Bulgarian Black Sea Coast

BULGARIABLACK SEACOASTwww.bulgariatravel.org

Unique factsabout BulgariaThe Bulgarian seaside is best knownfor its long sandy beaches, clear waterand immense variety of resorts andvacation complexes. There is somethingfor everyone – families, young fun-seekingpeople or nature lovers who prefer apeaceful and quiet holiday.The Bulgarian Black Sea coast offers many and diverseopportunities for recreation and entertainment. Withan impressive 378 km of shore line, the coast offers70 beaches, many bays, picturesque estuaries withbeautiful dense forests and a delightful mixture ofmountain and sea climates.Bulgarian beaches are popular worldwide for theirfine, clean sand. Eleven Bulgarian beaches wereawarded the Blue Flag in 2010 – a distinctionrecognizing a clean and ecological environment.INTRODUCTIONThe Black Sea Coаst is a place of great wildlifevariety – there are hundreds of rare bird speciesdue to the fact that Via Pontica (one of themain bird migration routes) passes throughthe Bulgarian coast. Numerous wildlifeconservation parks with riverside forests andbeautiful landscapes located along the coastpreserve many rare and protected plant andanimal species.The Black Sea is of low salinity and itstides are barely noticeable. It is excellentfor bathing during the summer months.The summer temperature is moderate,rarely exceeding 28 °С.The Bulgarian Black Sea Coast has been populated forthousands of years. You can visit precious historicalmemorials in many Bulgarian seaside towns andresorts – a fine opportunity to diversify your vacationand feel the atmosphere of ancient times. Amongstthe most popular places of interest is the Old Town ofNessebar – UNESCO recognized cultural heritage site.The proximity of two mountains - the Balkan Range, in the middleof the Black Sea coast, and Strandzha Mountain to the south –contributes to a pleasant and enjoyable climate. This gives anexcellent opportunity to combine a seaside holiday with freshmountain air.1

NORTHERN BLACK SEA COASTThe northern Black Sea coast starts where the Balkan Range runs into the sea at Cape Emine and runs north to CapeSivriburun at the Romanian border. The beauty of this area is impressive and varied – golden beaches, ragged coastlineswith caves, dense forests and seaside lakes follow one after another and paint fabulous landscapes.Here you will find excellent opportunities for recreation. Fans of classic seaside holidays will enjoy the charming little resorttowns, expansive beaches with fine golden sand and clear, inviting sea. Luxurious resort complexes and small family hotelsare plentiful in this area.Balchik is a lovely town nestledin the northern part of the BlackSea. Here the beauty of naturetruly enchants. It so captivatedthe Romanian Queen Mariathat she built her summerhome, Quiet Nest, here. Forthis purpose she hired worldrenownedarchitects andbotanists to create one of themost uniquely beautiful placesin the world.BALCHIKVARNAThe city of Varna is the heir of an ancientThracian settlement which later becamea popular recreational site for Romanand Byzantine aristocracy. Today Varnais a large modern coastal city offeringmany opportunities for entertainmentand recreation. There are many hotelsin the city to satisfy every taste andbudget. Guests of Varna are enchantedwith the cool freshness of the SeaGarden, the golden beaches and azuresea, the rich cultural life of the city andthe countless places of interest.The Thermae – Roman public baths – dateback to the Roman Empire. The buildingis situated on an area of 7,000 sq. m. andwas a part of the Roman town of Odessos.The abundance of fragments, columnsand capitals remind a visitor of the ornatedecorations which adorned them at onetime.The Varna Archaeological Museum islocated in the building of the