Where better to go in Bulgaria. Where is the best place to relax in Bulgaria? Overview of the Black Sea resorts. Treatment in Bulgaria

BULGARIA

(Republic of Bulgaria)

General information

Geographical position. Bulgaria is located on the Balkan Peninsula. In the north it borders with Romania in the west with Yugoslavia and Macedonia in the south with Greece and Turkey in the north it is washed by the Black Sea.

Square. The territory of Bulgaria occupies 110,994 sq. km.

Gchavnye cities, administrative division. The capital of Bulgaria is Sofia. The largest cities: Sofia (1,200 thousand people), Plovdiv (400 thousand people), Varna (340 thousand people). Administratively, Bulgaria is divided into 9 regions.

Political system

Bulgaria is a republic. The head of state is the president. The head of government is the prime minister. The legislature is a unicameral popular assembly.

Relief. Bulgaria has a truly unique variety of landscapes. From the high banks of the Danube, which is the border of the country in the north, to the green peaks of the Stara Planina mountain range in the northern part of Bulgaria, a plain stretches. Stara Planina stretches from the Black Sea in the east to Yugoslavia in the west. In two places it is dissected by deep valleys of the Iskar and Kamchia rivers, which form picturesque gorges. The Iskar Gorge is especially majestic and beautiful. Everywhere you can see picturesque villages climbing steep slopes. On this ridge of the Balkan Mountains there are a number of passes convenient for motorists at altitudes from 400 to 1,600 m: in the west - Petrokhansky, Botevgradsky, in the middle part of Stara Planina - Zlatitsky, Troyansky, Shipkinsky, Republic Pass, in the east - Kotlensky and Dyulinsky.

Another mountain range - Sredna Gora - is separated from Stara Planina by the so-called geological fault - small valleys and gorges of volcanic origin. Not far from Kazanlak is the Rose Valley, a place where about 70% of the world's rose oil is produced, used in the perfumery and cosmetics industry.

The most mountainous area lies in the southwest of the country, where the Rila-Rhodope mountain range is located along the border with Greece. It includes the highest Bulgarian mountains: Rila and its peak Musala (2925 m), located south of Sofia, Vihren (2915 m) in the Pirin mountain range.

Geological structure and minerals. On the territory of Bulgaria there are deposits of bauxite, copper, lead, coal.

Climate. Bulgaria is located in the temperate continental climate zone, and the extreme south of the country is in the zone transitional to the Mediterranean climate. The air temperature in January reaches zero. The average temperature of the warmest month - July - in flat areas is from +23°С to +25°С. In the mountains, vertical climatic zonality is clearly traced. Autumn frosts in the northern regions do not occur until the end of October, and the last spring frosts do not occur later than the beginning of April.

Inland waters. The main rivers of Bulgaria are Danube, Iskar, Maritsa.

Soils and vegetation. About a third of the territory of Bulgaria is covered with forests. Deciduous trees predominate in the valleys, while conifers dominate in the mountains. National parks: Vitasha, Golden Sands, Ropotamo, Steneto, etc.

Animal world. The fauna of Bulgaria is characterized by deer, fallow deer, roe deer, wild boar, wolf, fox, hare, ferret, badger, ground squirrel. Lots of birds. Reptiles are common in the south.

Population and language

The population of Bulgaria is about 9 million people. Largest cities: Sofia (1 million 250 thousand people), Plovdiv (375 thousand people), Varna (315 thousand people), Burgas (205 thousand people), Ruse (195 thousand people) , Stara Zagora (165 thousand people), Pleven (140 thousand people).

Ethnically Bulgarians belong to the group of South Slavs. The most numerous national minorities are Turks (8.5%), Gypsies (2.6%), Macedonians (2.5%). Ethnic Macedonians inhabit the Pirin mountain range, south of Sofia.

Turks (about 800 thousand people) inhabit mainly the north-east of the country, in particular, the eastern part of the foothills of the Rhodope massif. Between World War I and World War II, there was a massive (more than 340,000) migration of ethnic Turks to Turkey, and after World War II, another 200,000 people emigrated. In the 1980s, the government adopted a program of "active" assimilation of the Turks who remained in the country, but the program had obvious excesses, since it included prohibitions on the observance of religious and national traditions. There were even attempts to ban the wearing of Turkish national dress and speaking Turkish in public places. The protests of the Turkish part of the population against this policy and its rejection were very strong. After the changes in the passport regime in 1989, another 350,000 Bulgarian Turks left the country. At the end of 1989, when the power in the country passed to the Democrats, mosques were opened, it was allowed to call children by Turkish names. Turkish general education schools also opened in 1991.

