Bulgaria Become a Disney Travel Agent Near Me

Bulgaria had such a grim reputation during the Communist era that it hardly conjures up images of sun, spas and roses. Now, however, adventurous travelers are discovering what eastern Europeans have known for millennia: Bulgaria is a great place to sightsee and relax, from its sunny Black Sea resorts to its charming old towns and cities, to its pastoral valleys and stunning mountain-enclosed monasteries.

The country is rich in history and is home to nine UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Thracian tombs and a Roman theater. The capital city, Sofia, has been a center of Christianity since the Roman Empire.

Bulgaria also contains reserves of minerals and marble, which may serve it well in the capitalist economy. But even as Bulgaria modernizes, visitors can still discover older corners of the country, where the modern world gives way to the old and traditions from ancient times still remain a part of everyday life.

Geography

Bulgaria is located in southeastern Europe. Its neighbors are Romania to the north, Greece and Turkey to the south, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia to the west, and the Black Sea to the east.

Bulgaria is crossed by beautiful mountain ranges, including the Rila, Pirin, Stara Planina, the Rhodopes and Mount Vitosha, and valleys, both in the southern and north-central areas. Its coast has both sandy beaches and dramatic rocky areas.

There are more than 300 lakes throughout the country, and mineral springs are common, specifically in the mountain foothills. Many rivers also flow from the mountains into the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea. The famous Danube River flows through northern Bulgaria; it is the country's only navigable river.

Major urban areas include Sofia, the capital, which is located in western-central Bulgaria, and the cities of Plovdiv, Varna, Bourgas and Rousse.

History

Although Romans, Slavs, Byzantines and the Ottoman Turks have ruled the region, no people have had a greater influence on Bulgaria's history than the Bulgars of central Asia, who conquered the area in the seventh century. Their rule continued to expand until it encompassed Bulgaria and present-day Macedonia (Macedonians are still considered Bulgarians by Bulgarian nationalists).

Bulgaria's Golden Age ended when Turks defeated the combined forces of the Bulgarians, Serbians and Bosnians at Kosovo in 1389. This defeat is blamed locally for halting the progress of Bulgarian culture—many monasteries were razed during the 500 years of Turkish rule. The fact that Russians helped liberate the country from the Turks helps explain the country's continuing affection for Russia (and animosity toward Turkey).

Bulgaria fought on the side of Germany in both World Wars (hoping to regain territory lost during the Balkan Wars), but became a Communist republic in 1944, when the Red Army swept through on its way to Berlin.

The nation was one of the U.S.S.R.'s most reliable satellites during the Cold War years until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The day after the fall, an internal Communist party coup occurred in Sofia that ended the long Communist government reign of Todor Zhivkov (1962-89). As in other eastern European countries, the negative side of the transition to a free market—increased prices and higher unemployment—made life more difficult for most citizens, with social and economic unrest occurring.

However, the 1990s saw the country's first post-Communist era elections occurring with the current constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria adopted in July 1991. In 1992, the first presidential elections were held. Still, the reforms needed to regulate the flow of money, curb inflation and spur a free economy were difficult to implement.

Then in 1997, with the assistance of the international community, Prime Minister Ivan Kostov started a series of economic reforms to help stabilize Bulgaria. Elections in 2001 saw a new government and president in place with Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha, the former king of Bulgaria, sworn in as prime minister on 24 July. With a fervent commitment to democratic reform, Bulgaria joined NATO in January 2004. Parliamentary elections on 26 June 2005 saw the Bulgarian Socialist Party, led by Sergei Stanishev, winning over the currently ruling National Movement for Simeon II with a campaign that promised to increase wages and pensions, and to improve social welfare, including health services.

In keeping with Bulgaria's goal to become a modern and free society, the country joined the European Union in January 2007.

Since then, reforms and improvements have been slow because of issues with corruption. Huge waves of Bulgarian youth have been leaving the country since 2007 to work in other European countries, resulting in Bulgaria's steady population decrease.

On the other hand, because of Bulgaria's low wages, Bulgaria is the biggest outsourcing destination for European companies. Many have set up headquarters in Sofia, creating many jobs. Trade is on the rise, as well as industry. The tourist industry is booming, because of efforts by the Bulgarian Ministry of Tourism, excellent tourist infrastructure, Bulgaria's comparatively low prices and Bulgaria's many diverse and fantastic attractions and destinations.

Despite Bulgaria's political and economic issues, the country remains a safe tourist destination.

Snapshot

Bulgaria's chief attractions are terrific scenery, Black Sea beaches and watersports, old monasteries and churches, hiking and camping, Roman ruins, skiing, health spas, quaint villages, folklore, museum towns and cultural events.

Bulgaria will appeal most to adventurous travelers as well as to history buffs and those who enjoy outdoor activities. Inexperienced travelers will probably be happiest on tours.

Potpourri

Bulgarian bagpipes (they sound different from Scottish ones) are traditionally made of goatskin and are called gaida.

Many of the world's commercially grown roses come from Bulgaria. It takes three tons of rose petals to make 1 quart/liter of attar (rose oil), which is used in many of the world's finest perfumes.

When Bulgaria was a province of the Ottoman Empire, churches in Sofia were built half underground—the Turks decreed that their roofs could be no higher than the head of a man on horseback.

Even though it was allied with Germany during World War II, Bulgaria successfully defied Hitler by preventing its Jewish communities from being wiped out.

Bulgaria is the legendary birthplace of both Spartacus and Orpheus. Artist Christo Javacheff was also born in Bulgaria in 1935.

The Rila Cross, made by a Bulgarian monk, contains 140 microscopic biblical scenes on it, some of which are no larger than a rice grain.

The oldest tree in Bulgaria is located in Granit. It is an oak tree said to be approximately 1,650 years old.

Fire-dancing (nestinarstvo) is an ancient pagan ritual that marks the beginning of summer. On 21 May, a day dedicated to the Saints Elena and Constantine, residents from rural villages in the Strandzha mountains walk on hot coals in their bare feet as an expression of faith and to ensure future fertility.

The ancient Bulgarian calendar followed movements of the planet Jupiter, which was held in honor by the local peoples.