BULGARIAN CULTURE AND INFRASTRUCTURE

BULGARIAN CULTURE AND INFRASTRUCTURE

General Information

• Direct flights from UK take 2.5 hours to Sofia ( See www.air.bg www.britishairways.com  www.wizz-air.com )
• Currency fixed against the Euro

Geography

Situated in South Eastern Europe, with a beautiful coastline of 354km along the Black Sea rising to mountain ranges; Bulgaria is a varied country. Its sea water is very clean, not tidal and is bordered by long sandy beaches. The temperature of the Black Sea in summertime is actually warmer than the Mediterranean.

Bulgaria is roughly the same size as England, and is located on the Balkan Peninsula surrounded by the Black Sea to the east which links it also to Russia, Ukraine, and Georgia., Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the West, and Greece and Turkey to the South. This location provides numerous opportunities for easy travel to surrounding countries.

However, there is plenty to see within Bulgaria itself. Bulgaria contains fertile plains and beautiful wooded mountain ranges, including the Balkan range, Rhodopes Mountains and Rila. Places to explore include the Black Sea coast and its villages and resorts, mountain trails and ski resorts, and countless villages and monasteries all over the country.

The Black Sea shoreline is 378 km (240 miles) long. The country's total territory is 111,000 sq. km (43,000 sq. miles) in area. 

Bulgaria's terrain varies between 0 and 2,925 m. in altitude. Its territory includes part of the lower Danubian plain, the Balkan range (part of the Alpine-Himalayan chain), part of the Thracian lowland, and to the south the mountain structures of the Macedonian-Thracian massif.

Its best known mountains are Rhodopes (Golyam Perelik peak 2,191 m.), Rila (its highest peak being Musala 2,925 m.), Pirin (Vihren peak 2,914 m.), Vitosha (Cherni Vrah peak 2,291 m.) and the Stara Planina (i.e., the Balkan range) (Botev peak 2,376 m.).

The mountains occupy half of the country's territory, with the high mountain relief i.e., at an altitude above 1,600 m., comprising 5% of its entire area. The Bulgarian mountains are easily accessible, and the towns and villages have preserved the authentic Bulgarian spirit and hospitality.

The rivers rise mainly in the highest mountains, and flow into the Black Sea (via the Danube) and into the Aegean Sea. Bulgaria has 526 rivers longer than 2.3 km. The only navigable river is the Danube, which flows along the northern Bulgarian border. There are good opportunities for adventure tourism: wild water rafting and canoeing, diving, delta- and para-gliding in the valleys of the Vatcha, Iskar, Chepelarska, Struma, and Mesta rivers.

Natural lakes are about 330 in number; the largest are the Black Sea lakes (Alepou, Arkoutino, Pomorie, Beloslav, Bourgas, Varna, Shabla lakes); the most numerous (more than 260) are the high glacial lakes in the Rila and Pirin mountains. Dams have been built as a part of waterpower systems Iskar, Arda, Batak Water Power System, Belmeken-Sestrimo, Dospat-Vucha, and a great number of smaller dams.

Bulgaria has some 500 deposits of mineral waters with more than 1,600 water sources. These are localised chiefly at the mountain foothills. The spa resorts of national significance are Bankya, Velingrad, Sandanski, the mineral baths of Stara Zagora, Narechen, Sliven and Haskovo, as well as Kyustendil, Varshets, Pavel Banya, Hissarya, Merichleri, Momin Prohod, and Kostenets.

The Black Sea is very clean, not tidal, and is bordered by long, sandy beaches. Climatic sea-side resorts offering various recreation services are Balchik, Bourgas, Varna Zlatni Pyassatzi Golden Sands, Kiten, Pomorie, Primorsko, Nessebur Slantchev Bryag Sunny Beach, and Sozopol.

Picturesque lakes hide in the bowels of the Rila and Pirin mountains. Dam lakes of recreational potential are to be found in the Rhodope mountains Batak, Vatcha, Studen Kladenets; at the foot of the Balkan range Ticha, as well as in some other places.

Weather

http://www.meteo.bg/main.php?page=main&lang=en

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Infrastructure

• Territory 110,994 sq km
• Population 7.85 million
• GDP, 2003 (F) $ 19.9 billion
• Political system: parliamentary republic
• Stable political environment & low country risk
• Consistent record of macroeconomic stability
• 2003 (F) real GDP growth of 5.0%
• 2003, Jan-Nov inflation of 3.8%
• 2004 over 4,000,000 tourists between April-October 2004 up 15% on 2003
• 2005 Corporate Tax cut from 19.5% to 15%

The infrastructure of Bulgaria comprises of more than 37,000km roads, 416 km of which are highways. There are 6,400 km of developed railways, more than 65% of which are electrified. The main Bulgarian sea ports are Bourgas and Varna. The Danube River is the international water road of the country. There are 5international airports in Bulgaria: Sofia, Varna, Bourgas, Plovdiv and Gorna Oriahovitsa (the latter is used mainly as a cargo airport).

 

Air Access

Roads

Expected Highways to further improve significantly.

 

Sofia–Stara Zagora-Bourgas (100 km remain to be completed)
Sofia–Varna (250 km remain to be completed)
Sofia–Stara Zagora-Istanbul
Istanbul–Stara Zagora-Bucharest
Istanbul–Bourgas–Varna–Constanta
Thessaloniki–Sofia-Budapest

 

Trains & Buses & Taxis

The lack of investment in public transport over the past 10-15 years has left it in a sorry state, with semi-derelict stations, run-down vehicles and demoralized staff, and although private bus companies have taken up the slack on major routes, the state-owned network has drastically contracted. While transport remains cheap it is also slow, a failing compounded by Bulgaria's mountainous terrain and climatic extremes (which rapidly degrade tarmac), with train journeys between the north and south being particularly prone to roundabout routes and changes. Bear in mind, too, that schedules are designed to fit in with the working day. There may be several departures in the early morning, then nothing until mid-afternoon, with nothing at all on Sundays.

The fragmentation of the transport system is reflected in the timetables ( razpisanie ) in train and bus stations, which used to be on a clearly legible board but are nowadays often merely scribbled on a piece of paper stuck to the window of the ticket office. Usually, arrivals ( pristigane ) are listed on one side, and departures ( trâgvane or zaminavane ) on the other. To make things harder for travellers, the schedules of private buses are unlikely to be posted at all, and it's impossible to buy a national train timetable: in addition, any timetables that do exist are invariably in Cyrillic .

Bulgarian State Railways ( BDZh ) can get you to most towns we mention, although trains are very slow by Western standards and delays are common on the longer routes. Intercity ( intersiti ) and express ( ekspresen vlak ) services only operate on the main trunk routes, but on everything except the humblest branch lines you'll find so-called rapid ( bârz vlak ) trains. Use these rather than the snail-like pâtnicheski (; literally "passenger train", but meaning "slow" in this context) services unless you're planning to alight at some particularly insignificant halt. Generally speaking, intercity services are the only ones which carry a buffet car , so if travelling on another type of train, make sure you have enough food and drink to survive the journey. On timetables, the four types of services are indicated by the abbreviations and express services are usually lettered in red. A reservation ( zapazeno myasto ; about 20¢ in addition to the basic ticket price) is compulsory on intercity and express services, and advisable for all other trains if you're travelling on summer weekends. You might find yourself paying a hefty surcharge if you board a train without one.

Though a national timetable ( pâtevoditel ) is extremely useful for frequent train travellers, the chances of obtaining one are slim, as they're snapped up immediately after publication each May. If you do get hold of a copy, note that trains running on a particular day only are indicated by a number in a circle (for example, 1 = Monday, 2 = Tuesday, and so forth). International services are printed in the Roman alphabet, rather than Cyrillic.

Long-distance/overnight trains have a wagon with reasonably priced couchettes ( kushet ;) and/or sleepers ( spalen vagon ). At the time of writing you can travel from Sofia to Varna by sleeper for under US$15, which probably works out cheaper than a night's accommodation. In order to secure a bed on the train, you need to reserve a day or two in advance, and, if possible, at least a week in advance in July or August.

Commonly, a single sign halfway down the platform is all that identifies a station ( gara ). If you're sitting at the back, you won't see this until the train starts up again, so try to sit up front. Most stations have a left-luggage office ( garderob ); in the large ones you may need to complete a form before stowing your gear.