In the Rhodope Mountains, south of Plovdiv, there are 250,000 Pomaks of Slavic origin who converted to Islam at a time when Bulgaria was part of the Ottoman Empire. In the Rose Valley, especially around Sliven, there are many gypsies (about 550 thousand in total).

Religion

Approximately 85% of the population is Christian, 13% Muslim, 2% other faiths.

Brief historical outline

In ancient times, the territory occupied by modern Bulgaria belonged to the powerful Macedonia, and it was inhabited by the Thracians.

After 46 BC. e. all these lands and part of Macedonia, which, in turn, became part of the powerful Roman Empire, were divided by the Romans for ease of administration into three parts - Lower Moesia, the Balkan Mountains and Thrace in the south.

Appeared here in the middle of the VI century. n. e. Slavic tribes merged with a small Thracian population, which easily accepted their way of life, traditions and rituals. This merger was also facilitated by the fact that the Slavs were very peaceful towards the locals and were engaged in arable farming and cattle breeding in small communities.

In 679, the Turkic hordes, the so-called proto-Bulgarians, led by khans and boyars, having left their traditional habitats between the Volga and the Southern Urals, crossed the Danube.

In 681, the Turkic Khan Asparuh formed the first Slavic state in history - the First Bulgarian Kingdom - with its capital in the city of Pliska in Moesia. The state lasted until 1018 and was very extensive in terms of European scale - in the 9th century. its borders stretched from Byzantium to Macedonia. At the same time, the few Proto-Bulgarians dissolved among the Slavic tribes, adopting their language and culture.

Since 870 Bulgaria has been professing Christianity, and the Bulgarian Church is independent and has its own patriarch.

The Bulgarian kingdom reached its peak of power under Tsar Simeon (893-927), who moved the capital to Preslav and extended the country's borders to the western shores of the Adriatic. Even the proud and independent Serbs recognized Simeon as their sovereign (the adoption of Christianity by the Serbs dates back to the same time). prospered

culture and writing. The schools of writing in Preslav and Ohrid were the first in Europe after the Hebrew, Hellenic and Roman schools, which had long since outlived their heyday.

Simeon's attempts to try on the crown of the Byzantine Empire significantly weakened the country, the disintegration of which was also facilitated by petty internecine wars after his death. Serbia managed to prove its independence in 933, and in 972 Byzantium also dissociated itself, leaving behind a part of the eastern lands.

Tsar Samuil (980-1014) tried to prevent fatal changes, but suffered a severe defeat in 1014 in the battle near Belastica with the troops of the Byzantine emperor Basil P. The latter ordered the eyes of 15 thousand Bulgarian soldiers to be gouged out. Upon learning of this, the Bulgarian Tsar died of a heart attack. Four years later, all of Bulgaria came under Byzantine rule.

In 1185, two brothers - Peter and Asen - led a successful uprising against Byzantine rule, which resulted in the creation of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1185-1396). Asen became king, and the capital was moved to Veliko-Tyr-novo.

Tsar Ivan Asen II (1218-1241) subjugated all of Thrace, Macedonia and Albania, but after his death in 1241 the gigantic empire began to fall apart again. The country was exhausted by the continuous raids of the Tatars from the north, the Serbs captured Macedonia.

In 1340, the Turks felt the opportunity to declare a weakened Bulgaria a zone of their national interests. In various ways - political, economic and religious - they carried out expansion, which by 1371 was crowned with success. The Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Shishman recognized himself as a vassal of the Turkish Sultan Murad I.

In 1393 the Turks took Veliko Tarnovo. The last Bulgarian stronghold, the city of Vidin fell in 1396. Its fall marked the beginning of five centuries of Ottoman rule.

The Turkish governors, who chose Sofia as their residence, and the Turkish colonists, who settled on the fertile plains, drove the indigenous people into the mountains, to dry and barren lands, while collecting huge taxes from them. These circumstances, however, contributed to the fact that the Turks failed to introduce Islam into Bulgaria and force the indigenous population to forget their old traditions and customs. The Christian religion was preserved, despite persecution, in remote monasteries, such as Rila, Troyan, Bachkovo. The richest folklore traditions have been preserved, serving as a bridge between the 14th and 19th centuries. - the end of Turkish rule. The Bulgarians retained self-government, and the agricultural sector still dominated the national economy.

