Bulgaria
Bulgaria's borders.
Bulgaria is often referred to as one of the smallest countries on the Balkan Peninsula. This is where the Orient and the "Old World" intersect, and is one of the first official recognized countries in the Balkans and one of the first countries which received Christianity as official religion.
To the north, forms the magnificent river Danube country's border with Romania. West borders Bulgaria up to Serbia and to the southwest - Macedonia. Greece and Turkey is Bulgaria's southern neighbors.
Bulgaria covers a territory of 111,000 square kilometers. One of its great treasures is the diverse landscape and mild moderate climate that provides good conditions for developing agriculture and tourism.
Approximately 30% of the country's territory is arable land, while the remainder are spread over beautiful mountains, broad plateaus and forested areas.
The Bulgarian mountain ranges
The well-known Balkan mountain chain stretching from the western part and completely over to the easternmost part of Bulgaria. The whole peninsula is named after it. There are many national parks in the central mountains and western.
The remaining mountains are mostly in the southwestern part of the country. The highest peak in Bulgaria Mussala, located at an altitude of 2925 meters and is situated in the Rila mountains.
Nearby Chain Pirin are on UNESCO's list and the status of a national park where a great diversity of plant and animal species belong.
The mountains in Bulgaria are pristine and offer many hiking trails that reveals beautiful areas, stunning glacial lakes, small villages, which are hidden in the folded landscape, and large grass areas and unforgettable downhill.
All this makes the mountains in Bulgaria for a perfect place for a holiday - a destination which is visited both summer and winter.
Welnescentre in Bulgaria
Mountain areas are also known for their welnescentre where people including treated for asthma, hypertension and diseases because of stress. Here is the Bulgarian mineral enters the picture. There are more than 500 and they are very different - from cold to warm.
Mineral springs in Velingrad, Sandanski Hissarya and is known for its curative effects on the human body.
Modern ski resorts in Bulgaria
The Bulgarian ski resorts located in Rila, Pirin, Vitosha and Rodopi mountains, and offers skiers from countries including England, Holland, Russia and Germany welcomed. All offering the new and modern facilities.
Pamporovo and Bansko has established itself as a very popular place for both families and individual holidays, because of its proximity to the airports of Sofia and Plovdiv, as well as because of the low prices and good conditions offered.
Black Sea Coast
To the east Bulgaria borders the Black Sea. The total coastline length of 354 kilometers. There are two large cities, Varna and Burgas. Burgas is the administrative center of the southern Black Sea.
The healthy climate, the warm bathing water and the effect of mountain air makes the Black Sea coast in Bulgaria for a unique place. The mild moderate climate makes the summer season starts early - as early as mid-May and continues until mid-October.
Average water temperature varies from 25 to 28С. This makes the safe shallow beaches in Bulgaria an attractive place for families.
The southern part of Bulgaria's Black Sea coast is known for its beautiful landscape, where you can enjoy both the view from Strandzha hill and the sun-drenched beaches.
Sunny Beach-the biggest holidays in black and the Balkans
35 kilometer from Burgas is Bulgaria's largest seaside resort - Sunny Beach. Sunny Beach lies along a nearly 6 km long beach. Tourists as bathing site attracts, coming primarily from England, Germany and the Scandinavian countries.
Nessebar - Protected by UNESCO
Only two kilometers from Sunny Beach is one of the most beautiful ancient cities in Bulgaria, called Nessebar. Houses in Nessebar is from the 18th century and the churches from the 5th century is protected by UNESCO.
Pomorie - Known for mud bath and the good wines
To the south about 17 kilometers from Nessebar on the road to Burgas Pomorie lies. Mud and pools with lye, has attracted visitors from antiquity up to our time. Pomorie by the Greek colonizers called Anhialo, or a city close to the salt, is located on a small peninsula with beautiful beaches.
Black Sea has not spared its beauties in town - the sun, the beaches and mud combined perfectly with the city's cozy atmosphere. Centers for mud bath is known for treatment of psoriasis and gynecological diseases.
Pomorie is a famous wine region, which produces an excellent Chardonnay, as well as the far-famed cognac "Chernomorsko zlato".
Sarafovo
Sarafovo is the northernmost district of Burgas, located only two kilometers from the airport. It has previously been a separate urban area, therefore it is now able to retain its own atmosphere and character.
The area south of Burgas is well known for its thermal waters and the many beaches that combines sand, rocks, excellent places for diving or places one can simply enjoy while you relax.
The absence of large beach resorts have preserved the atmosphere of the smaller cities that attract family tourists and those who want to enjoy the untouched nature.
Small towns like Primorsko, Lozenets, Ahtopol, Sinemorets Tzarevo and are lovely places to visit, because the noise and congestion on the major beach resorts and hotels are missing.
Sozopol
Sozopol, is another ancient city that has retained its beautiful architecture, the demarcated peninsula. South of Sozopol are some of the most beautiful beaches. Sozopol is the host for the annual cultural festival in Bulgaria, which is named after its ancient name - Apolonia.
Religion
Bulgaria's population of 7.7 million inhabitants. The official religion in Bulgaria, the majority of the population belongs - around 85% are Orthodox Christianity.
