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Bulgaria is a country in South – eastern Europe, member of the European union and NATO. It is situated in the east part of the Balkan peninsula and takes 22 % of its surface. Bulgaria bounds by the Black sea on the east, by Greece and Turkey on the south, by Serbia and the Macedonian republic on the west and by Romania on the north, separated by the river of Danube. The total length of the national border is 2245km, from them - 1881 land km, 686 river km and 378 sea km. From 1991 the official name of the country is Republic of Bulgaria.

The national feast is March 3d (Day of the Liberation from the ottoman invasion). Official state feasts are also September 6^th – the day of the Unification, September 22 – day of the Independence and May 24^th –St Cyril and Methodius day . Bulgaria has very rich history, dating few thousands years. |The first bulgarian empire is founded 681 by khan Asparuh, and Pliska is chosen for capital. In the 9^th century Bulgaria became one of the most powerful states on the continent. 1018 Bulgaria fell to the Byzantine empire. In 1186 the brothers Asen and Peter gave the birth of the Second bulgarian empire. In the 13^th century after considerable territorial expansion, cultural and economical progress Bulgaria became again fundamental political factor in Europe. After the long crisis in the 14^th century , in 1396 the country was occupied by the ottoman army. The Ottoman slavery continued 4 centuries . After long war and diplomatic battles on july 1^st 1878 the Berlin pact was signed, attesting the autonomous statute of Bulgaria. On September 6^th 1885 was announced the Unification of the bulgarian lands, and on September 22d 1908 was announced the Bulgarian Independence.

Today Bulgaria is parliamentary republic. The national symbols of Bulgaria are the anthem, the flag, the national emblem, the Guards of the Republic. In 1999 Bulgaria was divided in 29 administrative regions. According to the data of the National statistic institute the population in Bulgaria by 2007 is 7 679 290. From south to east, the country is separated in 4 natural regions, taking the territories in direction west – east – The Danube lowland, Stara planina, The Thracian lowland and the Rila – Rhodopi' s massif. With moderate continental climate is caracterised mostly the territory of North Bulgaria. In the space between Stara planina and Rhodopi is the transitional climate with mediterranean influence. The coastal lowland is situated under the balanced influence of the Black sea, on the highest points of the mountains is the alpine climate.

Sofia is the capital and the largest city in Bulgaria. It is located in the west part of the country, at the foot of the mountain Vitosha. It is also main administrative, industrial, transport, cultural and academic center of the country. Sofia is named after the one- time cathedral of the city – the church “St. Sofia”. In greek Sofia means “wisdom”. Sofia' s total square surface is 1 311 sq.m., placed on 550m altitude. This fact makes the city of Sofia the fourth with highest altitude in Europe. The city population is about 1 380 000.

Sofia is one of the most ancient european capitals because it has history dating from more than 7000 years. During the 8^th century an ancient thracian city was built up , called later by the romans who captured it SERDIKA - on the name of the serds, thracian tribe inhabiting the town by that time. During the Roman period the city is developing as an administrative center of the province of Thracia, and later – 3d century became capital of the newly established province Internal Dacia. In the middle of 6^th century during the reign of Justinian the Great, Serdika is reborn as important administrative and economical center and was renamed Triadica. In 13^th - 14^th century already the city was popular with its today' s name – on the name of the basilic St. Sofia(6^th ). It was not until the city was announced for a capital of the Bulgarian Republic on March 22d/ April 4^th (new style) when the name Sofia came into use.

The temple „Alexander Nevski“ is one of the biggest orthodoxal churches on the Balkan peninsula. At the actual moment it is being used for cathedral temple by the bulgarian patriarch.

„St George“ is a church, a rotund, is regarded as the oldest intact building in the city. The Rotund is part of a bigger religious ancient building of 4^th century. Despite the small size, the monument of the earlychristian period has big influence and it is object of research from many archaelogists.

National Palace of the culture is a building with several halls in the center of Sofia, which is being used mainly for cultural events. The Palace was open in 1981, the architect is Alexander Barov. The biggest hall is with 5000 seats.

The Boyana church is a medieval bulgarian church in the quarter Boyana, situated at the foot of the mountain Vitosha. She is one of the cultural symbols of Bulgaria, and from 1979 is included as a cultural monument in the list of the World cultural and natural inheritance of UNESCO.

The National theater „Ivan Vasov“ is the oldest and the weightiest theatre in Bulgaria after the Liberation. The National theatre is inheritor of the dramatic company of Sofia „Salza i smqh“ which after 1904 was renamed in Bulgarian national Theatre.