Cities became centers of Turkish trade and crafts, and in the XVI-XVII centuries. Turkish influence in Bulgaria reached its peak. It weakened significantly in the 18th century, when the deprivation of the population increased sharply due to Turkey's extremely unsuccessful wars with Austria and Russia, accompanied by tax increases and inflation.

At the beginning of the 19th century, as the Ottoman influence weakened, on the basis of folk traditions, customs, rituals, folklore, the revival of the national Bulgarian culture began. For the first time in 500 years, schools were opened, books were printed in Bulgarian.

In 1860, a movement began for a church independent of the Patriarch of Constantinople, which was crowned with success ten years later. The recognition by Turkey of the autonomy of the Bulgarian Church was an important step towards independence.

While the future national heroes of Bulgaria - Hristo Botev, Lyuben Karavelov and Vasily Levski - were preparing for a war of liberation in deep secrecy, the inhabitants of Koprivshtitsa raised a premature uprising in April 1876. It was crushed with unprecedented brutality. In Plovdiv, 15,000 Bulgarians were executed and 58 villages were destroyed.

This turn of events forced Serbia to declare war on Turkey, which in April 1877 was entered on the side of Serbia by Russia and Romania. Decisive battles took place near Pleven and Shipka. Russia lost in this war 200 thousand people killed and wounded. When the Russian troops approached Istanbul for 50 km, the Turks laid down their arms, fearing the possibility of a complete defeat. According to the agreement signed in San Stefano, Turkey gave Bulgaria 60% of the Balkan Peninsula.

Since 1878, the modern history of Bulgaria has begun.

Fearing the emergence of a powerful Russian outpost in the Balkans in the form of a new emerging state, the Western powers did everything possible to prevent this. At the Berlin Congress, the southern part of Bulgaria was declared an autonomous province, which was nevertheless nominally under the rule of the Turkish sultan. Macedonia was officially recognized as part of the Ottoman Empire.

In 1879 Northern Bulgaria adopted a liberal constitution.

In 1885, Southern Bulgaria, called Eastern Rumelia, became part of the new state, the formation of which was completed in the main by 1878.

June 29, 1913 Bulgarian King Ferdinand (1908-1918) struck a sudden blow against his recent allies, the Second Balkan War began. It quickly ended with the defeat of Bulgaria by Serbia, Greece, as well as Romania, who chose the right moment to join the winning side. Macedonia was divided between Greece and Serbia, and Romania received Southern Dobruja from Bulgaria.

In September, rebel troops forced King Ferdinand to abdicate. Bulgaria signed a truce, giving part of its territory to Greece and Serbia.

Elections in 1920 led to the victory of Alexander Stamboliysky, a democrat and opponent of the war. The government he formed succeeded in carrying out a land reform, according to which the land owned by large landowners was distributed among the peasants who cultivated it. This state of affairs could not suit the landowners. The internal situation of the country was complicated by the abundance of refugees from Macedonia, as well as an unprecedented increase in crime in Macedonia itself and complete arbitrariness in the country. A. Stamboliysky was killed as a result of a conspiracy by a right-wing radical group that came to power in June 1923, and in September of the same year, an armed peasant uprising led by the Communists was brutally suppressed. Terror has set in.

In 1935, Boris III was crowned king in Bulgaria.

On January 24, 1937, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia solemnly signed a treaty of "unbreakable peace and sincere and eternal friendship."

In September 1940, Hitler demanded that Romania return southern Dobruja to Bulgaria, and in 1941, grateful Bulgaria, having terminated all agreements, took an active part in the German intervention in Yugoslavia.

In 1942, most of the anti-fascist and anti-government groups, including the communists, united in the Fatherland Front to organize Bulgaria's exit from the war and conclude a truce. Tsar Boris died under mysterious circumstances in August 1943. The Regency

advice. He carried out his functions until September 1944 - on September 2, the Fatherland Front planned an armed uprising.

On August 8, 1944, when Soviet troops were advancing through the territory of Romania, Bulgaria unexpectedly declared itself a neutral country and disarmed the German troops that were at home. At the insistence of the USSR, Bulgaria declared war on Germany, after which the Soviet troops entered the Bulgarian territory, without meeting resistance, as the territory of a friendly state.

