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Kavarna ( , ) is a Black Sea coastal town and seaside resort in the Dobruja region of northeastern Bulgaria. It lies northeast of Varna, from Dobrich, and south of the border with Romania. It is the principal town of Kavarna Municipality, part of Dobrich Province. As of December 2009, the town had a population of 11,397. Bulgarian National Statistical Institute - towns in 2009 „WorldCityPopulation“ A little yacht port, a fishing base, a spacious beach and a resort complex exist in the town. The landmark Cape Kaliakra is located a few kilometers to the east, as is the tiny beachfront resort of Rusalka. Three 18-hole golf courses with villa communities and marinas are being developed nearby, two of the courses are designed by Gary Player and one by Ian Woosnam.
During the 2000s, the town became famous with the annual Kaliakra Rock Fest featuring famous rock bands from around the world.
The name Kavarna as referring to this city was first mentioned in the 15th century; perhaps it was a new name influenced phonetically by the preexisting names of Karvuna (which town was already known as Balchik) and Varna.
The area around Kavarna offers opportunities for developing ecotourism and specialized tourism — examination and photography of plants, dolphins and various kinds of fish in the coastal waters. The variety of birds attracts tourists from all parts of the world and contributes to Kaliakra and Yaylata becoming one of the most preferred places in Bulgaria for the development of ornithological tourism.
During its early period, Byzone was home to a mixed population, consisting of Ancient Greece, Thracians, and hybrid Greek-Thracian communities. In the Hellenistic period, it is believed that some Scythians also settled in the area. By this time, Byzone had grown into an important port and commercial hub, facilitating trade between the local Thracian and Scythian populations and merchants from mainland Greece, Anatolia, and the Aegean islands. Goods such as ceramics, bronze vessels, weaponry, wine, and olive oil were imported, while the region exported grain, timber, and raw materials to cities across the Greek world. During the 3rd and 2nd century BC, the town played an important mediating role between the local Thracians settlements and the Greeks. Despite being unsuitable for wharfing because of its rugged cliffs, this part of the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast was an attractive centre due to the fact that the local people produced and traded with high quality grain.
In the 1st century BCE, a disastrous earthquake struck the area, causing significant damage to Byzone. The disaster led to the destruction of much of the town, with a large part of its rocky promontory collapsing into the Black Sea's waters. According to the leader of the finished first part of the underwater archaeological expedition Kavarna 2005, Asen Salkin, the Roman town of Bizone has sunk two times in the sea. For that evidence the located form skin-divers borders of a sunk residential district of the town of Bizone in Kavarna's coast. For the presence of residential buildings the archaeologists judge by the found ashlars and parts of brick walls. The finds date from the 2nd century AD. According to the leader of the expedition this residential district has nothing in common with the disastrous earthquake from the 1st century BC. The underwater finds evidence for other phenomenon, for which the scientists express only suppositions, such as transgression and regression of the strata. It has started to transgress during the 1st century AD and this has continued to the 2nd century. It is possible that during this period the coast had risen by four metres and one day it suddenly fallen through.
A smaller settlement and port emerged on the site during Roman Empire times, but it never regained its former prominence as a major trade center. Even in the late Roman period, the town was unable to recover its earlier status, and remained of lesser importance.
The town was considered an economical and cultural centre during ancient history and the Middle Ages with rich and various remains – stronghold walls, early-Christianity basilica, medieval churches, and public buildings.
Notable works of art, such as coins from different historical epochs, golden adornments, a golden Thracian treasure of applications, have been found in the area.
During the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878 Kavarna's Christian inhabitants, Bulgarians and Gagauz people alike, rebelled against the and Circassian hordes in what came to be known as the Kavarna massacre or Kavarna uprising. After the liberation, the town became part of the Principality of Bulgaria.
From the beginning of 20th century Kavarna achieved a rapid progress as an economical and cultural centre. The town renamed Cavarna came under rule after the Second Balkan War in 1913 and again after the First World War in 1919. This however, was met with resistance by the local Bulgarian population and its Internal Dobrujan Revolutionary Organisation. In 1940 the town was ceded back to Bulgaria by the Treaty of Craiova.
2006 saw the start of the Kaliakra Rock Fest - A Metal festival (renamed to Kavarna Rock Fest in 2010) including many metal bands. The same year followed the tradition with concerts of more metal bands as well as some pop and dance musicians.
In 2007, performers included Heaven and Hell, John Lawton Band, Manowar, Motörhead, Robert Plant, and Ronnie James Dio. The next year saw the return of Manowar within Kaliakra Rock Fest with a 5-hour attempt to set a world record for the longest heavy metal concert. The next two days Alice Cooper, Slayer and In Flames held concerts. In July 2009, Mötley Crüe headlined the rock-fest, with Scorpions, Blind Guardian and Dream Theater also participating. Sonata Arctica also performed in 2008 and 2011.
The 2013 Volvo World Match Play Championship was held at the Thracian Cliffs Golf Course.
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