General information about Bulgaria

Bulgaria is situated in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. It shares borders with Turkey, Greece, Serbia, Macedonia and Romania. From the east by the Black Sea. Despite the relatively small size, the landscape is very diverse Bulgaria. Even in small areas can see both canyons, plateaus, hills, mountains, ponds and deep river valleys. More than half of the country - is mountainous or hilly terrain. Balkan Mountains cross Bulgaria to the north-west to the Black Sea and form the watershed between the Danube and the Aegean Sea. In the south lie Rodopsike mountains, which forms the border with Greece.
 
The climate in Bulgaria

The climate is temperate continental, transitional to the Mediterranean (far south). The average January temperature is between +2 ° C to -2 ° C, in July - up to +25 ° C. The average annual rainfall of 500-600 mm. On the coast, practically no heat wave, but at night is cool, because the sea is blowing a refreshing breeze. The best time for a spa vacation is August-September, you can swim until October.

Money Bulgaria

Lev (BGL) is 100 stotinki. In circulation are coins and notes 1, 2, and 5 leva banknotes of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 leva.
1 BGN = 3.75 UAH

Bulgarian Traditions
 
On national holidays due over 10 000 ceremonies. In the winter calendar are very mixed picture Christmas customs. For a long time New Year's Eve fire and the table are the symbols of generosity and abundance. Therefore, the table serves all dishes and ritual loaves decorated with images of grape vines and hives, fields and gardens. Occupies a special place "banitsa" (layer cake) with baked inside cornel twigs, each of which symbolizes the house and livestock, health and success. Lights a fire in the hearth is the old man in the house. In the morning hearth swept fir branches, expects "bydnik" - a thick piece of wood, usually oak, because oak - a symbol of longevity. In the evening it is ignited, and by how long it will stay the night, wondering about the future and fertility. New Year's Eve takes a lot of rituals to the wishes of prosperity. But looking forward, with special wishes survakarov - teenagers and young people who, after midnight go from house to house with Cornel branches in their hands. They pat them on the back with the owners wishes for good health, longevity and success. Cornel twigs (so called "sureachka") - a mandatory accessory each survakarov.

Bulgarian cuisine

National cuisine is spicy taste, relish, an abundance of fruits and passion for open fires and clay vessels. Worth a try "kebab" (meat on a skewer), "kebabche" (grilled meat sausages), "kavarmu" (a dish of meat with mushrooms, onions and potatoes), soup "tarator" and "Banica" - cakes puff pastry with cheese . Fish dishes stand out filet, grilled or grilled, fried whole fish and a variety of fish platter. Bulgaria is among the top five producers of wine, both red (Cabernet, Mavrud, Merlot, hotels, shoes) and white (Chardonnay, Galatea, Misket, Riesling, Tamyanka). Bulgarians invented and "raki" (plum brandy). Great demand for fruit juices. Coffee is sold everywhere, often with the juice. In hot weather is good as well, "Aryan" - a refreshing drink of water and sour milk.

Best buys
 
Sofia

Sofia - one of the oldest cities in Europe. The city was founded in the I century AD. e. called Serdica and was part of the Roman and later Byzantine Empire. To this day, numerous archaeological monuments testifying to the rich and diverse history of the city - the gates and towers of Serdica, the streets and buildings of thousands of years. Its present name of the city was due to the church of St. Sophia, built in the VI century. The heart of the city - the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, built in honor of the 200 thousand Russian soldiers who died in the struggle for the liberation of Bulgaria from Turkish rule. It is the largest cathedral in Bulgaria (area - 2600 sq. m., Height - 52 m, 12 gold-plated bells) and the largest Orthodox church in the Balkans. In the crypt of the cathedral is the Museum of icons, while the interior impresses with its lavish architectural forms, magnificent paintings, icons and mosaics. Behind the cathedral is a building of the Foreign Art Gallery with an extensive collection of European, African and Oriental art. Another interesting attraction is built of red bricks on the site of the Roman Rotunda Church of St. George - the oldest temple of Sofia. On the area of the National Assembly is a magnificent building of the National Assembly (1884), with the equestrian statue of the Russian Emperor Alexander II. Sofia is the center area of Battenberg. Here are the former building of the mausoleum of Georgi Dimitrov, National Art Gallery and the National Ethnographic Museum at the former Royal Palace (1887). Also of interest are the Botanical Museum at the National Botanical Garden, Museum of Zoology at the Zoo, the National Museum of Natural History and the Sofia Mineral Baths, built on the site of a Roman term.

