About the village

The village of Bliznak is located 54 km south of the city of Bourgas and 41 km away from the town of Malko Tarnovo.

The surroundings of Bliznak are known for their beautiful and opulent nature. The area around the village is characterized by century-old oak and beech-tree woods. Single Strandjan oak trees grow in the ravines and on the banks of the rivers outside the settlement. The fauna of the area is represented by thigh and tail-spiked turtles, different birds of pray, etc.

The vicinity of the village of Bliznak offers a great variety of wonderful opportunities for hiking tourism. The springs of the Mladejka River are located nearby. The only active monastery in this part of Bulgaria – the "St. Jivotopriemnii Iztochnik" Monastery, is located 12 km northwest of Bliznak, near the village of Golyamo Bukovo. The region also offers a great number of dolmens.

History

In the past the village of Bliznak was know under the names Karaviran, Karaevren. Translated from Turkish, those words mean a black dragon or serpent. The dragons/ serpents are widely used in the myths and legends of the Strandja Mountain because of the great number of dolmens in the area. The archaeological finds show that here there has been a settlement from the time of the Thracian kings and later from the period of ruling of the Roman Emperors. Coins from that period were uncovered south of the village in the Karaevrensko kale (Gradishte) place. A marble relief of the Three Nymphs dated back to the II century AD and a treasure of 499 silver coated copper coins of Roman Emperors from the IV century were discovered in the village of Bliznak. Judging by its foundation, which is the only part that has been preserved, the fragmented relief of the Three Nymphs has been huge in dimensions. The name Tiberius Claudius Premiion was written in Old Greek letters on the relief. That person has probably been a Romanized Thracian who may have become a Roman citizen around I century AD, during the rule of the Claudius Emperors. Today this graceful masterpiece can be seen in the historic museum in the town of Malko Tarnovo where it is exhibited.
The ruins of the famous Karaevrenska kula tower, associated with the so-called Karaevrenska catastrophe events from 1803 are located on an elevation in immediate proximity to the village of Bliznak. In that year the Kardjali hordes burned the tower of the local Ottoman landlord. Hundreds of people perished in the conflagration.

The residents of the village are descendants of fugitives from Eastern Thrace, who settled here in 1913.

Landmarks

• The "St. Jivotopriemnii Iztochnik" Monastery – 2 km northwest of the village of Bliznak
• A century-old hornbeam tree (Carpinus betilus)
• Century-old oak and beech-tree woods