Discoverthe wild charmof the <strong>Bulgaria</strong>n <strong>Danube</strong>
Depicted by great composers and poets, the blue <strong>Danube</strong> isclosely linked to <strong>Bulgaria</strong>n history since the establishment ofthe first <strong>Bulgaria</strong>n state in the Balkans. Today the great riverforms a 480km long northern border with Romania.Our grandparents remember when it used to be completelyfrozen over and how wedding guests with caravans and cartscrossed the ice from one bank to the other. Wild animalsdid the same in their search for food during the cold wintermonths and found new hunting grounds on the opposite side.In this part of Europe, the <strong>Danube</strong> has retained its wild charm.Forests and wetlands dominate its entire length. Desertedislands enlivened only by birds, riverside marshes and lakesfull of biodiversity, fishing villages, several towns of around30,000 inhabitants and only one city of 145,000 – welcometo the <strong>Bulgaria</strong>n <strong>Danube</strong>.The <strong>Bulgaria</strong>n bank of the <strong>Danube</strong> holds unexpected treasuresand beauties. Perhaps because this region has always beenfar removed from major investment projects or any kind oftourism, its authenticity has been preserved. Here you find theremains of Roman towns, which once guarded the northernfrontier of the empire; ancient <strong>Bulgaria</strong>n castles; Turkishmilitary forts; the best preserved painted rock churches frommedieval times; impressive Thracian tombs and MuslimTekkes (mosque complexes). A number of these monumentsare listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.Traditions live on through numerous folklore groups, localfestivals and colourful costumes. This northern folkloreis particularly popular in <strong>Bulgaria</strong> with its combination ofViennese waltzes and the Balkan rhythms of the region. Ofparticular note is the culture of wine and local cuisine. Gamzafrom Novo Selo; sparkling wine from Magura; SvishtovskaCherga; Vratshanska Temenuga (Muscat), the wineries inOryahovo, Lyaskovets, Ruse, Silistra, Pleven, are witnessto long traditions. Like along on all major rivers, fish is aspeciality. But in general the cuisine is dominated by <strong>Bulgaria</strong>nnational characteristics – banitsa, shopska salad, stuffed vineleaves, yoghurt and delicious vegetables and fruits.Even for many <strong>Bulgaria</strong>ns, the Lower <strong>Danube</strong> is somethingof a mystery. <strong>Travel</strong>ling downstream by boat towardsthe sunrise, you see only green forests, wild islands andoccasional lights indicating a human presence. Havingpreserved its longstanding beauty, the river is today a bridgebetween Balkan countries, creating an active Europeanpartnership and bilateral cooperation.Borders between countries are not what they used to be.It is definitely time to discover the <strong>Bulgaria</strong>n <strong>Danube</strong>!