Under the new constitution, adopted in 1990 after the change to democracy in the country, all Bulgarian citizens the same freedoms and rights as the rest of the democratic world.
So you can see both churches and mosques, crosses and minarets across the country. 9% of the population belongs to the Muslim religion.
The Bulgarian language
The official language of Bulgaria is Bulgarian. The Bulgarian language is very close to Russian, Macedonian, Polish, Ukrainian and other languages from the Slavic family. Bulgarians use the Cyrillic alphabet to communicate with.
Bulgarian history
Through its 1300 years of existence, Bulgaria has established a good example of ethnic and political peace not only on the Balkan Peninsula, but also in the world.
There are examples of Bulgarians love for peace back in history to the 15th century before Christ, then withdrew were the first inhabitants on Bulgarian soil. In the 7th century, they were mixed with Slavs and protobulgarians that formed the Bulgarian state.
The Bulgarians were released to Christianity in 865 years, and they had many conflicts with Byzantium. In year 1393 the country came under Ottoman domination. It was liberated with the help of the Russian imperator after the war between Turkey and Russia this year the 1878th
Bulgaria is famous all over the world for the oldest gold, handled by people who have been found on Bulgarian territory. According to Japanese experts, the gold comes from 3000 years before Christ. A few years ago were found new gold fur pulled from their time.
Bulgaria - The world's largest producer of rose oil
Very few countries in the world producing the precious rose oil is extracted from roses leaves and Bulgarian rose oil is one of the best. Fields with white, pink and red roses impresses visitors in May and June with the smell and sight of all the flowers.
Harvesting of the roses begin early in the morning, where the best conditions for concentration of oil in the leaves are present before they begin to evaporate. The technology for the extraction of rose oil is the same as the distillation of alcohol.
Between 3.5 and 5 ton rose flowers should be picked to produce one liter of rose oil. It is used in the pharmaceutical industry for the production of perfumes and cosmetics of the highest quality.
Bulgarian hospitality
Bulgarians are known for their hospitality and kindness. In the villages people live a quiet life outside the big cities afflictions. Only in the villages experienced the pristine traditions and the authentic life.
If you are a guest in a Bulgarian home, you get used to that host does not accept a "no" when he greets you in to taste his specialties.
Those who come for the first time in Bulgaria, should remember that Bulgaria is perhaps the only country in the world where the nod of the head means "no"! You need not worry if your host gives you more food when you are shaking your head to say no. For him, it will mean "yes"
Bulgarian Cuisine
The Bulgarian cuisine consists of fresh salad with feta cheese, banitsa with butter, golden fried meat dishes served with fresh vegetables and, of course - the typical Bulgarian yoghurt.
Thanks to the unique bacterial "Lactobacilicus Bulgaricum" has the Bulgarian yoghurt its unique flavor and medicinal effect. There are many who claim that this is why the one hundred year old people in villages in Bulgaria, where the yoghurt has been the main ingredient in their food through the generations.
When you come to Bulgaria, you are in the land of lettuce!. Every meal starts with a salad, which the Bulgarians like to eat slowly, sometimes for hours while chatting with their guests or family.
"Cheers" is something that you will also hear quite often while watching your glass be filled with the special Bulgarian schnapps as the Bulgarian name "Rakia". Afterwards comes the main course, and you can safely use more than two hours to eat lunch!.
With the main course Bulgarians serves tasty local wines. It is a fact that Bulgaria is one of the oldest wind-producing countries. The wines are distributed in typical local and international white wines, red and rosé. To taste the local wine "Mavrud" may in itself be an experience.
St. Trifon days
One of the main festivals of the year is "St. Trifon Day" - 14th February. The days miss people in the villages everyday commitments and take to the vineyards with a great bottle of wine.
It is a tradition that on this day begin to prune the vines, and as a symbol pours the wine over them, to honor the good harvest from the previous year. Pour a little wine over grape vines, and much wine in the glasses.
Festival continues with song and dance - a fixture at every Bulgarian party!. Bulgarians are temperamentally people who take good care of their folklore music! Folk festivals often attract spectators from all over the world, enjoying the warm rhythms of Bulgarian music.
Low cost of living
Living costs in Bulgaria are still low compared to other European countries.
The Bulgarian currency (lev'en) is tied to the euro by the European Central Bank, and in this way exchange rate is always 1.95 Bulgarian leva for one euro. In other words, equivalent 1,2 English pound to a Bulgarian lev.
The price level in Bulgaria is very attractive - for example, costs a dinner for two with drinks about 75 pounds. Clothes in Bulgaria is about two to three times cheaper compared to England. The same goes for toiletries and cosmetics.
An entire kg fruit can be purchased at the same price as a single apple in the UK.
During the summer months runs the electricity bill for a two bedroom apartment equipped with air conditioning and water heater, up to approx. 150 leva a month.
Sofia
Bulgaria's capital - Sofia (1.2 million inhabitants), together with the other major cities - Plovdiv, Varna and Burgas home to universities, operas, theaters, airports and shopping malls.
Bulgaria join the EU
With its cultural roots and ancient traditions of Bulgaria now taking its first tentative steps as an EU member. In January 2007 the country joined the EU