About Bulgaria

The Republic of Bulgaria is in South Eastern Europe and is bordered by Turkey, Greece, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, Romania and the Black Sea.

Geography

Sofia is the capital city of Bulgaria. Other important cities are Plovdiv, Varna, Bourgas, Rousse, Stara Zagora, Nova Zagora, Pleven, Dobrich, Sliven and Shumen.

Bulgaria's terrain is mountainous. The River Danube flows along Bulgaria's border with Romania. Other rivers include the Iskur, Maritsa, Mesta and Strouma.

Bulgaria's climate is temperate with cold snowy winters and hot summers.

Environment

Bulgaria is mountainous with over four thousand mapped caves. Thirty-eight percent of Bulgaria consists of forests and woodlands; there are many rivers, waterfalls, lakes and mineral springs.

Protected areas include Pirin National Park, Sinite Kamani National Park, the Bourgas Wetlands, Steneto Reserve and Parangalitza Reserve. The Srebarna Nature Reserve, a World Heritage site, is home to over a hundred species of indigenous and migrating birds.

Architecture

Bulgaria has monuments dating back to its Thracian era. This includes the Tomb of Sveshtari (third century BC) and the Tomb of Kazanlak (fourth century BC).

The Bulgarian town of Nessebar began as a Thracian settlement. Like the Thracian tombs, Nessebar is on the World Heritage List. Evidence of Greek colonisation in Nessebar can be seen in the acropolis and the Temple of Apollo. Other architecture of interest in Nessebar is its nineteenth century wooden houses.

Bulgarian religious buildings on the World Heritage List are Rila Monastery, Boyana Church, Sofia (dating from the tenth century), and the Christian churches of Ivanovo (thirteenth and fourteenth centuries).

There are examples of Turkish architecture from the five hundred years of Ottoman occupation. Restoration has recently taken place on Ottoman architecture in Plovdiv, Stara Zagora, Shumen and Yambol.

Population

Bulgaria's population was estimated at 7,450,349 in 2005.

Languages

Bulgarian is the official language.

Religion

The main religion in Bulgaria is Bulgarian Orthodox. About ten percent of the population is Muslim. Minority religions include Roman Catholic, Protestant and Jewish.

Food

Bulgaria's cuisine is unique in Europe and it has taken and mixed the cuisine of its Balkan neighbours (Yugoslavia, Greece and northern Turkey).

Traditional food includes bread, pickled vegetables, salads, soups, stews, casseroles, stuffed vegetables, kebabs, spicy sausages and cheese dishes. Yoghurt is very popular and eaten most days. (In fact, Bulgaria is said to be the home of yoghurt and Bulgarian yoghurt is thought to have curative properties).

Meat (pork, chicken, lamb and beef), fish and vegetarian dishes are served with staple foods such as rice and bulgar wheat. Vegetables include aubergines, beans, cabbage, carrots, corn, courgettes, cucumbers, lettuce, mushrooms, onions, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes and olives.

Favourite desserts are pancakes, baklava (walnut and syrup pie), baked apples and fruit (apricots, blueberries, blackberries, cherries, grapes, melons, raspberries, strawberries, peaches, pears, plums and quinces).

Traditional alcoholic drinks are "rakiya" (a fruit brandy, often plum), wine and "boza" (a type of beer made with grain, especially millet). Non-alcoholic drinks include coffee, tea, juices, buttermilk and mineral water.

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