In many parts of Bulgaria it's necessary - or easier - to travel by bus ( avtobus or, colloquially, reis ), especially in the Rhodopes and the Pirin, where few of the attractions are accessible by train. Each town of any size has a bus station ( avtogara ), or sometimes two, as buses operated by private companies may use another depot (often just a parking lot); in cities, this duplication can result in three or four terminals. Since the buses run by private companies are usually newer than the vehicles owned by municipalities, they tend to be more comfortable and faster, particularly if the route follows a highway through the lowlands rather than mountain roads. The drawback is that information on schedules is harder to obtain as few companies post timetables, so that you may have to ask at several kiosks to get the full picture. In some cases the vehicles are minibuses , and leave as soon as they're full; such services are called marshrutni taxi .

Providing you don't get ripped off, taxis are a reasonably priced and useful way of getting around in towns and cities, or reaching places that aren't accessible by public transport. All licensed taxis are metered, and generally charge about 20¢ initially, plus 20¢ per kilometre thereafter during the day (twice as much at night), except for taxis on the Black Sea coast, whose rates are three to four times higher (though city taxis in Varna and Burgas charge normal rates). The minority of taxi drivers out to take advantage of foreigners tend to hang around airports, major train stations and city centre hotels, so it's best to go looking for a taxi elsewhere if you have the option. We've given phone numbers of some reputable taxi firms in the relevant sections, though it is unlikely that anyone on the other end of the line will speak English.

Romania Greece Turkey Vienna and Belgrade

 

Internet

One can get access to the Internet in many of the Internet cafes and clubs, which can be found at practically every bigger street. The normal price per hour is about 1 BG Lev (about 50 Cents).
56K available ADSL main citys WIFi to come in resorts

Telecommunications

The telecommunications system allows a direct dialing service to 36 countries. If the country you are trying to reach does not belong to the list of 36, you will have to place a call through an operator by dialing 0123. If you are trying to make an international call from a private house, a telephone operator will arrange the call and phone you back when the lines are available. Sometimes you may have to wait up to half an hour, especially if you are in a little town. Major hotels and resorts, however, are normally equipped with a 'Betkom' direct dial service with a digital display screen, which you can use with a card that can be purchased at nearby kiosks.
The International dialing code for Bulgaria is 359. Direct telephone communication from Bulgaria to countries in Europe, Asia and Africa is possible from Betcom or Bulgarian Telecommunication Company phone booths, with phone cards. Phone calls, telegram and telefax services in the country and abroad are offered by the Sofia Central Post Office and by post offices in every town in the country.
Below you can find some useful telephone numbers and codes.

Money and Currency Exchange

The national currency in Bulgaria is the Bulgarian Lev (BGN), in plural - leva. One Lev consists of 100 stotinki (st). The banknotes are available in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100. The stotinki coins in use are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50. To ensure against receiving counterfeit bank notes, always check for the Bulgarian Lion watermark.
After a period of economical crisis and hyperinflation in 1997 a currency board was introduced in the country and the Bulgarian Lev was pegged to the German Mark at the rate of BGN 1 to DEM 1. With the introduction of the EURO the Bulgarian Lev was pegged to the EURO at the rate of BGN 1.9583 to EURO 1. The exchange rates with the other currencies are set daily by the Bulgarian National Bank for statistical and accounting purposes.
The exchange bureaux display on large boards the daily rates of the main international currencies. Not all offices are reliable - some offer much lower rates than the official figures announced by the Bulgarian National Bank, so make sure to be informed in advance about the official exchange rates. These can be found in any daily newspaper. Another attempt at fraud in some exchange bureaus can be taking a commission that is not duly announced on the boards, or is written with very tiny script. To avoid being blundered in this way, make sure to look for a sign No Commission and if it is not there just ask the officer so that you are on the safe side. Nowadays, under regulation of the Finance Ministry, if the exchange rate offered by the exchange bureau deviates greatly from the official exchange rate, you are required to sign a special declaration that you agree with that money exchange.
Travellers cheques are accepted at most of the exchange bureaux but the commissions may be high. If you do take travellers cheques with you make sure that you have also the purchase documents related to the cheques.

Bulgarian Lev (plural Leva) Abbreviation: BGL 1 lev = 1.95583 Euros

Credit Cards

Credit cards are not widely accepted except in larger hotels and restaurants that cater to foreign tourists. ATMs are widespread and take major cards.

The credit and electronic cards system is still in a preliminary stage of introduction in Bulgaria. Most shops accept only cash so make sure to use an ATM machine before going shopping or eating out. Although you can only withdraw up to 200 Leva (about 100 euros) at a time from an ATM, the number of withdrawals is not limited. Credit or electronic cards are accepted for payment practically only in hotels, airline agencies, car rentals, the bigger supermarkets and some restaurants. In these places you can use the commonly known: American Express, Mastercard, Visa, Eurocard, Diners Club, Carte Blanche, Balkanamericard, etc.

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Bulgarian History

Bulgaria has existed for more than 13 centuries. The Bulgarian people are one of the most ancient. The Bulgarian state was founded on the present day territory of Europe in 681 and ever since that time the name of the country has always been the same.

Thracians were the first settlers in the Bulgarian lands, and their civilisation is evidenced by numerous archaeological finds, tombs, gold and silver treasures. Evidence of the presence of life in prehistoric times exists in the best preserved Neolithic dwellings discovered world-wide – namely those near the town of Stara Zagora, in the Bacho Kiro cave near the town of Dryanovo, and in the Magurata cave, close to the town of Belogradchik.

What follows are some of the most significant dates and events in the history of Bulgaria:

AD 452 AD 681 - 1018 AD 864 - 866 AD 885 1018- 1185 1185 1396 - 1878 1878 - 1944 1944 - 1989 1989

The first written reference of the name “Bulgarians” is found in an anonymous Roman chronograph First Bulgarian kingdom Bulgaria adopted Christianity Cyril and Methodius created the Slavonic script Bulgaria fell within the limits of the Byzantine Empire and Rule Restoration of the Bulgarian state Bulgaria was under the Turkish Yoke Bulgaria was a constitutional monarchy Bulgaria was a people’s republic, governed by the communist party Since the 10th of November1989, Bulgaria has been a parliamentary republic.

The history of Bulgaria is divided into four major periods:
First Bulgarian kingdom (AD 681 – 1018);
Second Bulgarian kingdom (AD 1185 – 1396);
Third Bulgarian kingdom (AD1878 – 1945)
and Modern Bulgaria.

St Cyril & Methodius

First Bulgarian Kingdom AD 681: The Bulgarian state was established one of the first ever European states. The first Bulgarian capital was Pliska. Its tzars (khans) Asparoukh, Krum the Dreadful (AD 803 – 814) and Omurtag (AD 852 – 831), turned it into a mighty power in south-eastern Europe. AD 855 The Saints Cyril and Methodius, brothers, created the Slavonic alphabet. AD 865 Prince St. Boris (AD 852 – 907) did away with paganism, and introduced Eastern Orthodox Christianity as the official religion in Bulgaria. In AD 865 he moved the capital from Pliska to Veliki Preslav (Great Preslav). The Byzantine Empire recognised him as tzar of the Bulgarians. AD 893 – 927 Under the reign of Tzar Simeon (the Great), son of Tzar Boris I, the Bulgarian kingdom became the largest in the territory and the most powerful in Europe. The “golden age” of Bulgarian culture set in. AD 1018 Emperor Basil II conquered Bulgaria and turned it into a province of the Byzantine empire.

Turnovo

Second Bulgarian Kingdom 1185-1396: The era of the Second Bulgarian kingdom, which came into being after a successful uprising by the Bulgarian aristocracy. The reign of the Assen dynasty began. They proclaimed the town of Turnovo as capital. John-Assen II (1218 – 1241) was the best known and most powerful ruler of the period of the Second Bulgarian kingdom. 1396 – Bulgaria fell entirely under Ottoman domination. For five centuries Bulgaria was a province of the Ottoman Empire. During the conquest the aristocracy was destroyed, the Bulgarian administration was done away with, the Bulgarian Church was deprived of autocephaly and patriarchical rank, and was placed under the patriarchy of Constantinople. 1652 – The beginning of the Bulgarian National Revival. Monk Paissii of the Hilendar monastery (on Mount Athos) wrote the book Slav-Bulgarian History. 1870 – Start of the organised national liberation movement. 1876 – The April uprising of the enslaved Bulgarian people broke out. It was put down in a sea of blood, but caused a notable international response of indignation at Turkish tyranny. 1877-1878 – The war of Russian-Turkish Liberation, in which Bulgaria gave many lives for the sake of freedom.

