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Tourist Guide and Information about Bulgaria

 

 

 

Bulgaria (Republika Balgarija) is a Parliamentary Republic, situated in Southeastern Europe, borders with Romania to the north, with Greece and Turkey to the south, with Serbia, Montenegro and the Republic of Macedonia to the west, as well as the Black Sea, which makes up its entire eastern border. It makes part of the European Union. The northern part of the country, comprised between the Danube river, that marks for great part the border with Romania, and the Balkan Mountains, is formed from a large flat land intensely cultivated. More to south, between the southern sidi of the Balkans and the group of the Rodope, is found a large plain covered from the Marica river.

The Bulgaria mountains are represented from the Balkan Mountains (in Bulgarian Stara Planina) that it extends from west to east until the Black Sea, the highest peak exceed 2,000 meters, the maximum summit the Botev, reach 2,376 meters. Towards south are two alpine ranges, the Rila and Pirin, and further east stand the lower but more extensive Rhodope Mountains. Rila mountain includes the highest peak of the Balkan Peninsula, peak Musala at 2,925 meters.  

Between the rivers the Danube, marks for approximately 400 km the northern border of the country, it receives from the Balkans several tributaries, between which the Vit, the Jantra and the Iskar. The river basin of the Marica extends one fifth of the entire Bulgarian territory, that it crosses for beyond 300 km.  

  

Climate: Bulgaria has a continental climate, with cool and damp winters, very hot and dry summers, and Mediterranean influence along the Black Sea coast. The barrier effect of the Balkan Mountains influences climate throughout the country: northern Bulgaria gets slightly cooler and receives more rain than the southern regions. The temperature can always remain under zero also for weeks in the months of December/January; while the summers are warm, the temperature exceeds easily 30°C, but remain cooler by the coast. Average temperatures during January vary from -2°C to 2°C in the valleys to – 10°C in the mountains. Average temperatures for June vary from 19°C-25°C in the valleys to 10°C in the high mountains. The driest areas are Dobrudzha and the northern coastal strip, while the higher parts of the mountains Rila and Stara Planina receive the highest levels of precipitation.

Tourist attractions: Bulgaria is a little known country from the touristic point of view, but the country has remarkable attractions for the tourist, Sofia, the state capital, is one of the most beautiful eastern European cities. The city of Varna, on the Mar Nero, is the largest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, known as the seaside capital of Bulgaria and the queen of the Black Sea, its landmarks are magnificent natural scenery, a beautiful and convenient strip of beaches with fine golden sand and nocturnal life. Other attractions are the numerous orthodox monasteries of the country between which the Alagià Monastery, the Church of Boyana and the Vitosha Monastery. One of the most visited towns in Bulgaria is Veliko Turnovo, the living symbol of Bulgarian statehood over the ages. The Valley of Kamchiya River is among the most beautiful places along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. The Bulgarian lands have rich and most diverse cultural heritage. Inhabited since prehistoric times, they keep lasting traces from different ages with rich traditions. Among the most precious relics unearthed in the Bulgarian lands has been the cultural heritage of the Thracians, who had produced incredible artistic and architectural masterpieces.

Unesco has inscribed 9 Bulgaria properties in the World Heritage List: Ancient City of Nessebar (1983), Boyana Church (1979), Madara Rider (1979), Rila Monastery (1983), Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo (1979), Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak (1979), Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari (1985), Pirin National Park (1983), Srebarna Nature Reserve (1983). Between the properties submitted on the Tentative List are: Two neolithic dwellings with their interior and household furnishings and utensils completely preserved (1984), The Magoura cave with drawings from the bronze age (1984), The ancient town of Nicopolis ad Istrum (1984), The late ancient tomb of Silistra (1984), The Bachkovo Monastery (1984), The town of Melnik and the Rozhen Monastery (1984), The Rocks of Belogradchik (1984), The Vratsa Karst (1984), Central Balkan Park (1984), The Roussensky Lom National Park (1984), The Pobiti Kamani Natural Monument (1984), The Ancient Plovdiv (2004), Thracian Tomb with Wall Paintings beside Alexandrovo village (2004), Pirin National Park World Heritage Site (2006).  

Travel Documents: Most of the foreign citizens entering Bulgaria don’t need visa but they must carry their valid international passport.

Health: The general medical care is still at low level (Bulgaria is in process of building of the new health care system) but there are enough very good paid medical centers where if somebody is possible to pay he will get high level medical services. It is advised to stipulate, before undertaking the travel, a sanitary assurance that previews, beyond to the cover of medical expenses, also the eventual medical repatriation with aircraft or the transfer in other Country. 

Electricity: 220 V, 50 Hz. The Continental two-round-pin plug is standard.

Cuisine: The variety in Bulgarian cuisine is based on the long history of the country, as well as the close contact with Turkey and Greece cuisine. Bulgarian cuisine tends to be oriented toward meat and potatoes, several of the more popular dishes are cheese-based. Traditional food includes Bulgarian bread, pickled vegetables, salads, soups, stews, casseroles, stuffed vegetables, kebabs, spicy sausages and cheese dishes. Add to this, lots of garlic, onions, oil and spices. A salad and rakia (Bulgarian spirit/schnapps, usually made from grapes) are often an obligatory start to the meal. Bulgarian cuisine features also a variety of hot and cold soups, an example of a cold soup being tarator. Yoghurt is very popular. Banitza is one of the most popular and typical Bulgarian dishes, more of a breakfast or snack thing than a main course. Bulgarian wines are internationally renowned and one of the country’s prime exports. Bulgarian beer is also noteworthy, with several regional brands. The national spirit, rakia, is a fiery brandy ritually consumed with a variety of appetizers (meze). BULGARIAN CUISINE RECIPES.

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Airports and Flights: the main airport in Bulgaria are: Sofia airport, Varna airport, Bourgas airport and Plovdiv airport. Bulgarian air companies have flights to most European capitals and some of the larger cities in Europe. There are air links with some of the countries in the Middle East, Africa, Central and Southern Asia and North America. Most of biggest foreign air companies have flights to Bulgaria too (mostly to Sofia).

Area: 110,994 sqkm

Population: 7,846,000 Bulgarians (85.3%) Turkish (8.5%) Gipsy (2.6%) others (3.6%)

State Capital: Sofia

Languages: Bulgarian.

Religion: Christian Orthodox (85%) Muslem (13%) Jewish (0.8%) Roman Catholic (0.5%) Others (0.7%)

Currency: Lev

Time: Local time is GMT +2 hours.  

 

 

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