Information

Centrally located in Eastern Europe, with a beautiful coastline of 354km along the Black Sea as well as the highest peak in the Balkan peninsula, Bulgaria, with its capital Sofia, is a diverse country.
The country is now a full member of European Union.

* Direct flights from UK take 2.5 hours to Sofia
* Currency fixed against the Euro
* Property prices now rising
* Property price levels still well below other comparable countries
* Current real economic growth: 4.8% (2002 est.)
* Inflation rate: 5.9% (2002 est.)
* GDP per capita (PPP): $6,600 (2002 est.)
* Export Industries: clothing, footwear, iron and steel, equipment, food stuffs
* Export nations: Italy 14%, Turkey 10%, Germany 9%, Greece 8%

Sofia is the capital city of Bulgaria. The city is located in the southern part of the Sofia valley at the foot of the mountains Vitosha and Lyulin. The town occurred in the 8th - 7th century B.C. around the mineral spring which is now in the center of the city. The Romans conquered the town in the first century and called it Serdica. In the 9th century is was given the name Sredets. It has been bearing the name of Sofia since 14th century - the name comes from the name of the church St.Sofia. Since 1878 Sofia has been the capital city of Bulgaria. A great number of monuments of architecture have been preserved, such as the Alexander Nevsky Catedral, the Public Theater Ivan Vazov, the Palace of Justice, the churches St.George and St.Sofia, etc. Sofia is the major economic, scientific and cultural center of Bulgaria. In Sofia are the Bulgarian Academy of Scientists, the Public Library, theatres and museums.
The city has several beautiful parks, and slopes of the Vitosha mountain rise above it - Vitosha is a wonderful place for recreation of the residents of Sofia and the guests of the city.

Varna is Bulgaria's Sea Capital. The gem of the Bulgarian Black Sea is situated at the end of the big Varna Bay, with a convenient and well conserved water area and a port wich in years handles up to 18 million tons of cargo. The ciry's peculiar sea charm is sublime and moving. Ancient, medival, renaissance and modern cultures mingle and coexist through the city. Varna lies on the same latitude of the famous Atlantic resorts Bayonne and Biarritz in France, on a large, flat and high terrace on the northwestern most curve of the bay with just some 7km inland. The city occupies some 24sq km, measuring 6km northeast-southwest and is about 4km wide. During the holiday season, July and August, the sunshine allows 10-11 hours of sunbathing.

Borovets is one of the biggest international mountain resort in Bulgaria. It is located at altitude of 1350 m. above the sea level (with highest slopes at 2600 m), on the Northern slopes of Rila Mountain among age-old pine woods, at the foot of Mousala peak (2925 m) - the highest one on the Balkan Peninsula. Borovets is easily accessible, being at a distance of 70 km from Sofia and 126 km from Plovdiv. Borovets was developed into a modern ski resort of high class with luxury hotels, restaurants, discos, shops and a good choice of pistes and lifts. It is a resort of Alpine type and provides very good conditions for snowsports durng the winter: skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, ski jumps and biathlon, ski-doo, etc.

The newest Bulgarian winer resort, recently discovered by the foreign tourists, Bansko provides an interesting combination between the virgin nature of Pirin Mountain and the atmosphere of the ancient Bulgarian town. The town of Bansko is situated in Southwestern Bulgaria, at the foothills of one of the most beautiful Bulgarian mountains - Pirin, which is a national preserve, included in the WORLD NATURAL HERITAGE list. Ski-resort of national significance, much visited also in summer as a starting point for excursions in the mountain. Surrounded by the Pirin, Rila and Rhodopi mountains, Bansko is a climatic mountain resort with a short hot summer and long mild winter. The average temperature during January, the coldest month, is - 1.9C. Snow falls are abundant, providing a constant winter snow cover up to 2 m thick. The skiing season along the Pirin slopes starts in the middle of December and ends in mid-April.

The town of Tryavna is located in the northern part of the Balkan Mountains, on the Tryavna river valey. The town attracts visitors with the fresh mountain air, crystal waters, evergreen forests and National Revival houses.
It is a centre of woodcarving, icon painting and singular architecture. Tryavna hosts numerous museums and churches. The old part of the town was proclaimed an architectural reserve with more than 140 historical and cultural monuments. Two of the most popular monuments, which turned into symbol of Tryavna are the Clock tower and the Arch bridge, built in 1845 by Dimitar Sergiov.
The town is a starting point of numerous hiking routes to the historical sights, monasteries and small villages. It is near the architectural reserve of Bojentzi, the beautiful Dryanovo Monastery and the cave Bacho Kiro. The town of Tryavna is 15 km east from the spa resort Voneshta voda.

Melnik is the smallest town in Bulgaria, situated in the lowest part of Pirin Mountain. It is claimed that Thracians were the first settlers here, followed by the Romans, who brought their unique culture. Melnik is surrounded by sand pyramids, which are some of the most remarkable natural phenomena in Bulgaria.
The architecture of the town is characterized by restored houses and churches from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance period. From the town of Melnik, tourist can make excursions to the Rozhen Monastery and the magic place of Rupite.


The Rila monastery can be briefly described as a combination of monumental architecture and rich history. It was founded in the X century by Ivan Rilski and used to be the primary spiritual and cultural center of Bulgaria and the whole ortodox enclave. 16 000 volume library including 134 manuscripts from 15th to 19th century.
The introduction to the Rila Monastery could well start with the words of the first Bulgarian historian, Paissii of Hilendar, recorded in 1762 in his Slav-Bulgarian History:
"Of all the Bulgarian glory when there were so many large monasteries and churches in Bulgaria earlier the Lord has left only the Rila Monastery to exist in our times... It is of great use to all Bulgarians. Therefore, it is the duty of all Bulgarians to guard it, and to give alms to the sacred Rila Monastery. . . "

RILA - the most majestic Bulgarian Mountain, highest peak Moussala (2,925 m); - 219 high-mountain lakes, over 2,000 plant varieties and a rich animal world; - the natural setting for Bulgaria's most famous monastery - RILA MONASTERY, and the country's oldest winter resort - BOROVETS

PIRIN - the country's second highest mountain, highest peak Vihren (2,914 m); - 176 mountain lakes and about 100 varieties of rare plants, including the edelweiss and the famous Baikousheva fir, almost 1,300 years old; - location of the well-known climatic and spa resort of SANDANSKI and the most modern Bulgarian ski center BANSKO.

THE RHODOPES - The greenest and most picturesque Bulgarian mountains, linked with the legend of the mythical singer Orpheus, snow and sun, clean air, mild climate with a Mediterranean influence, original folklore and superb cuisine, cordial and hospitable people, the largest ski resort - Pamporovo, the most popular place for ecotourism - Momchilovtsi.

VITOSHA - The green mountain of the million-large Bulgarian capital Sofia, the most frequented Bulgarian mountain, attractive during any season, two wildlife reserves, three climatic zones, highest peak Cherni Vruh (2,286 m), varied flora and fauna, curative mineral springs and a rare natural phenomenon - eight Moraines, a popular mountain resort for winter holidays and skiing, modern hotels and ski facilities. Vitosha offers skiing near Sofia - the capital of Bulgaria.