Castle in Bulgaria "Love in the wind": what a guest will see in Ravadinovo
Modern castle in Bulgaria Located 4 km from Sozopol: "In love with the wind" was built by former security officer and athlete - wrestler Georgi Kostadinov Tumpalov.
The castle is not yet completed, but it lives a turbulent social and cultural life: tours are conducted around the castle, and at the same time Tumpalov and his family live in some rooms.
Park and surroundings
5000 square meters of the castle and the surrounding garden symbolize a fairy tale, a dream. To easily imagine all this magnificence, remember Sleeping Beauty, because the Disney movie was filmed in the castle of Falling in the Wind in 2014.
The park is called “homestead” or something else, will not turn the tongue. In fact, the park is a separate enterprise: a cozy, fabulous garden with paths, grottoes, complex arch architecture. And more: sculptures, fountains, arbors, and a variety of trees and flowers.
In the middle of the park there is a large pond in which white and black swans live, and if this picture reminds you of something, it is, yes, it is – a swan lake. Calm, well-groomed, graceful swans with dignity flank the surface, displayed in the surface of the lake, which looks peaceful, gentle.
Peacocks walk along the paths, birds of paradise are allowed to feed. There's a zoo in the park. This ends the living fauna, in addition to plaster figurines of animals, you can pay attention to the flora: wander, looking at the abundant splendor of plants and flowers.
After a walk in the park, it is pleasant to look into the restaurant: eat – drink, relax. Near the garden there is a water park, which was created in the same style.
If you come to Ravadinovo Castle on a weekday or non-holiday day, tune in not to the traditional educational historical excursion, but rather to a pleasant pastime, entertainment, adventure. In this case, you will not be disappointed. Because big historical events could not happen here: the castle was built recently.
Instead of immersing in the depths of centuries, guides will offer a story about how the very idea of building a castle grew out of a dream, and how it was realized. Such a story in itself is motivating, fabulous.
How construction began and continues
Driven by a dream, the elder Tumpalov, two sons and a small group of villagers from Rovadinovo gathered to open the construction site. Georgi Tumpalov drew a cross in the ground and planted a shovel in the ground. Since then, for 25 years, the castle has been standing continuously, supplemented with details, supported by a garden, overgrown with sculptures and fountains.
Not everyone will suddenly take and start building the castle, spend their lives on it and (according to the calculations of local law enforcement agencies, which began to worry about where the money came from) about 3-4 million euros. Let’s be honest: not that much money was spent by modern castle builders. But not everyone lets people into their possessions and conducts excursions, even for money: “Love in the wind” is visited by thousands of tourists and locals from Rovadinovo and other places in Bulgaria.
The owner of the castle is not a shy person: over the massive gate with the coat of arms, the inscription reads: “Sinner, how did he live, what did he do?” I built a castle with a lake and gave birth to two good children.
There, next to the gate, there is a monument to the owner of the castle in armor and with a sword.
Castle.
The castle has 60 halls on the territory of 5000 square meters. There are no guided tours inside: most of the halls are not furnished and renovations are ongoing everywhere.
Or, if they want to, they will be able to take care of themselves and their families. Traces of incessant construction, by the way, are visible everywhere in the castle: some people are hindered by this, while others perceive it as an additional intrigue.
Several rooms inside the castle are finished to the end: there is furniture and decor. The elements of the decoration clearly show the influence of the work of Antonio Gaudí, whose project was built the majestic Church of the Sagrada Familia in Catalonia: Mr. Tumpalov is a fan of the work of the brilliant architect.
In the basement of the castle there is a wine cellar with traditional Bulgarian wines. If you want to buy wine here, the idea will cost more than in the city supermarket: the brand of the castle obliges not to skimp on the dream.
The construction used 20,000 tons of stone, specially extracted from the depths of the Strazhinsky mountains. This is probably not the final figure yet.
Metamorphized limestone, from which the castle was built, contains traces of micro-diamonds, so the stone changes color: pink in the morning, becomes white in the day, shines in the sun, and in the new moon – glows.
There are events: sports competitions, exhibitions, Christmas holidays. Here on such days it is pleasant to visit – the atmosphere of a fairy-tale castle is the best way to make a wish.
Prices and how to get there
A visit to the dream castle costs 10 Euros at the entrance. Of course, if you want to visit a restaurant or buy wine, it will be paid as a separate option. There are discounts before Christmas.
Small minus: complicated road from Sozopol or Rovadinovo. Bus Sozopol – Burgas stops in the center of Ravadinovo, but then you will have to get by taxi.
The radical solution is car sharing. To reach the folding, at the price per person (one way) 20 - 25 leva. Or whatever you want. Anyway, excursion transport is more expensive.
The excursion bus to the destination – the castle – and back, will cost 30-35 EUR (starting from 70 leva).
“I am a stranger from a distant country. And all the way I carried you in my heart. I kept you safe in my soul. Like a mother protecting a child. I carried you long in my arms, my dream, and lifted you up, stone by stone. Now I see you before my eyes, a charming castle in love with the wind, like this, again immodestly, but boldly.
Perhaps in this way, dreams materialize in our world from the virtual world. If you want a strong motivation, visit the castle.
Text: Valeria Fialkova
Photo courtesy of "Love in the Wind" castle
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