Bulgaria contains some of the richest wildlife in Central and Eastern Europe, has over 1,600 mineral water springs, and seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the famous Rila Monastery. With 8.5 million people living in 111,000 square kilometers, making Bulgaria the least densely populated country in Europe.
Most visitors head for the Black Sea Coast where over 60% of the hotel rooms are located but increasingly many are discovering the pleasures of the outdoors and smaller towns.

Heirs to one of Europe's great civilizations, and guardians of Balkan Christian traditions, Bulgarians have a keen sense of national identity distilled by centuries of turbulent history. Dating back to the fourth century BC, the capital Sofia has buildings in many architectural traditions including Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Bulgarian and Turkish. The city of Sofia boasts notable theatres and museums, opera houses and art galleries. The Bulgarian Black Sea Riviera resorts, with their wide bays and golden beaches, are ideal for family holidays.

COUNTRY WEB-GUIDES ||TOP||
Travel Bulgaria - http://www.travel-bulgaria.com/
Provides listing visitor attractions, resort information, tourist services and discussion forum.

Bulgaria || Where To Go And When || Getting Around || Holidays, Festivals And Entertainment || Outdoor Activities And Eco-tourism || Museums, Churches And Mosques || Books || Red Tape And Visas || Health || Costs, Money And Banks || Communications || Eating And Drinking || Best Of || Explore Bulgaria

Bulgaria by Lonely Planet at travel.yahoo
Culture|| Activities || Events ||Getting There and Away ||Economic Facts ||Recommended Reading ||When to Go ||Getting Around ||Environment ||Relative Costs ||Travel Facts ||Money Advice ||Offbeat Attractions ||Offbeat ttractions ||

Also during the 5th century BC, the Wends suppressed the attempts of Macedonia to come up the big political stage. However, in the middle of the next century (4th century BC) the Macedonians, headed by Philip and his son, Alexander the Great, took their revenge. The Wendish kingdom suffered severe blows and its borderlines shrunk into the relatively small region of the Upper Thracian Valley.  bulgaria.com/history/bulgaria/thrac.html

 Bulgaria’s national airline News
Bulgaria Air replaced bankrupt one-time national carrier Balkan Airlines.

Bulgaria Air (FB) 1, Brussels Blvd., tel. 987 3169, fax 937 3254, , e-mail:office@bat.bg Hemus Air (DU) Sofia Airport, tel. +359 2 9420 202, fax +359 2 945 9147 Airport office tel./fax 9420213 Aeroflot (SU) 23, Oborishte St., tel. 943 4489, 946 4529, fax 946 1703; Airport office tel. 704 353 Aero Svit 4, Trapezica St., tel. 987 3181, fax 980 8280; Airport office tel. 981 5937, Only Mon and Wed Air France (AF) 2, Saborna St., tel. 980 6150, 981 7830, fax 981 9783; Airport office tel. 937 3207 Air Malta (KM) APG-Bulgaria  44, Vitosha Blvd., tel. 933 1033, 933 1044, fax 933 1030, e-mail:apgbg@hotmail.com Air Moldova 38, Hristo Botev Blvd., tel. 980 6673, fax 980 6673 Al Italia (AZ) 40, Graf Ignatiev St., tel. 981 6702, fax 981 6704; Airport office tel. 7932 2328 Austrian Airlines (OS) 41, Vitosha Blvd., tel. 981 2424, 980 2323, fax 981 4434; Airport office tel. 937 3131, 937 3132 British Airways (BA) 56, Alabin St., tel.981 7000, 981 6999, fax 981 1771; Airport office tel. 937 3111 Czech Airlines (OK) 9, Saborna St., tel. 981 5408, 988 5568, fax 981 1386; Airport office tel. 7932 2040 Hungarian Airlines (MA) 19, Patriarh Evtimii Blvd., tel. 981 5091, fax 981 5096; Airport office tel. 720 790 Israel Airlines (LY) 50, Stamboliiski Blvd., tel. 986 5790, fax 980 8058 KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL) 14, Uzundjovska St., tel. 981 9910, fax 981 9912 Lauda Air (NG) 6, Dostoevski St., tel. 876 647, fax 883 748; Airport office tel. 7932 2109, 7932 2749 LOT - Polish Airlines (LO) 27A, Stamboliiski Blvd., tel. 987 4562, fax 980 3293; Airport office tel. 720 644 Lufthansa (LH) 9A, Saborna St., tel. 980 4101, fax 981 2911; Airport office tel. 937 3142, 937 3143 Romanian Air Transport (RO) 38, Hristo Botev Blvd., tel. 980 2562, fax 980 6673 Olympic Airlines (OA) 55, Stamboliiski Blvd., tel. 980 1040, 981 4545, fax 980 1050; Airport office tel. 945 9288 Swiss International Air Lines (LX) 1, Angel Kanchev St., tel. 980 4459, fax 981 7732; Airport office tel. 988 2630, 7932 2749 Syrian Airlines (RB) 36, Stamboliiski Blvd., tel. 981 2499, fax 987 6657 Turkish Airlines (TK ) 11A, Saborna St., tel. 980 3957, fax 980 4151 Yugoslav Airlines (JU) 1, Vasil Levski St., tel. 981 2167, fax 981 2167

