Situated in the southeast of European mainland, Bulgaria is a touristic gem in the eastern part of the Balkans. It has the Black Sea to the east, Turkey and Greece in the south, Macedonia in the west and Romania in the north.
It is the 16th largest country in Europe with a wide range of natural beauty, including the highest mountain of the Balkan region which is the Musala, measuring up to 2,925 metres high (9,596 ft).
History
Bulgaria is known to be the oldest country in Europe with one of the earliest recorded societies in the continent. This were the Karanovo culture, a neolithical culture existed from 62nd to 55th centuries BC in what is now known as modern-day Bulgaria.
Bulgaria experienced three different empires that shaped its history. The establishment of the First Bulgarian Empire, started with the invasion of the Roman Empire in AD 45. They brought stability to the region that was rife with battles among local tribes like Thracians, Persians, Celts and Macedonians.
As the Roman Empire started to fall apart, the local tribes resumed their fighting but were eventually settled by the Slavs. The Bulgars, a turkic semi-nomadic warrior tribe, invaded the Balkans in the 7th Century and established the First Bulgarian Empire which was officially recognised by the Byzantine Empire in 681 AD. They ruled the Balkans and influenced the majority of the slavic cultures by bringing to life the Cyrillic script.
The First Bulgarian Empire ended in the 11th Century when the Byzantine Emperor Basil II disintegrated it. After a successful Bulgarian Revolt in 1186, power was taken back and the Second Bulgarian Empire was established under the rule of Ivan Asen II. Unfortunately, this empire was also dismantled after a long series of battles and eventually succumbed to the Ottoman Empire in 1396. This lasted for five centuries.
With the Russo-Turkish War (1877-78) Bulgaria was finally made independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1908. This was a war against the Ottoman Empire initiated by the Russian Empire collaborating with Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, to reestablish lost territory during the Crimean War. Bulgaria joined the Soviet-led eastern bloc in 1946 and became a socialist state. In 1989, the ruling communist party caved due to a successful revolution. As a result, Bulgaria now holds a multiparty political system and gave birth to their new status as a democracy.
Language
The national language is Bulgarian. They use the Cyrillic Alphabet.
In the bigger cities, most do speak a bit of English, but this becomes less in the rural areas.
Religion
The majority in Bulgaria is Eastern Orthodox Christian. There are a wide range of national holidays and related festivities to bear in mind when you plan your trips.
Especially around Easter, Bulgarians are at home with family and this could change daily routines and schedules.
Nature and biodiversity
Bulgaria is one of the richest countries in terms of natural -and biodiversity. If you love hiking or just going for an adventurous and nature-focussed holiday, this is the perfect place to be.
There are three national parks that dominate the top “what-to-do-lists”.
The largest is the Rila National Park, which also has the highest summit in the Balkan region, the Musala. There are seven lakes to visit as well as a monastery.
The second is the Pirin National Park which is also located in the southwest of the country. It is known to have 118 glacial lakes including the deepest which is the Popovo Lake. There is also a wide range of forests to walk through with the majority consisting of coniferous trees.
Lastly, we have the third largest protected park of Bulgaria which is Central Balkan National Park which is home to a lot of rare and endangers species in both both flora and fauna. It is situated in central Bulgaria and established in 1991.
Climate
Bulgaria has a temperate-continental climate with differences ranging from north to south. Mountain ranges are the coldest whereas the coastline along the Black Sea knows the mildest weather.
Like any other country, Bulgaria has 4 seasons with spring and fall characterised by rainfall. Winters go down to -4 degrees celsius, whereas summers can reach up to 30-35 degrees.
Is it safe to travel?
It is generally safe to travel to Bulgaria, even as a solo traveller. You are obviously always recommended to take precautions. Be careful of pickpockets or scams. especially with accommodations around touristic places like Sunny Beach.
When there are demonstrations, protests or the local or national football teams play, things can get a bit rowdy.
But altogether, it is a safe country to travel to. People are very friendly and hospitable, especially in the rural areas.
Sofia
Escape into the Balkans
Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria and therefore the primary city of this gem in eastern Europe. Its history dates all the way back 7000 years ago and still stands tall and thriving against the backdrop of mountain Vitosha. Time for an overview and some travel tips.
Like most of the country, Sofia started out as a settlement for the Celtic tribe Serdi and got its first name from them, Serdica. In 29 BC, Serdica was take over by the Roman Empire and remained under their rule.
As the Roman Empire started to fracture and weaken, the local tribes including the Visigoths, Slavs, Avars and Huns started invading the city.
In 809 BC, was reestablished into the new Bulgarian Empire by the Khan Rum -better known as Krum the Fearsome. He baptised the city to Sredets which was its new name from then on.