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Useful information on Bulgaria
Bulgaria is extremely rich in natural resources with beautiful beaches, stunning mountain ranges, breathtaking rivers and lakes and over 200 mineral water springs. Steeped in thousands of years of history, the people are friendly and welcoming, offering tempting cuisine and wine, charming music, culture and folklore.
Bordering the Black Sea, Bulgaria neighbours Greece, Turkey, Macedonia, Serbia and Romania. The coastline offers many golden sanded beaches, popular with tourists as well as smaller, more private natural beaches. The scenic mountainous regions to the west offer excellent skiing and snowboarding in the winter months and off-road biking in the summertime.
Golf is also becoming increasingly popular with the development of numerous new courses, including a championship course, luring golf lovers to experience Bulgaria.
MAJOR CITIES OF BULGARIA
SOFIA
Sofia, the bustling capital of Bulgaria was born 7,000 years ago in the green embrace of the Vitosha Mountain. Today Sofia is a bustling city. Like any other European capital it is the hub of the country's political, business and cultural life and the centre of various international events.
There are many theatres to visit. There is an opera, an operetta, concert halls, cinemas, museums and also galleries. Sofia offers excellent opportunities for international congresses, symposia, meetings, conferences and fairs. Special business centres and deluxe hotels are in the proximity of the bustling city centre. The five, four and three-stars Sofia hotels offer good conditions for business, rest and entertainment. Tranquillity seekers can choose from among the numerous small private hotels in Sofia's suburbs, enjoying excellent service in addition to home comfort and traditional Bulgarian hospitality. Shopping in Sofia is quite an experience with shops offering designer clothes and antiques. There are private art galleries displaying modern art and jewels, and music shops to feast the eyes. Most restaurants in Sofia serve European and Bulgarian cuisine. A visit to a tavern is a must. They entertain with folk music, songs and dancing in addition to a menu of delicious typically Bulgarian dishes and drinks. Each night in Sofia is a thrilling experience with many choices including concerts, operas or theatres. Jazz and rock clubs and piano bars are also there. Sofia discos as good as any in European country. Night clubs have variety shows in the small hours. Casinos in Sofia don't close before dawn!
VARNA
Varna is Bulgaria's third largest city. It was an inhabited place even before the Greeks established the colony of Odessos there about 580 B.C. Later, under the Romans and their successors – the Slavs, Varna became a major port trading with Constantinople, Venice and Dubrovnik. In 1393 it was captured by the Turks, who made it an important military centre. Nowadays it is the main port for both naval and commercial shipping. As it is next to the coastal resorts it has a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Sailors on shore-leave in unfamiliar ceremonial uniforms mingle with locals and foreign tourists as they promenade along shady boulevards, lined by dignified 19th and early 20th century buildings. The 19th century Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin is an imposing landmark, which contains a finely carved iconostasis and bishop's throne, some interesting murals and stained glass. The 2nd century thermae are the remains of the largest Roman public building in Bulgaria. Enough has been revealed by archaeologists this century to give a good impression of the original layout, though some parts of the building remain hidden under nearby streets. Coming across an extensive ancient building amidst the streets and houses of a modern city is not unusual in Bulgaria.
Further from the centre, a granite monument commemorates the Battle of Varna, which took place in 1444. Here 30,000 Crusaders were waiting to sail to Constantinople when they were attacked by 120,000 Turks. The Polish King Ladislas was killed in an attempt to capture the Sultan Murad. The subsequent retreat foreshadowed Christendom's general retreat before the advancing Ottomans. North of Varna there is a cluster of seaside resorts all with fine sandy beaches but differing in size and style.
TOURISM
During the winter months, Bansko, and Pamporovo are ski resorts. During the summer months Bulgaria welcomes increasing numbers of tourists to its numerous resorts along the Black Sea coast. Bulgaria has become an attractive destination because of the affordable price of accommodation available. Bulgaria has enjoyed a substantial growth in income from international tourism over the past decade. The ski resorts are a favourite destination for English tourists. Bike tourism and mountain hiking have also shown strong growth in popularity among foreign tourists. The mountains of Rila, Pirin and the Balkan attract climbers. Hikers enjoy the mountains of Vitosha and the Rhodopes. Cycling is popular, Bulgaria is one of only six countries to annually host official 1200km Randonnees - ultra-marathon bicycle rides patterned after Paris-Brest-Paris.
Although Bulgaria is rich in historical ruins, museums and monasteries are not properly advertised and maintained. Some are not tourist accessible due to poor infrastructure. This underdevelopment is regarded as highly desirable by some tourists who prefer to experience history first hand rather than look at artefacts behind glass.
TIME DIFFERENCE
Winter time: GMT +2 hours (October through March).
Summer time: GMT +3 hours (April through September)
Shops are open - 10.00 a.m. to 8.00 pm. (Monday to Friday, Saturday until noon)
CREDIT CARDS
All major credit cards are widely accepted throughout Bulgaria.
MEALS
Throughout Bulgaria you will find many differing establishments serving foods: renowned luxury restaurants, taverns which serve national cuisine, restaurants serving foreign cuisine, fast food outlets, pizzerias, numerous cafes and pastry shops, entertainment spots, etc. Menus are usually printed in both Bulgarian and English. Restaurants stay open from 11a.m. to midnight but may work round the clock.
CLIMATE
A Mediterranean influence is felt in Bulgaria’s southern regions.
Average summer temperatures average approximately 30°C.
POPULATION
8,428,006
LANGUAGE
Many languages are spoken in Bulgaria - Bulgarian, English, German, French and Russian is spoken in the country's resorts, hotels and restaurants.
STATE GOVERNMENT
Bulgaria is a parliamentary republic.
OFFICIAL HOLIDAYS
January 1 - New Year
March 3 - Bulgaria's Liberation from Ottoman rule - the National Day
Easter - one week after the Catholic Easter
May 1 - Labour Day
May 6 - Bulgarian Army Day
May 24 - Day of Bulgarian Enlightenment and Culture and the Slav Script
September 6 - Bulgaria's Unification
September 22 - Independance Day
December 25-26 - Christmas
CAPITAL
Sofia (pop. 1,141,000)
CLIMATE AND AVERAGE TEMPERATURES
Bulgaria benefits from a temperate climate with cold winters, particularly in mountainous regions and long hot summers.
BEACH CLIMATE
Average Value May June July August September
Daily temperature c° 22 26 29 29 24
Night temperature c° 12 16 17 15 13
Sunny hours per day 8 10 10 11 8
MOUNTAIN CLIMATE
Average Value December January February March
Daily temperature c° - 2.1 - 4.6 - 3.2 0.8
Average snow coverage (cm) 30 - 60 100 - 140 60 30
Snowy days per month 5 7 5 3
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