King Ferdinand I

Third Bulgarian Kingdom: The Third Bulgarian state began with the San Stefano peace agreement, signed on 3 March 1878. On the basis of that agreement Bulgaria regained the territories of the three historic and ethnic Bulgarian regions, namely Moesia, Thrace and Macedonia. Bulgaria became the largest Balkan country. 13 July 1878 – The treaty of Berlin was signed, on the basis of which newly liberated Bulgaria was divided into the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia, and a large portion of Bulgarian lands was sequestered, to remain under Ottoman domination. 16 April 1879 – The Turnovo Constitution was passed solemnly by the First Grand National Assembly. 26 June 1879 – Alexander Battenberg became prince of Bulgaria, and Sofia the capital of the new Bulgarian state. 6 September 1885 – Unification of the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia (the real liberation of Bulgaria). 22 September 1908 – King Ferdinand I proclaimed Bulgaria’s full independence from Turkish rule.

Modern Bulgaria:
After the restoration of national statehood in 1878 Bulgaria was a constitutional monarchy with a democratic government and a rapidly developing economy. The process of successful growth was curtailed as a result of the adventurism of king Ferdinand I, which led to the catastrophes of 1913, when the country had to wage simultaneous wars against Serbia, Montenegro, Greece, Turkey, and Romania, and of 1918, during the war against the Entente countries.

1923 and 1934 – Democratically elected governments were toppled by coups d’état that brought authoritarian regimes to power.1941 – Bulgaria entered World War II on the side of the Berlin-Rome-Tokyo Axis. Bulgaria was the only ally of Hitler's Germany which did not allow the killing of its Jewish citizens. It was thanks to King Boris III and the Bulgarian government that no hostilities were waged on its territory.

1944 – After Word War II, as a result of the Yalta agreement between the Great Powers, Bulgaria fell under the sphere of influence of the Soviet Union.

1953-1989 – Years of the communist rule of Todor Zhivkov who headed both the party and the state.

10 November 1989 – Under the pressure of domestic and international circumstances Todor Zhivkov was forced to resign. Bulgaria once again embarked on the road to democratic development.

7 December 1989 – The Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) was formed as a unification of 13 opposition organisations.

10-17 June 1990 – First free parliamentary elections.

12 July 1991 – A new democratic Constitution was passed.13 October 1991 – First free local authority elections.

January 1992 – First free presidential elections. Zhelyu Zhelev was elected as head of state.

3 November 1996 – Petar Stoyanov, proposed by the UDF, was elected with a landslide majority as President of the Republic of Bulgaria.

19 April 1997 – The Parliamentary elections were won by the Democratic Forces United (DFU). A government was formed, headed by Ivan Kostov as Prime Minister. Bulgaria started on the road to genuine democratic reforms.

Parliament is currently headed by Prime Minister Saxe-Coburg who is the only monarch in the world that has been chosen by his people to take on a post that was not given to him by right of succession. Having become King at the age of 6 he was then exiled at the age of nine only to return to Bulgaria some 55 years later.

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Flora And Fauna

Protection of the natural world is one of the country's major concerns. The protected territories in Bulgaria are 49, the bio spherical reserves 17 (the greatest recorded number in Europe), the national parks 7, the reserves 82, the protected natural sites 3055, the protected plants 63 and the protected animals 419. The air and water resources of the country are some of the purest in Europe.

Bulgaria is a land of roses, orchards laden with fruit and vines grown since the settlement of the ancient Thracians. Favourable climatic conditions and variety of relief are factors that account for the diversity of vegetation. The overall number of plant species is approximately 12 400. Forests prevail, taking up nearly 27 % of the territory of the country. In the deciduous forests one can find oak, beech, yoke-elm and in the coniferous white and black pine, spruce and fir trees. Grass communities cover 14 % of the territory of the country. The mountains in Bulgaria are rich in endemic plants. Some of these are unique for Bulgaria (270 species), others for the Balkan Peninsula (285 species). Quite a number of related plants and communities can be observed.

In comparison with most of the European countries the animal world of Bulgaria is much more varied, irrespective of the small territory. Plain regions are the richest in animal species. Along with heat-loving species inhabiting the lowlands in the southernmost part of the country, cold-loving species also can be found in the high parts of mountains. Swallows are observed almost everywhere, storks usually nest close to or in towns and villages, squirrels are numerous and can be met even in parks. All over the country there are foxes, hedgehogs, weasels, polecats, bats. Land tortoises inhabit the lowlands, wild cats and wild-boars almost all mountains. Though rarely, otters can be found along rivers and water basins. In the planes of Northern Bulgaria one can find hares, partridges, quails, wolves, hamsters, crows, rooks, etc., and in the swamps along the Danube wading birds such as pelican, ibis, heron, duck, and others, some of which nest nowhere else but in the Sreburna Reserve.

Stara Planina Mountains is rich in birds and insects, oak woods abound in red deer, roe, badger. The valleys of Struma and Mesta rivers are characteristic habitats of a large number of heat loving animals reptiles, birds and insects. The bears, the woodpeckers, the vipers are typical of the coniferous forests in Rila, Pirin and the Rhodope mountains, sightseers would encounter wild goats, eagles and vultures. The highest mountain regions register the largest number of endemic species. The Black Sea Coast abounds in birds (aquatic for the most part) pink pelican, ducks, cormorant, gulls, etc. Jackals inhabit the eastern ridges of Strandzha Mountains.

In rivers and freshwater basins most numerous are the carp fishes. Other habitual species are the Balkan trout, the pike and the sheat-fish. The waters of the Black Sea are inhabited by medusas, crabs, black mussel, Black Sea shark, grey mullet, mackerel and other fishes and also mammals 3 dolphin species and seal.

The preservation of the lands and interesting natural sights, rare and endangered species of plants and animals are protected by Law.The first natural sites to be preserved were declared in the thirties. At present these are 201 and the natural sights more than 2200. Most popular among these are the Pirin National Park and the Sreburna Reserve which are included in the list of monuments of the world cultural and natural heritage compiled at UNESCO.
Basic characteristic features of the country's natural life are the great variety and wealth of animal and plant species and their considerable ecological and biogeographically diversity. The vegetable life of Bulgaria numbers about 12 000 species 71 kinds of trees, 119 kinds of bushes, 3300 kinds of flower plants, about 4000 kinds of seaweed, etc.

The most common and often met animals and birds are the typical of Europe: hinds, deer, wild-boars, bears, wolves, foxes, jackals, wood-grouses, vultures, sparrows, grass-snakes, etc. Altogether in Bulgaria are to be found about 40 000 invertebrate species, 659 vertebrate species, 337 bird species, 117 fish species and 92 mammal species.

Climate: The climate in Bulgaria is moderate continental with four yearly seasons and average annual temperature of 10.5 degrees centigrade. The coldest month is January with an average temperature of 0 degrees centigrade. The average air temperature in the summer is 30 degrees c. and the average water temperature - 25 degrees c

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Art and Interesting Facts & Places

For more than 13 centuries Bulgarians have been creating unique literature, art and music. Bulgaria has given the world men of great achievements, unparalleled in history. In the 9th century, the brothers Cyril and Methodius, recognised as the patrons of Europe, created the Cyrillic alphabet.

Some interesting and diverse factual information.

The Rila Cross, a wooden cross with 140 microscopic scenes from the Bible featuring more than 1,500 figurines, the largest of them no bigger than a grain of rice, was carved by a monk over a period of 12 years.

Elias Canetti was born in Bulgaria. 1981 Nobel Laureate in Literature for writings marked by a broad outlook, a wealth of ideas and artistic power. 1905-1994. Place of Birth: Rouse, Bulgaria.The Voyager spacecraft, launched in the 1970s on a voyage to meet and communicate with other planets, carried a laser disc of ten songs believed to be representative of Earth. One of these songs was the Bulgarian tune Izlel e Deliu Haidutin from the Rhodopes region.

Elias Canetti

Rose Pickers

The famous Bulgarian rose oil, produced in the region of Kazanlak, is a component of French and of other world-famous perfumes. The tallest cactus grows in the botanical garden of the town of Balchik, at the Black Sea coast. The height of this 'hedgehog' is 7 metres. The oldest tree is an oak growing in the village of Granit in the vicinity of Stara Zagora. Its age is estimated at about 1,650 years. The crown of this oak tree covers 1,017 square metres; the circumference of its trunk is 7.45m and its height 23.40m. The tallest tree is the 62-metre Baikusheva Mura (white fir) in the Pirin Mountains. Its age is about 360 years. Lactobacillus Bulgaricus, the bacterium that is responsible for giving Bulgarian yoghurt its unique flavour and consistency, can be found only in Bulgarian air.

