VARNA, a fortress, seaport, departmental capital and episco pal city of Bulgaria; on the bay of Varna, an inlet of the Black sea, in 40° 12' N. and 27° 56' E. Pop. (1934) 70,183. Varna is built on the hilly north shore of the bay, overlooking the estuary of the river Devna. It is the eastern terminus of the railway to Rustchuk and Sofia. The "Varna quadrilateral," so important in Bulgarian military history, consists of the fortresses of Varna, Shumla, Rustchuk and Silistra (q.v.). Varna ranks with Burgas as one of the two principal seaports of Bulgaria. Its deep and capacious bay is sheltered from northerly and north-easterly winds, and the harbour works are modern. The principal exports are cattle and dairy produce, grain, lamb and goat skins, and cloth (shayak) ; the imports include coal, iron and machinery, textiles, petroleum and chemicals. In 1921 the port was entered by 906 vessels of 684,931 tons, comprising 55% of Bulgaria's Black Sea trade. It is the headquarters of the Bulgarian Steam
ship Co., which trades with Turkey, Greece and Russia. Its trade has been affected by the cession of the Dobruja to Rumania, but it is a growing sea-side resort.
Varna was the ancient Milesian colony of Odessos, founded 585 B.C. Close by was fought in 1444 the battle in which Murad II. slew Wladislaus III. of Poland and Hungary, and routed his forces under Hunyadi Janos. Varna was occupied in 1828 by the Russians, in 1854 by the allies, who here organized the inva sion of the Crimea, and in 1877 by the Egyptian troops sum moned to the defence of Turkey against the Russians. By the treaty of Berlin (1878) it was ceded to Bulgaria. It has long been the seat of a Greek metropolitan and since 187o of a Bulgarian bishop.