Once upon a time, small Bulgaria was called "Balkan Prussia", and this was an apt definition. However, those times are already completely forgotten, and now Bulgaria is a hospitable Balkan country, where more than 3.5 million tourists come annually to relax on the Black Sea coast or go skiing in the Rhodope and Rila mountains.

Geography

Bulgaria is located on the Balkan Peninsula, in the north it borders on Romania (the border runs along the Danube River), in the west - on Serbia and ancient Macedonia, in the south - with Greece and Turkey, and in the east it is washed by the waters of the Black Sea. The total length of this country is more than 110 sq. km. km.

Almost half of the territory of Bulgaria is occupied by mountains. The most beautiful of mountain ranges- Pirin, and the most high mountain Bulgaria - Musala (its height is 2925 meters).

Capital

The capital of Bulgaria is Sofia, which now has a population of over 1.4 million people. The history of Sofia begins around the 8th century BC. e. - Then there was a large Thracian city on this territory.

Official language

The official language of Bulgaria is Bulgarian, which, according to linguists, belongs to the southern subgroup of Slavic languages. The Bulgarian language began to take shape during the time of the Slavic enlighteners Cyril and Methodius (IX century).

Religion

About 76% of the population of Bulgaria are Orthodox (Greek Catholic Church). Another 10% of the population professes Islam, its Sunni branch. Approximately 2% of Bulgarians are Catholics and Protestants.

State structure

Bulgaria is a parliamentary democratic republic, its constitution was adopted on July 12, 1991. On the this moment Bulgaria consists of 28 provinces, including the capital region of Sofia.

The head of state is the President, who is elected by direct universal suffrage. He has the right to veto legislative initiatives of the National Assembly.

The Parliament of Bulgaria is a unicameral National Assembly with 240 members.

Climate and weather

The climate in Bulgaria is temperate continental, cold, wet, snowy winters alternate with dry, hot summers. In general, Bulgaria is a very sunny country. The average temperature in April-September is + 23 C, and the average annual temperature is + 10.5 C. On the Black Sea coast, the climate is maritime, the average temperature in July is from +19C to +30C.

The best month for skiing in Bulgaria is January.

Sea in Bulgaria

Bulgaria in the east is washed by the waters of the Black Sea. Length coastline is 354 km. On the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria, the first settlements appeared in the 5th century BC.

From the end of May to the end of September, the average temperature of the Black Sea near the Bulgarian coast is +25C.

Rivers and lakes

There are quite a few rivers in Bulgaria, the largest of them are the Danube, Maritsa, Tundzha, Iskar and Yantra. However, only the Danube is the only navigable river in Bulgaria (but navigation is still carried out along other Bulgarian rivers).

History of Bulgaria

The territory of modern Bulgaria was inhabited in ancient times. The state of Bulgaria itself has 1,300 years of history. In count archaeological sites Bulgaria ranks third in the world (after Greece and Italy).

The earliest inhabitants of the Bulgarian lands are the Thracians, who were first mentioned by the ancient Greek historian Herodotus. By the way, the legendary Spartacus, who raised an uprising of slaves in Ancient Rome, was a Thracian by birth.

The first Bulgarian kingdom was created in the middle of the 7th century by the legendary Khan Asparuh, who united the Bulgars, who came to the Balkans from Central Asia, and the local Slavic tribes. It should be noted that Bulgaria was the first Slavic country to adopt Christianity (this happened in 864 AD). At the end of the 9th century, the Cyrillic alphabet became the official alphabet in Bulgaria.

In 1014, under the blows of the troops Byzantine Empire The First Bulgarian Kingdom collapsed. Only in 1185 was the Bulgarian statehood restored, after the formation of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. During the long reign of Tsar Ivan Asen II (1218-1241), Bulgaria reached the zenith of its glory, experiencing an economic, religious and cultural flowering.

However, at the end of the XIV century, the Ottoman Empire began to conquer the Bulgarian lands, and Bulgaria again lost its independence. The rule of the Turks in Bulgaria lasted for about five centuries.

From the middle of the 19th century, Bulgaria waged numerous wars with the Ottoman Empire for independence. On the side of the Bulgarians, Russian soldiers actively participated in these wars. In the end, on September 22, 1908, an independent Bulgaria was proclaimed.

After the defeat in the First World War in Bulgaria in 1918, the authoritarian dictatorship of Tsar Boris III was established, which lasted until 1943.

During World War II, Bulgaria fought on the side of Germany, but after the death of Tsar Boris III, it abandoned the alliance with the Germans. After the end of World War II, the People's Republic of Bulgaria was proclaimed (this happened in September 1946).

In June 1990, Bulgaria held its first elections on a multi-party basis, and in November 1990 the country became the Republic of Bulgaria.