On September 9, 1944, armed detachments of the Fatherland Front and partisans entered Sofia. Power passed into the hands of the Communists under the leadership of Todor Zhivkov. From 1944 until the end of the war, units of the Bulgarian army took part in battles with the Nazis along with the Soviet troops.

After a referendum in 1946, Bulgaria was declared a republic, and on October 27, 1946, Georgy Dimitrov was elected prime minister.

In the 1980s Bulgaria joined Greece's call for declaring the Balkans a nuclear-weapon-free zone, but relations with Turkey remained strained.

Since the late 1940s. in the country led by the communist Todor Zhivkov (from 1954 to 1989), a large-scale restoration was launched, and then the development and transformation of industry, the industrialization and collectivization of agriculture. Bulgaria has become one of the most prosperous countries in Eastern Europe. At the same time, within the framework of planning in the conditions of the socialist economy, considerable flexibility was shown, which made it possible to raise the quality of products and labor productivity, private farming was allowed in their free time from their main work.

In 1989, a wave of perestroika came to Bulgaria from the USSR. On November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall collapsed, and the next day, a radical group in the Bulgarian Communist Party put an end to the 35-year rule of 78-year-old Todor Zhivkov. After 43 days, T. Zhivkov was placed under house arrest, and in February 1991 he was the first of the communist leaders to stand trial on charges of corruption and bribery during his reign.

Brief economic essay

Bulgaria is an industrial-agrarian country. Brown coal mining. The most developed are mechanical engineering (production of electric hoists and electric cars, tractors, agricultural machines, computers, machine tools) and the food industry (tobacco, canning). Ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy. Chemical and petrochemical, woodworking industry. Agriculture is dominated by crop production. Production of grain and legumes, tobacco, vegetables, fruits, grapes, essential oil crops. Meat and wool animal husbandry (cattle, sheep, pigs). Fishing. Resorts of international importance Golden Sands, Albena, Sunny Beach. Export: engineering, electrical, chemical products, plastics, vegetables, fruits, wine, tobacco products. Foreign tourism. g Monetary unit-lev.

A Brief Outline of Culture

Art and architecture. Veliko Tarnovo, the former capital of the medieval Bulgarian kingdom, Koprivshtitsa, the ancient peninsular town of Nessebar and Melnik, the smallest town in Bulgaria, are declared cities-museums, where signs are hung on all the houses explaining what architectural value each house represents. The ancient villages - Zheravna, Shiroka-Lyka - have also been taken under protection. Roofs are traditionally tiled, hipped. Houses are two- or three-story, on a high basement, often with a bay window. The central place in the house is the hall (dnevna), separated by an arch with a curtain or a sliding wall from the rest of the room, so that when a large number of guests are received (an important moment in Bulgarian life), a spacious room is formed.

There are more than 200 museums in the country, most of which are located in Sofia (National Archaeological Museum, National Ethnographic Museum, National Museum of Natural History, etc.)

Sofia: Church of the Holy Resurrection (was built after the Liberation from the Nazis, continuing the tradition of building churches on this site since medieval times. Previously, it was the old aristocratic quarter of the city - Varosh, where there were bell towers and church schools); Banya Pasha Mosque (a Sultan-style building with a huge dome and a minaret, built in 1576 by Hajj Mimar Sinan). Plovdiv. Ruins of a Roman stadium; Jumaya Mosque ("Friday Mosque"); Imaret Mosque (1444-1445, with an old Turkish tomb in which the Turkish ruler Pasha Gaazi Shakhabeddin is buried); Archaeological Museum; the Church of the Holy Mother of God (where several icons are presented by the famous master of the late 19th century Stanislav Dospevsky); Museum of icons; Church of Saints Constantine and Helena; ruins of a Roman citadel.

The science. G. Nadzhakov (1896-1981) - physicist who discovered the photoelectret state of matter).

Literature. P. Vezhinov (1914-1983) is the author of novels and stories about the anti-Hitler struggle of the Bulgarian people (the collection "Second Company") and works about modernity, which are distinguished by the depth of psychological analysis (the stories "The Smell of Almonds", "Barrier", "Measurements", novels "At night on white horses", "Scales").

I have already mentioned that we have repeatedly traveled in Bulgaria. A country that is comfortable for relaxing, plus quite inexpensive. In this article, I want to briefly describe the resorts of the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria and express my opinion on where it is better to relax in Bulgaria, if you suddenly have a desire to visit this country.

