THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA – is situated in the southeast of Europe, at the remarkably busy middle part of the Balkan Peninsula. The dale of the Maritsa River connects Europe with Asia Minor and Near East. The longest European river – Danube – is the natural border with the neighbouring Romania; Bulgaria and Romania are also connected by a beautiful Ruse-Giurgiu Friendship Bridge between the two cities. Eastern part of Bulgaria is a coast of the Black Sea, where famous resort towns are located.

The region which Bulgaria takes up now was – alongside other parts of the Balkans – inhabited by Thracians, later by Greeks and Romans, and the longest by Turks. Because of that, these regions are incredibly rich in priceless archaeological, historical, and cultural heritage of immense diversity, singularity, and allure. It seems that Bulgaria has been neglected as a tourist destination somewhat unjustly, considering that it has plenty of attractions to offer, from natural wonders to those made by people throughout centuries. Like no other country, Bulgaria is dubbed The Land of Roses, because there are kilometers of land where this queen of flowers is cultivated, to be used for heady perfumes, eau de toilette, and famous rose oils. So if you accidentally or deliberately find yourself near a town called Kazanlak in June, you will have a chance to take part in a rose festival and to experience unforgettable moments of this traditional ritual with plenty of archaisms and peculiarities.

On the magical coast of the Black Sea, there are many famous resort towns, such as Sunny Beach with long sandy beaches and a famous Aladzha Monastery nearby, carved deep into the stone. Or Nesebar, a romantic rural town, with an open museum under UNESCO protection, and Zlatni Pjasci (Golden Sands) with sand resembling gold dust, because according to the legend, the pirate gold buried there was turned into sand. Among other towns are also Albena, Primorsko, Kiten…

Winter sports enthusiasts will be delighted by Borovec, Bansko, Pamporovo, some of the famous ski resorts with laid out trails and accessible terrain. Additionally, people have been building monasteries, churches, temples – that are undoubtedly beautiful, grand, and unassuming, with their secrets and legends, and miraculous healings…  The most famous one is the Rila Monastery, set in a deep valley of the Rila River, protected by the magical nature of the Rila Mountain, whose peak Musala watches over the monastery.  It is the largest and most famous orthodox monastery, and it has long been a cultural and spiritual center of Bulgarian national identity. What is essential to this country is an incredibly hospitable and accommodating people, as well as authentic national cuisine which enthuses tourists from all over the world.