In 2004, Bulgaria joined the NATO bloc, and in 2007 it was admitted to the European Union.

culture

The culture of Bulgaria was significantly influenced by the ancient Greeks and Romans. Until now, hundreds of historical monuments built before our era.

Bulgarian folk holidays and customs date back to those distant times when people tried to appease the mysterious forces of nature with offerings. Bulgarian folklore is considered one of the richest in the Balkans. The Fire Dance is an ancient religious ritual in Bulgaria. Barefoot people dance on smoldering coals, which helps, as the Bulgarians believe, to get rid of diseases.

To understand the Bulgarian culture, we advise tourists to visit the Rose Festival near the city of Kazanlak. This unique festival has been held for many years in a row. There is a legend that during the Roman Empire, 12 types of roses were grown on the territory of modern Bulgaria.

The most popular Bulgarian folklore festivals are Pirin Sings and Rozhen Sings. Every year these folk holidays are attended by great amount people (according to official figures - more than 150 thousand people).

Among the most famous Bulgarian writers and poets, Ivan Vazov (1850-1921), Dimcho Debelyanov (1887-1916) and Dimitar Dimov (1909-1966) should definitely be mentioned.

Bulgarian cuisine

Bulgarian cuisine is close to traditional European cuisine, although, of course, it has its own characteristics. In many ways, Bulgarian cuisine is similar to the cuisine of Greece and Turkey. Traditional products for Bulgarians are yogurt, milk, cheese, tomatoes, bell peppers, potatoes, onions, eggplants, and fruits.

The most famous Bulgarian traditional dishes are vegetable “shopska salad”, gyuvech, pumpkin pie, flatbread “katma”, cold soup “tarator”, hot soup “chorba”, kebab, moussaka, cabbage rolls “sarmi”, yahnia, tomato salad "lutenitsa", as well as pastarma.

Among the Bulgarian desserts, we note gris-halva, Rhodope banitsa and apple pie.

In Bulgaria, yogurt is very popular, which is often served with various fruit and berry additives, and ayran.

Bulgaria is famous for its white and red wines, as well as rakia (fruit vodka). In addition, in Bulgaria they make mastic, a strength of 47 degrees, and mint mentha liquor.

Sights of Bulgaria

Tourists come to Bulgaria, first of all, to relax in beach resorts or ride in puddles at ski resorts. However, in this ancient country with beautiful nature tourists should definitely see its sights. The top five most interesting sights in Bulgaria, in our opinion, include the following:

Cities and resorts

It is difficult to say which city in Bulgaria is the most ancient. Some of them were formed by the Greeks and Romans (eg Balchik, Sofia, Varna and Sozopol).

At the moment, the largest Bulgarian cities are Sofia (more than 1.4 million people), Plovdiv (390 thousand people), Varna (350 thousand people), Burgos (about 220 thousand people), Rousse (more than 170 thousand people). ) and Stara Zagora (170 thousand people).

Bulgaria is known for its beach and ski resorts.

Most Popular beach resorts– Albena, Dunes, Golden Sands, Burgas, Kranevo, Obzor, Mermaid and Sozopol. It should be noted that more than 97% of the coast of Bulgaria meets the environmental requirements of the EU.

There are no less ski resorts in Bulgaria than beach resorts. Among them are Bansko, Borovets, Pamporovo, Semkovo, Kulinoto and Uzana. This means that the best Bulgarian ski resorts are located in the Rhodope, Pirin and Rila mountains.

Souvenirs/Shopping

• kuker masks (these are folk masks that appeared in Bulgaria several centuries ago). Kukers in the early Middle Ages drove away evil spirits and called for fertility. The masks are made of wood, leather, fur and feathers;
• paintings by local artists depicting traditional Bulgarian houses;
• handicrafts, especially from wood, clay and ceramics;
• dolls in traditional Bulgarian clothes;
• embroidered products, including towels, tablecloths and napkins;
• copper coinage and copper cezve;
• sweets (for example, Bulgarian Turkish delight and halva);
• products from rose water or with rose oil;
• wines and spirits.

Office Hours

Stores in Bulgaria operate:

Mon-Fri: from 9.30 to 18.00

Sat: from 8:30 to 11:30.

Bank opening hours:
Mon-Fri: - from 9:00 to 15:00.

Currency exchange offices are open until 18:00 (but some are open around the clock). You can exchange currency at the airport upon arrival or departure, or at the hotel.

Visa

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About Bulgaria

Basic information

Currency

Lev (1$=2 leva).
1 lev = 100 stotinki, banknotes with denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 lev, as well as coins from 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 stotinki are in use. A constant exchange rate to the German mark has been introduced - 1 DM = 1 lev.

