Bulgaria: A Small Country with Big Reasons to Become the Next Tourist Destination
Bulgaria is a small country located in the southeastern part of Europe. It has a total land area of 110,994 kilometers and is surrounded by equally small countries. Romania is located in the north, with Serbia and Macedonia sitting at the east, Greece and Turkey under it, and the Black Sea to the east. Bulgaria experiences hot summers and long, cold winters. This is common for countries located in the central part of Europe.
In the recent years, the Republic of Bulgaria has been topping the surveys on the ideal destinations in Europe to visit while on a tight budget. Last 2011, the country was chosen to be Britain’s top destination for cost-efficient vacations. Bulgaria is considered to be relatively cheaper to visit than other European country. As of 2012, ten standard holiday items and costs will cost tourists GBP 42.79, while in other European countries the same items will set tourists for more than GBP 50.00.
In the recent years, the Republic of Bulgaria has been topping the surveys on the ideal destinations in Europe to visit while on a tight budget. Last 2011, the country was chosen to be Britain’s top destination for cost-efficient vacations. Bulgaria is considered to be relatively cheaper to visit than other European country. As of 2012, ten standard holiday items and costs will cost tourists GBP 42.79, while in other European countries the same items will set tourists for more than GBP 50.00.
Reasons to Visit Bulgaria
· Food is one of the top reasons to visit Bulgaria. The Bulgarian’s traditional dishes are familiar, but they add their own specific touches of spices, additional ingredients, and precise cooking methods. Yogurt and feta are considered to be the country’s staple food since they are the most popular food and are present on the table at all times.
· The traditional culture of Bulgaria is also very rich. They showcase it through various yearly festivals, museums and historical infrastructures. One of the country’s famous rituals is the Nestinarstvo ritual which involves dancing barefoot on embers and is held in the village square. Another famous ritual is the Lazaruvane. It happens eight days before Easter and symbolizes the beginning of the spring season. In this particular ritual, women pluck flowers to make decors for the houses.
· Food is one of the top reasons to visit Bulgaria. The Bulgarian’s traditional dishes are familiar, but they add their own specific touches of spices, additional ingredients, and precise cooking methods. Yogurt and feta are considered to be the country’s staple food since they are the most popular food and are present on the table at all times.
· The traditional culture of Bulgaria is also very rich. They showcase it through various yearly festivals, museums and historical infrastructures. One of the country’s famous rituals is the Nestinarstvo ritual which involves dancing barefoot on embers and is held in the village square. Another famous ritual is the Lazaruvane. It happens eight days before Easter and symbolizes the beginning of the spring season. In this particular ritual, women pluck flowers to make decors for the houses.
· There is plenty of amazing scenery to enjoy in Bulgaria. Visiting the scenic attractions of the country would not be too much of a hassle since they weather would be pleasant at any given time. Bulgaria also has plenty of destinations that are not flocked by tourists. Some of these destinations are the Sofia Park, Asen’s Fortress, and Bachkovo Monasteries. Tourists can also opt to go hiking on one of the surrounding mountains of the country, more specifically the Balkan Mountains.
· The country’s historical sites should be every tourist’s number one priority when visiting Bulgaria. Bulgaria has plenty of historical infrastructures to tell the country’s colorful history. There are several sites declared as world heritage by UNESCO.
· The country may be spilling of historical significance all over the place, but Bulgaria also has ski resorts where tourists can enjoy various winter activities. Engaging in these activities is very affordable and can surely fit into anyone’s budget.
· The country’s historical sites should be every tourist’s number one priority when visiting Bulgaria. Bulgaria has plenty of historical infrastructures to tell the country’s colorful history. There are several sites declared as world heritage by UNESCO.
· The country may be spilling of historical significance all over the place, but Bulgaria also has ski resorts where tourists can enjoy various winter activities. Engaging in these activities is very affordable and can surely fit into anyone’s budget.
· The country has an entire museum dedicated to their world-famous wine. The museum is located in Pleven and was opened to the public in 2008. Initially, the museum was built as an institute in 1902 where viticulturists can study and experiment with various kinds of wines. It was formally known as the National Institute of Viticulture and Oenology. The museum was built after French wine expert Pierre Viala recommended that the Bulgarians make modifications in their wine varieties to further improve their wine production. Today, the museum houses an extensive collection of Bulgarian wine with the oldest being almost 100 years old.
Even though Bulgaria is a small country, there are known to be approximately 40,000 historical monuments, 36 cultural reserves, 160 monasteries and around 300 galleries and museums located in this tiny republic. These structures include Thracian tombs, and fortresses and historical monuments that date back as far as the First and Second Bulgarian Kingdom.
Destinations Under UNESCO World Heritage
Here are some of the tourist spots around Bulgaria to be included in the UNESCO Global Cultural Heritage list. You can find how they look in the gallery.
· The Rila Monastery was included in the UNESCO Global Cultural Heritage in 1983. It is the biggest monastery in Bulgaria. It was named after St. Ivan of Rila who was a hermit and lived in a cave. However, it was his students who built the monastery. The complex occupies a total area of 8,800 square meters, and has a museum where tourists can learn of the monastery’s past.
· The Madara Rider is a large rock relief that was carved on the Madara Plateau. The plateau is located at the east of Shumen in northeastern Bulgaria. The relief is believed to go back as far as 710 AD. The relief features a majestic horseman who is facing east and is stabbing a lion that situated at the feet of his horse with his spear. There is an eagle flying in front of the horseman that is believed to be chased by a dog. The Madara Rider is believed to signify a military triumph.
