Visiting the Castle of Queen Maria in Bulgaria
Written by Melline Galani.
The Balchik Palace is a former summer residence of Queen Maria of Romania, built in 1924–1927 by Italian architects Amerigo and Augustino, and also known as the “Quiet Nest,” as the Queen often called her summer getaway. She had discovered the place in 1924 and instantly fell in love with it.
Queen Maria Alexandra Victoria of Edinburgh is considered one of the most successful sovereigns of Europe in the last century. She was born in 1875 in Kent, England, and was the niece of the legendary Queen Victoria. Her father, Prince Alfred, was the second son of Queen Victoria. Her mother, Duchess Maria of Edinburgh (born Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia), was the only living daughter of Tsar Alexander II of Russia.
At the age of 18, she became Queen of Romania through her marriage to Prince Ferdinand Viktor Albert Hohenzollern Meynred. They had five children: two sons and three daughters – the eldest, Carol (the future king of Romania, Carol II); Nicolae; Elizabeth (Helena), the future queen of Greece; Maria (Marioara), the queen of Serbia; and Iliana the youngest, who married Antony, the Duke of Habsburg.
From 1913 to 1940, Balchik belonged to the Kingdom of Romania, together with the rest of South Dobrogea. In 1940, ownership passed to the Bulgarians. This small Bulgarian town (as the name suggests – Balikchik) is located about 64 kilometers from Vama Veche (Romania), sharing the same shores of the Black Sea.
The Balchik Palace still holds a special place in my heart, even if it has been a while since I last saw it. I was there during one of my summer vacations that I spent at Albena Resort in Bulgaria, a little over 15 kilometers away from Balchik, some years ago.
Since I like exploring surroundings so much, I took one day for a special trip to the Queen’s Castle. I didn’t know much about it at the time, and to tell the truth, neither did I know much about the Queen (education during the time of Communism was very subjective). It was this trip that made me search for the real history of my country. I still remember the first emotions and chills I had, seeing the palace, but mostly, seeing the amazing gardens.
The building was erected by order of Queen Maria and was her summer residence, and at the same time, it was also her favorite place. It has a rather austere air and a small number of rooms, but from the terrace, you can admire the sea. The Queen built the castle, combining the Italian and Turkish styles, with minarets. The walls of the structure are whitewashed. Besides the castle, inside there is a restaurant where the Queen dined. This restaurant is open to visitors today.
In addition to the main building, Balchik has several smaller villas and several terraced gardens. There is also a chapel, which was built as a place of prayer for Queen Maria. It is the smallest church in Bulgaria and the place where the Queen wanted her heart to rest. It now houses the box containing the heart of Queen Maria, who is buried in a monastery in Romania.
Queen Maria was passionate about flowers and managed to create a real botanical garden at the castle, with 3,000 species of plants, some of them quite rare, but also with over 250 species of cactuses which turned the place into a unique one in Central and East Europe. The 12 gardens were created not only for their beauty; each arrangement and each plant is symbolic. The Cretan Labyrinth stands out, with its construction materials brought in from the island of Crete, as does the Divine Garden, with its alleys of Moroccan cobblestones.
The botanical garden is also decorated with statues, waterfalls, and artworks from all over the world. An interesting place to see in the garden is the Nymphaeum, located in the eastern part of the complex, overlooking the sea and beach. The Nymphaeum is also called “The Water Temple” and is an open-air construction with pillars and a pool. According to some sources, the Queen liked to come to this temple on special occasions and contemplate the stars’ reflection in the clear water. The romantic and artistic sides of Queen Maria found their expression in these gardens. That was the feeling I got when I entered those alleys full of colored flowers and scents. I guess that since I’m also an incurable romantic, I’m always in love with mysteries, unshared love, adventures, and romance. These were the feelings I embraced during my walk through the gardens of Queen Maria’s Quiet Nest in Bulgaria.
THE AUTHOR
Melline Galani is a Romanian enthusiast, born and raised in the capital city of Bucharest, who is currently living in Gwangju. She likes new challenges, learning interesting things, and is incurably optimistic. Instagram: @melligalanis