Vitosha is the first national park on the Balkan peninsula. There are good conditions for winter sports in the mountain – skiing and snowboarding, and the season continues ordinarily from december till the end of spring.

In the 5th-7th cc on the territory of Veliko Turnovo rose Zikideva the largest Byzantine settlement in the province of Moesia Inferrior. Its citadel was situated on the strongly fortified Tsarevets Hill.

In the 9th c on the ruins of the Early Byzantina citadel on Tsarevets Hill grew up a Bulgarian medieval settlement. Gradually it extended during the period of the First Bulgarian Kingdom and especially during the period of the Byzantine rule. In the 12th settlement was already fortified and within in were erected a nobleman's castle and several Christian religions buildings. The rebellion against Byzantium was proclaimed in 1185 during the consecration of the Church of "St.Demetrius" -The leaders of the rebellion were two local noblemen - the brothers Peter and Assen. Bulgaria recovered its independence and Turnovo became its capital. And for more than two centuries the town was the political, economic and cultural centre of the state.

The mail fortress was on Tsarevets Hill-within it was the Royal Palace - an enclosed fort with representative, administrative and residential buildings.

The Residence of the Bulgarian patriarche rose at the hightest site of the hill. The Patriarchal Church of the Ascension where the relics of St.Michael the Warrior of Potouka were kept was in the centre of the inner courtyard
Between the strongly fortified hills of Tsarevetz and Trapesitsa, along the Jantra river in the so - called "New City" were built six churches .Around some of them there were monastries. The most famous were:"The Great Laura" around the church of the Forty Holy Martyrs and the Monastery around the SS Peter and Paul church. At the south-eastern slope of Tsarevets Hill was the Quarter of the forein merchants, known, under the me of Frenk Hissar. In that time Bulgarian was in trade relations with Venice, Genua, Dubrovnik, Pisa.
Many cultural and artstic valuables were created in the capital. They define the priority of the town in the fate of the Bulgarian state. For two centuries Turnovo was the main production and spiritual centre. The economic develop-ment led to the minting of Bulgarian coins. In the capitals monetary mint King Ivan Assen II struck his first gold coins with Bulgarian inscriptions.

Gradually the Bulgarian coins began to circulate at the international market.In the second half of the 14th c they began to be usedin Serbia,Bosna,Wallahia, Venice. An evidence for the international prestige of the Bulgarian state and its capital were the seals of the rulers and the high clergy with the seals were affixed the international contracts the private and the state correspondence.
The sculpture in the capital was a kind of decorative art, connected with the secular and the cult architecture. Along with the works of the monumental sculpture there are diverse samples of small plastics - stone and steatite icons crosses of local and imported origin the manifacture of small ceramic icons became very popular. During the period of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom a very well developed craft was the bone carving.

Naturaly the manifacture of ornaments was very important for the capital. The ornaments for the aristocracy were made of gold and silver, while the mass production was of copper and alloys, but they repeated the shape of the ornaments made of precious metals. The most popular and attractive technique of filigree, granulation an cellular enamel were applied by the jewelers when they manufactured the ornaments. Skilful potters produced building, kitchen and decorative ceramics.

Of particularly great importance was the manufacture of luxurious vessels with high artistic qualities. In Bulgaria, under the influence of the Byzantine centres penetrated the "sgraffito" technique. Turnovo became the largest centre for production of sgraffito ceramics. The medieval Bulgarian masters assimilated the complex technique of its production perfectly.
During the Middle Ages/12th-14th cc./ Turnovo became an important literary and cultural centre, not only for the Bulgarians but for all slav countries.The Bulgarian kings generously patronized the scholars.

The city of Varna ,population of 325137, is situated on the coast of the Bay of Varna, 470km from Sofia. Varna is the largest city on the bulgarian Black Sea. In 1878, when Varna was completely emancipated from the Ottoman invaders, turned into the most important Bulgarian harbour. Varna quickly became sea resort. Restaurants and residences were built and Varna became favourite place of the bulgarian highlife.

Golden sands is the largest resort on the north coast . It is located north- east, 18 km from Varna and 488 km from Sofia. North reaches Kranevo, south – the summer – houses village Chayka. Near by is situated the resort St.st Constantine and Helena.

The constant temperature of 27oC , the microclimate during the season, the mineral waters, the warm sea, the beautiful beach and the venerable forests make Golden sands a magnificent place for rest and amusement. The beach is covered with golden sand and its length is 3,5 km and reaches 100m width.