former Girls’School and has one of the richest exhibitsin the country. It hosts the Gold Treasureexcavated from the Varna Necropolis in1972. The Gold Treasure from the VarnaNecropolis, dating from the late 5thmillennium BC, is the oldest processed goldever discovered anywhere in the world.The Dormition of theTheotokos CathedralBotanic gardenAnother landmark of the town is the worldfamousbotanic garden with the secondlargestcollection of giant cacti in Europe. Thegarden is also known for its variety of sizesand species of plants collected over the yearsfrom around the world, these include themetasequoia – a contemporary of the dinosaurs– until recently considered extinct. The gardenis exquisitely beautiful and is a favourite spotfor both romantic and inspirational walks.The palaceThe symbol of Varna is The Dormition of the TheotokosCathedral, which was built in 1886. It is located in the citycentre. To appreciate the full beauty of the building it isbest viewed after sunset. It is at this time of the day whenspectacular lighting drenches the facade in magnificent hues.The palace incorporates several different architectural styles reflecting withMauritanian elements, Christian culture and typical Bulgarian residencesfrom the Revival. The desire of the Queen to unite many religions finds itsphysical expression in the Arabic and Roman inscribed slabs of stone aroundthe garden, the minaret towering over the palace and the chapel built in theyard of the complex.2 3

Riviera is a small but luxurious resort very closeto Golden Sands. With the mineral springs thereit creates a coastal spa resort. The exclusivenumber of all-luxury hotels makes it a superbplace to relax. A large forest surrounds theresort and brings freshness into the hotsummer days. Riviera boasts many spa centres,a kindergarten and various attractions forchildren, there are restaurants, sports centres,tennis courts, shops and even an art gallery.RIVIERAThe southern Black Sea coast runssouth from Cape Emine to thevillage of Resovo on the Turkishborder. The sunny beaches in thisarea are numerous. Little resorttowns alternate with large luxurycomplexes, there are reserves,landmarks of natural beautyand camping sites. Here are thefamous Bulgarian Sunny BeachResort and the city of Burgas.There can be found a multitudeof hotels and restaurants, as wellas the architectural reserves ofNessebar, Pomorie and Sozopol.SOUTHERN BLACK SEA COASTST. ST. KONSTANTIN AND ELENASt. St. Konstantin andElena is the oldestBulgarian resort. It issituated between Varnaand Golden Sands,amongst a beautiful hardwood forest. Within theterritory of the complexthere are 7 mineral springswith water temperatureranging from 40 to 60°С. The beach boasts anexpansive length of 3.5km. St. St. Konstantin andElena has several hotels(two to four stars), mineralswimming pools, yachtmarinas, tennis courts,football pitches and waterattractions.BURGASBurgas is a modern city, one of thelargest in Bulgaria. In summer manypeople choose this city as a place tospend their beach holiday. Burgasoffers great vacation opportunitiesby combining beautiful beachesand reserves with the comforts andbenefits of the big city. The bustleof the many bars and restaurantslivens the streets, while the spacioussea garden is an excellent place to gofor a quiet walk. The sea garden alsoprovides a platform for artists andmusicians to showcase their work.For those who prefer a holiday centredaround a close communion with nature,the Northern Black Sea offers manyalternatives. There are varied campingoptions in the cool forests along theentire coastline. Bulgarian camping sitesoffer excellent accommodations for theirguests, whether they prefer to stay in abungalow or use a caravan, camper or tent.There are camping sites near Durankulak,Shabla, Kavarna, Albena Resort, NaturePark Golden Sands, Varna‘s residentialcomplex Galata, at the mouth of KamchiaRiver, in the village of Shkorpilovtsi and inthe town of Byala.CAMPINGThe city hosts many cultural events – music festivals,competitions, flower exhibitions.Burgas is a city with more than 2,000 years of historywhich can be explored through its numerous6 museums and churches.7