We ourselves constantly rest in the village of St. Vlas. This is a very comfortable and picturesque resort, located near Sunny Beach and Burgas.

The central beach of St. Vlas after a thunderstorm

I am constantly updating information on my website. Not long ago, I published new review articles on St. Vlas:

I also like Nessebar. A large number of beaches. There is an old town preserved from the time of the Roman Empire. Small city park and quiet streets.

Evening view of old Nessebar

For lovers of parties and noisy entertainment, 2-3 km away is the most party resort in Bulgaria - Sunny Beach.

For convenience, at the end of the page, I have collected all my verbal calculations in a kind of pivot table, but first I will describe the selection criteria a little.

Bulgarian Black Sea resorts

Conceptually, the coast of Bulgaria is divided into the following zones:

North: Albena, Varna, Golden Sands
Between Varna and Burgas: Obzor, Byala
Central: Burgas, Sunny Beach, St. Vlas, Pomorie, Ravda, Sozopol
Southern: Primorsko, Kiten, Lozenets, Tsarevo

Weather in the resorts of Bulgaria

Given that the coastline of Bulgaria is just over 200 km, the weather in the resorts does not differ much from each other. However, according to my observations, on the northern coast, on average, there are slightly more rainy days than in the center and south.
The swimming season in Bulgaria starts around mid-June. By this time, the sea has time to warm up to 22-23 degrees Celsius and ends in early October. For comparison, I am adding a picture of the weather archive for Burgas and Varna for August 2015.

Tourist flow and workload of resorts

The issue is quite controversial, and does not depend entirely on the region, but rather on a particular city (village). For example, in Sunny Beach at any time in the summer there will be orders of magnitude more people than in neighboring St. Vlas.
In general, the smallest number of tourists in Bulgaria rest on the southern coast of the Black Sea, and the largest in the area of ​​the sunny coast and golden sands.

Picturesqueness of the coast and towns (villages) of Bulgaria

I really like the Bulgarian resorts that are located at the foot of the mountains. These include Albena, Balchik, St. Vlas.
The southern coast is also quite picturesque, there is more wildlife, but getting there is less convenient.

Infrastructure and transport accessibility

There are only two international airports on the coast of Bulgaria and they are located in Varna and Burgas. Therefore, it is easiest and most convenient to choose your vacation in the vicinity of these two cities. By the way, in the cities themselves there are beaches where you can swim, but still I would not recommend living in the city. It seems to me that in the suburbs and in small towns, the water is still cleaner, and the sand is better. In large cities, all sorts of barges and other large industrial ships often moor nearby in the port. Therefore, the purity of water and sand is not the best. My next illustration to the article is a direct proof.

Dirty sand on the empty central beach of Burgas

Not long ago, a review article about . You can save a lot on tickets. The average price for a round-trip flight is usually around 17,000 - 19,000 rubles. In my article, I show with examples how you can fly to Bulgaria and return back for 10,000 - 11,000 rubles.

In terms of infrastructure, again, large cities are ahead, Varna, Burgas, then the resorts of Sunny Beach and Golden Sands. For the rest of the villages, everything is individual. For example, in Sveti Vlas there are a lot of cafes, shops, there is even a hypermarket, but in Obzor or Lozenets there are 2-3 times less of them, and this probably applies to the entire southern coast.

Central square of Saint Vlas

Holiday cost

The more popular the resort, the higher the cost of the holiday. This is logical! However, Bulgaria is basically a cheap country. For example, the average bill in a cafe in Sunny Beach will differ by a maximum of 10-15% from a similar order in a cafe in Burgas. So it seems to me that the cost is far from the main criterion for choosing a holiday destination in Bulgaria.

Where better to relax in Bulgaria: conclusions

The results of the competition participants came out quite even 🙂 It is understandable, because. some selection criteria were completely opposite. For example, if you want to spend your vacation away from civilization and with a minimum number of tourists, then it is better to go to the southern coast of Bulgaria. If you need good infrastructure, entertainment centers and so on, then it is better to choose a place near Varna or Burgas. The rest is already details ... I would note from myself that, in my opinion, you should not choose the resorts of Obzor and Byala, as well as the too poppy Sunny Beach, unless, of course, the purpose of your holiday is constant parties from morning to night.

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Bulgaria is located in the southeastern part of Europe, in the northeast of the Balkan Peninsula.

Administratively it consists of 28 regions and a separate unit - Sofia. The basis of the territorial division is communities (8 regions are part of the regions).

