Bulgaria Officially the Republic of Bulgaria is a

Bulgaria, Officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south and the Black Sea to the east. With a territory of 110, 994 square kilometres (42, 855 sq mi), Bulgaria is Europe's 14 th-largest country. Its location has made it a historical crossroad for various civilisations and as such it is the home of some of the earliest metalworking, religious and other cultural artifacts in the world.

Flag of Bulgaria

Coat of arms of Republic of Bulgaria

The Natural Beauty of Bulgaria is a popular destination for sea and ski holidays. But the country has also other charming places yet to be discovered. These are the numerous mountains, plains, rivers, villages and many more. The unique geographical location of Bulgaria provides possibilities for all year round adventure activities. There are 4 snowy months, a mild and green spring when many flowers blossom, a hot summer with less rain and a colorful autumn.

The relief of Bulgaria is extremely diverse - on an area on 111, 000 sq km between 0 -2, 925 m of altitude there is a variety of vast valleys and low lands, hills and mountains, extremely beautiful rock phenomena, glaciered, abrasion, erosion and karst formations, including 4, 300 caves. This allows mountain lovers to enjoy not only hiking, but rock climbing, caving and spelunking.

Bulgaria Black Sea The welcoming climate from late May to late September with average sea temperatures of 25 C, the beaches with fine golden sands, and the modern resorts not surprisingly attract more and more tourists. The Black Sea coast is also one of the best spa areas in the country where the combination of sea climate, mineral baths, hot springs, and curative mud adds to the possibilities of holiday enjoyment.

Bulgarian villages Many Bulgarian villages have preserved their traditional appearance and genuine spirit and have their doors open to those willing to share Bulgarian traditions and delicious local cuisine. The Bulgarian village atmosphere can be experienced in Koprivshtitsa, Bozhentsi, Arbanassi, Elena, Ribaritsa, Kovachevitsa, Byala Cherkva, Zheravna, Kotel, the village of Voneshta Voda (near Veliko Tarnovo), Buinovtsi, Miikovtsi (near Elena) in the Balkan Range; the village of Batovo, Sokolovo, Strazhitsa, Topola, Balgarevo, Kamen bryag, Tyulenovo, Kardan, Preseltsi, Krassen and others in northeast Bulgaria.

Sofia The capital of Bulgaria Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, lies in the Sofia plain, enclosed by the Balkan Range Mountain to the north, and Mount Vitosha to the south. Several buildings and most of the sites of particular interest are found in the center of Sofia within easy walking distance of each other: the Church of St Nedelya, the 13 century Chapel of St Petka Paraskeva - a medieval foundation dwarfed beneath turn-of-the-century buildings, the Banya Bashi Mosque near Sofia's mineral baths, the sunken Church of St Petka Samardzhiiska originally built in the 14 century, the 4 th century Rotonda of St George-Sofia's oldest church, the Russian Church, the National Assembly, the National Art Gallery and the Ethnographic Museum housed in the former royal palace.

Sofia The capital of Bulgaria One of the finest pieces of architecture on the Balkans and certainly Sofia's crowning glory, is the Alexander Nevski Memorial Cathedral honouring the Russsian casualties of the 1877 -78 War of Liberation. Nearby is the Church of St Sofia dating from late Roman times believed to have given its name to the capital. Sofia's liveliest areas include the Ivan Vazov National Theatre, the monument of Cyril and Metodii in front of the National Library, the National Palace of Culture.

My Town Kardzhali Kardjali is located in the very heart of the eastern Rhodope mountain, along the two banks of the Arda river, 100 km southeast of Plovdiv. 6000 years-old remains of human life as well as ample examples of the presence of Thracian, Roman, Byzantine, late-Ottoman and Bulgarian culture have been found on the territory of the town. After the town's liberation from the Ottoman rule in 1912, Kardjali became the "tobacco warehouse of the eastern Rhodopes", as some of the best quality tobaccos are grown on the special soils in the region.

My Town Kardzhali Landmarks of interest are the 11 th-12 th century Bulgarian basilica "St. John the Precursor", the Historical Museum, housed in a vast mosque-like building and containing superb collections from prehistoric ritual objects to ethnographic costumes and crafts. The two big dams on both sides of the town are excellent places for tourism, water sports and entertainment. Kardjali is the starting point for visits to the numerous rock formations in the region-the Stone Wedding and mushrooms, the Stone Forest, the Rock Widow, the Rocks at Ustra, and the medieval fortress of Perperek.

Water mirror (the Channel) on Arda river, Kardzhali An impressive channel on Arda river was built in the town area in 2009. It starts about 300 m after the wall of dam “Karzdhali” and reaches the bridge to Veselchane quarter almost reaching the zero level of “Studen kladenec” dam. The construction is a massive contemporary water-engineering facility part of a project for the public utilities development in that part of the town. The project also includes the creation of a rest zone along the river and a business centre in the same area. Attractive boats and small tourist vessels will sail along the channel.

Perperikon The ancient Thracian city of Perperikon is located in the Eastern Rhodopes, 15 km northeast of the present-day town of Kardzhali, Bulgaria, on a 470 m high rocky hill, which is thought to have been a sacred place.

The village of Gorna Krepost ("Upper Fortress") is located at the foot of the hill and the gold-bearing Perpereshka River flows near it. Perperikon is the largest megalith ensemble in the Balkans.

Church A church pulpit was found by Bulgarian archeologists at the peak of the Thracian rock sanctuary on 10 September 2005. It is thought of as the first finding of the kind in Bulgaria. The pulpit was probably built at the end of the 4 th century AD or the early 5 th century during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Honorius and coincided with the period of the christening of the Thracians in the Rhodopes area.

Dyavolski most The Dyavolski most ( "Devil's Bridge“ ) is an arch bridge over the Arda River situated in a narrow gorge. It is located 10 km (6. 2 mi) from the Bulgarian town of Ardino in the Rhodope Mountains and is part of the ancient road connecting the lowlands of Thrace with the north Aegean Sea coast.

Bulgaria - a small piece of paradise blending in itself the remarkable beauty of the azure, warm turquoise sea and the majestic, snow-topped mountains. The homeland of the Europe's most ancient civilization and the oldest gold in the world, Bulgaria will enchant you with the wealth of colors throughout its four seasons, with the golden shade of its fine sea sands and heavy wheat fields, with the crimson color of Bulgarian roses and wine. Discover Bulgaria - the best kept secret of the Balkans !