I1. 1775, louis d’or3. 1787, louis d’or2. 1784, écu d’argentLE ROI FRAPPE MONNAIE !Le fait de produire de la monnaie est un privilège * royal. Seul le roi peut décider si l’on frappe de nouvellesmonnaies et dans quelle quantité. Il peut contrôler ainsi la taille (les pièces ci-dessus sont à leur taille réelle),la valeur et la qualité des monnaies, qui sont en cuivre, en argent ou en or. Les monnaies sont aussidifférenciées par leur nom : un liard, un sol, un écu, un louis, un double louis. Un louis vaut 4 écus, 480 solset 1920 liards… On pèse les monnaies pour vérifier que le poids, et donc la valeur, sont bien respectés, carun moyen de tricher est de rogner la pièce, c'est-à-dire d’en garder un petit morceau…Il y a bien sûr des faux-monnayeurs, qui copient les monnaies mais en utilisant un métal de moindre valeurqu’ils trempent ensuite dans l’argent ou l’or pour faire croire que toute la pièce est bien dans le bon métal. Ondit alors que la monnaie est saucée. Faire de la fausse monnaie est considéré comme un crime très grave : lamonnaie risque de perdre de sa valeur ce qui perturberait l’économie du royaume. Pire encore, l’autorité duroi est remise en cause. Aussi la peine est-elle terrible : c’est la mort. Au Moyen Âge, on exécute les fauxmonnayeursen les plongeant dans de l’eau ou de l’huile bouillante ! Sous Louis XVI, la peine est adoucie : uncertain Jean-Pierre Brouillot est pendu pour fausse monnaie en 1787.La monnaie est aussi un moyen pour le roi de se faire connaître de son peuple. Un même graveur, nomméDuvivier, l’a représenté de manière ressemblante en 1775, 1784, 1787. Sur les deux premiers types, le roiporte l’habit de cour, avec le ruban de l’ordre de Saint-Michel, la plus haute distinction qu’il puisse décerner.Sur le dernier portrait, il est nu, comme les empereurs de l’Antiquité romaine.1. Que peut-on acheter avec un louis d’or avant la Révolution ? Combien de jours de salaire d’un ouvrier unlouis représente-t-il ? (Voir documents 1 et 2 de la fiche 4 : Le roi frappe monnaie : tableaux et documents).…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………2. Doc. 1 à 3. Que constate-t-on en voyant ces trois représentations du roi qui datent de 1775, 1784 et 1787 ?…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Fiche 33. Pourquoi ces représentations contribuent-elles à donner une bonne image du roi ?…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………4. La monnaie et la Révolution. Pendant la Révolution, le 20 juin 1791, le roi tente de s’enfuir de France. Il se déguise endomestique et part avec sa famille en carrosse vers l’est. À l’auberge du «soleil d’or », dans le petit village de Sainte-Menéhould,il paie le repas, car c’est le rôle du laquais : il donne un louis d’or. Le fils de l’aubergiste donne l’alerte aux gardes nationaux : lafamille royale est rattrapée à Varennes, à quelques lieues de là le 21 juin.D'après ce que tu as appris sur les monnaies, quelles peuvent être les deux raisons qui ont provoqué la méfiance du fils del’aubergiste, et ont débouché sur l'arrestation du roi et des siens ?1 :…………………………………………………………………………………………………………2 :…………………………………………………………………………………………………………* Privilège : signifie loi privée. Sous l’Ancien Régime (jusqu’en 1789) chaque catégorie de personne dans la société suit des lois différentes eta des droits différents des autres catégories. Dans le cas présent, seul le roi peut faire frapper de la monnaie.