Visa

Entry to the Republic of Bulgaria: Required documents to obtain a visa for a short stay through organized tourism:

Travel voucher issued by a Russian travel organization (sending company) licensed in accordance with the requirements of Russian law and its photocopy.
Required documents for obtaining a visa for individual tourism:
Valid citizen's passport Russian Federation and a photocopy of the photo page;
Application form for a visa;
Actual color photograph - 1 piece, size 3.5x4.5 cm;
Round-trip ticket and/or proof of financial means to provide transportation;

Photos of Bulgaria

Time
Time in Bulgaria is one hour behind Moscow.
Geography
The capital is Sofia.
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 Turkey and Greece, in the east it is washed by the waves of the Black Sea.
The area of ​​Bulgaria is 110,912 sq. km. The length from north to south is 330 km., from east to west - 500 km.
Attractions
The capital of Bulgaria, its scientific, cultural and industrial center is Sofia, founded over 7000 years ago. This unique city has absorbed all the variety of Greek, Byzantine, Oriental and typical Bulgarian architecture. In the city today there are more than 250 archaeological, historical, cultural and architectural monuments antiquity. Among them are the Rotunda of St. George, the Church of St. Sophia, and the Church of Boyana with its many paintings and frescoes of the 13th century, recognized by UNESCO as a World cultural heritage. But the real symbol of Sofia is considered to be the Alexander Nevsky Memorial Cathedral, built in the Byzantine style and turned into a museum of revived Bulgarian art, represented by magnificent gold, marble, crystal, paintings, mosaics, and icons.
Varna is considered to be the sea capital of Bulgaria. This city was founded by Greek colonists in the 6th century BC under the name of Odessos. Here you can see monuments of the era of the Roman and Byzantine empires, samples of the oldest gold in the world, archaeological and ethnographic museums and many other attractions. international Airport The city is a convenient transport center where most coastal resorts meet their guests.
On the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria there are resorts known to most Russians: Albena, Golden Sands, Sunny Beach. In 1997, nine resorts on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast received the prestigious `BLUE FLAG` title. This difference - the pride of any European resort, is evidence that the sea, beach and air are clean. So tourists can not worry about their health - it is guaranteed. Large modern resorts attract with their comfort, a variety of services offered in the field of sports, entertainment and travel.
How to get there
The Moscow-Sofia train runs twice a week. A train departs daily from St. Petersburg to Sofia.
The easiest way to fly to Sofia is by regular Aeroflot flights from Moscow (departures 4-6 times a week, flight time - 2.5 hours) and St. Petersburg (departure once a week, flight time - 3 hours 15 minutes). The Bulgarian airline "Bulgaria Air" operates regular flights Moscow-Sofia 2-3 times a week, and flies from St. Petersburg once a week. In winter, charters are raised from Moscow to Plovdiv, their flight time is about 3 hours.
Climate
Bulgaria has a continental climate. In general, it is cooler than in other places in Europe at the same geographical latitude. For example, unlike the Black Sea coast Krasnodar Territory, there are no subtropics in Bulgaria.
Average temperature in January in Sofia: 4 - 2 degrees C, in July: 16 - 27 degrees C.
In Varna, the average temperature in January: 1 - 6 degrees C, July: 19 - 30 degrees C
Credit cards
Any kind of services in Bulgaria can be paid for with VISA, Master Card.
culture
Early Bulgarian society developed under the influence of two main cultures - Byzantine and Turkish. Both of them had a serious influence on the formation of the population of Bulgaria.
Bulgaria has contributed to the treasury of world culture, literature and art. The works and skill of many Bulgarian writers and poets (A. Konstantinov, E. Pelin, X. Smirnensky, El. Bagryany), artists (An. Mitov, Iv. Myrkvichka, V. Dimitrov-Maistor, D. Uzunov), composers (Iem Manolova, P. Vladigerova and others) have gained worldwide fame and recognition.