bulgariaflights.com/  on-line reservation system  seeking the lowest ticket prices for your destination. Huge cargo flight database too
EuropebyAir.com no flights to Bulgaria as of April 2004 but does do nearby Greek airports

Car rental Avis, bul. Vitosha 3 tel 02/981 1082, at the airport tel 02/738023; Budget, at the Balkantourist office, bul. Vitosha 1 tel 02/987 1682; Europcar, at the airport tel 02/720157; Hertz, bul. Vasil Levski 47 tel 02/980 0461, and at the airport tel 02/791447.

Train information tel 02/931 1111, tel 932 3333.

Travel agents Try Balkantourist, Vitosha 1 (tel 02/980 2324, ), for tours, airline tickets, and reservations in upmarket hotels; Lyub Travel, ul. Milin Kamâk 11 (tel 02/702287), for weekend trips to Bulgarian towns and villages; Odysseia-In, bul. Stamboliiski 20 (tel 02/989 05 38, ), for hotel reservations and hiking tours in Bulgaria; USIT Colours, bul. Vasil Levski 35 (%02/981 1900, ), for discount international air tickets.
Taxis Inex Taxi tel 02/91919; OK Supertaxi tel 02/973 2121; Yes Taxi tel 02/91119.

GETTING THERE BY RAIL ||TOP||

A trail of ancient cities, mosques, and natural wonders can be made most affordable through a Balkan Flexipass, granting you unlimited travel through Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Turkey, and Serbia/Montenegro.

ll visitors to Bulgaria require a full (not visitors') passport, although citizens of most Western countries no longer need a visa to enter the country. However, as the rules change every year, it's wise to check with a Bulgarian embassy or consulate, whatever your nationality.
Visa extensions Available at the Interior Ministry (MVR) building at bul. Knyaginya Mariya Luiza 44 or a police station but Rough Guides recommends leaving the country officially for a few seconds then reentering to get an extra 30 days and avoid a major hassle and US$50
All visitors to Bulgaria are required to register as a foreigner ( registratsiya na chuzhdentsi ) within 48 hours of arrival. If your staying more than a few days the simple way is to register at a hotel and be sure they give you a dated registration slip in case the border guards check.
Consular Information Sheet - http://travel.state.gov/bulgaria.html
Provided by the US State Department.
Red Tape And Visas

Bulgaria has the best beach resorts on the Black Sea. 
Known as a beach holidays destination for many years now Bulgaria was constantly developing the existing resort facilities, so finally there is a huge variety of holiday places from huge international beach resorts to small yet undiscovered villages along the coast.
The sea is safe, clean and calm, without any dangerous animals. The sea bottom is mostly sandy and slopes gently, making the swimming a pleasure. The sea saline is low.
Most of the Bulgarian beaches have been awarded the EU Blue Flag for their environmental excellence.
The two international airports of Varna and Bourgas connect the Bulgarian beaches to the rest of the world.
30 resorts along 380 km of marvelous sandy beaches. From big modern places like: Sunny Beach ,, Albena ,  Golden Sands, to destination resorts like Riviera   and St. Ellias to ancient sea coast towns with interesting architecture: Nessebar, Sozopol, smaller towns and villages like Kiten, Pomorie, Primorsko, Balchik, Sveti Vlas and Varvara with tradition and old world charm.
beachbulgaria.com 
well done mega-site where many of the above links connect

Bourgas fourth largest city is the biggest sea port in the country . A Duty Free Zone with an international airport. It is known as gateway to the Black Sea resorts with few beaches of its own. A cultural center supported by over 7,000 students attending 2 universities and 4 colleges. Well known annual International folklore festival; there's also a rich variety of colours and odors to be found at the annual National exhibition FLORA  held under the motto "Nature - Man - Harmony";

For your Best Beach-hopping go to Sinmorets according to roughguides "The southern Black Sea coast is lined by vast stretches of white sand, best of all at Sinemorets. It's a strange mixture of bucolic village and building site, the kind of place where expensive cars trundle down the dirt tracks that serve as streets, and imported drinks are doled out from hastily erected shacks. Sinemorets's new-found fame rests on its two beaches : the south beach, accessible by a track which leads eastwards through the village towards the headland before veering south, is a dazzling expanse of fine white sand bordered by rocky promontories. It's the kind of place that attracts younger, liberal-leaning Bulgarians - bathing nude here will hardly raise an eyebrow. More spectacular still is the beach to the north, a kilometre-long sand bar that slows the progress of the River Veleka towards the sea. Framed by low green hills, it's one of the most beautiful spots on the Black Sea coast.