MAJOR SITESBULGARIANBLACK SEACOASTBLACK SEACOASTBLACKSEASofiaPernikPlovdivSmolyanKardzhaliHaskovoStara ZagoraYambolBurgasByalaVarnaShablaDurankulakSilistraRuseShumenRazgradTargovishteVelikoTarnovoDobrichTsarevoRezovoMalkoTarnovoSlivenGurkovoGabrovoVratsaMontanaPlevenLovechPazardzhikKyustendilBlagoevgradPetrichVidinGREECETURKEYREPUBLIC OFMACEDONIASERBIAROMANIA111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323312345678910ByalaObzorEleniteSt. VlasSunny BeachNessebarRavdaAheloyPomorieSarafovoBurgasChernomoretsGradinaSozopolDyuniPrimorskoKitenLozenetsCarevoAhtopolSinemoretsSilistarRezovoRusalkaKavarnaBalchikAlbenaGolden SandsRivieraSt. St. Konstantin and ElenaSunny DayVarnaKamchia124910111219202131919191919131415181633172223 2425262729303228316785SvishtovLyaskovetsKarnobatKarlovoDupnitsaSandanskiMelnikBanskoVelikiPreslavAsenovgradKlisuraTutrakanGornaOryahovitsaSevlievoAirportBorder crossingPortKapitanPetko VoyvodaIvaylovgradLesovoKapitanAndreevoZlatogradZlatarevoKulataIlindenStankeLisichkovoGyueshevoKalotinaOltomantsiStrezimirovtsiBregovoVrashkaChukaNikopolLomOryahovo10 11

The town of Pomorie is probably one of the oldest in Bulgaria.It is located on a small rocky peninsular halfway betweenBurgas and Sunny Beach.Pomorie’s beaches attract many visitors with their interestingblack sand and clear seas. Nearby lie the protected areasBlatno Kokiche and Koriyata, and lake Pomorie, where saltis extracted.POMORIEOther places of interestare St. George Monastery,Preobrazhenie Gospodne(Transfiguration of Jesus)Church, a Thracian domedtomb and an architecturalreserve for old Pomoriehouses.There are many more resortsand complexes along thesouthern Black Sea coast.Primorsko, Kiten andLozenets are favourites withthe young people seekingfun and excitement. Ahtopoland Tsarevo attract familieswith children because oftheir tranquillity, whileSinemorets and Rezovo arepreferred by those who arelooking for a closer contactwith nature.KITEN, PRIMORSKO,LOZENETS, SINEMORETSMoreover, Pomorie is oneof the most popular spa andbalneologic resorts in Bulgariabecause of its healing mudand mineral springs.Sozopol is one of the most popularBlack Sea resorts. Small restaurantsperch on the coastal cliffs of its OldTown and offer a magnificent viewof three islands. In its narrow streetstourists can buy authentic Bulgariangoods – knitwear, leather goods,and even have their portraits doneby a local artist.SOZOPOLCAMPINGThis stretch of the Bulgarian Black Seacoast provides numerous camping siteswhich offer good facilities and added value.Among the most popular ones are campingsites Gradina, Zlatna Ribka, Kavatsi andSmokinya near Sozopol, Coral, Oasis andArapya next to Primorsko and Silistarbetween villages Resovo and Sinemorets.There are two beaches in the town and nearby there are several camping sites, Ropotamo Reserveand other places of interest. There are also hotels and guest houses. Restaurants by the beach, merry12 taverns, clubs make your holiday unforgettable.13

Water skiing is a popularextreme water sport.In Bulgaria this sport ispractised mainly at theBlack Sea. Water skis areavailable in almost allBulgarian resorts, withpreliminary training anddetailed instructions.The experience is oneof a kind and is hard toforget.WATER SPORTSSpearfishingSpearfishing is a challenge for fans of both diving andfishing. The combination of these two passions ensures anexciting, amazing experience. There are several clubs in thecountry which offer training and organize special spearfishingexcursions. There are spearfishing clubs in Varna and Burgas.The most commonly sought fish are the flathead mullet, thegolden gray mullet, the European seabass and the Atlanticbonito. Sheltered bays with small underwater caves and placeswhere the sea bed is clear, not muddy, offer the best conditionsfor spearfishing – Tyulenovo, Taukliman, St. St. Konstantin andElena, Cape Galata and Cape Kochan at the northern Black Seaand St. Vlas, Pomorie, Sozopol, Snake Island, Kiten, Tsarevo,Varvara and Resovo to the south.WindsurfingWindsurfing is another popular sportwhich can be enjoyed at the Black Sea.There is only one condition – the speedand direction of the wind. The bestwindsurfing conditions in Bulgariaare offered at several camping siteson the southern Black Sea coast –Gradina, Zlatna Ribka, as well as thewindier coast of the northern BlackSea. Some sports clubs offer trainingand rental equipment.KitesurfingKitesurfing is a relatively new challenge for the fans of theextreme. It is a combination of a kite and a surfboard, withpropulsion power provided by the kite. It can be practised inwindy bays when weather conditions are favourable.Aqua parksThe aqua parks at the Bulgarian seaside - some of