Largest cities: Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Ruse.

Capital of Bulgaria- the city of Sofia.

Borders and area of ​​Bulgaria

Bulgaria borders on Romania in the north and Turkey and Greece in the south. Bulgaria's western border is with Macedonia and Serbia.

The country covers an area of ​​110.91 thousand square kilometers.

Bulgaria map

Timezone

Population of Bulgaria

7,577,000 people.

Language

The official language is Bulgarian. Due to the development of the resort business, Russian, English, German and French are widely spoken throughout the tourist areas.

Religion

The vast majority of residents are Christians (77.9%6). They are followed by Sunnis (9.48%), Protestants (1.12%) and others.

Finance

The official currency is the Bulgarian Lev. The import and export of this money is prohibited.

Medical care and insurance

Before traveling to Bulgaria, you must purchase international health insurance. The initial visit to the doctor is free, all further visits are subject to payment. Also, no vaccination certificate is required.

Mains voltage

220 volt. Frequency 50 Hz.

Bulgaria international dialing code

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Recreation centers in Bulgaria have been known to domestic tourists since the Soviet era, when almost everyone dreamed of getting into its sanatoriums and health resorts, and the phrase "golden sands" steadily suggested this republic. Today, this Balkan country still attracts tourists with a variety of tours.

The tourist wealth of Bulgaria consists of the Black Sea, low, medium and high mountain ranges, the beautiful Danube, the Balkan valleys, the Upper Thracian plains, various gorges, hills, mountain plateaus and lakes. In addition to natural treasures, Bulgaria has a very developed infrastructure, healing springs, convenient transportation hubs, ancient architecture, a rich history, and unusual sights. Prices for holidays in Bulgaria near the sea are pleasantly pleasing, as they are much lower than in similar European resorts.

Vouchers to the country of the Thracians, Turks and Bulgarians can be selected in the following areas:

When planning to go on vacation in Bulgaria in the summer, you can easily order the most interesting destination for yourself if you study in advance the best places and resorts listed in this article.

Tours to Bulgaria

You can relax in Bulgaria in the summer both with maximum comfort, if you book an All Inclusive tour, and on a budget, choosing a good minimum package.

All inclusive

Booking an all-inclusive tour saves vacationers from many hassles associated with food and travel. All these concerns are taken care of by travel agents. Popular packages on this system most often include:

• check-in at a four- or five-star hotel;
• access to the buffet at any time or three meals a day;
• the opportunity to use the services of the bar for free;
• direct flight to the most convenient airport or free transfer to the hotel;
• many additional services at the hotel, access to the gym, spa, swimming pool, tennis court, free internet, car parking;
• the departure and start date of the vacation is chosen so as to take into account the wishes of customers as much as possible.

A tour specialist often recommends such offers to those who wish to organize holidays with children in Bulgaria, and this is also a good opportunity to comfortably enjoy the healing process at balneological springs. It is possible to relax in Bulgaria inexpensively on an all-inclusive basis if you book a place in advance or catch a last-minute ticket.

Minimum package

Active tourists, who are not accustomed to spending their entire vacation in a hotel, but need it only to have somewhere to spend the night, prefer to rent a room cheaper under the minimum package system. Savings on accommodation frees up funds for the cultural and historical program.

Usually the tour with the minimum package includes only breakfast, sometimes half board. Such packages are incorporated into sightseeing bus routes and ski tours. For convenience, travel agencies sometimes offer vacationers a private sector near the ski lifts for overnight stays in order to save time on the road.

Best Places

It is always easier for vacationers to decide where to go on vacation in Bulgaria in the summer if they are sufficiently aware of resorts, comfortable hotels, popular places for excursions, and historical sights. This section lists the most interesting opportunities not only for a summer trip. An inexpensive vacation in Bulgaria in autumn will pleasantly surprise those who appreciate hiking ecotours in nature reserves and national parks.

Vacation in summer

Recreation centers in Bulgaria near the sea are located in the following resort towns:

• Mermaid;
• Valchik;
• Albena;
• Kranevo;
• Golden Sands;
• Riviera;
• Sunny day;
• Saint Constantine;
• Varna;
• Review;
• Elenite;
• Saint Vlas;
• Sunny Beach;
• Nessebar;
• Pomorie;
• Burgas;
• Sozopol;
• Dunes;
• Primorsko;
• Kiten.

