Saints Constantine and Helena Resort in Bulgaria – Black Sea Vacations

Honestly, for us resort Saints Constantine and Helena was a revelation. The resort of Saints Constantine and Helena is the oldest resort in Bulgaria. Its development began over 100 years ago.

The resort is named after the Monastery of St. Constantine and Helena, located here. According to legend, the monastery was built between the 14th and 16th centuries. Monks, persecuted by the Turks, sought refuge in the forest (the site of the resort today). There, they found an icon of Saints Constantine and Helena. They decided to build a small monastery near a healing mineral spring. The building was constructed of heavy stones, which remain well-preserved to this day.

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After the Turkish conquest of Bulgarian lands, the monastic community declined. The monastery practically ceased to exist. However, in 1832, it was reopened by monks Theodosius and Agapius. Over time, the monastery grew again. By the early 20th century, it owned a large estate with gardens, meadows, a mill, and vineyards covering a total area of 1,600 hectares. The monastery produced the famous Kalugersko Shushukane wine. The monastery was restored three times, most recently in 1973. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church reopened the monastery in 1992. It and its healing mineral springs are still renowned for their healing properties.

The healing water is used for baptisms, water blessings, and church services. Every guest can visit the monastery's small church, which is very interesting in its construction and is highly recommended. Incidentally, Saints Constantine and Helena were not husband and wife, but son and mother. Only the small church remains from that time. 

Art Gallery Under the Stars

Strolling through the resort's green spaces, you'll discover that the park today is not only a place for strolls but also a place for encounters with art. For several years now, the Saints Constantine and Helena resort has been a kind of open-air art gallery. And the collection of sculptures for the park environment grows every year. The creation of the park at the resort is associated with the name of the Czech park builder Anton Novák. He is known for building the Schönburg and Belvedere palaces in Vienna and the Sea Garden in Varna.

Currently, the Saints Constantine and Helena Spa boasts seven hot mineral springs. They are located at depths ranging from 1,800 to 2,000 meters, with a total water flow of 175 liters per second and a water temperature of 40 to 60 degrees Celsius.

The resort of St. St. Constantine and Helena is home to:

Aquahouse Thermal & Beach – a new thermal complex located directly on the beach, offering a variety of spa and wellness tourism opportunities. It features 14 indoor and outdoor pools. There are also mineral water pools of varying depths and temperatures. 

Hotel Azalia Balneo & SPA — a spa hotel right on the beach, offering a variety of spa treatments and the opportunity to cure a number of ailments with the power of mineral water. 

Beneath the Sirius restaurant ship is the so-called "Hot Water," where mineral water from a hot spring flows into the sea from above through a wide pipe filled with therapeutic sea mud. Even in winter, it is actively visited, primarily by Bulgarian, Russian-speaking, and Romanian tourists.

Diving location

A unique diving location in the world is located in the waters off the resort. St. St. Constantine and Helena is a 50-meter-long Tupolev Tu-154 (formerly Air Force One of Bulgaria), which served the Bulgarian government for 20 years and was once flown by Todor Zhivkov. The aircraft made its last flight in 1999 and has not been used for many years.

The plane is located 700 meters from the pier of the St. St. Constantine and Helena resort. It lies underwater at a depth of 22 meters. Access is free for all certified divers.

To get from Varna to the dive site, tourists pay 50 leva per person for a group of at least 10 people. Scuba gear rental costs about 30 leva.

Dives typically last 40-50 minutes. This is enough time to inspect the aircraft both inside and out, Markov said.

Coordinates of the Tu-154 underwater: 43° 13'404 N 28° 01'464 E.

The St. Constantine and Helena resort offers a wide range of accommodation options to suit every taste and budget. Apartment prices range from €25 per night for two people, which is a whole apartment. You can find cheaper options, but these will be further from the sea, starting at €13 for a whole apartment. Hotel prices start at €18 per night for two people; for this price, you can find a two-star hotel, although it won't be on the beachfront and far from the sea.

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