Veliko Tarnovo
 
City-reserve Veliko Tarnovo, the ancient capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185 - 1393 gg.), Famous Royal Palace and the picturesque towers of the Patriarchal and Baldwin in Tsarevets near which regularly historical show "Sound and Light". Varusha interesting picturesque quarter, the monastery of St. Peter and St. Paul (XIII c.), The Church of St. Demetrius (XI cent.) And Forty Martyrs (1230). Art lovers will be interested to visit the museum of the Second Bulgarian Empire, the Museum of the Renaissance, and numerous art galleries. In the vicinity of the city lie the picturesque foothills of the Stara Planina ("old mountain") with caves and excellent conditions for rock climbing and trekking.

Gabrovo
 
Gabrovo is called the world's "capital of laughter." Local residents are not only not offended by jokes, but also they invent all sorts of stories about themselves. Gabrovtsa thrift became a proverb, though, he does not spend money on publishing anecdotes about himself, not only in Bulgarian, but also in foreign languages. Got in Gabrovo should visit Etara - Ethnographic Park Museum on the outskirts of the city. Etara two-story buildings are an exact copy of famous buildings of the old masters - with shops and stores on the ground floor and living quarters in the second. All arrangements made in the workplace, and hand tools - the original. In the shops selling ceramics, leather, gold, silver and copper ware, national musical instruments and dishes prepared according to old recipes.

Shumen
 
Shumen - one of the centers of the Bulgarian Middle Ages. It is certainly worth a visit Shoumen Fortress (XII - XIV c.), Regional History Museum, which is considered the largest and most beautiful in Bulgaria Tombul Mosque (1744) and the famous brewery.

Plovdiv

In Plovdiv, the second largest city in Bulgaria, preserved gate Hisar Kapija (II c. BC. E.) Trimontium (Roman theater at 3 thousand seats), the ruins of Thracian city Evmolpias (II c. BC. E.), Amphitheater Philip II of Macedon, Juma Mosque (XV c.) and Imaret (1445), the Church of the Holy Week, St. Demetrius, and St. Marina (1854) and the Church of Constantine and Helen (1832). Plovdiv Archaeological Museum is considered one of the best in the country, as good ethnographic museum in the house Koyumdzhoglu with excellent collection of costumes, art gallery in the House of the National Museum of Baklanov and rebirth.

Bansko
 
Bansko is a small town perfectly preserved architecture of the Bulgarian Revival XVIII-XIX centuries. The city center is decorated with an old church. In Bansko great many family hostels and hotels a variety of levels and classes. On all sides the town is surrounded by the snow-topped.

Varna

Varna - one of the oldest (585 BC. E.) Cities in Europe and the third largest city in Bulgaria. Beautiful beaches, upmarket tourist resorts, a modern international airport, the largest seaport in the country, a yacht club and the warm mineral springs in the region turned the city of Varna in the summer capital of the country. Varna center is the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption ("Katedrala", 1880 - 1910.), Famous for its frescoes and unique wood carvings in the design of the patriarchal throne and iconography. The city is famous in the first place, two sets of Roman baths: lying in the streets of Khan Krum refer to II - III centuries, and the terms in the port area - the IV century. Well preserved stone walls, spacious rooms, a palaestra area 840 square meters. m and a unique heating system. Per therm near the port is the beautiful church of St. Anastasia (1602), and in Seaside Gardens (Marine Park) are the Maritime Museum, one of the symbols of the city - "Bridge of desires", Zoo, Terrarium, Aquarium (1911) and the only Dolphinarium on the Balkan Peninsula (1984).
 
Nessebar

Lying on a small rocky peninsula north of Pomorie and Burgas, city of Nessebar is one of the oldest cities in Europe and is under the auspices of UNESCO. There are lots of small churches, among which the most interesting are the Church of St. Stephen (XI cent.) And the famous miracle-working icon of the Holy Mother of God Church, as well as a charming old mill, narrow, cobblestone streets, the beautiful sea, quaint white cliffs and wide sandy beaches, fringed by dunes.