BULGARIA
Bulgaria is incredible with its beauty in all of the four seasons. During the summer the Black Sea offers charming places for relaxation and reacreation. In the winter there is plenty of mountain resorts.Geographic Location: The Republic of Bulgaria is situated in the North-Eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. It covers a territory of 110, 993 square kilometers. The Republic of Bulgaria borders on Romania to the North, Greece to the South, Turkey to the South-East, Serbia and Montenegro to the West and Macedonia to the South-West. The Black Sea is the natural eastern border of Bulgaria and its coastline is 378 km long.
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Relief: Situated on a relatively small area, Bulgaria’s relief is quite varied, altitudes ranging from 0 and 2,925 m above sea level. The average altitude of the country is 470 meters above sea level. 30 percent of its territory is mountainous. The highest mountain is Rila with the highest peak on the Balkan Peninsula – Mount Musala (2925 m).
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The biggest Black Sea Resort - Sunny Beach is 40 km north from FOROS |
Climate: Winter temperatures in the country vary between 0 and –7° C. Very rarely temperatures may drop down to – 20° C. In spring, the climate is continental. Summers are hot and humid, especially in Northern Bulgaria, along the Danube. Summer temperatures in Southern Bulgaria are close to those of the Mediterranean – about 28 – 30° C. Autumns in Bulgaria are mild and pleasant. Rainfalls are most frequent in May, October and November.Waters: The country is one of the richest in the world in mineral water springs. Mineral waters rich in salts and iron spring from the bowels of the earth. Over 75 percent of the mineral waters are warm to hot, with temperature from 37° Ñ to 100° Ñ. The Danube is the navigable river of Bulgaria, which connects it with Central and Western Europe. The interior of the country is strewn with rivers, the biggest of which are the Maritsa, the Strouma, the Yantra, the Iskar, the Vit. They together with a number of dams and mountain lakes form the country’s impressive water resources. One of the most remarkable landmarks to see are the Seven Rila Lakes. The big dams Dospat, Batak, Iskar, Arda are actively used for recreation, sports, tourism and fishing. The Black Sea Coast with its golden sand, big beaches, the authentic atmosphere of the towns and villages attract millions of tourists.
Flora and Fauna: There are 3 national parks, 9 nature parks, 89 reserves, and 2,234 natural landmarks in Bulgaria. Two of them – Pirin National Park and Srebarna Nature Reserve have been included in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage. Sustainable development and tourism is deemed central for the preservation of dozens of endemic plants and species, natural phenomena, century-old trees and simply virgin places in our lands.
History in Dates:
681 AD - The Bulgarian state was established. It is one of the first ever European states. The first Bulgarian capital was Pliska. The Khans Asparoukh, Kroum (803 - 814 AD), and Omourtag (852 - 831 AD) turned it into a mighty power in Southeastern Europe.
855 - The Brothers Cyril and Methodius created the Slavonic (Cyrillic) alphabet.
865 - Knyaz Boris I Mikhail (852-907 AD) did away with paganism and introduced East-Orthodox Christianity as the official religion in Bulgaria. The Byzantine Empire recognized him as the Tsar of the Bulgarians.
893 - 927 - Under the reign of Tsar Simeon (the Great), son of Tsar Boris I, the Bulgarian Kingdom became the biggest in territory and the most powerful in Europe. The Golden Age of Bulgarian culture set in.
1396 - Bulgaria fell under Ottoman yoke that lasted 5 centuries.
1762 - The beginning of the Bulgarian National Revival, which found expression above all in the development of the arts, culture, and crafts. Monk Paissii of the Hilendar Monastery (on Mount Athos) wrote the “Slav-Bulgarian History” book.
3rd March 1878 - Following the Russian-Turkish War a Peace Treaty was signed. It put the end to the Ottoman rule. That was the beginning of the Third Bulgarian Kingdom.
6th September 1885 - Unification of the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Roumelia (the actual liberation of Bulgaria).
22nd September 1908 - Prince Ferdinand Saxe-Coburg-Gotha proclaimed Bulgaria independent and himself the Tsar.
1944 - After the World War II in Bulgaria starts 45 years long ruling of the Comunist Party.
1990 - In the course of the changes in the Eastern Bloc countries the first free elections were held and the new democratic Constitution of Bulgaria was passed in 1991.
Religion and Ethnic Groups: East Orthodox Christians (82,7%), Muslims (12,1%), Catholics (0,6%), Protestants (0,5%), others (4,1%)Time Zone: The local time in Bulgaria is + 2 hours from the West-European time (GMT) and + 1 hour from the Central-European time (CET – Paris, Rome). Summer time is from late March through late October.
Territorial and Administrative Division: Bulgaria is a parliamentary republic. The country is divided into 28 districts and 258 municipalities. 6 plan regions have been defined in the country as well in conformity with EU requirements.