Family holidays in Bulgaria in Golden Sands are familiar to many of our compatriots, as they prefer to relax in this resort since Soviet times. Our grandparents, then parents, rested here for many years in a row. Perhaps someone spent their childhood in the camps and health resorts that were on these beaches in those days.

Today's younger generation still has that opportunity. On the basis of former pioneer camps, today there are prestigious children's health facilities equipped with the latest infrastructure facilities, and there are also many separate children's protected beaches.

Summer vacation in Bulgaria near the lake is an interesting alternative to the sea destination. Such tours are appreciated by lovers of fresh water and soothing fishing. Enjoy the tranquility in the fresh air allows you to buy a tour to such places:

• Burgas lake;
• lake Batak;
• lake Wide glade;
• lake Beloslav;
• Varna lake;
• lake Mandra;
• lake Dospat.

Most of the lakes in Bulgaria are located in the mountains, some at an altitude of more than a thousand kilometers. Rest houses, dispensaries, cafes, hotels, children's camps are usually located along the banks. Right next to the water there are special places for swimming, recreation and fishing. In some places you can stay overnight with a tent. In the lakes themselves, small islands are often found, on which local fishermen with boats are engaged in fishing professionally.

Rest in winter

Holidays in Bulgaria in winter move from the coast to the southwestern mountainous regions located in the district of Plovdiv and Sofia. Fans of ski tours are recommended to visit one of the three best winter resorts in Bulgaria, which include:

Bansko is an ancient town, peacefully located at the base of the Pirin Mountains, the most majestic peak of which Vihren goes far into the sky, reaching almost three thousand meters. Holidays in the ski resorts of this place will provide an amazing opportunity to ride among the snow-capped peaks that stretch out on the territory of the National Reserve, surrounded by glacial lakes. If desired, skiing can be alternated with fascinating excursions to the ancient riches of the city, hidden in several museums.

Borovets is another ski resort that is not inferior to the famous Bansko with its natural beauty and comfortable skating rink. The skating rink in Borovets is set in a centuries-old coniferous forest that adorns the mountain slopes of Rila. From these places it is a stone's throw to the champion of the Balkan Mountains - the peak of Musala, which bypassed all the others and reached its maximum height. Having skied near the hotel itself, immediately go on an exciting ride. Here you can easily feel like a member of the family of Bulgarian kings, for whom this amazing ice rink was built in the nineteenth century.

Pamporovo is a recently emerging rapidly developing new ski resort. It is located in the mountains of Radopy, attracts beginners here with its professional ski school. Aces of skiing love this place for sunny days, which are more here in winter than in other places in Bulgaria. Downhill skiers can improve their knowledge and hone their skills by attending several classes at the snowboard school. In addition to skiing, here tourists often spend time in small towns, studying local folklore. For lovers of majestic landscapes, at the foot of Mount Snezhanka, observation platforms are equipped from which the Rhodope Mountains are visible at a glance.

Bulgaria for health

Mountains, beaches, glacial lakes - all this gives tourists not only beautiful landscapes, fresh air, pleasant walks, but also healing mud, hot thermal springs, mineral salts. Bulgaria is one of the few countries in the world rich in various balneological centers that can improve the condition of many systems of the human body. Therefore, it would be nice to spend a vacation in Bulgaria in the summer in one of the spa and wellness hotels, the best of which are located in places such as:

Albena - specializes in the treatment of a wide range of diseases amenable to thalassotherapy. Here they practice drinking mineral water for medicinal purposes, as well as treatment with firth mud. Vouchers to the health resorts of Albena are prescribed to recover from injuries, improve the functioning of the digestive and respiratory organs, and prevent cardiovascular diseases.

Hisar - the medical base of the resort are twenty-two warm mineral springs. For recovery, drinking mineral water, taking baths in warm salty waters taken directly from sources, as well as inhalations with this water and medicines are prescribed. Most often, people come here to remove stones from the kidneys, gall and bladder, as well as to cleanse the liver, restore the work of the stomach, pancreas and duodenum. A fun place to visit in this city is the Museum of Kidney Stones, which were removed from vacationers during treatment.

Velingrad is the main balneological pearl of Bulgaria, awarded for its healing springs with the title of the spa capital of the Balkans. The valley of the Yadenitsa river, hidden between the Rila and Rhodope mountain ranges, gives Velingrad its main healing properties. These riches are contained in mineral springs, of which there are more than eighty here. All of them differ from each other in their composition and useful properties. This diversity allows the balneological centers of this resort to specialize in a wide variety of diseases. Most often people come here to cure nervous disorders, gynecological diseases and restore joints.