The highest waterfall is Raiskoto Praskalo (Paradise Sprayer) at 124m. It is not far away from the Botev peak in the Balkan range. The total number of falls in Bulgaria is nearly 300, 70 of which are looked after by the state. The greatest number of mineral springs is to be found in the town of Velingrad (more than 70). The hottest mineral water is found in the village of Separeva Banya, near the town of Dupnitza - its temperature is 103.8 degrees centigrade. According to some sources, this is the hottest spring in Europe. The mightiest karst spring is Glava Panega in the vicinity of the town of Lovech. Its average capacity is 4,178 litres per second. The longest river running across Bulgarian territory alone is the Iskar (368km).

The only Bulgarian volcano, long extinct, is Kozhukh (281m above sea level). It is not far from the south western town of Petrich. The longest mountain range is Stara Planina, known also as the Balkan Mountain (530km). The whole peninsula is named after it. The highest are the Rila mountains; the peak Moussala rises to an altitude of 2,925 m above sea level. This is the highest point in the Balkans. The first written evidence of the peak being climbed refers to King Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great. The largest lowland in this country, and in the Balkans, is Upper Thrace. Plovdiv is the metropolis of the region. It is about 180km long and 50km wide. Its overall area is 6,032 square km. The longest cave is close to the village of Bosnek, in the Vitosha Mountains near Sofia (over 15km). Six underground rivers have cut labyrinths in its galleries. As many as 4,000 caves have been investigated and mapped in Bulgaria.

The lowest temperature, measured in an inhabited locality, was registered in the winter of 1947 in the town of Tran, west of Sofia (minus 38.3 degrees centigrade). The highest temperature was measured in the summer of 1916 in Sadovo, near by Plovdiv (45.2 degrees centigrade). The most rain was recorded on 21 August 1951 in the neighbourhood of the port of Varna, where in only 24 hours there was rainfall of 342mm. By way of comparison: the average annual precipitation for the country is 650mm. The longest lasting fog occurred in December 1948 in Sofia (29 days and nights). At that same time, the fogs in Plovdiv and Lom stayed for 28 days. The capital of Bulgaria is also its foggiest city (33 days annually on average).

The largest coastal lake is Varna Lake, covering an area of 18 square km. It is also the deepest at 19m.The largest glacial lake is Smradlivoto in the Rila Mountains. It covers 21.2 hectares. The highest glacial lake is Popovoto, in the Pirin Mountains, situated at 2,715 m above sea level. The largest bay is the Bourgas bay at the Black Sea coast. It stretches 31km into the land. At its widest, it measures 41km, and its deepest point is 25m. The farthest migration is that of the eels, which live in Bulgarian rivers, but spawn as far away as the Sargasso Sea, east of Florida, U.S.A. Did you know that... The rarest animal species is the Black Sea seal, of which only 5 or 6 specimens are left now. They inhabit the caves along the shoreline around the Black Sea capes of Kaliakra and Masslen. The largest amphibian is a turtle, which was caught and then set free near the town of Krumovgrad in 1987. It weighed 5kg, was 35cm long, of the same height, 29cm wide and 100-120 years old - i.e., at the age limit of European fauna. Another turtle of similar dimensions was caught some 80 years ago in the neighbourhood of Kotel, a town in Central Bulgaria.

 

Raina Kabaivanska

One of the most famous opera bass singers (Boris Christov and Nickolai Guaurov) and the beautiful soprano Raina Kabaivanska are Bulgarians. The last lion in Bulgarian lands was killed during the campaign of the Persian king Xerxes (as evidenced by Xenophon).The last lynx was shot in 1941, in the Rila Mountains.The largest bear in Europe fell victim to man in 1936, in the neighbourhood of Brevets, a resort in the Rila Mountains. This record was recognised at an international hunting exhibition in Berlin. The last recorded snake bite that led to a human death occurred in 1936.Bison in Bulgarian lands disappeared as early as the Middle Ages. In 1961 the reserve near the town of Razgrad acquired two pairs of bison, and settled them in the Voden forest. Nowadays there are several dozen bison in different Bulgarian preserves.

The inventor of the first electronic computer John Vincent Atanassoff is of Bulgarian origin. Professor John Atanassoff, together with graduate student Clifford Berry, built the world's first electronic digital computer, at Iowa State University, between 1939 and 1942. The Atanassoff - Berry Computer represented several innovations in computing, including a binary system of arithmetic, parallel processing, regenerative memory, and a separation of memory and computing functions.

John Vincent Atanassoff

Vladimir Dimitrov

Painters: Vladimir Dimitrov - the master, Ilia Beshkov, Sirak Skitnik, Dechko Uzunov, Nikola Petrov, Tsanko Lavrenov, Yoan Leviev, Dimitar Kazakov, Svetlin Rusev, Dimitar Kirov, Georgi Bozhilov, Samuil Seferov.Sculptors:Andrey Nikolov, Ivan Funev, Atanas Dalchev, Valentin Starchev, Vezhdi Rashidov, Krum Damyanov, Dimitar Boikov, etc. These are but a portion of the Bulgarian artists known for their exhibitions and works in a number of European capitals and in many places around the world.

Monasteries

Information about monasteries in Bulgaria

It was as early as the 4th - 5th centuries that monasteries began to be built in Bulgaria. Written documents and archaeological excavations from that time testify to the existence of several dozen monasteries raised on territories that would later be inhabited by Bulgarian people. The construction of the first monasteries followed a Near East scheme that had already established itself in some places in Europe but as early as the 6th century Byzantine plans began gradually to make their influence felt only to turn later into a major standard of constructing Eastern Orthodox monasteries.
Bulgaria adopted Christianity in 865. Prince Boris (852-889) who considered monarchism useful for purely State interests, built solid monasteries and churches inspiring respect and a sense of security, first in the capital city of Pliska and near to it. The second Christian ruler, the youngest son of Boris, Tsar Simeon (893-927), erected the new capital of Preslav and founded monasteries in remote and quiet places creating conditions for the educational and literary works of writers and Theologians. The Bulgarian monasteries were to become the foundations of the future culture and spiritual community. In about 886, Prince Boris I accommodated the disciples of Cyril and Methodius, the creators of the Slavonic-Bulgarian letters, at St. Panteleimon's Monastery built upon his orders near Preslav. One of the disciples of Cyril and Methodius, Naoum, established here the new Old-Bulgarian alphabet - the so-called Cyrillic alphabet (the bases of present-day Bulgarian letters).
Click on the Monastery name you are interested in to take you to further information about that particular monastery:

Locations of Bulgarian Monasteries

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World Heritage

The World Register of Historical Sites established by UNESCO, includes seven cultural sites and two nature reserves in Bulgaria.

Thracian tomb-Sveshtari

The tomb was discovered in 1982 under a large hill. It dates back to the 3rd century B.C. It consists of three chambers - an entrance chamber and two antechambers. It is covered by a mound.This 3rd century B.C. Thracian tomb reflects the fundamental structural principles of Thracian cult buildings. The decoration of the burial chamber is exceptionally interesting, a unique blend of art and architecture.The stone architrave, around the walls, is supported by ten caryatids. The wall opposite the door is painted in navy blue crayon and depicts the heroicisation of the deceased.The central chamber is richly ornamented. The chamber was decorated as a facade of a temple with depicted horseman who takes a golden garland from the hands of a goddess with a religious procession following her. The three walls have high relief with 10 caryatidesIt is situated in Northern Bulgaria, near the town of Isperih.

Thracian tomb-Kazanlak

One of the most famous monuments of Thracian culture, included in the World Register of Historical Sites, in 1979, was discovered in 1944. A corridor, 1.95 m in length, 1.12 m in width and 2.24 m in height leads to a domed tomb, 3.25 m in height and 2.65 m in diameter at the base.The building material is brick, used two centuries later by the Romans. The frame is of blocks of stone and clay is used as bonding material. It is situated in the southern part of a mound, at ground level.The entrance is from the south side. The tomb became world famous for its unique mural, done in wet fresco and tempera. The artistic decoration covers an area of 40 square meters and is an extraordinary art gallery, taking the visitor a long way back in time. The pictures show battles and scenes from daily life, realistically displayed, with great dynamism and details in the clothing and armour.The scenes of a funeral procession, the musicians, the Thracian ruler and his wife, the chariots, the horses and other depictions are all very interesting. The tomb dates from the late 4th century - early 3rd century B.C. Nearby an exact copy has been built for tourists. The Thracian tomb is situated in the north-eastern part of Kazanlak