For many centuries Bulgaria has been under the influence of various civilizations: Thracian, Roman, Greco-Byzantine, Slavic and Muslim. This largely determined the features of the development of the country's culture. Despite the centuries-old foreign yoke, the Bulgarian people have retained their identity and culture. Bulgarian belongs to the South Slavic group of the Indo-European family and is the oldest of the Slavic written languages. In 862 or 863, the brothers Cyril and Methodius from the Greek city of Thessaloniki created the Old Bulgarian alphabet (Glagolitic). The Russian version of the Old Bulgarian alphabet (Church Slavonic) contributed to the spread of literacy in Eastern Europe. The Cyrillic alphabet is now used, named after the Slavic enlightener Cyril. The cultural heyday of medieval Bulgaria is celebrated in the XIII-XIV centuries. By this time, in particular, the construction of the Boyana Church on the outskirts of Sofia with frescoes, anticipating the best examples, dates back to this time. visual arts early Italian Renaissance. The Tarnovo literary school had a strong influence on the literature of other peoples who used writing based on the Cyrillic alphabet (Serbs, Russians, Vlachs). In the X-XIII centuries. in Bulgaria, an anti-feudal peasant movement unfolded, which took the form of a religious heresy - Bogomilism. The teachings of the Bogomils had a certain impact on the ideology of some socio-religious movements in Europe.
Summer time
26.03-29.10
Voltage
In Bulgaria the mains voltage is 240 V, 50 Hz. There are no problems with adapters and sockets. However, it is still better to take an adapter, since Bulgarian hotels are undergoing intensive reconstruction and it is possible that Western-style sockets will appear in the rooms.
Population
The population in this country is about 8.2 million people, mainly Bulgarians 85%, Turks 9%, others 6%.
about the country
The face of Bulgaria is surprisingly diverse: endless beaches on Black Sea coast, green mysterious mountains, generous land, ancient cities and monasteries, curative mineral springs. It is adorned with rose fields, abundant orchards and fabulous vineyards. The unique charm of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast is given by deep bays and mountain spurs, wooded hills and gardens.
This is a cordial and hospitable country, where there are both modern comfortable resorts and secluded corners. untouched nature. The Black Sea washing its shores is clean and calm, without ebbs and flows, without dangerous predators. Sandy shore very gentle, so even the smallest children can swim safely. The water of the Black Sea contains two times less salts than the Mediterranean. The Bulgarian coastline, facing east, stretches for 378 km and is dotted with spacious beaches, up to 200 m wide, with fine and golden sand.
food and water
Most often, you are offered to choose from the traditional Shopska, mixed (tomatoes with cucumbers and, if desired, cheese), Russian (Olivier), Italian and three or four more types of salads. Usually the portions are not very large, so you can add a cold “presentation” - a roll, or a ham cocktail, a mushroom cocktail. dry sausage "lukanka", tomatoes stuffed with mushrooms or cheese. The cold Bulgarian soup “tarator” is also very unusual (finely chopped cucumbers, dill, garlic and walnuts are filled with diluted Bulgarian “sour milk”). Bulgaria is famous for its pirzholi (a piece of fried meat on a grill) and kebabchet (fried oblong meatballs). You will be offered pirzhola from pork, veal or chicken.
Square
111 thousand sq. km
Purchases
In Bulgaria, they buy embroidered clothes, linen fabrics, rugs, perfumes from the Valley of Roses, leather goods, copper, handmade silver, copper and iron products as souvenirs. in Sofia best shops are located along Vitosha Boulevard and in the gallery in front of the NDK Culture Palace. In the TSUM store on Largo Street you can buy leather goods, knives, CDs, and souvenirs. Before you make a large purchase, ask about customs regulations.
The Russian Embassy
Embassy of the Russian Federation in Bulgaria:
Sofia, bul. Dragan Tsankov, 28
Tel. (8-10-359-2) 963-16-63, 963-09-14, 963-09-12
Fax: (8-10-359-2) 963-41-03, 963-41-16
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Ruse:
Ruse, st. Nis, 1
Tel. (8-10-359-82) 82-22-51, 82-22-49. Fax: (8-10-359-82) 45-07-57
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Varna:
Varna, st. Macedonia, 53
Tel. (8-10-359-52) 66-2718, 66-2719
Fax: (8-10-359-52) 60-2722
Email: [email protected] This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , [email protected] This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Holidays
* February 14 - Trifon Zarezan (holiday of winegrowers)
* March 1 - Martenitsy (coming of spring)
* March 3 - Day of the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman yoke, a national holiday
* May 6 - Day of Courage, the day of the Bulgarian army
* May 24 - Holiday of Bulgarian culture and Slavic writing (Day of Saints Cyril and Methodius)
* June 2 - Day of Botev and those who died for the freedom of Bulgaria
* September 6 - Day of the Unification of Bulgaria
* September 22 - Independence Day of Bulgaria
* December 6 - Constitution Day in Bulgaria
* December 8 - Student's Day

Nature and animals
The appearance of Bulgaria is surprisingly diverse: endless beaches on the Black Sea coast, green mysterious mountains, generous land, ancient cities and monasteries, healing mineral springs. It is adorned with rose fields, abundant orchards and fabulous vineyards. The unique charm of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast is given by deep bays and mountain spurs, wooded hills and gardens.