Sinemorets Discover this border artist colony before everybody else does.

 villaphiladelphia.com/sinemoretz1.htm 

• Pictures from the Golden Sands resort
• Pictures from the Sunny Beach resort
• Pictures from Albena resort

Hotel Augusta
In Hissar situated in the centre of Bulgaria, in the southern folds of Sredna Gora Mountain. The site originally chosen by the Romans is nearest to the Krumovo airport - 52 km, Sofia airport - 160 km. Plovdiv is 42 km away
The Spa and Health Centre offers sauna, fitness, balneology, acupuncture, massage, light therapy, more. Treatments are based on the curative properties of the famous Hissar mineral water

Hotel Varna - St.Constantine Spa Resortby travel-bulgaria.com
Located 10 km. northeast of the Black Sea city of Varna- Mineral waters & slightly mineralized, curative mud for treatment of chronic inflammatory and degenerative disturbances of the locomotory system and the peripheral nervous system, hypertonia, bronchial asthma, more.
Also in Varna with large spa operation is Grand Hotel varna

Kyustendil Spa Resortby travel-bulgaria.com
In Kyustendil Situated at the foot of the Ossogovska Mountain, Kyustendil (ancient Pautalia) is one of Bulgaria's best known clmatic and spa resorts- Curative mineral water springs. Treatments include procedures with mineral water and peat, electric and light paraffin applications, massage, reflexology, laser, acupuncture, kinesitherapy.

Pomorie Spa Resortby travel-bulgaria.com
The Pomorie is one of Bulgaria's best known mud treatment and seaside resorts, was founded during the 5th century B.C., when it was known as Anhialo. It is situated on a peninsula which juts out 2 km into the Black sea, 20 km north of the city of Bourgas- Curative mud used to treat disturbances of he locomotory system, arthritic, rheumatism, gynaecological diseases, disturbances of the male reproductive system, neurological disorders, and skin diseases.

Sandanski Spa Resortby travel-bulgaria.com
SANDANSKI SPA HOTEL boasts a modern CLIMATO - BALNEOTHERAPY CENTER. The town of Sandanski is located at an altitude of 224 m in the foothills of the Pirin Mountains, along Sandanska Bistritsa river.

Velingrad Spa Resort by travel-bulgaria.com
In Velingrad which is in southerm Bulgaria located amidst one of the most picturesque part of The Rhodope Mountains - the Chepin valley. The resort's mineral water well up from 70 springs with a total flow of over 150 l/sec or 9.000 l/min.

Spas in Bulgaria-Ancient Roots
Ancient mineral complexes were built near the mineral springs: Hisarja- ancient Augusta; Kyustendil – ancient Pautalia, Bourgas mineral baths – Aque Kalite, later Thermopiles; Sapareva Banya – Germaneia; Sliven Baths – Tanzos and Sofia – Ulpia Serdika.

Spas of Eastern Europe
by Travel Lady.com; an overview of the spa zone so important to Roman culture.

 Hikers also enjoy being in the mountains of Vitosha, Rodopa and many other mountains. This is some of Europe's finest highland scenery where the valleys harbour the kind of picturesque  villages with living traditions and folklore. that have all but disappeared in Western Europe.
Rodopi Mountains & Rila Mountains by Lonely Planet

Small Group Hiking Adventures 

Pictures from peak Todorka, up the mountain from the city of Bansko

Rivers of Bulgaria - Wikipedia

Outdoor Activities And Eco-tourism || Hiking || Climbing And Caving || Mountain-biking || Birdwatching || Wildlife Organizations || Adventure Tourism || Zoology, Botany And Geology ||

CAVES: .balkan-speleo.org/ Bulgarian, Greek, Macedonian, Serbian and Montenegro, Sloveniain cavers held their 1st meeting Set-2002
bats-bulgaria.org cave group for Bat Research and Protection  