The oldest resort on the bulgarian coast - St.st. Constantine and Helena is situated north – east, only 8 km from Varna and 479km east from Sofia.The resort has ancient glory , due to the unique combination of mountain air, mineral sources and sea.The building of the resort begins in 1908 in the area of the monastery „St.st Conastantine and Helena.“

There are, on the territory of the resort Albena many mineral sources, balneological complexes, uncovered pool with hot mineral water etc. The mineral waters in the complexe are famous with there good therapeutical caracteristics. The resort Albena , with length only 5km and beach with width 150m, is located in picturesque gulf,only 30km from Varna and 502km from north east from Sofia. The complexe is near by the virgin forests called Baltata and offers great combination of pure air, fine sands, cristally pure water and a lot of vegetation.

Kaliakra is long and narrow cape on the north bulgarian coast, in the southeast of the plateau of Dobrudja. It is located next to the villages Bulgarevo and St. Nikola, 12km away from Kavarna and 60km away northeast from Varna. Kaliakra is one of the first protected lands in Bulgaria, announced for reserve in 1941.

The earliest inhabitants on the cape date from 4^th century B.C., when the region was inhabited from the thracian tribe Tirizi. They gave its first name – Tirizis. The ancient geographer Strabon, describing Kaliakra, says that there was the capital of king Lizimah, one of the heirs of Alexander Macedonian and governor of Thracia. He hided his fabulous treasures in the caves grabbed on the campaigns against Persia. In the Hellenic period on the land was built up second fortified wall, and in the Roman Age the thracian fortress was widen. In 341- 342 were built up more turrets, there was already outside and inside city. In the second half of the 4^th century was built up third fortress.During the archaelogical excavations, made in 20^th century, on Kaliakra were discovered the remains of ancient and earlychristian necropolis.

The word derives from greek: „καλός“ - beautiful/good and „άκρα“ - cape/fortress and means “beautiful cape”.The most popular legend related with Kaliakra is about the 40 bulgarian girls, who tied together their hairs and jumped in the sea, because otherwise they would fell into the hands of the ottoman enslavers. Today in the beginning of the cape is built an obelisk called the Gate of the 40 maidens in memory of them.

The region of Bourgas' Black sea is caracterised with excellent conditions for sea tourism, there are valuable natural resources like mineral sources, therapeutic mud and natural lakes – home of many animal and vegetable species threatened with extinction. The rich cultural – historical inheritance creates great conditions for cultural tourism.The largest city here takes the name of the region, Bourgas.

Apart from being touristic village, the city of Pomorie, honoured with the prize for pure environment “Sin flag” , became also prefered health center because of the therapeutical caracteristics of the famous mud of Pomorie.

In the region can be found one of the most popular bulgarian sea resorts like Sunny beach, St. Vlas. They offer luxury, comfort and excellent conditions for water sports.

The city of Nessebar is one of the most popular sea villages for rest. It combines beautiful opportunities for sea tourism and rich cultural- historical inheritance. The Old town, where you will be lost in the atmosphere of the ancient world, was announced for cultural monument of universal significance under the protection of UNESCO.

Other interesting monuments, revealing the history of the region are the Emona cape and the village of Emona – the birth place of the thracian king Rez, who has participated in the war of Troy and was killed by Odysseus and Diomedes, according to the work of Omir, the castle Paleokastro, the tomb of Pomorie.

The village of Ravda is popular place for rest on the coast for young people. Here can be found many student camps. The biological diversity in the Bourgas region is treasured in the protected area Poda, Atanasovsko, Bourgasko and Mandrensko lakes.

Sozopol is a town in South-east Bulgaria on the coast. It is situated in the region of Bourgas and is administrative center of the municipality of Sozopol. It is one of the most popular resorts in Bulgaria.

Sozopol is situated on the bulgarian coast, 35km south from Bourgas. The center of the town (the Old town) is located on a little peninsula. In the close is the island St. Ivan. The island is natural and archaeological reserve, under the protection of the state. It is the largest of the five islands on the bulgarian coast and is unseparable part of the life of ancient Apolonia and medieval Sozopol.

Sozopol is the oldest town on the bulgarian coast. The first village here was established in the end of 4^th -3^th millennium B.C. The underwater researches in the aquatoria of the port of Sozopol discover remains of houses, ceramic vessels, stone and bone implements for work from the Bronze Age. In the bay of Sozopol are discovered also many stone anchors and other nautical instruments from 2d - 1^st millenium B.C. They are evidence for active navigation from high antiquity. Sozopol is part of The 100 National Touristic Places of the Bulgarian touristic union.

