About Bulgaria

State provision

Bulgaria is a democratic parliamentary republic. The head of state is the president and the legislature - one-chamber National Assembly, consisting of 240 deputies.

Square

Bulgaria occupies 111 000 square meters. In width Bulgaria is 330 km. And in length is 520 km. Its tiny size impress tourists, especially Russian. One day is enough to drive a car from one end of the country to another, and you can even get back, if you have a fast car and if you are lucky with the roads.

Population

In Bulgaria there are about 8.5 million people. The population belongs to the Slavic ethnic group. Religious, linguistic and cultural characteristics Bulgaria is related to Russia, Ukraine, Belarus.

Geography

Bulgaria is situated in the heart of South-Eastern Europe, in north-eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. The northern part of the country over the Danube River border with Romania, South - with Turkey and Greece to the west - with Serbia and Macedonia, and the eastern part is washed by the

Black Sea.

Bulgaria's geographical position is unique. Located in south-eastern Europe, the country boasts one of the most spectacular landscapes in Europe. A quarter of its territory covered with forests, one of the densest in Central Europe. Large rivers: the Danube and Maritsa. Bulgaria is the mountainous country, so there are many large mountain ranges. Major mountain ranges are located in the south -  Rila, Pirin and Rhodopes.

Time

Time - GMT +2, Moscow -1

Capital

Sofia city

Language

The official language is Bulgarian, it belongs to a group of Slavic languages, based on Cyrillic letters. At all resorts in the tourist centers and hotels staff speaks Russian, English, German, French.

Religion

Most of the population in Bulgaria are Orthodox Christians - 85% and 12% - are Sunni Muslims.

Currency

Monetary unit in Bulgaria - lev (pl.: levs). 1 lev = 100 stotinki. In circulation there are coins of 1, 5,10, 50 stotinki and 1 lev and notes 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 leva. Current exchange rate, which has not changed for several years, is 1 euro = 1.95 lev.

Transportation

Bulgaria has a dense network of rail and bus routes. Also in big cities, resorts and airports have places to rent cars

Cuisine

Bulgaria's geographical position at the turn of Europe and Asia has left its distinctive mark on the Bulgarian cuisine. It is characterized by a motley mixture of tastes of different regions. Condiments are usually added in small quantities, their purpose - to emphasize the basic taste of food. Among the first dishes meat predominates: beef, pork, lamb and poultry. Meat is often grilled. Almost in all restaurants you will find kebapcheta (kebab), shishcheta (kebab) or kyufteta (chops), gyuvech - meat stewed with potatoes and vegetables, or kavarma - a meat dish with mushrooms, onions and potatoes. Vegetarians are offered a wide choice of dishes made of cheese (kashkaval), lilac (white cheese), eggs and tomatoes, baked in a pot. Bannitsa (layer cake), baked cheese and spinach are also very famous in Bulgarian cuisine. Bulgaria is a homeland of "batsikulisa bulgarikusa" milk ferment, which makes milk sour. It is believed that Bulgarians lives many years due to this sour milk, sort of yoghurt.
The history of traditional winemaking in Bulgaria has over 5 000 years. Vine in these places were brought from Asia Minor by Thracians. By that epoch dates the famous Pamir - one of the world's oldest grape varieties. Out of the red wines, besides the "Pamir", we should highlight such brands as "Gimza" and "Mavrud", "Hotel" and "Cabernet Sauvignon”. Among the best white wines are "Riesling" and "Misket", "Damyanka", "Dimyat" and "Chardonnay". For a cup of coffee you surely will be offered "white jam” and pancakes with honey, walnuts or baklava.

Holidays

January 1 - New Year,
March 3 - Bulgaria's liberation from Ottoman yoke,
May 1 - Labor Day,
May 6 - Day of courage and the Bulgarian Army,
May 24 - Festival of Bulgarian Culture and Slavonic Literature, the day of Saints Cyril and Methodius,
6 September - Unification Day;
September 22 - Independence Day;
Christmas on December 25.
One of the most cheerful and richest holidays - Christmas and New Year. Bulgarian traditions in celebrating these feasts add original national flavor. From early times fire and meal on New Year's Eve were symbols of generosity and abundance. If there are many dishes on the table, next year will be reach and lucky. That is why Bulgarians put all the dishes which were produced in the economy, and ritual loaves are decorated with images of vines and hives, fields and gardens. A special place in Bulgarian cuisine occupies Bannitsa (layer cake) with baked Peach branches inside, each of which symbolizes the home and domestic livestock, health and success in school.

Souvenirs

At all the resorts and tourist centers you can buy the products of artistic handicrafts: pottery, woven goods, wood carving, as well as icons. Remarkable souvenir is a bottle of fragrant rose oil.