CAPITAL: Sofia

POPULATION: 8.88 million people

GEOGRAPHY: A country with a total area of 110.9 thousand square km, situated in the south-east part of Europe , on the Balkan Peninsula . To the north it has a border with Romania , to the south – with Turkey and Greece , to the west – with Serbia , and Macedonia . To the east it is washed by the waters of the Black Sea .

CLIMATE: Moderate – continental, in the endmost southern regions – with a transition to Mediterranean . The average temperature in January is from –2C to +2C,in July – about 25C. The average annual precipitation is about 500 – 600mm/sq.m.

LANGUAGE: Official language – Bulgarian.

CURRENCY: 1 lev (BGL) equal to 100 stotinki. 1 EURO is equal to 1.95583 levs. Coins and notes of 1, 2, and 5 levs are in circulation, as well as notes of 10, 20, 50 and 100 levs.

RELIGION: Christian Orthodox Church, there are also Muslims – Sunits.

POLITICAL POSITION: Republic with a parliamentary government. The head if the state is the President, the permanently acting high body of the legislative power is a one-chamber parliament. /National Assembly/

TIME: 1h before the Central European Time /CET/.

MAIN LANDMARKS: In Sofia – the Botanical Museum in the National Botanical Garden, the National Archeological Museum, the National History Museum, the National Theatre “Ivan Vazov”. Among the architectural monuments in the capital are: the church “St. George” / 4th century/, the cathedral “St. Sofia” /6^th century, the cathedral “St. Alexander Nevski”. Not far from Sofia the Boyana Church is situated with its unique mural paintings from 8^th century. The towns – museums with world fame are: Arbanasi, Bozsentsi, Veliko Tarnovo, Etara, Zseravna, Koprivshtitsa, Kotel, Melnik, Nesebar, Sozopol, Triavna.

The wine-growing traditions ranks among the centers of the “wine tourism”.

REGULATIONS FOR ENTERING THE COUNTRY: For citizens of EU visa is not required.

CUSTOMS REGULATIONS: The import and exchange of currency is not limited

Bulgaria – an earthly paradise

The lovers of tourism and recreation come to Bulgaria , to have a good rest in a comfortable conditions. What is also important – absolutely safe and cheap. Long since Bulgaria has had a reputation of a peaceful country. Its inhabitants and visitors obey the law and respect its peace. The fact that Bulgaria is an associated member of the European Community is a worthy confirmation.  

The scenery nature makes miracles: it is worth coming to Bulgaria , to understand that. The warm season is from May to October, with magnificent mild climate and kilometers of clean beach. The friendliness of the population and the irreproachable service are the first impressions.

The essential thing is: Bulgaria is beautiful, ancient, interesting, mysterious. You can bravely apply all these definitions.

There is only one disadvantage. After your holiday you must come back home, to the vanity, to the noise of the big city and dream about that after an year you will enjoy this paradise again.

 

Wines and cuisine of Bulgaria

 

Wine – growing

 The traditional local wine-growers prefer red varieties of wine.  

Geographically Bulgaria is situated in the same climatic zone as Spain , France and Italy – the biggest wine-growers in the world. It is considered for one of the founders of the branch.

The archeological finds give evidence that still in the Neolithic age (4th – 3rd millennium BC) on the territory of contemporary Bulgaria wine was produced.

In the age of the Roman Empire the Bulgarian wines were imported into Greece , Asia and Egypt . Later under the rule of King Krum the wine growing reached such extents, that a law was passed against drunkenness. The wine-growing was not ceased at the time of the Turkish Yoke (1395 – 1878).  

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National cuisine  

The very geographical position of Bulgaria on the border of Europe and Asia left a profound imprint on the Bulgarian cuisine. The important thing for it is mixing the tastes from various regions. One of the main features is the simultaneous heat processing of the products on a low fire. This allows the delicious characteristics of the products to be kept, pleasant aroma and original taste combinations of the meals to be attained.

You can have breakfast with banitsa – dough meal from many-layer dough with cheese. It is considered that the Bulgarians owe their longevity to the yogurt, produced with the bacterium Lactobacilus Bulgaricus. Go for it! It is delicious!