The Madara Horseman

This is a rare monument, dating from the 8th - 9th century A.D. It is a unique symbol of young BulgariaAn unusual place - a plateau rises in the middle of a plain which, when viewed from the west, resembles a petrified waterfall. The anonymous sculptor carved a relief of a majestic horseman 23 m above ground level in an almost vertical hundred-metre high cliff. The horseman is thrusting a spear into a lion lying at his horse's feet, while holding a wine cup in the other hand. There is a god behind the rider and a dog runs after the mysterious horseman.The rock cliff is one hundred metres high. Low down, in the crevices and small caves, man lived in prehistoric times. In antiquity the Thracian tribes inhabited the plain. There was an ancient Thracian sanctuary in the large open cave under the rocks, which is known today as the Nymphs' Cave. Succulent plants and trickles of water fill this place with the natural juices of life respected by the Thracians and inhabited by their gods. Monumental in design and execution, this symbol of Bulgarian statesmanship is the only one of its kind in the whole of Europe.The Madara Horseman is situated near the village of Madara - 14 km from the town of Shoumen

Sofia, Boyana Church

It is one of the most important and valuable antiquities of exceptional historical and artistic significance. It is situated at the foot of the mountain of Vitosha. The oldest part of the church dates back to the early 11th century. According to an original manuscript, in 1295 the two - store part of the church was built and the rest was added in the middle of the 19th century. The most interesting part of the monument are the murals done in 1259. The frescoes are rich in tone. The artist skilfully combines the requirements of iconographical canons with real life. 89 scenes are depicted, containing 240 human images - a real art gallery of the 13th century. The portraits of the founder of the church - patron Kaloian and his wife Desislava and of prince Konstantin and his wife Irina are the supreme peak of the skill of the artist. The monument was included in the World Register of Historical and Natural Sites in 1979.

Rock Monasteries - Ivanovo

This is an area where a number of medieval churches, monastic cells and chapels were carved on both sides of the river Lom. A colony of hermits lived here from the 3rd century to the 17th century. The natural vesicles in the Karst rocks were widened and moulded to meet the needs of the colony. The chambers are at a height of 6-10m. and are connected by series of stairs, passages and galleries. The walls are covered with pictures of biblical themes and compositions with many figures. Great artistic value, a refined colour scheme and admirable skill is displayed. The partly conserved frescoes are evidence of the notable achievements of the Bulgarian medieval art school. The remaining scriptures emphasise the significance of the literary school which developed in this area. The monasteries were included in the World Register of Historical Sites in 1979. The Rock Monasteries - Ivanovo are situated 20 km from the town of Rousse

The Rila Monastery

This monastery is a holy place for all Bulgarians, for it preserved their pride, national identity, faith and hope through the centuries. It was founded in the 10th century by followers of the Bulgarian hermit saint Ivan Rilski. The monastery is one of the most significant cultural centres in Bulgaria, where through the centuries intensive spiritual, educational and creative activities flourished. It was in close contact with spiritual centres abroad. After a devastating fire, the monastery was completely rebuilt in the 19th century. It is the biggest renaissance monument in Bulgaria. The Monastery is still in use. There is a sumptuous library, a historical museum and a museum exhibition with a few subjects. The church was painted by the most famous representatives of the Bulgarian renaissance artistic school. The Rila monastery was included in the UNESCO World Register of Historical Sites in 1983.

Old Nessebar

Situated on a peninsula in the Black Sea, connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus, this is a town with a history going back millennia. Each era has left its permanent marks and today the town is unique. A huge museum displays the way of life of the different people that have inhabited it. On this tiny island castle walls from Thracian times, defensive structures, private and public buildings from the Hellenistic period, medieval churches and renaissance buildings combine to form a unique atmosphere. Nearby is the famous sea resort of "Slunchev Briag". The churches were built during the early Byzantine period (5th and 6th centuries) and during the middle ages (10th to 14th centuries). The oldest of them are the basilicas, cruciform, with a single nave. The murals from the 14th to the 18th centuries have an exceptional historic and artistic value, displaying the traditions and craftsmanship of the artisans and icon-painters of that time. Old Nessebar was included in the World Register of Historical Sites in 1983

Sreburna Nature Reserve

Sreburna Nature Reserve was included in the list of the biosphere nature reserves under the aegis of UNESCO in 1977 and in 1983 it was included in the World Register of Natural Heritage. It is situated in Northern Bulgaria, at the delta of the river Danube. It is a lake, 1.5 m deep, fed by water from the river and Karst water. The temperature of the water during winter is 0°C, and in the summer up to 28°C. The natural habitat favours the growth of a wide variety of animal and plant species. Of great interest are the 160 species of birds, 90 of which nest and breed here. "Sreburna" is a stopping place for many migratory birds. It possesses one of the 4 known colonies of the curly-headed pelican in Europe. There is also a considerable colony of herons and other rare water birds. There are many species of mammals, river animals, different plants. The reserve covers an area of 800 hectares. In the vicinity there is a Nature museum and an Ecological research station. The Sreburna Nature Reserve is situated 15 km from the town of Silistra.

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The People,Traditions & Customs

The People

Population	8,621,337 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure	0-14 years: 14.6% (male 572,961; female 543,004) 15-64 years: 68.5% (male 2,569,199; female 2,648,461) 65 years and over: 16.9% (male 540,109; female 747,603) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate	-1.11% (2003 est.)
Birth rate	8.05 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate	14.42 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate	-4.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio	at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate	14.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Life expectancy at birth	total population: 71.5 years female: 75.22 years (2003 est.) male: 67.98 years
Total fertility rate	1.13 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Nationality	noun: Bulgarian(s) adjective: Bulgarian
Ethnic groups	Bulgarian 83.6%, Turk 9.5%, Roma 4.6%, other 2.3% (including Macedonian, Armenian, Tatar, Circassian) (1998)
Religions	Bulgarian Orthodox 83.8%, Muslim 12.1%, Roman Catholic 1.7%, Jewish 0.1%, Protestant, Gregorian-Armenian, and other 2.3% (1998)
Languages	Bulgarian, secondary languages closely correspond to ethnic breakdown
Literacy	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 99% female: 98% (1999)

Bulgarian Language

The Bulgarian language, the official language of the Republic, is spoken by about 8 million inhabitants of the country. It forms the eastern group of the South Slavic branch of the Slavic languages.

All Bulgarians were required to learn Russian at school until 1989; most prefer not to speak it, and many will not. English is the most common second language, especially among the young, then German and French, distantly followed by Italian and Spanish.
Bulgarian uses the Cyrillic alphabet, as do the Russian, Serbian, and Macedonian languages.The history of the Bulgarian language is divided into three periods: old, middle, and modern. The Old Bulgarian period lasted from the 9th to the 11th century, and the texts from this period make up the bulk of the Old Church Slavonic texts.

The Middle Bulgarian period lasted from the 12th to the 14th century.

The Modern Bulgarian period started in the 15th century, but the modern literary language, which is quite different from Old Bulgarian, was formed only during the 19th century. Modern Bulgarian's two major dialect groups are the eastern and western dialects, each subdivided into northern and southern varieties. The modern literary language is based primarily on the northeastern dialect.
Body language
Bulgarians shake their heads when they mean "yes" and nod when they mean "no". Sometimes they reverse these gestures if they know they're speaking to foreigners, thereby complicating the issue further. Emphatic use of the words da (yes) and ne (no) should be enough to avoid misunderstandings.

Religion The official religion in Bulgaria is Eastern Orthodox Christianity.In the Republic of Bulgaria there is full freedom of religion. This democratic concept is also written in the Bulgarian Constitution.Contemporary ethnic Bulgarians, nearly 90% of the population, are a mixture of the Slavs already settled in the Balkans and the Bulgars who came to the area from Central Asia during the Western Roman Empire and established a strong state in the land of the Thracians.They are almost exclusively Bulgarian Orthodox Christians, and speak Bulgarian, a Slavic language written with the Cyrillic alphabet. Muslim ethnic Turks, the human residue of 500 years of Ottoman rule, are the largest minority, making up 8% of the population. Many consider Turkish to be their first language.About 2.6% of the population are Gypsies, about half of whom are Christian and half Muslim. There are small ethnic groups of Armenians, Macedonians, Jews, Russians and Greeks making up for the remainder.

Rila Monastery

Bulgaria is especially proud of its rich folklore traditions. Folk dances, music, national costumes and traditional rituals have an important place in the life of Bulgarians. Every town and village celebrates Christian holidays and folk festivities in its own special way.

Sourvakars: Boys going from house to house wishing people a Happy New Year by slapping them ritually with an ornamented twig for health and prosperity.

Martyr: Triffon Zarezan (Pruner) Vine dresses' day first pruning of the vines.

Saturday of Lazarus: Dancing to the accompaniment of ritual songs for the Day - a ritual dedicated to the fields, pastures, forests and young girls: Lazarki, performed for health, happiness and fertility.

