Balchik

After the liberation of Bulgaria in 1878, Balchik developed as centre of a rich agricultural region and later, as a major tourist destination. After the Second Balkan War, in 1913, the town, styled Balcic, became part of the Kingdom of Romania. During Romania's administration, the Balchik Palace was the favourite summer residence of Queen Marie of Romania and her immediate family. The town is the site of Marie's Oriental villa, the place where her heart was kept, in accordance with her last wishes, until 1940 (when the Treaty of Craiova awarded the region back to Bulgaria). It was then moved to Bran Castle, in central Romania.