area Silistar.

It is into the territory of Strandzha Nature Park, the European ecological network Natura 2000, and besides, the field has forest status. 

For this reason, it is forbidden a moving by motor vehicles on dirt roads through the forest behind the coast, and that is why the wild bay has remained intact so far. Besides, you have to follow some rules when visiting for protecting natural resources.

To put it briefly – do not throw away waste, do not tear plants, do not light a fire, no camping, and let the place look like you’ve found it!

For more details, or if you intend to carry out particular activities other than a tourist walk, the full text of the laws can read here.

  1. Protected area “Silistar” – current prohibitions and regimes ( the page of Bulgarian “Executive Environment Agency”)
  2. Strandzha Nature Park – current prohibitions and regimes ( the page of Bulgarian “Executive Environment Agency”)
  3. Bulgarian Forestry Act

Continue of the walk

Around the area, you can also visit:

  1. Rezovo village (3 km to the south) where is the border between Bulgaria and Turkey. There is also a dramatic cliff coast, a small beach and old wooden houses.
  2. One of the most beautiful beaches on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast – the Silistar Beach ( 2 km in the north). It has attractive natural features.
  3. Sinemorets Resort (8 km) where there are also beautiful beaches and unusual rock formations (the Sphinx and the Ships)
  4. A small pier on the Veleka River (near Sinemorets) for a motorboat or kayak stroll
  5. The resorts Ahtopol (14 km), Varvara (19 km) or Tsarevo (28 km) for other beautiful beaches, landmarks and picturesque seascapes.

USEFUL: To get a quick and easy idea of ​​where these places are – see the destinations marked on our Google map. There all the landmarks we’ve written about, are marked as tags with links.

Also, to plan your trip to them, you can use the selection of assistive tools: Google Road Map with calculator in km, flights to Bulgaria, rental cars, weather forecast, hotel search, timetables of buses in the region.

Offers for hotels nearby, in Sinemorets


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