Nestled amongst the sunniest south-western lowest fold of Pirin,
Melnik is a lovely urban jewel against the background of the unusual scenery of sand pyramids.
The small town was once an important economic centre, with more than 25,000 inhabitants, about
1,300 houses and more than 70 churches. Today Melnik hosts Revival houses typical
architecture with white chimneys perched on rocky terraces.
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The Kordopoulos House is the largest preserved Revival Period house on the Balkan Peninsula. It has three floors and its decoration includes stained glass and unique woodcarving. The impressive
cellar excavated in the sand pyramids, which surround the town on all sides can store 300 t of the famous Melnik wine that once left for Turkey, Greece and Europe.
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Melnik Bulgaria
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The Church of St Nicolas the Thaumaturge (Sveti Nikolai Choudotvorets) one of the few cult buildings that have survived in Melnik is also of interest.
Standing upright at the town’s gates an 800-year old sycamore witness Melnik old history.
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The Sand Pyramids
The earth pyramids in the surroundings of the town are rocky formations outlined in various forms and shapes as result of the erosion of
120 m thick layer of Pliocene sands amalgamated with rock-sand material.
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Melnik Bulgaria
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From the town a footpath leads you to the nearby beautiful Rohzen monastery, after crossing, with some airy and scary passages, the sand pyramids area.
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