A Luxe Family Stay in Bulgaria’s Melnik Sands Region, with its Own Eco Farm, Vineyards, Lakes and Truffles
Zornitza Family Estate Relais & Chateaux is a family endeavor in the true sense, with a special focus on food and wine. The six villa and nine suite boutique hotel is situated on a stunning, 3,000 acre eco-farm in southern Bulgaria, with organic fruits and vegetables, a truffle orchard with over 500 trees, and eggs, honey, milk, and meat all produced on the property.
Zornitza also has a vineyard with 18 grape varieties, including local and traditional grapes to the region as well as classic international varieties. Almost everything you consume at the estate is cultivated on site.
Expect expansive, rustic suites and villas for two adults and two children with open timber beams and floor-to-ceiling windows. The villas have their own fireplaces, perfect for cozy evenings with wine from the vineyard. The aesthetic of the property is influenced by Tuscan architectural traditions. Stone buildings blend into the rolling hills nearby.
The property’s spa has holistic personalized treatments with ingredients from the estate, from grapes and wine to lavender, olive oil, and honey from the beehives. Enjoy the steam bath, salty mineral pool, sauna and warm water jet pool, and year-round heated outdoor pool.
Two restaurants make use of the estate’s beautiful produce, with aEstivum serving authentic terroir cuisine alongside 400 wines, and Bistro 55 offering Bulgarian, Asian and new American flavors.
A highlight of Zornitza is its proximity to nature and the Melnik Sands wine region: Explore local vineyards, white water raft and canyon nearby, travel to the Northern Greek sea, and in winter, ski in the nearby Pirin mountains.
Sustainability Criteria
- Zornitza Family State is all about producing and buying local
- Guests are encouraged to explore local culture and nature
- Staff is mostly local
- The hotel tracks its energy usage and saves energy by using LED light throughout
- Photovoltaic produces energy and solar panels are used for heating water
- The pool is filled with thermal water from the nearby spring
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Features & Activities
- Family Friendly Hotel
- Golf Course Nearby
- Gym at the Hotel
- Hotel for Honeymooners
- Hotel in the Mountains
- Hotel Close to Nature
- Pool at the Property
- Close to Skiing
- Spa Treatments Available
Location
Zornitza Family Estate is conveniently located with easy access to several key destinations. The estate is about a 2-hour drive from Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, and around 1.5 hours from Plovdiv, the country’s second-largest city. The famous Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is approximately 2.5 hours away by car.