Rose day: Celebrates the start of rose-picking.

Nestinars: A ritual dance on live coal (fire dancing).

Traditional folk fairs in Koprivshtitza, Shiroka Laka, Rozhen, Predela, as well as numerous festivals across the country, dedicated to folklore, and presenting authentic Bulgarian folklore.

Name Days are celebrated in addition to birthdays.
A Name Day is celebrated by people whose name is derived from that of a Saint's Day being celebrated. The person having a Name Day usually brings confectionery to the office for colleagues to share. Bulgarian tradition is that one may call uninvited on a person celebrating a Name Day, to wish them well.

Making a toast when drinking liquor.
When toasting, raise your glass and lightly clink it with all the others present, while looking the people with you in the eye (to not look them in the eye is rude) and saying, "naz drave" (good health to you). Repeat this with all present.

Wedding bands are worn on the right hand, not the left as in the West.

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Useful Information

When Bulgarians nod their heads up and down, they mean NO. When they move their heads from side to side, they mean YES.

Eating
High European standards high value for money

Typical prices:
1 bottle of table wine - 80 pence
1 bottle of quality wine - £2.50
1 pint of beer - 40 pence
Three course meal for two with wine - £8.50

Tipping is now generally expected at between 10-15% of the bill. In any event don't always expect to get the exact change as often the bill is rounded up to the nearest complete unit of currency!

Smoking
Smoking is a very common habit among Bulgarians and non-smoking sections in restaurants are quite rare. A new law is set to change this in 2005, but it is still doubtful how effectively it will be implemented.
Quality cigarettes: 20 Marlborough Lights 70 pence

Driving In Bulgaria
Cars are allowed to cross any of the many border points to enter Bulgaria. Any national drivers license is valid. Insurance coverage for Bulgaria is required, and can be arranged from home or purchased at the border.

Taxis
Make sure to choose a reliable company, like OK Supertrans (call 973 2121 from Sofia) or Yes & Yellow, Radio CB Taxi or Taxi C Express. See that the driver turns on the meter at the start of the journey and try to keep an eye on the figures that sometimes may seem to be running unusually fast. On arrival at your destination point always demand a printed receipt for the fare since drivers are bound by the law to issue such.

Trains
Bulgaria is linked by train to Istanbul, Thessaloniki and Athens in Greece, Belgrade, Bucharest, and points on such as Budapest. Veliko Turnovo is on the route of the Orient Express from Bucharest to Istanbul.

Hygiene
Toilet facilities are improved compared to 10 years ago, but still some can be rather off-putting, particularly in older establishments and outside the larger cities. Most modern gas stations, restaurants, hotels and bars have facilities of an acceptable standard. But elsewhere you may be confronted by nothing more than a hole in the floor, and no toilet paper. Always carry Kleenex with you. Many places will charge you for the use of toilet facilities, usually in the 0.20 - 0.50 Leva range.

Export
Exporting works of art and other objects of historic, artistic, or scientific value is forbidden.

Registration
Make sure that you abide to the law regarding the registration of foreigners in the local Police office ( >;8F59A:> #?@02;5=85). This is done by filling in your address of residence in a simple registration form and annoying waiting in front of some police official's door. Failing to register within 48 hours of arrival can mean heavy fines. This regulation is nowadays not that strictly obeyed and will most likely fall out in the near future as it has been widely discussed.

Going To The Movies
Unlike other countries, going to the movies in Bulgaria is a foreigners-friendly experience. Cinemas show only sub-titled movies with their original soundtracks. The same applies to rented videocassettes. Only Disney features or other films made for children are usually dubbed.

Official Holidays

January 1 New Year
March 3 Bulgaria's Liberation - National Holiday
May 1 Labour Day
May 24 the Day of Bulgarian Enlightenment and Culture and the Cyrillic Script
December 25 Christmas

Time
GMT + 2. Bulgaria follows daylight saving time in summer.

Useful Phone Numbers

To call Bulgaria from the UK, dial + 359 plus the local number. Omit the 0 from the area code. (For example, to call Veliko Turnovo from the UK, you would dial + 359-62 plus the local number; to call from within Bulgaria you would dial 062 plus the number.) Pay phones in Bulgaria take telephone cards available at kiosks and shops: orange phones take Bulfon cards and blue phones take Mobika cards.

0123 - operator for international calls (if no direct phone call is possible)
121 - operator for long-distance calls within the country
140 - sending of telegrams
144 - telephone information service for office phone numbers
145 - telephone information service for home numbers
146 - Emergency Road Service
150 - Emergency Medical Aid
166 - Police/Road patrols
175 - weather forecast
180 - exact time ("speaking" clock)

Wine in Bulgaria

Bulgaria Regions can be geographically divided into five wine producing regions as follows:

Eastern Region

Covering the territory along the Black Sea coast between the Northern border with Romania and the Southernmost point on the Black Sea coast where Bulgaria borders Turkey. The wines from the Eastern region are made mostly from white grapes. Almost all renowned white grape varieties can be found along with the native Misket and Dimiat.

Northern Region

Between the Danube river and the Balkan mountain range from North to South and between the Dobrudzha Valley and the Yugoslav border from East to West respectively. High quality wines are produced from a number of different grapes, red as well as white. The reds are made from the local Gamza as well as from the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot varieties. Chardonnay, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc are the most prominent whites. This region is home to the fine wineries of Suhindol and Rousse.

Southern Region

Southern Region includes the Thracian Valley from the Balkan Range to the Greek border that boasts almost Mediterranean climatic conditions and is particularly good for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot production. The best Bulgarian variety grape -Mavrud grows in the Thracian Valley. Reds coming from this region are renowned. Jambol and Haskovo are two fine examples.

South Western Region

South Western region covers what is known as Pirin Macedonia. The Struma Valley runs along it and brings strong Mediterranean influences in terms of climate. Fine Cabernets are produced there. The appellation of Melnik is home to the Melnik variety. Damianitza is a winery of note. Another interesting local variety is Keratzuda, a rose type wine produced only in the appellation of Kresna.

Sub Balkan Region

The Sub Balkan Region exists at the Southern area of the Balkan Mountains. These deep valleys produce unique micro-climates. The famous Sungurlare Misket comes from the region as well as the excellent Sungurlare Eau de Vie. White wines from different grapes are a local speciality. Slavjantzi is a popular winery from this region.

Types

Bulgarian wine is characterised by its high quality and low prices; wines from Preslav, Novi Pazar, Suhin Dol, Melnik and Khan Krum (Shoumen Region) are regarded as the best, Sungularski Misket (dry white) is one preferred brand.

There are hundreds of Bulgarian folk songs about red wine, and only one about white: "why can't the white wine be red?" Red is drunk in the winter, white in the summer, both with almost everything!
The best red wines are produced from the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties. High quality, rich, and Bordeaux-like. Local grapes include:
Gamza - Late ripening the most widespread type producing an earthy, light bodied red wine good for simple fare and everyday use. Distributed mainly in the central and northeastern part of Northern Bulgaria - Suhindol, Kramolin, Pleven and Novo Selo.
Mavrud - A full bodied, spicy red that can age to more than 8 years. Distributed in south Bulgaria - the regions of Assenovgrad, Plovdiv, Pazardjik, Chirpan, Stara and Nova Zagora. The leaf is large as is the grape coloured in dark blue. The wines produced from this variety are thick, well coloured and ideal for continuous ageing.
Melnik - Very late ripening red wine and its name from the region where it is most widely distributed - the town of Melnik. The leaf is large and slightly flattened. The grape is medium in size oval and juicy. The skin is thick, tough, coloured blue/black upon ripening with a thick wax coating. The wines are characterised with a dark red colour and thick. Upon continuous aging the taste improves further still.
Pamid - One of the oldest Bulgarian wine types with a middle to early ripening season. Distribution is greatest in southern Bulgaria. The wines produced from this type are characterised by a slightly coloured appearance with a lightness making for easy drinking!
White wines are produced from renowned varieties such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling as well as from the local varieties of Red Misket and Vratza Misket, Ottonel and Dimiat which has a wide distribuition on the Black Sea coast in particular the regions of Shoumen, Preslav and Chirpan. Whites are not nearly as good as reds but they are improving constantly.