Festivals and Customs

Full of beauty, gaiety and a healthy love of life, the Bulgarian festivals and customs date back to ancient times when mail tried to appease the natural elements and trembled before their power. One of the merriest and richest festivals in a ritual aspect are Christmas and the New Year, when the so called 'sourvakari' make the round of houses with wishes for health and prosperity. Other major festivals include "ladouvane" - a festive ritual for young girls on New Year's Day or Midsummer Day (24 June), Shrovetide and Mummers' Games which take their beginnings from the Dionysian festivals of the Thracians and mark the start of spring, 'lazarouvane' - an Orthodox festival dedicated to love and the family, Trifon Zarezan (Vinegrower's Day) and St. George's Day, linked with health and abundance. And among them, the widely popular and typically Bulgarian customs and festivals - 'martenitsas' and rose-picking.

NATIONAL CALENDAR OF CULTURAL EVENTS 2003
In English, German, French and Russian prepared by the Ministry of Culture
 

The main urban centre in the east is Shumen ,  the great city at the base of the Balkan Mountains in a valley filled with nature. It holds  a fine medieval fortress and close to Bulgaria's first two capitals at Pliska and Preslav , and the enigmatic rock sculpture of the Madara Horseman . Fertility Carnival in Shoumen in October of even years  shoumen.bg/enghtml/shoumenen.htm official guide in english Shumen || The Town || || Eating And Drinking || Arrival, Information And Accommodation || Explore Shumen || Hotels in Shumen

Every year on the 1st of March, the Bulgarians give each other 'martenitsas' - small figures made of white and red threads, a symbol of the awakening, of spring, health and happiness.

http://roussefestival.mlnk.net  March Music Days International Festival- Every spring during the second half of March, the town of Rousse welcomes elitie Bulgarian and foreign musicians for one of the oldest international music forums in Bulgaria. Since its foundation in 1961, the festival has given Rousse the reputation of a major cultural and music centre on the Danube.

 

Gabrovo May Carnival  Gabrovo || The Town || Typical Gabrovo Jokes || Practicalities || Explore Gabrovo ||   <> Balkan Range > Central Balkan Range > South of Veliko Târnovo

In Gabrovo they let a cat down the chimney rather than hire a sweep; Dock the tails of their cats so they can shut the door a fraction sooner and not let the heat out. To open their wild Days of Carnival they also begin with the screech of the official cat loosing its tail to a leading citizens blade

Celebrate the blooming of hundreds of thousands of roses are in bloom in May and June.!

 In late May and early June every year, the rose-picking season starts in the Valley of Roses which is tucked between the Balkan Range and the Sredna Gora Mountains.Rose-picking starts at dawn, before sunrise and before the rose fragrance has had a chance to disappear. The Bulgarian oleaginous rose yields 70 percent of the world's attar of roses used by every well known perfume company as an essential component of its products. This is the time of the Festival of Roses, celebrated with carnivals, processions, folk songs and dances in Karlovo and Kazanluk on the first Sunday in June.

www.balkanfolk.com/ 
best and most current info

Holidays, Festivals And Entertainment

http://www.culture-universal.com/festivals/europe/festivals_bulgaria.html
booking contact info

mytravelguide.com/./Bulgaria/Holidays,-festivals-and-entertainment/Festivals

National Holidays

• Jan 1 New Year's Day
• March 3 Liberation of Bulgaria (anniversary of San Stefano)
• Easter Sunday
• Easter Monday
• May 1 Labour Day
• May 24 Day of Slavonic Education and Culture
• September 6 Unification Day
• September 22 Independence Day
• Dec 25 Christmas Day

google.com/search=maps+bulgaria

lonelyplanet.com//bulgaria.
with click thru to a few cities descriptions

http://www.multimap.com/index/BU7.htm
Nearly 100 city maps

Maps by travel-bulgaria.com

• Important Telephone Numbers Police - 166
  Ambulance - 150 ||  Road assistance - 146
• Tips of 10% of the bill are appropriate for waiters; hotel employees also should receive tips
• Bulgarian is the official language and the Cyrillic alphabet is used. English, German, French and Russian are spoken in major tourist resorts and hotels. Bulgarian tourism is booming and English is increasingly spoken and accommodated throughout the country but may be hard to find off the beaten track.  While there's no particular danger, it can be frustrating when no one speaks English. Inexperienced travelers may be happiest on tours.
• Time: GMT/UTC +2
  Dialling Code: 359
  Electricity: 220V ,50Hz
  Weights & measures: Metric
• Demographics of Bulgaria - Wikipedia
• Maps and Facts in our image server

Banks, Currency and Credit Cards, by travel-bulgaria.com

Money Advice by Lonely Planet for travel.yahoo
"ATMs are a common sight in Sofia and at Black Sea resorts, and cash advances on credit cards are also available in these areas. Still, it's best to bring plenty of cash to Bulgaria."

