Transcript Welcome in Bulgaria
Welcome to Bulgaria
Area - 110 910sq. km Population - 7 640 000
Relief
Extremely varied: plains and lowlands, low and high mountains, valleys and lovely gorges,high plateaus, over 550 curative mineral springs, dozen of unique natural phenomena and 2000 thrilling caves
Location
Bulgaria is situated in Southeast Europe and occupies the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula.
To the north it borders on Romania, to the west on the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Serbia, to the east on the Black Sea, to the south on Greece and to the southeast on Turkey's European part.
Bulgarian Climate is moderate continental with clearly marked four seasons. Beautiful blooming spring, dry and hot summer, long and pleasant autumn, and mild winter with lots of opportunity for skiing Average temperature (April - September):+23°C. The climate is exceptionally favourable for growing vines, fruits and vegetables,and oil yielding rose for which Bulgaria has been renowned in Europe for centuries.The
climate in Northern Bulgaria is moderate continental, while the climate in Southern Bulgaria is intermediate continental tending to Mediterranean. The climate in the regions with an altitude of 1900-2000m above sea level is mountainous and along the Black Sea coast it is maritime Official language: Bulgarian
State government:
Bulgaria is a parliamentary republic.
Currency in Bulgaria: Lev (BGL) It is divided in 100 stotinki. Religion 86.6% of the population is Eastern Orthodox and celebrate the traditional Christian holidays 3% are Muslims. and a few are gypsies. The Bulgarian Church is autonomous and headed by a Patriarch.
Holidays
March 1 st – Baba Marta A very old Bulgarian holiday. People give each other “martenitsas”, a small figure made of white and red threads, as a symbol of health and happiness.
March 3 domination rd – The day Bulgaria celebrates its Russian aided liberation from 500 years Ottoman
April 20 th - 20 April 1876 is the official start day the greatest uprising of the Bulgarian people against the Ottoman rule
May 6 th – St. George and official holiday of the Bulgarian Army.
May 24 - Day of Bulgarian Enlightenment and Culture and the Slav Script
September 6 th
The day the two parts of Bulgaria, the independent North and East Rumelia (autonomous in the Ottoman Empire) were reunited.
- Reunification Day
The state of Bulgaria has 1300 years old history and according to the statistics it is ranked third (after Greece and Italy) for the number of its archaeological monuments.The earliest inhabitants of the present Bulgarian lands were the Thracians. The Bulgarians were the basic ethnic component in the structure of the Mediaeval Bulgarian State. Their original home land was in Central Asia, in the mountainous region of Pamir. As a highly developed civilization they had culturally dominated the territories of central Asia for a long time. In the middle of the 7th century Khan Asparuh united the ancient Thracian nation and the Slavic tribes and founded the mighty Bulgarian Kingdom on the crossroad with Asia and Africa.
Here are some highlights from Bulgarian plentiful heritage:
1. Bulgaria has a 1328 years of history, since 681 A.D.
2. 885 - Cyril and Methodius created the Slavonic script. The Cyrillic is the basis of most languages spoken in Eastern Europe today).
3. 864 - 866 - Bulgaria is the first Slavic nations that adopted Christianity.
Khan Boris of the Bulgarians is baptized as an Orthodox Christian 4. Bulgaria was once one of the 3 biggest empires in Europe among the Frankish, and the Byzantine (it spanned between the Mediterranean, the Black, and the White Seas).
5. Bulgaria preserved its ethnic identity, religion, and culture after 200 years Byzantine and 500 years Turkish yokes!
6. Bulgaria, in its modern history never lost a battle and never lost a flag, captured by its enemies' armies.
7. Bulgaria in its modern history saved the lives of its 50,000-strong Jewish population, despite ill-fated and ill-judged alliance with Nazi Germany!
8.
Bulgaria’s “Izlel e Delio Haidutin” folk song was sent in deep space on the board of the US Space Probe -Voyager I as part of a collection of our Civilization's finest cultural artifacts - a message to an alien intelligence!
9. Bulgaria gave birth to numerous scientists, artists, and athletes (among whom is John Atanasoff –the inventor of the computer).