which especiallylarge and attractive, with modern facilities, are a favouriteamusement for both children and adults. Here everyone has agood time and the attractions are many and varied. The mostpopular seaside aqua parks are in Golden Sands, Sunny Beach,Nessebar and Primorsko but there are water parks inland as well.DivingYachtingYachting is an especially enjoyable way to explore the beautiful latitudes and coastlines of the Black Sea. WithDiving has become especially popular in recent years. Most Bulgarian diving takes place not far from thea motor yacht or sailing boat, in the open sea or in the azure shallows, the breeze will whisper pleasantly in yourcoast. Near some resorts – Golden Sands, Nessebar, Sozopol and near Cape Kaliakra and Cape Emine,ear and the exciting memories will warm your winter months. In Bulgaria there are several yachting14 there are remains of ships sunk in ancient times, these are highly attractive for divers.marines offering very good conditions – in Balchik, Varna, St. Vlas and Sozopol.15

CULTURALHERITAGEOld NessebarNessebar was founded nearly 3,000 years ago.The old town recounts the history of the peoplewho lived in these lands. It was declared anarchitectural reserve and in 1983 it was includedin UNESCO’s World Heritage List.The old part of Nessebar is located on a smallpatch of land barely 850 m long and 350 mwide. It is connected to the mainland by a narrowisthmus. Over the centuries almost one third ofthe old town has disappeared into the sea. Todayparts of its fortification wall still remain standingunderwater and can be seen at about a hundredmeters away from the shore.Many buildings from the Bulgarian Revival havebeen preserved - typical representatives of theBulgarian Black Sea-type of Revival house. Thereare also old windmills and drinking fountains.A lot of history about this region can be foundby visiting the Archaeological Museum, St. SpasChurch and St. Stefan Church. The rich history ofNessebar and the beautiful mix of modern andancient make it one of the most romantic places atthe Black Sea.Old SozopolSozopol is one of the oldest towns on Bulgarianland. It was established 6 centuries BC by Greekcolonists. The history of the town spans 2,600years, leaving a remarkable imprint on its currentappearance. There are ample historical andcultural attractions in the town.Today Sozopol is divided into Old Town andNew Town. The old part still embodies the spiritof bygone eras with its small wooden housesstretching their eaves over curving cobblestonealleys. Small restaurants perch on the coastalcliffs of its Old Town and offer a magnificent viewof three islands. In its narrow streets tourists canbuy authentic Bulgarian goods – knitwear, leathergoods, and even have their portraits drawn by anartist.The Old Sozopol has preserved many marksof its ancient history. The local archaeologicalmuseum boasts a unique collection of rare Greekvessels from 4th century BC and a collection of120 intact amphorae. The museum is housed inthe building of St. Cyril and Methodius Church. Themuseum’s exhibits are grouped into two exposures- Archaeology (5th century BC – 7th century AC) andChristian Art (17th – 19th century).The Old Sozopol still holds parts of fortificationwalls, temples, St. Bogoroditsa Church from 7thcentury and many wooden houses from the period ofthe Revival, typical representatives of the BulgarianBlack Sea-type of house.BegliktashOne of the most mysterious temples discovered in ourland – Begliktash – is located 4 km away from Primorskoin Ropotamo Reserve. The temple spans an area of 12decares. It is a huge circle of rocks laid out on the stonysurface. Large boulders, some of which 9 meters high,were partially processed by human hand and arrangedin amazing shapes. The site was a place of worship bythe ancient Thracians. Here they brought gifts for thegods and gradually turned it into a temple. Over theyears they built houses for the priests who maintainedit. The calendar of the ancient Thracians discovered inthe temple is in fact carved holes in the rock surfaceover which the rays of the sun travel during solsticeand illuminate them. The clock, dividing the day into6 parts, is also made of stones. The round stones areso masterfully arranged that the shadow cast by themain altar falls on the six smaller stones north of it.Pomorie TombThe ancient domed tomb Heroon is located close tothe entrance of the town of Pomorie. It was builtunder a raised mound in the area of Palekastro. Itdates back to 2nd – 4th century AD and it was mostlikely a mausoleum-tomb of a rich Anhialo familywhere religious rituals were held.The tomb was discovered in 1888 and is the largesttomb ever found in Bulgaria. The unique ancientmonument consists of a circular chamber withdiameter 11.6 m and height 5.5 m, and a corridor 22m long, 1.7 m wide and 2.4 m high.The tomb was built with stone and bricks cementedwith mortar. There are traces of plaster and paint,suggesting that there were drawings in the centralchamber. The central column is of particular interestas it is hollow, expanding like a mushroom andmerging with the circular wall. There are five nichesalong the surrounding wall which are believed tohave held urns with the ashes of the deceased.16 17