Sofia - the ancient and at the same time such a modern capital of Bulgaria sheltered within its walls many traces of Thracian, Roman, Bulgarian and Ottoman culture. Architectural monuments coexist here with the latest modern complexes, creating an interesting combination of the past and the future. Of more than two hundred and fifty sights, everyone can find their own here, which for many years will become a kind of symbol of Bulgaria for you.

Nessebar is a city that for many has become a symbol of ancient Bulgaria. It is located in the northeastern part of the country. It is part of the World Heritage Site, which to this day is able to amaze archaeologists with its hidden riches, and tourists with its unique rocky shores.

Rhodopes - walks through the mountain ranges of this region combine the study of architectural monuments of ancient civilizations that inhabited the territory of the country millennia ago, with acquaintance with unprecedented natural wonders. Here it is quite common to walk along natural mountain bridges, visit the natural amphitheater from the Smolyan Lakes, hide in the Devil's Throat and Uhlovitsa caves, explore the Trigrad Gorge, admire the figures of the Daughter-in-law, Sokolitsa or Orpheus, created by the winds without human participation.

Rila mountains and lakes - walks in national reserves, located at an altitude of two and a half thousand meters, have not left anyone indifferent. These places are famous for their pristine purity and mountain crystal air, which has a beneficial effect on the nervous and respiratory systems.

Bulgaria this is the place that generous nature has awarded with luxurious golden beaches, the picturesque Balkan Mountains, the gentle Black Sea and the waters of the mighty Danube. And here are the most modern ski slopes and vineyards that give a good harvest. Rich history and culture- a great addition to the natural and tourist potential of the country. All this, combined with affordable prices, make Bulgaria an attractive place on the planet for thousands of tourists at any time of the year.

Bulgaria is located in southeastern Europe and is located on the western coast of the Black Sea. The total area of ​​the territory is 110.910 km², of which 360 km² account for on the water.

Country ranks eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula- his 22%. The exact geographical coordinates on the world map are as follows: 43°00′ s. sh. and 25°00′ E. d. .

Where is Bulgaria

Bulgaria is a small country, however it has an advantageous geographical position, bordering on the following countries:

In the north with Romania (608 km);

On South with Greece and Turkey (734 km);

In the West with Serbia and Macedonia (466 km);

The total length of the land borders is 1808 km.

Administrative division

Bulgaria conditionally divided into 28 administrative-territorial regions, which in turn are 264 communities.

All 28 regions belong to special regions (statistical zones): 2 first order And six second order. They are created for the convenience of classifying areas and summarizing statistical data, but do not have any administrative status.

Capital of Bulgaria - Sofia(translated from Greek - "wisdom") with a population more than 2000.000 people.

The city is the administrative center of the Sofia Region, Sofia City Region and Stolichna Municipality. It is located in the center of the Balkan Peninsula, in its very heart.

Other major cities in Bulgaria: Plovdiv,

Varna,

Ruse,

Burgas.

Coastline

The length of the coastline is 354 km.

The Bulgarian coast is very attractive. About 25% is covered with fine golden sand. Many wonderful modern resorts are located on the Black Sea coast in Bulgaria.

river system

The river network of Bulgaria is very saturated with large and small rivers and lakes. However, only two main river systems of the country can be distinguished: the northern part and the southern part, including the territory of the Upper African Plain.

Rivers and waters flowing through the northern territory of the country usually pass through the Danube channel and flow into the Black Sea basin. They originate at the foot of the Balkan Mountains. The longest river in the country is Iskar (368 km.).

Its source begins in the mountains ripa, after which she turns north, enters the Danube and also flows into the Black Sea.

Tributaries collected Upper African Plain, pour out to the Aegean.

Some of the largest rivers in this part of the country: maritsa(which, leaving Bulgaria, flows along the Greek-Turkish border),

The origins of the "Maritsa" begin at the eastern part of the Rila Mountains

Struma

"Struma" originates in Bulgaria on the southwestern slopes of Vitosha

And Places(ending in neighboring Greece).

"Mesta" takes its "let" in the Rila Mountains and flows through Bulgaria for 126 km

The largest natural lake in Bulgaria - O. Burgas with total water area 27 km², which is located on the territory of the eponymous region of the country.

Picturesque lake "Burgas"