Bulgaria - A Brief Introduction

A land of contrasts

Bulgaria offers you a complete spectrum of landscape. It has multiple modern ski resorts in the spectacular Rhodope mountains that lie in the south and west of the country, with excellent conditions for both skiing and snowboarding and a microclimate to guarantee a long season. Away from the snow, its landscape is marked by deep river gorges, ancient underground caves, forests of conifers, thermal mineral springs and fresh mountain air. Conditions are perfect for walking or hiking, horse riding, rock-climbing and experienced caving. The quaint medieval towns and picture-postcard villages welcome visitors with their cobbled streets, lovely medieval castles and houses with stone roofs and wooden verandas. The sun and sand seeker is definitely not forgotten here however, with 240 miles of sandy beaches lapped by warm and gentle seas, set within fantastic resorts stretching along the Black sea coast. At night these resorts come alive and there is enough to keep the party animals occupied from dusk till dawn. There really is something for everyone here.

Shopping in Bulgaria

The resorts of the black sea coast are chic and cosmopolitan and offer great shopping opportunities: designer clothing can be purchased here at very competitive prices as well as original jewellery. Traditional buys here include handmade
carpets, weavings and embroidery, Bulgarian costumes, woodcarvings, ceramics and paintings of rural landscapes and scenes. These handicraft items are almost always best purchased in the rural areas where they are made. The village of
Etar has an ethnographic village museum, where traditional arts and crafts such as pottery and jewellery are hand-made before your eyes. For more sophisticated shopping, a trip to the capital Sofia is not complete without a stroll along the Vitosha boulevard with its fabulous designer shops.

People and their history

A little known but essential fact for social interaction with the Bulgarian people is to understand that they nod their head
to the side to say yes, and up and down to say no! This is a country with a history of turbulence stretching back to the 7th
century which has resulted in great variety of ethnicity and religions, culture, customs and dialects among its population.
Historically the Bulgarians have undergone much hardship and the transition from communist rule has not been without its
difficulties. But everywhere the Bulgarians are warm, friendly and welcoming to those who want to share in the fascinating
treasures their land has to offer.

Conclusion

Holiday accommodation is on offer everywhere in Bulgaria giving visitors a chance to enjoy everything the country has
to offer. Holiday apartments are abundant and very attractively priced in the Black sea beach resorts, as well as ski chalets and apartments for those in search of snow. The beautiful countryside can also be enjoyed from one of the many spacious rustic farmhouses available for rent in isolated rural areas, many of which offer fantastic panoramic views of the surrounding hills and mountains.