Visiting the Ravadinovo Castle is like dreaming while awake. Guests call it a fantasy land, a magical place. Located in Bulgaria just minutes from the Black Sea, the castle’s name translates best to The Castle in Love with the Wind. The arresting architectural triumph is a dream come true for both the children and families who visit the castle and for the architect himself.

The castle’s beginnings

Georgi Kostadinov Tumpalov wished to build his own castle for his whole life. “Since my childhood, my dream was to have my own castle – the same as in the fairytales,” Tumpalov said. Born in 1956, Tumpalov read fairy tales each night as a child and spent his professional career as an award-winning architect and designer. He considers the Castle in Love with the Wind to be the highlight of his time in the field.

Tumpalov spent two decades building the castle. He started back in 1996 by drawing an enormous cross in an empty field near the village of Ravadinovo, and the marking served as the eventual ground plan for the castle. 

Tumpalov and his family worked day after day, assisted by workers from the village of Ravadinovo, to turn 20,000 tons of stone from the bowels of the Strandzha Mountains into the elaborate cultural landmark that exists today. The stone from the mountains is metamorphosed limestone, or marble, and the material makes up the fences, the walls and towers, the chapel, the cellar, and even the bottom of the lakes near the castle. No castle can call itself a castle without a proper lake or two, and no lake is complete without a population of waterfowl to enjoy the resource and to fascinate the guests.

Tumpalov did not come from money but believed that building the castle was a part of his destiny. “I did and paid for everything not with money, but with my life. Now after 20 years’ hard work, I realized that my dream has come true,” Tumpalov said. “I hope that the castle makes the people happy.”

Building a whole castle in only 20 years is no small feat. Visitors cherish the opportunity to see such an incredible, improbable work of architecture.

The castle today

A castle this grandiose and alluring cannot help but delight its visitors. It is a true one stop shop for a family holiday getaway. 

The Castle in Love with the Wind is located on the eastern coast of Bulgaria, about three hours by car south of Varna. It is located in the village of Ravadinovo, which had 691 inhabitants as of a count in 2013. The nearest major city is Sozopol, an ancient coastal town known for art and film festivals. The city of Burgas is not too far away, just across the Burgas Bay. Other visitors recommend the castle for a delightful day trip.

The name of the castle, the Castle in Love with the Wind, comes from a natural phenomenon that humans noticed well before developing advanced weather technology. When the wind blew, the sun would eventually come out, leading to the emergence of the phrase, “the sun is in love with the wind.” The castle is likened to the sun in this phrase, and for good reason.

The Castle in Love with the Wind lives on an amazing plot of land filled with thousands of exotic trees, plants and flowers across several gardens. Attractions include a small zoo, an art gallery, a horse riding center, a kid’s play zone, treasure hunt games, a summer cinema, a few restaurants and bars, and a wishing well where you can wish that you will return to the castle again someday soon. Other games available to adults who visit the castle include ghost hunting and a seven deadly sins adventure. 

Both locals and visitors admire the dazzling feat of design and exciting attractions at the Castle in Love with the Wind. The castle is unlike many other castles in Europe. Instead of perfectly manicured lawns and gardens, the Castle in Love with the Wind is a slightly more wild kind of place, with bird songs flying, shrubs creeping out from forests’ edges, and strange animals made out of stone populating the areas near the walkways. It’s like the fairytale home to the quirky, fun, whimsical princess, instead of the home of the uptight, rude princess. It is truly a dream come true.

The castle is open seven days a week 8:00-17:00, and admission is a reasonable €10. Children ages seven and younger get in free, and discounts are available online. At the peak of the castle’s visitor numbers, it received more than one million visitors every year.

Happy visitors

A tourist attraction’s own website can tell you plenty about the history of a place, but the truth about the visitor experience of a place often comes out in the Google or Yelp reviews. 

Visitors shared glowing reviews about the Castle in Love with the Wind. One visitor deemed it “one of the best experiences I have encountered.” Another said the castle is “a mix of a fairytale and architectural craftsmanship.” Still another called it “a magical place created with so much love.” One visitor even said that one could visit and take pictures of every corner of the place and still miss some details. “You just have to see it to believe it,” the reviewer said.

Many reviewers shared photos of their experiences, often posing with their children or spouses in stunning, romantic locations. Some called the castle a must-see. One reviewer nailed the intention of the architect and called the castle “a child’s dream come true.” 

Each series of user-generated photographs featured the natural beauty surrounding the castle in the gardens as well as images of the elaborate architectural details. From the dramatic spires to the solid towers to the charming turrets, the castle has something for everyone to feast their eyes upon.

The beauty is in the details

One of the aspects of the castle that make the place so dreamy is the makeup of the castle’s stone – it contains traces of micro-diamonds, which make the castle change color. In the morning sun, the castle glows pink. During the brightest parts of the day, it shines a bright white. And at night, during a full moon, the castle appears to be glowing. No matter which time of day or night you find yourself at the Castle in Love with the Wind, you are sure to notice its beauty in the changing light.

Numerous organizations have recognized the Castle in Love with the Wind for its architectural value and cultural contributions. The castle has received numerous international tourism and architecture awards including the A’design Award Italy, the American Architecture Prize, the European Best Destinations award, the Best European Family Attraction, the Best Wedding Place award, and the award for the #1 Bulgarian Tourist Attraction. The castle is currently nominated for a 2021 International Travel Award, which is considered the Oscars of tourism.

The castle is also known as a deeply romantic location and is a sought-after location for weddings. The gardens offer lovely locations for photographs and ceremonies. But if you’re interested in booking your wedding, be sure to plan ahead, as the location is quite popular.

Tumpalov’s legacy

A statue of Tumpalov greets visitors near the entrance to the Castle in Love with the Wind. The statue wields a large sword and a smile.

When asked what he would say when he meets God at the end of his life, or more specifically, when he is asked, “What did you do, sinner, and how did you live?”, Tumpalov plans to reply, “I made a castle with a lake and two nice children.” The architect has touched millions upon millions of visitors over the years, bringing enough joy into the world to please any God.

“I hope the castle makes the people happy and suggests that they dream and follow their dreams,” Tumpalov said. “It’s a great honor for me to see the smiling and happy guests day after day.”

Day after day, and year after year, the Castle in Love with the Wind will dazzle and mesmerize all who come to visit.