· The Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari is a 3rd century BC Getic tomb. This UNESCO site was included in the list in 1982. It can be found in the Razgrad Province, northeast of Bulgaria. In 2012, archaeologists were able to discover treasures that included a golden ring, 100 golden buttons and 44 female figure depictions. According to archaeologists, the site was part of the Getan city of Helis.
· The Rock Churches of Ivanovo are a set of monolithic churches, chapels and monasteries carved together out of a large rock. The churches are renowned for its medieval frescoes. The rock is believed to have been carved in the 17th century. This UNESCO site was included in the list in 1979.
· The Boyana Church is located in the outskirts of Sofia. It is a medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church. The original structure, which was the east wing of the two-storey church, was built in the late 10th or early 11th century. During the Second Bulgarian Empire in the 13th century the central wing was built. In the middle of the 19th century the entire structure was completed when the west wing was added. It was included to the UNESCO Global Cultural Heritage last 1979.
· The Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak is located near the Kazanlak town in central Bulgaria, hence the name. The tomb is part of a larger Thracian necropolis. It is like a vaulted brickwork tomb that has a narrow corridor that leads to a round burial chamber. Both the corridor and the burial chamber depict a man and a woman, a Thracian couple, taking part in a ritual funeral feast. The tomb dates back to the 4th century BCE and was inducted to the UNESCO Heritage list last 1979.
· The Old Nessebar can be found 36 kilometers northeast of Burgas which is located on the Black Sea coast. It is one of the oldest towns in the entire Europe, and was founded 3,200 years ago. During the Middle Ages, Nessebar was called Mesambria.
Many can say that Bulgaria went through a lot of things throughout its entire history as compared to an ordinary country, considering that it is fairly small. The Thracians, Romans, Byzantines and proto-Bulgarians have left the tiny country with a diverse culture and rich history. Aside from the UNESCO World Heritage sites that were mentioned above, Bulgaria is also famous for its scenic attractions and serene surroundings.
Bulgaria may be a small country but do not let its limited space and bewildering past deter you from visiting this beautiful and exciting country. Surely, there are more things to be discovered in Bulgaria.
For more information on Bulgaria please visit : http://britsinbulgaria.info/cheap-flights-to-bulgaria/
Destinations Under UNESCO World Heritage
Here are some of the tourist spots around Bulgaria to be included in the UNESCO Global Cultural Heritage list. You can find how they look in the gallery.
· The Rila Monastery was included in the UNESCO Global Cultural Heritage in 1983. It is the biggest monastery in Bulgaria. It was named after St. Ivan of Rila who was a hermit and lived in a cave. However, it was his students who built the monastery. The complex occupies a total area of 8,800 square meters, and has a museum where tourists can learn of the monastery’s past.
· The Madara Rider is a large rock relief that was carved on the Madara Plateau. The plateau is located at the east of Shumen in northeastern Bulgaria. The relief is believed to go back as far as 710 AD. The relief features a majestic horseman who is facing east and is stabbing a lion that situated at the feet of his horse with his spear. There is an eagle flying in front of the horseman that is believed to be chased by a dog. The Madara Rider is believed to signify a military triumph.
· The Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari is a 3rd century BC Getic tomb. This UNESCO site was included in the list in 1982. It can be found in the Razgrad Province, northeast of Bulgaria. In 2012, archaeologists were able to discover treasures that included a golden ring, 100 golden buttons and 44 female figure depictions. According to archaeologists, the site was part of the Getan city of Helis.
· The Rock Churches of Ivanovo are a set of monolithic churches, chapels and monasteries carved together out of a large rock. The churches are renowned for its medieval frescoes. The rock is believed to have been carved in the 17th century. This UNESCO site was included in the list in 1979.
· The Boyana Church is located in the outskirts of Sofia. It is a medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church. The original structure, which was the east wing of the two-storey church, was built in the late 10th or early 11th century. During the Second Bulgarian Empire in the 13th century the central wing was built. In the middle of the 19th century the entire structure was completed when the west wing was added. It was included to the UNESCO Global Cultural Heritage last 1979.
· The Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak is located near the Kazanlak town in central Bulgaria, hence the name. The tomb is part of a larger Thracian necropolis. It is like a vaulted brickwork tomb that has a narrow corridor that leads to a round burial chamber. Both the corridor and the burial chamber depict a man and a woman, a Thracian couple, taking part in a ritual funeral feast. The tomb dates back to the 4th century BCE and was inducted to the UNESCO Heritage list last 1979.
· The Old Nessebar can be found 36 kilometers northeast of Burgas which is located on the Black Sea coast. It is one of the oldest towns in the entire Europe, and was founded 3,200 years ago. During the Middle Ages, Nessebar was called Mesambria.
Many can say that Bulgaria went through a lot of things throughout its entire history as compared to an ordinary country, considering that it is fairly small. The Thracians, Romans, Byzantines and proto-Bulgarians have left the tiny country with a diverse culture and rich history. Aside from the UNESCO World Heritage sites that were mentioned above, Bulgaria is also famous for its scenic attractions and serene surroundings.
Bulgaria may be a small country but do not let its limited space and bewildering past deter you from visiting this beautiful and exciting country. Surely, there are more things to be discovered in Bulgaria.
For more information on Bulgaria please visit : http://britsinbulgaria.info/cheap-flights-to-bulgaria/