Traditions

Wine making traditions have endured during the Middle Ages and the Ottoman rule in Bulgaria. After liberation from the Ottoman, wine making prospered and fine wineries evolved such as Sjarovi Brothers for example. The wine cellar may also be a Bulgarian invention since Bulgarian monastic orders had first been reported to have stored wine in cool vaults deep under the ground level!
As a whole though Bulgaria has continued the traditions of South and East European wine making, producing light, often over oxidized wines for immediate consumption.
At the present time Bulgaria is now the second largest exporter of bottled wine in the world, second only to France. It has four times the area planted with Cabernet Sauvignon of California and the industry is rapidly growing. The annual average production of wine in Bulgaria ranges between 200-220 million litres depending on the crop. In the Bulgarian wine industry, traditional classic technologies are applied, as well as refined, and modern ones borrowed from the leading wine producing countries like France.
Enjoy!

Lakes & Rivers

The rivers rise mainly in the highest mountains, and flow into the Black Sea (via the Danube) and into the Aegean Sea. Bulgaria has 526 rivers longer than 2.3 km. The only navigable river is the Danube, which flows along the northern Bulgarian border.
There are good opportunities for adventure tourism: wild water rafting and canoeing, diving, delta- and para-gliding in the valleys of the Vatcha, Iskar, Chepelarska, Struma, and Mesta rivers.

The Longest Rivers in Bulgaria

Name Iskar Toundga Maritsa Osum Struma Yantra Kamchiya Arda Louda Kamchiya Roussenski Lom

Length (Km) 368,0 349,5 321,6 341,0 290,0 285,5 244,5 241,3 200,9 196,9

Balkana

Natural lakes are about 330 in number; the largest are the Black Sea lakes (Alepou, Arkoutino, Pomorie, Beloslav, Bourgas, Varna, Shabla lakes); the most numerous (more than 260) are the high glacial lakes in the Rila and Pirin mountains.

Dams have been built as a part of waterpower systems - Iskar, Arda, Batak Water Power System, Belmeken-Sestrimo, Dospat-Vucha, and a great number of smaller dams

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Leisure & Sports

Music

International prestige is credited to a number of Bulgarian music festivals. The Sofia Music Weeks and the March Music Days further their traditions as centres of high performing art.

The traditional New Year’s Music Festival in Sofia, established by the much talented but early deceased conductor Emil Tchakarov, is held annually.

A number of concerts are organised also of popular Bulgarian orchestras and ensembles, pop, rock, and jazz performers.

Every large town in Bulgaria has an operatic and philharmonic company engaging in concert activities. The most popular and well established music festivals in Bulgaria of international renown are:

Music Weeks in Sofia.
Summer Festival in Varna
Verdi’s Festival in Plovdiv.
International Festival for contemporary music in Sofia, Muzika Nova;
International jazz festivals - Sofia, Rousse, Bansko;
International pop song festival, Golden Orpheus; Slantchev Bryag (Sunny beach)
International festival, Laureate’s Days Pleven, Katya Popova;
New Year’s music festival at the National Palace of Culture in Sofia.

Mineral Springs for Health

The abundant mineral water resources rank Bulgaria among the leading countries of the world in terms of balneology. The curative properties of mineral water have been known since ancient times. The millennia could not erase the traces of once flourishing spa towns built around mineral springs, of which we have the evidence of numerous archaeological remains from the Thracian, and especially from the Roman era. Examples are the ancient towns of Serdica (Sofia), Augusta (Hissar), Pautalia (Kiustendil) and many others.

There are a lot of reasons for this historical continuity of water cure in Bulgaria. Above all, the country has a great number of mineral springs with diverse physic-chemical composition (more than 800), grouped in some 250 mineral water sources according to the places of origin. Their mineral composition includes almost all ingredients that are present in mineral waters elsewhere. Their temperature also varies greatly (from cold to over 101 C).

Location adds to the advantage of Bulgarian mineral springs; usually they are to be found in ecologically pure resort areas, situated in beautiful natural surroundings, with mild climate. For spas, it is particularly important to have a synergy between the balneological and climatic factors. Prominent examples are the resorts on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, in the Rhodopes, Rila and Pirin mountain ranges, along the Strouma River, and many more. Part of the balneo centers meet international standards.

Currently, Bulgaria is building new facilities, and is renovating existing ones, in order to ensure full-scale modern balneo therapy and prophylaxis. The spas employ highly qualified medical staff.
The ever-decreasing fresh water supply in the world, coupled with the deteriorating ecological conditions and possible pollution of open water basins, have led to growing interest in bottled “table” mineral waters. Bulgarian mineral waters are now in the position to compete with world-known bottled mineral waters.
During the recent years, Bulgarian mineral waters have been widely used in balneo-medical tourism (BMT), being an offshoot of health tourism.

It is well known that prophylaxis is conducted mainly with the use of natural factors. Therefore, balneo-medical tourism, as part of health tourism, will steadily move from medical treatment and rehabilitation to recreation and physical fitness. It will help eliminate the effects of modern lifestyle more fully and rapidly – the so-called “diseases of modern civilization”. This will involve searching for ways and forms of prophylaxis and treatment of these diseases. In this respect, balneo tourism is ideal. The stream of tourists choosing BMT will separate in four major groups:

1. Tourists seeking recreation and physical fitness;
2. Tourists participating in prophylaxis and rehab programs;
3. Tourists participating in medical treatment and rehab holidays;
4. Tourists – sportsmen visiting spas for training before or after sports competitions, as well as for staying in good physical shape.

Bulgaria is rich in mineral springs that vary greatly in physicochemical composition; the country has gathered considerable scientific and practical experience in the treatment and prophylaxis of a wide range of diseases. There are great perspectives for the development of BMT, the bottling industry, manufacture of bioproducts etc

Hunting

The game enterprise in Bulgaria is presented by 22,500 red deer, 4,900 fallow deer, 78,000 row deer, 2,100 chamois, 2,500 mouflons, over 37,500 boars, over 8,000 bears, 2,2000 capercallies, hares, partridges, pheasants. One of the best red deer populations in the world is in Bulgaria. Among its trophies our country has 4 world records of red deer (including the present one with 273.60 CIC points) and of boars with 158.20 CIC points. Most of the capital trophies evaluated at over 250 CIC points are Bulgarian. The newly bred populations of red deer and mountains develop very well, too. Bulgaria ranks second in the world by quality of good trophies. International hunting tourism is a priority of the game and fish enterprise in Bulgaria since it provides good income for their development. It's make tourists become real admirers of the unique Bulgarian nature.

Over 2000-2500 foreign hunters a year go shooting in Bulgaria, a large part of them being traditional visitors in the country. The natural conditions, the strict observance of the Game Law and the Rules for its application, as well the scince-based game hunting in Bulgaria give hopes that the country will preserve its position of a leader in this field.

Having a game shooting license in Bulgaria provides a possibility of gaining trophies of brown bear, chamois, ibex and capercaillie. Their prices confirm to the international requirements and are reasonable for hunters who value high trophy collections and hunting tourism.

Hunting of wolves, jackals and foxes, pheasants, partidges, pigeons and will ducks is full of emotion. The specialised modern equipment of the forestry enterprise, consisting of over 110 huts and hunter's houses, provides more than 1100 beds and all necessary conditions.

Rafting, Canoeing Kayaking and White Water Rafting

The beauty of rafting is that no previous experience at all is required to experience this exhilarating outdoor sport. Local people are friendly and welcoming, and on camping trips in particular you have the chance for more interaction with the local way of life. The fresh outdoor air blowing in your face as you and your team guide your raft along the winding rivers of cool, raging water - Exhilarating!! Experience the thrill of rafting and the wonders of nature as you enjoy the breathtaking mountain scenery on your trip. The Struma, Arda and Ossam rivers are especially suitable for the enthusiast in springtime once the mountain snows higher up have melted, and the Stackevska river in the Vratza Mountains offers all the thrills and spills of wild water rafting. The quieter waters of the Danube are particularly suitable for canoeing and kayaking. The River Danube is excellent for canoeing and kayaking.

Fishing

Bulgaria boosts an abundance of different types of fish, ideal for the freshwater to the deep sea fisherman There is excellent trout fishing, along with pike, carp and bream, to name but a few in the mountain streams, and comfortable accommodation to be had with the local inhabitants. Or out on the high seas with local fishermen. See the link below for all types of game fishes.

http://www.fishbase.org/Country/CountrySearchList2.cfm?requesttimeout=9999&Country=100&group=sports

Skiing & Mountains

Pamporovo
Borovets
Bansko

Bulgaria has three mountain ranges. The Stara Planina stretches across the middle of the country from the Yugoslav border in the west to the Black Sea coast in the east. The highest mountains are to be found in the Rhodopi Planina and Pirin Planina in southwest Bulgaria.