Industry
The most developed are mechanical engineering (production of electric hoists and electric cars, tractors, agricultural machines, computers, machine tools) and the food and flavor industry (tobacco, fruit canning). Ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy. Chemical and petrochemical, woodworking industry.

Religion
The Orthodox religion is predominant in Bulgaria. The Bulgarian Church is headed by the Patriarch, who, together with the Synod of Metropolitans, exercises supreme power.
Sanitary standards
First aid and emergency consultations are free.
In the event of a traffic accident or an accident, you will receive a free medical care. Long-term treatment is paid, but inexpensive. Medicines, despite the fact that many of them are Western firms, are inexpensive.

Connection
The code for Bulgaria is 359.
Sofia's code is 02.
Codes of some other cities and resort centers in Bulgaria:
Varna - 052; Golden Sands - 052; Riviera - 052; Albena - 05772; Burgas - 056; Plovdiv - 032; Ruse - 082; Balchik - 0579; Nessebar - 0554; Sozopol - 05514.
0123 international call order

Agriculture
Agriculture is dominated by crop production. Production of grain and legumes (6.7 million tons in 1992, mainly wheat, corn), tobacco, vegetables, fruits, grapes, essential oil crops (1st place in the world in the production and export of rose oil). Meat and wool animal husbandry (cattle, sheep, pigs). Fishing

Capital
Sofia

Souvenirs
Traditional Bulgarian souvenirs are embroidered clothes and blouses, linen, rugs, perfumes from the Rose Valley, pottery, leather, handmade silver, copper and iron products. In Sofia, the best shops are located along Vitosha Boulevard and in the gallery in front of the NDK Culture Palace. In the TSUM store on Largo Street you can buy leather goods, knives, CDs, and souvenirs.
Before you make a large purchase, ask about customs regulations.
Customs regulations
The import of non-canned foodstuffs is prohibited. It is forbidden to export: without special permission - objects and things of historical, artistic or archaeological value. To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, when carrying jewelry, a photo, film and video camera, a portable typewriter or laptop, indicate them in the declaration when entering the country.
Foreigners are allowed to bring into Bulgaria duty-free 250 cigarettes or 50 cigars, 1 liter of strong alcoholic beverages or 2 liters of wine, reasonable gifts and unlimited foreign currency. If the total amount of imported currency (local or foreign) exceeds 5000 levs, it must be entered in the customs declaration. Jewelry, video cameras, computers and other expensive items are subject to declaration. When leaving the country, valuables must be included in the declaration. Local currency (or its equivalent in foreign currency) in the amount of less than 5000 levs. can be exported without documents, the amount is from 5000 to 20000 levs. must be included in the declaration. If the amount of currency exported from Bulgaria exceeds 20,000 levs, the permission of the Bulgarian People's Bank is required.

Telephone code
8-10-359-(tel.)

Transport
AIRLINES
Both foreign and Bulgarian public and private airlines connect the country with the whole world. Charter flights organized in summer and winter to deliver tourists to resorts.
RAILWAY AND WATER TRANSPORT
International railway lines connect Bulgaria with most European countries. Network of internal railways covers almost all Bulgarian cities.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT In the center of Sofia, it is better to travel by tram, bus or trolleybus than by car, as it will be difficult for you to find a parking place. Trolleybuses and buses operate from 5 am to midnight, and trams - until 1 am. Tickets are sold at bus stops, newsstands and in the driver's cab. The ticket must be validated in the cabin of the bus, trolleybus or tram. In case of a transfer, you should buy another ticket. Controllers from time to time check the availability of tickets from passengers.
TAXI You can order a taxi by phone at the companies I TAXI, tel. 1282, TAXI S EXPRESS, tel. 1280, OKAY, tel. 2121.

Tourism
Resort complexes Bulgaria with beautiful romantic names - Golden Sands, sunny Beach, Albena, Dyuni - meet all the requirements of modern tourism. Bulgarian resorts isolated from the hustle and bustle of everyday life major cities, however, all of them are located close to interesting tourist sites, which provides opportunities for excursions and cognitive tourism.

Flag
State flag The Republic of Bulgaria consists of white, green and red horizontal stripes with the coat of arms at the top left. White is a symbol of peace and freedom. The green stripe represents natural resources countries. The red stripe is a symbol of the courage and blood of patriots shed in the struggle for the independence of the country.

Tips
It is customary to leave them when paying a bill in a restaurant, cafe, bar, taxi, if customers are satisfied. The size depends on your generosity.

Timezone
+02:00

Language
The official language is Bulgarian, which is so close to Russian that Russian-speaking tourists have practically no language problems.
Service personnel at resorts, hotels and restaurants usually speak Russian, English, German and French.

