Antiquity — today

History

Four eras leave their marks: Thracian/Greek Urdoviza, Roman, mediaeval/Ottoman and modern Primorsko with the international youth camps.

Thracian and Greek Urdoviza (6th c. BC – 1st c.)

The small peninsula has been inhabited since the 6th century BC by Thracians. Greek colonists from Apollonia (Sozopol) used it as a harbour station and called it Urdoviza. Notable finds from the area include a Thracian sanctuary complex near today's South Beach and traces of Hellenistic dwellings.

Roman period (1st–4th c.)

After entering the Roman Empire, Urdoviza remained a small harbour station between Apollonia and Agathopolis (Ahtopol). Remains from this period include road infrastructure, a small bath and several graves — now on display in the Sozopol museum.

Middle Ages and Ottoman Empire (6th–19th c.)

In the Middle Ages Urdoviza / Kypria gradually lost its role as a port. Under Ottoman rule it became a quiet fishing village with Greek and Bulgarian inhabitants — around 200 houses. In the 19th century refugees from Eastern Thrace and Asia Minor settled here.

Primorsko and the youth camps (1934 — today)

In 1934 the town was renamed from Kypria to Primorsko. Construction of the International Youth Centre began in 1952, hosting over 400,000 young people from 50+ countries until 1989. After the transition, Primorsko became a quiet family resort — a preferred alternative to the busy Sunny Beach, especially for Russian and German tourists.

Start here

Start your day in Primorsko

A morning swim at the North Beach, lunch by the harbour, afternoon at the South Beach or a trip to Ropotamo, evening walk on the seafront promenade.