LANDMARKSAND RESERVESPobiti KamaniThe Black Sea region abounds in natural and cultural landmarksand many sightseeing excursions can be organized to diversifya summer holiday.Ropotamo ReserveRopotamo Reserve is located 50 km south of Burgas and coverslarge areas along the Ropotamo River. It hosts dense forestsnot characteristic for these latitudes and some fascinatingrock formations, dunes, terraced banks, marshes and bogs. Toexplore the natural attractions of the reserve it is best to use theservices of the boat trip organisers.Durankulak LakeDurankulak Lake is located 15 km north of Shabla and 6 km awayfrom the border between Bulgaria and Romania. It is a coastallake (firth) and has been declared a protected area as it provideshabitat to 260 plant and animal species. The area is located on amigratory bird route - Via Pontica.Shabla LakeShabla Lake is a complex of two inlets connected by an artificialcanal and separated from the sea by a sandspit. It is located 3 kmeast of the town of Shabla. The location is particularly importantbecause of the rare birds that nest here. In the region of Shabla thereare other places of interest – the Shabla Lighthouse, archaeologicalreserve Yalata, etc.SilistarA few kilometres south of the village of Sinemorets on the road toRezovo there is one of the most pictures que beaches on the BulgarianBlack Sea coast - Silistar. At this point the Rezovo River flows intothe sea, which is the reason for the extremely rich vegetation and thewealth of birds, animals and fish.Nature ParkGolden SandsNature Park Golden Sands, 17 km north of Varna, forms a picturesquebackdrop around the Golden Sands Resort. There are five tourist andfive specialized routes developed on its territory suitable for hiking,children outings, cycling, photo safari, and hiking for people with specialneeds. In the park guides are available in order to help explore the mostbeautiful and remote places.Kamchia ReservePobiti Kamani (Standing Stones) are rock formations near Varna locatedabout 18-20 km west of the town, by the road to Sofia. The phenomenoncovers a rather large area and the formations can be divided into severalgroups. The stone blocks are shaped like columns standing upright on theground, creating the illusion that they have been positioned carefully inorder to stand upright, hence their name. Their heights vary and can reachup to 5 meters, with diameters between 30 cm and 3 m.Bird-watchingThe Bulgarian Black Sea coast is one ofthe best bird watching locations in Europebecause parts of it lie along migratory birdroute Via Pontica. To the north, on CapeKaliakra many species can be observed, suchas the European shag, the rock-thrush, thecalandra lark and other rare species.To the north of Cape Kaliakra there are twowetland zones – Bolata and Taukliman (the“Bird Bay”), - where waterfowl nest - the littlebittern, the little grebe, ducks. One of themost popular sites in Bulgaria for watchingof rare and interesting types of birds is inthe vicinity of the city of Burgas – the lakesAtanas, Mandra, Burgas and Pomorie. Inthe area of Poda near Burgas is one of mostvisited bird watching sites with 226 types ofbirds, predominantly waterfowl.To the south, in Ropotamo Reserve and swampAlepy there are also some interesting speciesto see – the tawny pipit, the little ringed plover,the semi-collared flycatcher, the short-toedtree-creeper, the middle spotted woodpeckerand others.In the areas in the vicinity of the rivers VelekaРезерват „Камчия“ обхваща красива местност,and Silistar near Sinemorets little egrets, greyKamchia Reserve covers a beautiful area situated 25 km south of Varna.разположена на 25 км южно от Варна. Товаand squacco herons, white and black storks andThis is where the river flows into the sea and where some of the mostе мястото, където реката се влива в моретоother species can be spotted at certain time ofbeautiful dense forests are located. Some of the activities to enjoy in theи където се намират едни от най-красивитеthe year.region include a boat or pedalo ride in the placid waters of the river.лонгозни гори. Сред интересните занимания в18 19района е разходката с лодка или водно колелопо спокойните води на реката.

