The town of Devnya has a population of 8 200 inhabitants and lies at a distance of 28 km from Varna. The town is located in a valley at the foot of the Dobrudzha plateau at an altitude of 28-118 m. Devnya is the centre of a municipality of 2 component settlements.

The town of Devnya is the successor of the Roman town Marcianopolis. Marcianopolis has been founded by Emperor Trayan. Marcianopolis has been built on the site of a Thracian settlement by the Devnya karst springs in 106. The town has been the arena of important historic events and an important strategic centre. Marcianopolis has been demolished three times - by the Goths (351), the Huns (447) and the Avars (586). At the beginning of the VII c. the town has been deserted. During archaeological excavations in the area have been discovered fortified walls, necropolises, public and housing buildings decorated with mosaics.

In the region of Devnya are located the biggest karst springs in Bulgaria united in several groups. They have a permanent capacity of 3 000 liters per second and a temperature range of 17-20^oC.

The tourist sights of the town are: the mosaics museum, the remains of the ancient town of Marcianopolis and the natural landmarks of the region.

Tourist sights

The Mosaics Museum in Devnya is the only one in Bulgaria. It represents Roman and Early-Byzantine mosaics from Marcianopolis. Here are exhibited the best examples of the Roman mosaic art. The museum is built over the foundations of an ancient building built at the end of the III and the beginning of the IV century. The mosaics are made of cubes of marble, limestone, baked clay, coloured glass in sixteen colours. The most precious examples in the collection are the Gorgon-Medusa, Satyr, Antiopa, Seasons and others.

The remains of the ancient town of Marcianopolis can be seen in the vicinities of Varna. Today are preserved only the fortified walls, a villa, the towers and the town's forum.