Shabla municipality occupies the northeastern part of Bulgaria. It is situated on 350 square km. Its The Black Sea coast is 35 km long, 25km of which are sands - 22% of the beach strip of Bulgaria (see it on map fo bulgaria). Here one can come across sand dunes that are rarely seen on the Black Sea coast. Nature and the sea-water of the Black Sea are extremely clean.
The municipality of Shabla is one of the best ecologically protected municipalities in the country. On its territory there are three wet zones of European and world importance as far as the protection of nature is concerned - the Durankulak lake, the Shabla lake and the Shabla Tuzla (curative mud area). The two lakes have been declared protected zones after the Ramsar conference. Their dense swamp vegetation and waters are rich not only in rare species of fish, but in wading birds and song- birds. 90% of the world population of red-breasted goose (Branta ruficollis) hibernate in the Shabla lake. Rare species of plants are to be seen near the water basins of the two lakes and the Tuzla that is rich in curative mud.
The international E-87 road crosses the municipality. Transport to Varna and Dobrich is provided, from where one can use the rail connections with the country and abroad. The Varna airport is only 80km away and it is convenient for tourists arriving by charter flights. The world famous Albena resort is not far from the town of Shabla. Shabla is also a border municipality with the Republic of Romania the town of Constanta and its resorts are at a distance of 80km.
The earliest traces of human activity are from the eneolith on the west side of the Durankulak lake. The pre-historic tomb of a settlement Golemiat ostrov (The Big Island) in the Durankulak lake famous for the earliest stone architecture in continental Europe and the two settlements discovered near the Shabla lake are from the same period as the Varna halcolithic necropolis.
The ancient Karol Limen port of the Karies has been localized on Shabla cape. Remains from two fortresses from the late antiquity IV-VI centuries one on Shabla cape and the other near the village of Tvarditsa remind of the important function they had as well as being guards of the road by the sea connecting the towns along the Black Sea coast.
Settlements and necropolis from the period of the First Bulgarian Kingdom.
The first written information about Shabla and the settlements in the municipalities date back from 1573 in an official Osman register, followed by that of 1609, 1676,1762, 1848.
The oldest lighthouse on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast is that of Shabla, built in 1856.
After the war between Russia and Turkey 1877-1878 Shabla became center of the municipality.
The population of the region took part in the riots against the 10% tax system in 1900.
In the period 1913-1940 the territory belonged to Rumania. Incorporated again in the Bulgarian state after the treaty of Krayova. Thousands of immigrants from North Dobrudja settled in the region.
Shabla has been declared town in 1968.