In the close of the town are located a few campings : “Gradina”, “Zlatna ribka”, “Kavaci”, “Veselie” and “Smokinia”. The last three have common beach, where is also one of the biggest nudist beaches in Bulgaria.

Sozopol is common place for meetings of the bulgarian musicians and intellectuals.

Bankia is a town in the region of Sofia, West Bulgaria. It is popular balneological center. The resort is a national center for rehabilitation of diseased with cardio-vascular troubles and prevention of those in danger.

The cosy hotels and restaurants, the monuments of culture, the temples, the tennis complex, the national race course, the mineral beach, the nearness of Lulin mountain, the scores of cultural events, organised during the traditional feasts “Goreshliaci” of mineral water provoke the interest of the numerous guests of the town.

Bankia is situated about 10km away from the capital Sofia. It is located at the foot of the mountain Lulin, on the beach of the river Bankia. Altitude: 630-750m. There is a connection of two roads with the capital - the lead out of Miliovo Hanche on the road to Serbia and the road next to the quarter Filipovci. The town is a part of the national railway system with an electric line.

The first settlers on the territory of Bankia are thracian tribes 2500 years ago. On the archaeological excavations next to the quarter Verdikal are discovered remains from roman buildings, walls, drainage, bronze bracelets from 4^th - 5^th century A.D. Historical documents for the existence of Bankia as a village we draw from an ottoman tax register from 15^th century.

Bansko is announced for unique town with international importance for the agricultural tourism (1979). Besides the beautiful mountain Pirin and the big amount of natural curiosities, the town is rich of historical places.

In the submontane town are combined diverse types of attractions – valuable historical and architectural inheritance, good cuisine, possibilities for ski and the treasure of the National park „Pirin“. During 160 days of the year (from december till the beginning of may) the natives concentrate all their efforts in the trend towards making happy the ski – tourists. The ski- infrastructure of Bansko consists 27km tracks and 11 lifts, and the longest track is about 2,5 km. The main ski area, Shiligarnika, is situated on 1700 - 2500m altitude. It is situated 12 km away from Bansko and you can reach it by bus or on a car.

Opposite Shiligarnika, on the sides of the top Kutelo, is the student base „Akademik“, whose track is the steepest and the hardest. The other ski zone – Chalin Valog, is situated 6 km away from the town, and on 1100- 1600 m altitude. There are also tracks for biathlon and for north disciplines.

The trained skiers can find excellent possibilities to practice their skills, while the easy tracks will make the first ski lessons of the beginners easy and pleasant.

There are many ski schools in Bansko. The trained ski instructors give the first lessons of the beginners or offer to the enthusiasts the possibility to visit beautiful places outside the main tracks. Many of the instructors work as mountain guides in the summer, offering big choice of routes for hiking tours.

Most of the places for accommodation in Bansko provide their own transport services and ski equipment, there is also regular bus service to the tracks during the winter season.

The town of Sandanski was historically established as a major economic, cultural and administrative center, situated at the southwestern foothills of the Pirin Mountains, near the outflow of the Sandanska Bistritsa River. The town is located only 167 km from the capital of Bulgaria - Sofia, 65 km from the regional center – the city of Blagoevgrad, 20 km from the border with the Republic of Greece and 80km from the Aegean sea. Sandanski is easily accessible via the international airports in Sofia (160 km) and Thessaloniki, Greece (120 km).
The town was famous in ancient times with its curative mineral springs and healthful climate. The settlement, which is located at an altitude of 220-240m, is the warmest Bulgarian town during all seasons, as the amount of sunshine exceeds 2450 hours, thus creating favorable conditions for air and sun treatments throughout the whole year. The air is exceptionally clean and fresh with relatively low humidity (66%), and average annual temperature +14,70C with minor seasonal and daily changes. There is hardly any snow in the winter, which is short and mild; the autumn is long and warm, and spring comes early, sunny and warm. The combination of favorable natural conditions and curative mineral springs with different temperatures (there are more than 80 springs in the region with temperatures between 42-81C), low mineralization and rich chemical composition, made the town a suitable place for inhabitance since ancient times. Due to its unique climate and curative waters, Sandanski is internationally known as a spa resort. More than 100 000 tourists from Bulgaria and abroad visit the town every year for vacation or homeopathic treatment. There are more than 50 modern hotels in the town, most of which have modern spa centers that use the curative mineral waters. Sandanski is also known as the best natural rehabilitation clinic for bronchial asthma in Europe.

