Bulgaria - the heart of the Balkans
General information
"Get to know your homeland so that you may love it," the Bulgarian writer Aleko Konstantinov, known as "the Happy One", once said. Bulgaria is a country that can surprise even someone who thinks they already know it.
Located in south-eastern Europe, between the Danube and the Black Sea and at the crossroads of Europe and the Orient, it brings together mountains, the sea, ancient towns, monasteries, mineral springs and villages where traditions are still part of everyday life, all in a relatively small area.
In an area of about 111,000 sq km you will find some of the most varied natural landscapes in the Balkans. The highest peak is Musala in the Rila Mountains at 2,925 m, and in the east the country reaches the Black Sea. The capital, Sofia, lies at the foot of Mount Vitosha and is an interesting place to start a trip - here ancient remains, Orthodox churches, architecture from different eras and modern city life sit within a few minutes of each other.
One of Bulgaria's great advantages as a destination is the variety within short distances. A single trip can combine a city stroll, ancient history, mountain scenery, mineral springs and a beach holiday.
This is especially clear when you travel beyond the big resorts. Plovdiv offers an ancient theatre, National Revival architecture and a lively cultural life, Veliko Tarnovo preserves the memory of Bulgaria's medieval capital, and Nessebar brings history and the sea together on a small peninsula. Some of the country's most valuable places are also UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Climate
Bulgaria has four distinct seasons, which allows for different kinds of travel almost all year round. The climate varies by region and altitude - in the north the temperate continental influence dominates, in the south the Mediterranean influence is stronger, and the mountains and Black Sea coast have their own characteristics.
Summer is the natural choice for a beach holiday. The Black Sea coast offers both large resorts with plenty of entertainment and smaller, quieter places. Beyond the beach, the area also has much to show history lovers - Nessebar, Sozopol and Balchik are good examples of how a beach holiday can be combined with a cultural outing.
Spring is ideal for touring and walks in nature. The days are warm enough for long routes, and the mountains and valleys are especially beautiful. Late spring is also when the Rose Valley becomes one of the most colourful parts of the country.
Autumn offers a different atmosphere - calmer towns, mountains in golden and red hues and good conditions for cultural, wine and food tourism. Winter is the season of the mountains, ski resorts and mineral springs.
So the best time to visit depends not so much on the calendar as on how you want to travel.
Culture and history
History is one of the reasons Bulgaria is so interesting to discover. Thracians, Romans, Slavs and Bulgars all left their mark on these lands, followed later by various cultural influences from neighbouring countries and the Ottoman Empire.
The Bulgarian state was founded in 681 and over the following centuries went through periods of political rise, wars and cultural flourishing. Under Tsar Simeon the Great, at the end of the 9th and beginning of the 10th century, Bulgarian literature experienced its Golden Age. Some of the most important pages in the history of Old Bulgarian literature and culture date from this period.
Traces of the Middle Ages can be seen in many parts of the country. Pliska and Veliki Preslav tell of the First Bulgarian Empire, while Veliko Tarnovo and the Tsarevets fortress recall the Second Bulgarian Empire.
But Bulgaria cannot be understood only through its medieval history. National Revival towns such as Koprivshtitsa, Zheravna and Tryavna show another side of the country - wooden houses, narrow cobbled streets, small workshops and architecture that has preserved the atmosphere of the 19th century.
Rila Monastery is one of the places that best combine history, spirituality and nature. Founded in the 10th century by St John of Rila, it gradually became one of the most important spiritual and cultural centres in Bulgaria. Today the complex, nestled among the Rila Mountains, is one of the country's symbols and a World Heritage Site.
Culture, however, is felt not only in museums and old buildings. Kukeri rituals, fire-dancing (nestinarstvo), folk music, traditional crafts and local festivals remain part of cultural life. The same goes for Bulgarian cuisine - shopska salad, banitsa, yoghurt and many regional specialities are a natural part of travelling around the country.
Why and when to visit
One of Bulgaria's greatest strengths is that it lets you combine different kinds of holiday in one trip.
For history lovers, spring and autumn are a good choice, when the weather is ideal for long walks around Sofia, Plovdiv, Veliko Tarnovo and the old National Revival towns. There is then time for places like Rila Monastery or the Thracian tombs around Kazanlak.
Summer belongs to the sea. Besides the classic beach holiday, the Black Sea coast offers walks, water sports and visits to historic towns and natural sights. Nessebar is perhaps the clearest example of this combination - the afternoon can be spent by the sea and the evening among the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Europe.
The mountains have a different face in every season. In summer Rila, Pirin, the Rhodopes and the Balkan Mountains are ideal for hiking and escaping the city rhythm. In winter the same areas become the centre of skiing and snow adventures. The mineral springs let you combine an active holiday with spa and relaxation.
And for those who prefer to get to know a country through flavours, traditions and small local places, almost every region has its own story. In some areas it begins with wine, in others with roses, mountain herbs, local cheeses or traditional recipes passed down from generation to generation.
That is what makes Bulgaria an interesting destination - you do not have to choose between the sea, the mountains, history or culture. You can combine them. A trip might start with coffee in the centre of Sofia, continue with a stroll through old Plovdiv, pass through the mountains and end by the sea. And if time is short, even a brief trip can pack in a surprising number of impressions.
Bulgaria is small by European standards, but that is part of its charm. The distances let you change scenery quickly, and each new stop tells a different story. And perhaps that is why the best thing about travelling around the country is often not a particular sight, but the feeling that around the next bend another place you have never seen awaits you.