Language: The official language is Bulgarian, and the official alphabet is Cyrillic. The Bulgarian language belongs to the group of the Slavonic languages. The languages most similar to it are Russian and Serbo-Croatian. English is the most common foreign language. Almost all young people in the cities speak English. French, German and Russian are also spoken.
Sofia – the capital of Bulgaria: 1,2 million inhabitants (census 2002)
Useful Advice: Change money only in banks and change bureaus. Sometimes in front of the change bureau, you may be accosted by people offering a higher exchange rate than the official one. Avoid such gains on the cheap, if you don’t want to be the victim of a street swindle. When parking your car, don’t forget to check whether all doors and the boot are well locked. Leave no documents, bags or valuable objects exposed inside the car. If you don’t need them for the day, leave any valuables like golden jewellery, laptop computers, camcorders and digital cameras on deposit in the hotel safes. Don’t leave them behind in your hotel rooms or lodgings, nor entrust them to new acquaintances. There is a risk, as everywhere else, of coming across people involved in criminal activities. People of this kind can be most frequently encountered along nightclubs, fitness centers, bingo halls, and in the expensive resorts and restaurants. Avoid all quarrel or contact with them.
Basic Measurement Units: For weight: gram – kilogram – ton; 1 ton = 1000 kg; 1 kg= 1000 g For length: centimeter – meter – kilometer; 1 km = 1000 m; 1 m = 100 cm Distance in Bulgaria is measured in kilometers.Speed is measured in km/h.
Electric Power: 220 V, 50 Hz
Convertible Currency and Currency Regulation: The Bulgarian monetary unit is the Bulgarian Lev (BGN). 1 Lev = 100 stotinki. Presently, coins in circulation are of nominal values 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 stotinki, and 1 lev. The banknotes are: 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 leva.
The exchange rate of the Lev is pegged to the Euro, one Euro being exchanged for BGN 1.9 on average. Exchange of foreign currency takes place in all banks in Bulgaria or in the network of change bureaus in the towns and resorts. Banks and some exchange offices charge commission fees.
Road Traffic Rules: Driving in Bulgaria is on the right. Speed limits for cars and vehicles with up to eight seats are 50 km/h in settlements, 90 km/h on other roads, and 120 km/h on motorways. Safety belts are obligatory. The limit of admissible blood alcohol content for drivers in the country is 0,5 promile (0,5 per 1,000). There is a thick network of filling stations selling fuels of octane values, 95 H, 98, as well as Diesel and some high octane fuels.
Working Hours: Working hours of state institutions, offices and departments: 9.00 a.m. - 5.30 p.m. Banks and financial institutions are open from 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. or some of them later. Most stores are open from 9.00/10.00 a.m. to 7.00/8.00 p.m. Offices are closed on weekends, though some shops are open on Saturday and Sunday. Food and beverage stores are open from 9.00 a.m. to 8.00/9.00 p.m., though some are open 24 hours.
Communications: Bulgaria has a well-developed telecommunications network. Each town and city has telephone lines but the quality of service may vary. There are three mobile operators - M-Tel, Globul and VivaTel using the GSM standard. GSM operators offer a prepaid card system which can be purchased from newspaper kiosks or mobile phone shops. There are numerous street phones for which you need phone-cards for long-distance calls. Internet is becoming an increasingly popular mean of communication. All cities and towns, and some villages have Internet clubs, where one can use the web for e-mail or long-distance calls against a minimal charge.
Important contacts:
112 – Emergency (to be introduced)
150 – Ambulance
160 – Fire Brigade
166 – Police
142 – Road aid
Transport: Bulgaria has a well-developed network of public intercity bus transportation. Bus and coach services are provided to most settlements – both big cities and small villages. Larger cities have bus stations often next to railway stations. Tickets are available at the stations or on the bus.
The railroad network is also well developed. Trains for small railway stations are not very frequent, typically once a day. Tickets are available from the ticket desks at the railway stations. If you get on the train at small station without a ticket desk, you can buy your ticket from the ticket collector.
Rent-a-car services are provided in the big cities and resorts. The common practice is to pay a deposit plus some daily fee paid in advance. You will need to produce a driving license valid in Bulgaria (international driving license). The deposit is refunded upon return of the car provided the car has not been damaged.
Taxis are sufficient in number in the big cities, but there may be a shortage in some frequently visited tourist towns. Rates are paid per kilometer and they differ widely. For this reason passengers should look at the price list on the sticker placed on the screen. It is recommended to avoid hiring taxis at railway stations and airports because their prices are much higher. Always insist on the meter being switched on and do not accept a bargain price set in advance.
Public Transport: Municipal centers and a few other cities have bus and trolley bus public transport. Sofia, besides these, has trams and an underground as well. In Sofia, tickets or travel cards are sold at kiosks or the newsagents at the bus stops. Passengers are required to punch their tickets as soon as they get on the bus or tram/trolley bus. If your luggage is very bulky, you must punch an extra ticket. The other cities have ticket collectors who sell tickets on the bus but it is always better to buy a ticket in advance. Sofia also has minibus services seating some 15 passengers, which follow specific routes set in advance. They have no special stops so you just flag one down. You have to inform the driver where you want to get off. The price is BGN 1, and it is paid to the driver.