The past of Sandanski and the region is linked to the attraction of its mineral springs, the mild Mediterranean climate and the invigorating effect of the mountain air. Over 150 archeological sites from prehistoric times and Antiquity to the Middle Ages offer evidence of vitality at this region. According to research carried out during 1950 by the German professor Conrad Cigler, it was proved that Spartacus, the leader of the biggest slave revolt in the Roman Empire, came from this region, populated by his Thracian tribe Medi in II century BC. Most attractive for the visitors are the following archeological sites: Bishop's basilica, The basilica of bishop John, Early Christian Complex.

The town of Sandanski as well as Bulgaria as a whole, are proud of the unique Town Park, named Sveti Vrach (Saint Healer - the previous name of the town since 1891). It covers a territory of 344 decares. More than 100 tree species and more than 150 flower species grow here. Here one can see old hollow plane trees, slender cedars and sequoias, evergreen tui, weeping willows, pine-trees, pomegranates, fig trees, wild geranium, garden geranium and all sorts of roses.
Melnik (pop.267; 22km SE of Sandanski) is the smallest town in Bulgaria. It nestles in the exquisite draperies of the Melnik “pyramids” in the foothills of Pirin Mountains. Melnik is one of the pearls in Bulgaria's crown and is officially designated as a Cultural and Historical Reserve and a Museum Town of International Importance. It has a unique blend of an ancient town famous for its numerous archeological, architectural, and historical monuments and attractive natural surroundings making it an excellent place for recreation and tourism. The town is famous for its heavy dark red wine with a distinctive taste, which during the Middle Ages conquered West Europe, Middle East and Africa. Nowadays visitors can thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to taste the wine in special cave caverns directly from huge barrels, hidden in the sand pyramids above Kordopulovata Kashta (Kordopulov’s House).
The Rozhen monastery is the biggest sanctuary in the Pirin region and one of the few Bulgarian monasteries of the Middle Ages, which has survived relatively intact up to present days. According to annals kept in Atone, Greece, the monastery dates back at least to 890 AC. As other monasteries, the Rozhen also has its miraculous icon-protector, of Virgin Mary, which is kept in an ark in one of the chapels of the complex. Near the monastery is the Sveti Georgi (St. George) Church, where the famous Bulgarian revolutionary Yane Sandanski is buried.

Pirin Mountain (with highest peak Vihren - 2914m.) is the second highest mountain in Bulgaria, and the third highest on the Balkans. The Holiday village Popina luka is situated 18 km northeast of Sandanski. It is located in the heart of the Pirin Mountain, at an altitude of 1230 meters in à forest area with big green meadows, clear brooks , fresh mountain air and the dazzling Popinolushki Waterfall. The famous ski resort Bansko is located only at 90 km from Sandanski.
During the last several years Sandanski and the region became one of the most active developing economical regions in Bulgaria. The region characterizes with the various economical structure with the traditions in the tourism industry, textile industry, building industry, wood-processing and metal-processing industry, agriculture etc. The excellent location and the environment contributes for the constant growth of the tourism industry and related services.
High mountains with crystal clear lakes and snow-covered tracks, warm mineral springs, museum towns, historical and cultural monuments, friendliness and hospitality – this is part of what attracts tourists from all over the world to the Pirin region. The region is ideal for a peaceful weekend away from the noise, stress and the urbanization of the big city. Today more and more tourists from all over the world arrive on special interest tours, enjoying the rich wild life and culture, the rural folklore and way of life, celebrations and fairs, the local cuisine and the dark and heavy Melnik wine.

Elena (Bulgarian Cyrillic: Елена) is a Bulgarian town in the central Stara Planina mountains, 42 km southeast of Veliko Tarnovo in Veliko Tarnovo Province. The area is a popular mountain resort also known for the typical local cuisine. The population of the town alone is 7,200. It forms a terminal for the Gorna Oryahovitsa-Elena railway line.

Elena is an old settlement founded in the 15^th century. During the 18^th and 19^th century it established itself as a centre of crafts, trade and education. There are several architectural ensembles preserved dating back to the Bulgarian National Revival and comprising about 130 old houses. Wall-to-wall construction forms interesting street silhouettes. The houses have stone basements with white-washed or wooden walls of the upper floor with protruding bays above.

The town's sights include an old first class school, founded in 1848 and named Daskalolivnitsa, where future teachers were educated (and where nowadays a museum exhibition is arranged), the St Nicholas Church of the 16th century, with valuable mural paintings and icons, and the three-naved Church of the Assumption, built entirely of stone (1837). The clock tower that features an antique clock mechanism (1812) rises at the town's highest point.

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