The Place of Peace
Visitor’s Center, Historical Fountain Park
The Fountain of Kyuchuk Kaynardzha

The reason

Why is Kaynardzha a Place of Peace

In 1774 this place had been crucial to the victory of Russia over the Ottoman Empire in the 1768-1774 War and nowadays it represents a true “Place of Peace”.

The fifth Russo-Turkish War (1768-1774) was proclaimed by the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire -Mustafa III against the Russian Empire. At the end of the war the throne belonged already to Sultan Abdul Hamid I. The Russian Empress Catherine II – the Great – imposed her victory by signing “Kyuchuk- Kaynardzha Peace Treaty” on 21st July 1774 between Russia and the Ottoman Empire. The treaty, written in Italian, Turkish and Russian, was signed and certified by the Field-Marshal Rumyantsev Rumyantsev and the Great Vizier Musul Zade Mehmed Pasha. In honor of this event a water well was built in 1892 and declared as a historical and architectural monument.

The Treaty of Kyuchuk Kaynardzha (Küçük Kaynarca) proclaimed Russia as a defender of Christians and Christianity in the Ottoman Empire and guaranteed Russia access to the Black Sea.

Visit the place where the peace treaty was signed.

The peace treaty of Küçük Kaynarca was signed on a large rock near the existing small spring. There is a memorial plate on this rock and visitors are welcomed with flowers and wreaths.

The place is loaded with special energy. On early 1773, General Weisman – called the Russian Achilles – got a win at Küçük Kaynarca (today Kaynardzha, Bulgaria). Peaceful talks were offered but Sultan Mustafa III was aiming for a victory over Russia and the war continued. In January 1774 he Died and the throne of the Ottoman Empire came to be occupied by Abdul Hamid I but the war didn’t stop. Then the Field Marshal Count Rumyantsev passes south of the Danube and along with several other brilliant generals (General Suvorov, General Orlov). In June 1774, in the village of Kaynardzha again, the Field Marshal Count Rumyantsev held a second victory over the Ottoman troops. Negotiations are renewed and the Küçük Kaynarca Peace Treaty signed on July 21, 1774.

Discover the source of life.

The historical Kyuchuk Kainardzha Water Well has unique sizes – its front is more than 76 m.

In 2010, Kaynardzha Municipality together with other six municipalities in Silistra region applied for the Program EDEN of the European Commission with a project which is ranked on the first place for Bulgaria under the theme “The Water – Source of Life and Prosperity”. The project is called “The Seven’states of water: spirit, health, faith, history, beauty, tradition and customs” and Kaynardzha Municipality participated in the “history” chapter with the subject “The Kyuchuk Kainardzha Water Well” – a symbol of peace.

Dive in the history of Kaynardzha.

In the tourist centre, inaugurated on 21st June 2014 in honour of the 240th Anniversary of Küçük Kaynarca Peace Treaty, an exhibition of documents and maps used in the military actions, copies of the peace treaty and portraits of the brave Russian generals and the Empress Catherine the Great can be visited.

In another larger hall there is an exhibition on the development of the life and culture of Dobrudja and Kaynardzha over the centuries. There are also materials reflecting the two protected areas located on the territory of Kaynardzha Municipality which is integrated into the Via Pontica migratory bird road and only 45 km far from Lake Srebarna, a protected site of UNESCO – Biosphere Reserve and 100 km far from the Reserve “Bolata” near the Black Sea. Visitors can see Dalmatian and pink pelican, pink eggplant, white swan, pink starches, larks and many others.

The tourist visitor center often organizes events of a different nature: exhibitions, book presentations and literary readings, information and training events. The hall has a capacity for 45 to 50 people and is equipped with computers, video projectors, screens, printers and scanners.

How to arrive

Location

Kaynardzha is located in the north of Bulgaria, close to the Romanian border. The city of Silistra is 30km away. If you take the national road 71 from Silistra and head south to Dobrich/Varna, Kaynardzha will be on your left on road 7001.