EVENTS ANDFESTIVALS20Kaliakra Rock FestKaliakra Rock Fest is a traditional rock festival held everysummer in the coastal town of Kavarna, 60 km northeastof Varna. In the few days of the festival the whole towncomes to life with thousands of rock fans and their idols- popular rock bands and performers. Legends such asAccept, Motley Crue, Scorpions and many others haveblown away the audience from the stage of the festival.Spirit of BurgasThe Spirit of Burgas is perhaps the most popular musicalevent in Bulgaria. On several stages set up near the beachof Burgas during the hot August days and nights, dozensof popular foreign and local bands and performers from allgenres - rock, rap, dance, drum n ‘bass, jazz, blues, reggae,ska and electronic music - perform round the clock. Goodmusic, the proximity of the sea and the incredible spirit ofthe festival attract huge audiences.ApoloniaAt the end of each summer the Apolonia Festival of Artsgathers together cultural icons and their fans in the sunnytown of Sozopol. During the days of the festival the seasidetown comes alive with the many guests gathered to honourand appreciate Bulgarian art - music, theatre, plastic arts,poetry, literature and cinema.July MorningJuly Morning is a Bulgarian hippie tradition which originatedin the mid 80’s. It is still very popular and attracts thousandsof adherents. In the early hours on July 1, rockers from allover the country, and even from abroad, gather at the rockybeach of the village of Kamen Bryag (Rocky Beach), 80 kmnortheast of Varna, and welcome the sunrise with UriahHeep’s July Morning. The ritual is also performed in otherplaces along the Black Sea coast, but the highest numberof people comes to the village of Kamen Bryag. This customis purely Bulgarian and cannot be seen anywhere else in theworld. It originated as part of the hippie culture as a peculiarform of peaceful protest against Communism.Varna SummerThe International Music Festival Varna Summer is held inJune and July in Varna. The festival is an important forumfor Bulgarian and world classical music composition andperformance.Love is FollyIn late August and early September each year love and cinemameet in Varna. International Film Festival Love is Folly honoursthe best romantic movies from around the world.Folk groupsIn August Burgas gathers folklore dance groups from around theworld, who over a few days give performances and concerts onseveral stages in the city. The event includes festive processionsand academic workshops on folklore-related topics.Tourist InformationNATIONAL TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE,MINISTRY OF ECONOMY, ENERGY AND TOURISMSOFIA 1040, 1 Sv. Nedelja Sq.Теl.: +359 2 9335826; +359 2 9335821; +359 2 9335811E-mail: e-docs@mee.government.bgSOFIA, subway next to Sofia University „St. Kliment Ohridski“Теl.: +359 2 491 83 44; +359 2 491 83 45E-mail: tourist@info-sofia.bgVARNA 9000, Sv. sv. Kiril i Metodij Sq.Теl.: +359 52 608918; +359 52 608919E-mail: invarna@abv.bgBURGAS, Hristo Botev Str.Теl.: +359 56 825772; +359 56 841542E-mail: tic_bourgas@abv.bgVELIKO TARNOVO 5000, 5 Hristo Botev Str.Теl: +359 62 622148; E-mail: ticvt2@gmail.comPOMORIE 8200, 15 Solna Str.