With non-metered taxis you needn't add a tip to the fare you agreed on beforehand.

Urgent cases go to hospitals ( bolnitsa ) courtesy of the bârza pomosht or ambulance service (tel 150 in most towns, service free), and emergency treatment is free of charge although you must pay for medicines .

google.com/search?=internet+cafes+bulgaria not too much to choose from best was globaltrekk.com/ic.bulgaria.htm for # of internet cafes (8)

Among the most active English speaking are the sister sites .beachbulgaria.com/phorum/?f=2 & bulgariaski.com/phorum/list.php?f=1  php is open source or "peopel's" software

"The Dionysian cult was also very widespread, primarily in the mountainous regions of the Haemus, Rhodope and Pirin mountains. In his original, popular conception Dionysus was the god of infinite creativity, of omnifarious Nature, of each tree and flower.

"Without underrating the primary importance of ancient Greek culture and of Greek mythology, it would help the better understanding of this culture if we pointed out that Hellas benefited to a great extent from its contacts and interaction with its Thracian hinterland. It has been established that the author of 'The Pelopones War' was of Thracian extraction. The name of Orpheus, whose Thracian origin is indisputable and who is believed to have really lived as a singer, preacher and oracle, is related to the transformation of the Dionysian cult to something superior, of higher spiritual value. Enriched through Orphism, the Dionysian cult and the related orgies, supplemented and fecundated Greek thinking and it was from the Dionysian cult that the ancient Hellenic tragedy and comedy developed. It is known that Pythagoras, the Greek philosopher and mathematician (580-500 B.C.) was influenced by Orphism and through his teaching helped its dissemination. The first three centuries following the conquest of the Thracians by the Romans were a time of great confusion as regards religious concepts and cults. Parallel with the traditional religious beliefs, the divine tributes paid to the Roman emperor and the divine city Dea Roma, Serapis and Isis of Egypt, Doliheus of Syrian Comatena, which on occasions became one with Magna Mater Deorum - the Great Mother, also called Cybele, were worshipped.

 The Thracians also adopted through various channels Christianity, which was officially imposed in the towns after it was made the official religion of the empire in the year 313. In 330 the capital of the empire was moved from Rome to the ancient Byzantion. The centre of the ancient Mediterranean world was moved from West to East. Emerging with-in the former boundaries of Thrace, Constantinople remained the city of glittering magnificence, attracting the eyes and desires of all conquerors throughout the Middle Ages.

"Various tribes continued to cross the Danube from the north-east. The native population neither hastened to unite with them, nor resisted them. The newcomers and the natives, burdened with heavy imperial taxes and multitudinous duties, cooperated in a unique manner. By the end of the third century and especially during the fourth century the lands along the Lower Danube were the target of incessant invasions by various tribes - Goths, Vandals, Huns, etc. By the end of the fifth century and the turn of the sixth century the Slavs also began to infiltrate the Balkan Peninsula on a mass scale."
http://www.eunet.bg/books/history/thracians.html
BULGARIA - a brief history outline BY Dimiter Markovsk

From 1048 to 1078 Sredets was altered to Triaditsa and was plundered by the Pechenegues.   In 1096 during the first Crusade the knights stopped at it and set up a military camp. Later, in 1183 the city was pillaged and devastated by the Magyars and Serbs, and in 1189 it was recaptured by the crusaders led by Frederick Barberus. In 1194 the town was included in the boundaries of the second Bulgarian Kingdom and its old name remained until the 14^th century when it was changed to Sofia, after the name of the “St Sofia” Basilica.

The 500 year Turkish occupation In 1328 Sofia was tacked by the Turks and finally captured in 1396 after the battle at Nikopolis.The city had a crucial geographical position for the Ottoman Empire.   After the liberation from the Turkish domination in 1878 it was proclaimed capital of Bulgaria and became the biggest political, administrative, cultural and university center of the country.

During World War II, Bulgaria became part of the Axis and Sofia was heavily bombed in British and American raids – 3000 buildings were destroyed and 9000 damaged, which accounts for its newness today. When the war ended in 1944, Russian soldiers took the capital and Bulgaria became part of the Eastern Bloc. Under Communism, Sofia underwent a period of rapid industrialisation – new factories and high-rise apartment blocks grew up to form extended suburbs and the city’s population escalated as thousands migrated from rural areas.

History by roughguides ||