What to Eat

Discover the delicacies of Dobruja

In the vicinity of Kaynardzha you can find wonderful Dobroudja food, prepared according to old recipes as is the case of cooked meat with vegetables. For dessert, Dobrudja Pie “Plaquetta” with honey. Wine from “Kaynardja’s Wine Cellar” must be added to the food.

Ritual of the Toasted Bread is a traditional welcome ceremony for guests or to celebrate holidays in family. On several occasions figures related to the holiday on which is dedicated are drawn on the top of the cake expressing fertility, figurines of domestic animals or rich knitwear devoted to love. It is made with cheese or sweet and it is served with salt or honey by young girls dressed in traditional costumes.

Local production of “Cabernet Sauvignon”, as well as various dessert light wines from Kaynardja’s Winery. The winery offers the wine “Kaynardja – 1774” dedicated to the peace treaty. The wine has three different flavors and composition – white, rosé and red dry wine. There’s also the wine “Emperor 1774” dedicated to Ekaterina The Great. These wines are made with Cabernet Sauvignon variety grown on the territory of Kaynardzha Municipality. The cellar also offers other types of wine – mainly table wines.

Banitsa with thin peel and rich water. This dish is traditional in Dobrudzha Region – very typical in every village and it is called by different names – “Plaquetta” or “Milina”. Our grandparents made it in the furnace but in the modern conditions it becomes very delicious, especially sprinkled with honey or fruit jam.

Meal of corn flour. Nowadays this dish is a rarely cooked delicacy but in the past people ate it to eat it before the wheat harvest. There are variants with cheese and boiled eggs or with fresh milk and honey. It has an interesting and mysterious aspect but a very pleasant flavor.

Prepared in ceramic pot meat, steamed with vegetables in a furnace. Very often, for the holidays in Kaynardja, meat is prepared with vegetables in ceramic pots baked in a furnace. Chicken with garden vegetables, rabbit carrots and potatoes or lamb meat with rice and wheat. Go for a slow fire about 4-5 hours and become very appetizing. Many of the restaurants near Kaynardja offer these dishes.

Things to Do

Be active around Kaynardzha

Visit the Place of Peace
Walk through the Thracian Garden Badzhaliata
Keep the fountain under the willows

1 2 3

Visit the rock – the place of peace – and a walk along the eco-path of the whole Historical Fountain Park, which covers an area of 32 decares. Examination of a monument to Count Rumyantsev and a bas-relief of Catherine the Great. Excursion to Kyuchukkainjarjana fountain, which is a monument of culture.
Visit to the Church of the Holy Trinity – a monument of culture. It is 500 meters from the place of peace.
Visiting a Thracian Rock Sanctuary 6-5th century BC Near the village of Strelkovo. It is a rock complex for rituals of the ancient Thracians. It is 15 km from Kaynardja.
In the vicinity of Kaynardja there are centuries-old forests suitable for hiking or cycling, as well as horse riding. There is a certified airport for small airplane flights over protected areas. 45 euros per flight of 15 min. the trip can be shared by a maximum of three tourists. The airport has a base and a pilot training license. Throughout the year Kaynardja municipality celebrates holidays. A 15-year anniversary celebration is held for the authentic folklore “Keep the fountain under the willows” in June each year.

Where to Stay

Relax after the visit

Choban Mahala Complex

Complex of 5 family houses with a total of 20 seats. Each house has its own internal bathroom. The restaurant seats 30 guest. It is situated in the silence of the small village of Kamentsi. Suitable for family holidays, privacy in a detached house or training of business teams away from the tensions of the big cities. There is also a swimming pool, cycling opportunities in the surroundings or visit Orthodox temple “Holy Wonderland”.

Location
19 km from Kaynardja village.

Contact Info
Phone: +359 897 20 17 17 (Family Chobanov)
Internet: chobanmahala.com

Dobrudja Guest Houses

There are separate rooms for rent in different Dobrudja houses for rural tourism. Well-arranged in the style of Dobrogea, with an internal sanitary unit. They give guests the opportunity to get acquainted with the village life, to enjoy the fresh air, to taste delicious food and homemade wine.

Location
In the village of Kaynardja and its surroundings

Contact Info
Phone: +359 883 46 49 36; +359 899 93 02 11