Attractions in Sofia

In Sofia, one of the most ancient cities in Europe, there are many wonderful examples of church and historical architecture. Most city tours start from the walls Alexander Nevsky Cathedral(Alexandronevskaya Lavra, 1882 - 1912), built in honor of 200 thousand Russian soldiers who fell in the struggle for the liberation of Bulgaria from Turkish rule. This is the most great cathedral Bulgaria (area - 2600 sq. m., height - 52 m., 12 gilded bells are installed on the bell tower of the cathedral, the largest of which weighs 11,758 kg.) and the largest Orthodox church in the Balkans. In the crypt of the cathedral is Museum of Icons, and the interior of the cathedral amazes with the richness of architectural forms, majestic paintings, icons and mosaics. Behind the cathedral is a building Foreign Art Galleries with an extensive collection of European, African and Oriental art.

Across the square from the cathedral is Church of St. Sophia(VI century), which gave the name to the whole city. During the Turkish rule, minarets were added to the temple and for a long time it functioned as a mosque, until two earthquakes of the 20th century destroyed the minarets, after which the mosque was closed. At the walls of the church is Unkown soldiers grave.

One of the most interesting sights of the capital is built of red brick on the site of the Roman rotunda. Church of St. George- the oldest temple of Sofia. On the inside of the dome, frescoes have been preserved, the earliest of which date back to the 10th century, and on the outside, the remains of the streets of ancient Serdika (the Roman name of the city) are preserved. Under the hotel "Rila" were found the ruins of a Roman residence with an excellently preserved mosaic.

On the People's Assembly Square located majestic building National Assembly(1884) with an equestrian statue of the Russian Emperor Alexander II installed in front of it. By Boulevard Tsar Liberator you can pass by the Russian Church of St. Nicholas(1913) and Museum of Natural Sciences, to Batenberg Square, considered the center of Sofia. The building of the former Mausoleum of George Dimitrov, opposite which are located National Gallery of Art and National Ethnographic Museum in the building of the former Royal Palace (1887).

In the park east of the mausoleum is People's Theater Ivan Vazov(1907) in the Baroque style. On the western side of the square, behind the building of the Bulgarian National Bank, lies Mosque Buyuk-Jami(1496). In the Largo street area are located National Archaeological Museum , Church of St. Peter of Samothrace(XIV century), Bani Bashi Mosque(1576), Sophian synagogue(1909), underground shopping center and Market (1911).

The most beautiful boulevard in the city - Vitosha boulevard coming from Cathedral Holy Week, past numerous underground shopping galleries, to square of the Palace of Culture with monument to the 1300th anniversary of Bulgaria. In the nearby building of the Palace of Justice (1936) is located National Museum stories- one of the largest historical museums in the Balkans, famous for its collection of gold finds of the 4th century. BC e. from the excavations near Panagyurishte. The museum also holds the only copy of the Bulgarian medieval chronicle - "History" by John Skylitsa - the most important source of the history of the first Bulgarian Kingdom.

On the street Graf Ignatiev lies rebuilt from the "Black Mosque" Church of St. Sedmochisnitsa(1528). interesting Botanical Museum in National Botanical Garden, Zoo museum in zoo, National Museum natural history , Sofia History Museum, city ​​art gallery in Central park, building Sofia University. Clement of Ohrid and Sofia mineral baths built on the site of Roman baths.

Boyana

Boyana- an outlying quarter in the south-west of the city, adjacent to the foot of Vitosha Mountain (2290 m). In its upper part there is a small Boyana Church with magnificent wall paintings of the XIII century. Vitosha Mountain itself is a traditional place winter holiday, there are many mountain hotels, ski lifts, viewing platforms and well-developed recreational infrastructure.

Around Sofia

119 km south of the capital lies the famous Rila Monastery(X century) - one of the spiritual centers of the country. On its territory there are such unique structures as five-story tower(1335) with Church of the Transfiguration, church gates(XIV century, now stored in the historical museum of the monastery), with 16,000 volumes monastery library, Hrel's tower, five-dome Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin, the original "magernitsa" - monastery refectory and etc.

Not far from Sofia, in the city Pernik, there are the ruins of a Byzantine fortress, and (17 km west of the capital) - the best of the Bulgarian thermal resorts with odes to the "universal" composition.

In the valley of the Struma River (76 km southeast of Sofia) is located Zemensky Monastery(XIII century) with a unique Church of St. John the Evangelist famous for its beautiful paintings.

Sofia(Bulgarian Sofia - "wisdom") - the capital of Bulgaria. It is located on the southern outskirts of the Sofia basin. Sofia has a population of 1,377,531. (2006). The population density for 2006 is 907 people per km². It is believed that the population of Sofia is much larger than officially declared.