Official Holidays:
January 1 - New Year;
March 3 - National Day of the Liberation from Ottoman Yoke;
Easter - Two days (Sunday and Monday) according to the Orthodox Calendar (a week after the Catholic Easter);
May 6 - St. George’s Day;
May 24 - Day of the Bulgarian Culture and Slavonic Letters;
September 6 - National Day of Bulgaria’s Unification;
September 22 - Bulgaria’s Independence Day;
November 1 - Day of the National Revival Leaders;
December 25/26 - Christmas;
December 31 - New Year’s Eve.
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Massive golden mask from V century B. C. belonged to the tracian king Teres |
Folklore
The national folk costumes and musical instruments are very interesting and unique. Some of the most popular costumes are the so-called “white outfits”, “black outfits”, costumes from the Thracian, the Rhodopes and Vidin regions, etc. The folk costumes worn on different holidays are extremely varied. Some of them are those of the Kukeri, Lazarki, the firedancers (nestinari), etc. Traditional Bulgarian musical instruments with original sounding are the bagpipe, the reedpipe, the rebec, the drums, the Bulgarian mandolin, dvoyanka, brumbuzuk, chimes and similar. Bulgarian festive rituality is based on the calendar. Only men take part in the Christmas caroling (Koleduvane). Sourvakane is the most typical New Year’s custom, known all over the country. Laduvane is another New Year’s custom performed by girls and is a collective fortune telling for marriage. On the Day of Martyr Trifon Zarezan (the Pruner) on 14th February – a holiday dedicated to wine-makers, publicans, and gardeners, the first pruning of the vines is performed. The ritual is for men only. The kukeri games are performed on Cheesefare Sunday by kukeri (or mummers masked as goat, bull, ram or some terrifying beast) - bachelors and young men dressed in goat or sheep hides with the hairs to the outside. With lots of bells hanging on their waists, the kukeri are a great attraction. Horse racing (Koushiya) is a ritual performed on St. Todor‘s Day (the first Saturday of the Lent). Lazaruvane (a ritual dedicated to the fields, pastures, forests and young girls: Lazarki) is a springtime girls’ custom. The Lazarki make a round of the houses starting from noon on the Saturday of Lazarus until noon on Palm Sunday (Vrabnitsa or Williow Day / Flowers’ Day). Granny Martha (1st March) is a holiday of the beginning of spring. They make martenitsa-s (twined tasselled red and white woollen or cotton thread) and people decorate themselves with them for health. St. George’s Day is celebrated on 6th May in veneration of St. George - patron of shepherds and herds. On that day houses and farming buildings are decorated with greenery, wreaths are made, “horo”-chain dances are played, and swings are swayed. Tables are laid “on green” (in the open) and a St. George’s Day kourban (boiled lamb from the first-born male lamb), St. George’s Day bread and other ritual dishes are offered.
The UNESCO World Heritage List includes seven cultural sites and two nature reserves in Bulgaria: the Thracian Tomb – Sveshtari; the Thracian Tomb – Kazanlak; The Madara Horseman bas-relief; The Boyana Church near Sofia; the Rock Monasteries – Ivanovo; The Rila Monastery; The old town of Nessebar; Srebarna Nature Reserve; The Pirin mountain. Monuments of Culture Under the Auspices of UNESCO.
The UNESCO World Heritage List includes seven cultural sites and two nature reserves in Bulgaria: the Thracian Tomb – Sveshtari; the Thracian Tomb – Kazanlak; The Madara Horseman bas-relief; The Boyana Church near Sofia; the Rock Monasteries – Ivanovo; The Rila Monastery; The old town of Nessebar; Srebarna Nature Reserve; The Pirin mountain.
Monasteries and Churches
Bulgaria is extremely rich in monasteries (over 160) and churches. Rila Monastery, Bachkovo Monastery, Rozhen Monastery, Troyan Monastery, Preobrazhenski (Transfiguration) Monastery and Aladzha Rock Monastery draw the largest number of visitors. Very fascinating are also the hundreds of churches where one can see unique samples of the Bulgarian iconography, woodcarving, mediaeval paintings and icons. In some monasteries (such as Dobridolski, Chiprovtsi, Klissoura, Chekotinski, the Seven Thrones, Cherepish, Glozhene, Troyan, Batoshevtsi, the Sveta Gora of Veliko Tarnovo, and Dryanovo – in Northern Bulgaria; and Rila, Bachkovo, Arapya, Kaloffer, and the Maglizh – in Southern Bulgaria) you may spend the night in common rooms and thus sense the special atmosphere of these holy places.
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