This small Bulgarian town with 200 residents sits among unique sandstone pyramids. Local winemakers produce rich red wine from the native Broad-Leaved Melnik grape.
Melnik, Bulgaria's smallest town with 385 residents, lies at the foot of the Pirin Mountains, where sandstone pyramids tower above its streets. Red wine flows from centuries-old cellars carved into the hills, while merchants' mansions like the Kordopulov House tell stories of the town's trading past. The local Broad Leaf Melnik grape produces full-bodied wines that have drawn visitors to this mountain town since medieval times.
Getting to Melnik
You can reach Melnik from Sofia by car in about 2.5 hours, taking the E79 highway south towards Sandanski. One direct bus runs daily from Sofia's Central Bus Station at 2 PM, arriving in Melnik at 6 PM. The return bus departs at 6 AM the next morning, so plan to stay overnight.
Wine Tasting in Ancient Cellars
Visit the Wine Museum in central Melnik to learn about local winemaking through tastings and exhibits. For 5 leva, you can try four wines and one rakia while examining vintage equipment, including a working 1962 wine corking machine. Several family-run wineries operate in the surrounding hills. Villa Melnik runs tours of its modern facility where you can taste their internationally recognized wines.
The Kordopulov House
The Kordopulov House dates from 1754 and remains the largest merchant residence from Bulgaria's National Revival period. A Greek wine merchant's family lived here, storing their wines in tunnels cut into the sandstone hill behind the house. Inside, you'll walk through rooms with original furniture, wooden carved ceilings, and multicolored glass windows. The 3.50 leva entrance includes a wine tasting in the cellar.
Exploring the Melnik Earth Pyramids
The sandstone formations around Melnik reach heights of 100 meters, shaped by wind and rain into distinctive spires. Walk to the St. Nicholas Plateau for clear views of these formations. Another viewpoint, a 10-minute walk from Rozhen Monastery, looks out over both the pyramids and the monastery complex.
Rozhen Monastery
The Rozhen Monastery stands 6 kilometers from Melnik. This 13th-century complex maintains its medieval architecture, with the main church containing original frescoes and a wooden iconostasis. You can't take photos inside the church, but the courtyard and grounds are open for exploration.
Byzantine Architecture
The Byzantine House, from the 12th or 13th century, is one of the oldest non-religious buildings in the Balkans. What began as a Bulgarian fortress later became the home of Despot Alexius Slav. Medieval buildings dot the town, including the 13th-century Church of St. Nicholas and the Church of SS Peter and Paul from 1840.