About 1/6 of the all-Bulgarian industrial production is concentrated in Sofia (engineering, metallurgy, chemical, rubber, pulp and paper, food flavoring, and light industry). Here are located: the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, universities, theaters. National and city art galleries, archaeological, historical, natural science and other museums.

Story
In the VIII century BC. e. a Thracian city arose on the site of a Neolithic site that existed here earlier. The Romans, who captured it in the 1st century AD, gave it the name Serdika, after the name of the Thracian tribe that inhabited this area. In the 1st-4th centuries Serdika was the center of the Roman province of Thrace. As a result of the religious reform of Emperor Constantine (306-337), the city becomes the seat of the bishop. In 357, the Roman historian Amian Marcellinus defined the city as "great and impregnable".

In the V-VI centuries during the so-called. "Great Migration of Peoples" the city is experiencing invasions of the Huns, Goths and other barbarian tribes. In the middle of the 6th century, during the reign of the emperor Justinian (527-565), Serdika was revived as an important administrative center Byzantine Empire under the name Triaditsa. However, in religious terms, the city was subordinate to the archbishopric with the center in Ohrid.

By 809, the city was part of the Bulgarian state and received the Slavic name Sredets. With the restoration of the Bulgarian state in 1185, the bishop of Sredets was elevated to the rank of metropolitan. From the end of the 14th century to the 1870s, the city, like the whole country, was under Ottoman rule. Even in the XII-XIII centuries. the city in communication was called Sofia, after the name of the main temple - the cathedral "St. Sophia". (Founded in the first half of the 4th century, a modern building from the end of the same century, completed several times). However, in official documents under this name appears only at the end of the 14th century.

During the Ottoman rule, the city became an important center of the empire. The so-called. Rumeli beylerbey ruling European territory Ottoman Empire), and thus the city became the most important, after Constantinople, the city of the state in Europe. At the same time, the cultural activities of the Bulgarians developed in Sofia - the Sofia literary school of the 16th century; "Small Holy Mountain" - around the city there was a ring of more than 50 monasteries, of which over 20 still exist. important center liberation movement.

In 1873, after a trial that took place here, in the vicinity of Sofia, the Bulgarian national hero Vasil Levski was executed.

After the liberation from the Turkish yoke and the revival of the Bulgarian state, Sofia became the capital (1879). As a result, the population of Sofia is growing very fast compared to other Bulgarian cities, mainly due to internal migration.

Cultural monuments and museums
Sofia, one of the oldest cities in Europe, has many wonderful examples of ecclesiastical and historical architecture. Most city tours start from the walls of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (Alexandronevskaya Lavra, 1882 - 1912), built in honor of 200,000 Russian soldiers who fell in the struggle for the liberation of Bulgaria from Turkish rule. This is the largest cathedral in Bulgaria (area - 2600 sq. m., height - 52 m., 12 gilded bells are installed on the bell tower of the cathedral, the largest of which weighs 11,758 kg.) And the largest Orthodox church in the Balkans. In the crypt of the cathedral there is the Museum of Icons, and the interior of the cathedral impresses with the richness of architectural forms, majestic paintings, icons and mosaics. Behind the cathedral is the building of the Gallery of Foreign Art with an extensive collection of European, African and Oriental art.

Across the square from the cathedral is the church of St. Sophia (VI century), which gave the name to the whole city. During the Turkish rule, minarets were added to the temple and for a long time it functioned as a mosque, until two earthquakes of the 20th century destroyed the minarets, after which the mosque was closed. Near the walls of the church is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

One of the most interesting sights of the capital is the church of St. George built of red brick on the site of the Roman rotunda - the oldest temple in Sofia. On the inside of the dome, frescoes have been preserved, the earliest of which date back to the 10th century, and on the outside, the remains of the streets of ancient Serdika (the Roman name of the city) are preserved. Under the hotel "Rila" were found the ruins of a Roman residence with an excellently preserved mosaic.

The majestic building of the National Assembly (1884) with an equestrian statue of the Russian Emperor Alexander II installed in front of it is located on the People's Assembly Square. Along Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard, you can walk past the Russian Church of St. Nicholas (1913) and the Museum of Natural Sciences, to Batenberg Square, considered the center of Sofia. The building of the former mausoleum of Georgy Dimitrov is located on the square, opposite which are the National Gallery of Art and the National Ethnographic Museum in the building of the former Royal Palace (1887). In the park to the east of the mausoleum is the People's Theater. Ivan Vazov (1907) in the Baroque style. On the western side of the square, behind the building of the Bulgarian National Bank, lies the Buyuk-Jami Mosque (1496). The National Archaeological Museum, the Church of St. Peter of Samothrace (XIV century), the Bani Bashi Mosque (1576), the Sofia Synagogue (1909), an underground shopping center and a market (1911) are located in the Largo Street area.