Теl.: +359 596 25236; E-mail: mayor@pomoret.bgRUSE 7000, 61 Aleksandrovska Str.Теl.: +359 82 82-47-04; E-mail: tic@tic.rousse.bgSHUMEN 9700, 17 Slavjanski Blvd.Теl: +359 54 857 773; E-mail : shumen_opt@abv.bgMALKO TARNOVO, Preobrazhenie Sq.Теl.: +359 5952 3017; E-mail: tic_mtarnovo@mail.bgBALCHIK, 9600, 25А Primorska Str.Теl: +359 579 76951; E-mail: tic@balchik.bgSTARA ZAGORA, 27 Ruski Str.Теl.: +359 42 627 098; E-mail: tic@city.starazagora.netNESEBAR - stara chast, 10 Мesambria Str.Теl: +359 554 29346; E-mail: visitnessebar@abv.bgPLOVDIV, 1 Tsentralen Sq.Тел: +359 32 656794; +359 32 620229E-mail: tic_plovdiv@abv.bg ; tic.plovdiv@gmail.comBYALA, oblast Varna, 12A Andrej Premjanov Str.Теl.: +359 5143 2333E-mail: tourcentar_byala_05@abv.bgDURANKULAK 9670; obsht. Shabla, obl. DobrichТеl.: +359 888 476601; +359 887 308753E-mail: lebalkan@lebalkan.orgSHABLA 9680, 36A Ravno pole Str.Теl.: +359 5743 4088; E-mail: tic@ob-shabla.orgGENERAL INFO ABOUT BULGARIAMINISTRY OF ECONOMY, ENERGY AND TOURISMBulgaria, Sofia 1000, 8 Slavjanska Str.Tel.: +359 2 9407001Fax: +359 2 987 2190; + 359 2 981 9970; + 359 2 981 5039e-mail: e-docs@mee.government.bgwww.mee.government.bgOperational Programme Regional Development 2007-2013www.bgregio.euInvesting in your future!The project is funded by the European Regional Development Fundand the state budget of the Republic of BulgariaGeographic location: Republic of Bulgaria is aEuropean country, located in the Eastern part of theBalkan peninsular. Its Eastern boundary is the BackSea; Greece and Turkey are situated southbound, itsWestern neighbours are The Republic of Macedoniaand Serbia, and to the North it shares border withThe Republic of Romania.Climate: Bulgaria has a mixed Mild-Continentaland Mediterranean influenced climate.Average winter temperatures: 0 °С to -2 °СAverage summer temperatures: 20-22 °СTerritory: 110,099 sq. km.Population: 7 928 901Official language: BulgarianCapital: SofiaCurrency: Bulgarian Lev (1 € = 1.955 BGN)Single European emergency call number: 112Average height above sea level: 470 mHighest point: Musala peak (2925 m.)Time zone: GMT+2 (EST+7)Main denomination: East-orthodox ChristianityOPRDGrant Scheme BG161PO001/3.3-01/2008 „Support for effective national marketing of the tourist product and improvementof the information service”, BG161PO001/3.3-01/2008/001-4 „Design and distribution of advertising materials for promotionof Bulgaria as a tourist destination”This document is created within the framework of the project “Preparation and Distribution of Advertising and Information Materials Promoting Bulgaria as a Tourist Destination”, Contract No BG161PO001/3.3-01/2008/001-4,which is performed with the financial support of Operative Program “Regional Development” 2007 – 2013, co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund. The entire responsibilityfor the contents of the document is brought by the beneficiary – The Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism, and under no circumstances it can be considered that this document presents the official position of theEuropean Union and the Managing Body.

OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE YEARBULGARIANBLACK SEACOASTWINTERTOURISMECO TOURS ANDVILLAGE LIFEWINE ANDCUISINE