Bulgarian Treasures
Varna golden treasure (6th - 5th millenia BC) The discovery of the Varna Chalcolithic Necropolis revealed proofs of the oldest European civilization and the world's oldest gold.
Panagyurishte golden treasure (4th century BC) Possessed by a Thracian king, probably Sewth III.
A 23-carat gold (weight of 6.164 kg) royal set of 9 exquisitely shaped vessels - rhytons,amphoras and a phiale, all depicting mythological scenes. Madara Horse man (8th - 9th century) The only one of its kind in Europe, the magnificent bas relief is cut into the sheer rock at a height of 23 m. A horseman can be seen followed by a dog and a lion pierced by a spear, in their natural size.The composition is comparable to the East Iran triumph scenes and the Ancient traditions as well.The details speak in favour of the Bulgarian origin of the bas-relief. There is a supposition that the relief reflects khan Tervel as a winner A 2,400-year-old golden mask that was likely made for a Thracian monarch's funeral. The mask depicts a full face with moustache and beard.
Feel the unfading beauty of the Bulgarian arts and crafts!
Taste the piquant flavour of the Bulgarian traditional cuisine!
See the colours and rhythms of the living Bulgarian folklore!
Try the delicate aroma of the Bulgarian wines!
See the fire dancing “Nestinarstvo” the most ancien mysterious ritual traced back to pagan times. A fire is started on the main village square.The fire ring usually has diameter of two metre.Only embers remain by nighttime and the barefooted dancers performing on burning embers.The leading dancer steps on first and always carries the icon.The religious and mystical ritual for expelling illness, for health and fruitfulness is one that must be seen to believe it.
See “ The Rose Festival
” in the town of
Kazanluk
(at the foot of Balkan Range) is held in early June in the Valley of Roses, at the time when the rose petal picking begins. Dancers in folk costumes and singers perform traditional dances and songs. In Bulgaria the rose is a symbol of youth, beauty and health. Of the thousands of different varieties in the world, only three or four produce oil. Of these, the Kazanluk rose, which has been produced in the Valley of the Roses for over 300 years, is the best.
Every January, in the rural villages of Bulgaria Thousands of men still perform an ancient masked ceremony, which is the essence of the Kukeri Festival.Passed on for generations, this ritual is believed to fight evil.They caring sheepskin, weird masks and copper bells (chanove) attached to their belts, the kukeri perform certain dances and songs to scare away the evil spirits believed to come back every winter.
The Bulgarian voices are called to be mystery. Experts are still trying to explain the incredible range of the Bulgarian voice and the variety of songs.
Nestling at the heart of Central Europe, Bulgaria is a land of unspoilt natural beauty, where time has been known to stand still. It is a country of great contrasts.
Bulgaria is an interesting and intriguing experience for anyone: for those who love the warm southern sea or snow-covered slopes, for those who want to see it's cultural and historic monuments, who wish to delight in its unique and living folklore, for young people fond of sports, for families with children, for those who dream of carefree holidays.
Useful Information
public transport
- in big cities: trams, trolley-buses, buses - elsewhere: buses - inter-city transport:: plane, train, coach - taxi - rent-a-car
Credit Cards
Visa, MasterCard, JCB, American Express,Airplus,Eurocard They can be used for the payment of all standard services in hotels, restaurants, night clubs, shops, car rentals, plane tickets, etc.
Embassies in Bulgaria
France: 29,Oborishte St., Sofia Phone:(3592)9461579 Rumania:4,Sitnykovo St., Sofia Phone:(3592)9712858 Poland:46,Khan Krum St., Sofia Phone:(3592)9815746 Portugal: 6, Ivatz Voivoda St., Sofia Phone:(3592)9433667
Passports and Visas
You will need a valid passport with an entry or transit visa which is issued by the embassies and consulates of the Republic of Bulgaria abroad. No entry visas are required for citizens of the countries with which Bulgaria has a visa-free regime, or of organized tourists who have bought a package tour. No entry visas are required for citizens of the EU and EFTA member states.
Accommodation
Bulgaria boasts an extensive accommodation network ranging from luxury five-star to unpretentious two-star hotels, small cosy hotels and private rooms, meeting all modern requirements.Reservations through tourist agencies or local accommodation offices.