The most beautiful boulevard of the city is Vitosha Boulevard, going from the Easter Church, past numerous underground shopping galleries, to the Palace of Culture Square with a monument to the 1300th anniversary of Bulgaria. The nearby building of the Palace of Justice (1936) houses the National Museum of History - one of the largest historical museums in the Balkans, famous for its collection of gold finds from the 4th century. BC e. from the excavations near Panagyurishte. The museum also holds the only copy of the Bulgarian medieval chronicle - "History" by John Skylitsa - the most important source of the history of the first Bulgarian Kingdom.

On Graf Ignatiev Street lies the church of St. Sedmochisnitsa (1528) rebuilt from the Black Mosque. Also of interest are the Botanical Museum in the National Botanical Garden, the Zoological Museum in the zoo, the National Museum of Natural History, the Museum of the History of Sofia, the city art gallery in the Central Park, the buildings of Sofia University. Clement of Ohrid and the Sofia Mineral Baths, built on the site of Roman baths.

Boyana is a suburban quarter in the south-west of the city, adjacent to the foot of Vitosha (2290 m.). In its upper part, there is a small Boyana Church, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, with magnificent wall paintings of the 13th century. Vitosha Mountain itself is a traditional winter recreation destination, there are many mountain hotels, ski lifts, viewing platforms and a well-developed recreation infrastructure.

119 km. to the south of the capital lies the famous Rila Monastery (X century) - one of the spiritual centers of the country. On its territory there are such unique structures as a five-story tower (1335) with the Church of the Transfiguration, church gates (XIV century, now stored in the historical museum of the monastery), a monastery library with 16,000 volumes, Khrelyova Tower, a five-domed Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin , the original "magernitsa" - the monastery refectory, etc. Not far from Sofia, in the city of Pernik, there are the ruins of a Byzantine fortress, and in Bankya (17 km west of the capital) - the best of the Bulgarian thermal resorts with odes to the "universal" composition. In the valley of the Struma River (76 km southeast of Sofia) is the Zemensky Monastery (XIII century) with the unique Church of St. John the Theologian, famous for its beautiful paintings.

See also:

Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is one of the oldest European cities. A great many fine examples of historical and ecclesiastical culture have been preserved here. Sofia stays in the status of the capital for a relatively short time - only a couple of centuries, but it is amazing and interesting Cultural Center, the point of confluence of European and Eastern cultures. The city is full of contrasts, beauty and lively energy.

Why Sofia?

The lands of Bulgaria have very ancient history. All periods of human history have left their monuments here: the Bronze, Neolithic, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and Soviet eras. In the 7th century BC. Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, existed as a city with the name "Serdika". It received its current name during the reign of the emperor of Byzantium. His daughter's name was Sophia, and she was cured here. And the city received its name in her honor in the 14th century.

Sofia - a treasure trove of Balkan history

The capital of Bulgaria is famous for its cultural, architectural and historical ancient monuments, which give tourists a complete picture of the history of this country.

• Hagia Sophia - unique in creation architectural structure. It consists of a three-aisled domed basilica of an amazing cruciform shape - this is a rather unusual combination for such an early period (6-7th century - the period of its creation).
• Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is one of the most famous temples Sofia. It was erected as a symbol of victory over the Ottoman yoke and as a monument to those who died in the battles for liberation. Temple with an area of ​​2.6 thousand sq.m. located in the most prominent place in the city. It is interesting that famous Russian artists were also involved in the creation of the cathedral: Myasoedov, Mitov, Ivanov, Vasnetsov. Therefore, in the external decoration there are some elements of unique Russian church architecture.
• The Library named after Cyril and Methodius is the most capacious and largest book depository in Bulgaria (about 1.8 thousand handwritten, early printed books).
• A doctoral monument erected in the park east of St. Sophia Cathedral in honor of Russian servicemen-doctors who died during the Russian-Turkish war. Here you can see the former royal palace, which previously served as the residence of the Turkish ruler.
• The capital of Bulgaria is known for the churches of St. Nicholas, St. George, the University of St. Kliment Ohrid and many others.

Traveling in Sofia

The location of inexpensive hotels close to the main attractions - interesting feature, which has the capital of Bulgaria. Large luxury hotels designed for wealthy people can be found on Vitosha Boulevard and its environs. This street is very busy: there are many cafes, bars, shops. The capital of Bulgaria is a city that is very easy to navigate. It has a radial-annular layout central District, and all others are rectangular. There are seven districts here. Real estate prices in Sofia are quite moderate, quite comparable to the prices in the resorts, where Bulgaria, the sea, magnificent scenery and wonderful atmosphere attract tourists all year round.