Byala, Varna Province
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 |
|
| Province (oblast) |
Varna |
|---|---|
| Population | 2069 (15.12.2004) |
| Altitude | 42 m |
| Postal code | 9101 |
| Area code | 05143 |
| Geographic coordinates |
42° 53' north, 27° 53' east |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2; UTC+3 in summer) |
| Mayor | Iliyan Tsonev |
Byala (Bulgarian Бяла, white) is a town in Northeastern Bulgaria. It is located in Varna oblast and is close to the Black Sea shore. The Byala municipality consists of the town of Byala and the villages Popovich, Dyulino, Gospodinovo, Goritza and Samotino. In is situated 50km south of Varna and 70km north of Burgas in a semi-mountainous region of coastal Bulgaria.
The first known settlement here, near cape Saint Athanassius (Sveti Atanas) just south of town, is dated back to the 6th century BC. Its Greek name was Aspros (White); later, the Roman road service station Templum Jovis (Temple of Jupiter) was erected, with a fortress nearby. The region became part of the First Bulgarian Empire in 681 AD; the Bulgarian fortress of Vicha stood later on cape Beli Nos (Cape White) north of town. In the Ottoman period (from the late 14th century through 1878), a village known as Akdere (White Canyon) exsited at the town's present location; it was later renamed Byala. A customs office between the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia was temporarily established at the village. It was declared a town on 5 September 1984.
Byala's economy is based mostly on tourism and agriculture, including viticulture. There are several hotels, camping areas and beaches. There are attempts to develop "village tourism", a new concept that is believed to be interesting to foreigners.
Nature landmarks outside Byala inslude Karadere, one of Bulgaria's last remaining wild beaches with pristine dunes and freshwater wetlands, and the White Cliffs (Белите скали, Belite skali) displaying a classic K-T boundary exposure; there is a demonstration centre.
[edit] Cultural Buildings
- Churches: "Sveta Paraskeva"; "Uspenie Bogorodichno"
- Schools: Elementary School "Otetz Paisii" (registered in 1880, built in 1894); Professional High School for Agriculture (founded in 1959); Kindergarten "Purvi juni"
- Stadium: Chernomoretz (built in 1986, seats for 1000)
- Chitalishte: "Probuda" (founded on 1 January 1928, an active local cultural and community centre)
- Museum of Ethnography (built in 1986)
- Military Monuments (mainly commemorating the soldiers who died during World War II)
[edit] Development
The town is underdeveloped if compared to other tourist areas. The local government supports a few environmental and tourism projects. Byala's port is currently under reconstruction and is planned to become a yacht marina. There has been much new residential building undertaken between 2003 and 2006 due to perceived higher interest from foreign investors and tourists.