Pamporovo

The Pamporovo ski resort is situated 1650 m above sea level, at the foot of peak SNEJANKA (1926 m), in the Rhodopes Mountain. It is located in a region for its unique folklore traditions with in 260 km of Sofia and 85 km of Bulgaria’s second-largest city, Plovdiv. Pamporovo is the sunniest winter resort in Bulgaria there the winter is soft, but with a lot of snow, and the number of the sunny days during the season from December to May comes up to 120 days. The resort is set in the south of the Rhodope Mountain where, according to the legend, Orpheus, the mythical singer, had lived. Pamporovo has international popularity. The average January temperature is about 3ÀC. The climate is exclusively healthy and it is no miracle that most of the centenarians in Bulgaria are found in this district. Pamporovo is a ski-centre for all categories of skiers,it has excellent ski runs including even a racing ski run for giant slalom, as well as a first class built-up ski lift system. There is a ski-school of international category too, with more than 100 highly qualified instructors. Pamporovo offers scores of scenic routes for seeing the Rhodopes Mountain on foot, as well as opportunities to visit some interesting tourist attractions.

Pamporovo, the pearl of Bulgarian mountain tourism, is the sunniest high mountain resort in Bulgaria. It is located in the heart of Rhodope Mountains, 260 kilometres away from Sofia, the distance to Plovdiv is 85 kilometers to the north and Smolyan is only 15 kilometres away. The resort enjoys more than 240 sunny days a year. Its climate is mild and the influence of the Mediterranean is perceptible. The average annual temperature here is 8.5°! and its blanket of snow in winter is between 140 and 150 cm.

Snow stays between 150 and 200 days a year and makes Pamporovo into paradise for all ski and snowboard maniacs. They can enjoy 17.5 kilometers of Alpine ski runs with different degrees of difficulty, 34 ski runs for long distance skiing, equipped with 6 different seat chair lifts and 13 ski drags with a total capacity of 9,500 people per hour. The central part of the resort is 1,650 m above sea level and the nearest peak Snezhanka is 1,926 metres high.

Pamporovo has no avalanches and no sharp changes in the weather and this guarantees its guests safe and pleasant holidays. Pamporovo, as a part of the Rhodope Mountains is a unique place, famous for its negative air ionisation – something extremely beneficial to your health. Ski runs have different level of difficulties and going down them is an unforgettable experience for both beginners and adept skiers. Highly experienced ski instructors are at the disposal of all who would like to experience the thrills of skiing. If you cannot ski, don't worry! Pamporovo ski–schools are among the best in Europe. Full ski suits of the latest models produced by the best companies in the world are available at the ski and equipment hire centres.

See large Map at http://get.info.bg/visit/Dir.asp?d=0-11-Maps_Collection-Map_of_Pamporovo

Bansko is the most rapidly developing mountain destination in Bulgaria. Situated between the Rhodopi Planina and Pirin Planina ranges, it is the only one of the country's three major skiing centres which offers a lively, traditional town as well as a ski resort. Bansko offers a wide variety of choices, such as old-style pubs and taverns, restaurants, disco clubs, coffee shops and Internet cafés in the old town. Even in the low season, just before winter, the town's bars and restaurants bustle with local people in an infectious atmosphere of conviviality and merriment!
Bansko is the newest Bulgarian winter resort, only recently discovered by foreign tourists. In the winter of both 2001 and 2002 the number of foreign holidaymakers was 14,000. By early November 2003 all hotel rooms were booked for the entire winter, and the number of tourists was in excess of 45,000!

Bansko is only 160km (100 miles) from Sofia, and the same distance from the Mediterranean Sea. Once the new motorway is finished (2004-2005), access to either will be about 2 hours' drive.

The skiing conditions and amenities are excellent. The surrounding mountains have a predominantly Alpine character, with three peaks towering almost 3,000 metres (10,000 feet). It is the venue for the International Free Skiers Association Big Mountain Competition

The slopes offer runs and tracks for all grades of skiers, from novice to expert, and are maintained in excellent condition. A new 8-passenger gondola has just been completed (ceremonial opening date 13 December 2003), to complement the chair lifts and ski drags, along with new snow guns. Indeed, the First Investment Bank has just pumped $14 million into the amenities here.

The Bansko ski school offers skiing classes at five levels of difficulty: from A to E - in groups or individually. Tuition is available in cross-country skiing at two levels of difficulty. All graduates receive skiing certificates.
The average temperature during January, the coldest month, is -1.9°C. Snow falls are abundant, providing a constant winter snow cover up to 2 metres thick. The skiing season lasts from mid-December to mid-April.
Of course, Bansko is ideal not only for winter holidays. Summer is warm and pleasant among this beautiful scenery, with temperatures of 25°C. The summer season lasts from June to October. During July and August it is warm enough to sleep outside, even up in the mountains. Here is the domain of the highest peaks, the venerable white firs, the edelweiss and the wild goats. Here are more than 180 lakes, where Nature has gathered half of Bulgaria's flora and fauna. The fishing is superb, and the trout are delicious, thanks to zero pollution. The sheer mountain faces, the high altitude slopes and vast lands are an excellent place for mountaineering, trekking and strolling. Spring and autumn are short, being May and November respectively.

The region is famous for its cuisine and colourful folklore, and offers many and varied entertainment opportunities. The town itself attracts visitors by its cultural monuments and museums, and the permanent ethnographic and Bansko schlool of icon painting exhibitions.

Bansko Skiing Weather forecast

Borovets is the oldest mountain resort in Bulgaria. It has often gathered the skiing elite of the world, and seen the rise of many a Bulgarian champion. Borovets and Sofia have submitted a bid to be the venue for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

At 1,350 metres (4,430 feet) above sea level on the northern slopes of Rila Mountain, among age-old pine woods, Borovets is located at the foot of Moussala peak (2,925 metres / 9,600 feet) — the highest on the Balkan Peninsula. Borovets is easily accessible, being at a distance of 73km (45 miles) from Sofia and 126km (79 miles) from Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second city. Although Borovets is not residential, the town of Samokov is only 10km (6 miles) along the road from the resort.

Established at the end of the 19th century as a hunting place for the Bulgarian kings, Borovets gradually developed into a modern ski resort of high-class and luxury hotels, haute-cuisine restaurants and an excellent network of ski runs and lifts along the slopes of Rila Mountain, providing excellent opportunities for the whole range of winter sports — from Alpine to cross-country skiing, ski jumps and biathlon. The resort twice hosted World Cup Alpine skiing rounds, while the biathlon track is one of the best in the world.

The ski runs are of various difficulty, and are suitable for all, be they beginners, intermediate, advanced or expert skiers. The slopes and runs are maintained in perfect condition, and are designed with international markings and multilingual signs. A snow machine is also used.

The Borovets ski school, with more than 200 ski instructors, enjoys international prestige and long-standing traditions. All of them are fluent in different languages, and many are former professional skiers. Skiing classes are at 5 levels of difficulty, from A to E — in groups or individually — 4 hours per day, for 6 or 12 days. Cross-country skiing classes are for 2 hours daily. All course graduates receive skiing certificates.The Peter Popanguelov Ski School for Expert Skiing and its 10 highly qualified ski instructors are ready to offer their services to those who want to hone their skiing skills to world championship level.
Borovets has ten ski rental services, located next to the lift station. They offer 7,000 sets of skiing equipment from world famous companies, as well as toboggans, sledges, etc. Skiers can also leave their own quipment for safekeeping there.

A ski package is available, with a view towards saving time and money, and covers ski school classes, unlimited lift usage, ski and boot hire or storage of one's own skiing equipment.

The Ski Patrol, based at the first station of the cable lift, provides a round-the-clock emergency service. It is organised in four teams, fully equipped with all necessary equipment, including a helicopter, if needed.

The air in Borovets is crystal clear and totally free of any pollutants, while the average temperature during January, the coldest month, is -4.6ºC.
Toboggans, swimming pools, saunas, fitness centre, billiards, table tennis, bowling, sleigh rides and helicopter flights are some of the activities on offer.

During the summer, Borovets offers walks along scenic routes, including many ski-routes, in groups led by experience guides. Organised trips lead to picturesque spots in the Rila Mountains, such as Seven Rila Lakes, Malyovitsa peak, Moussala peak, etc. A photo safari and a visit to the Bulgarian kings' resience of Bistritsa are also organised regularly. Various trips to different tourist attractions throughout Bulgaria are offered as well. Melnik, with its unique pyramids and famous wines, Sofia, Plovdiv and Rila Monastery are among the most interesting ones.

Borovets Skiing Weather forecast

Golf	Sliven Varna (under construction) Burgas (2008) Sofia

Sailing Marinas in some areas lots of room for improvement

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