The official name of modern Bulgaria. Customs restrictions in Bulgaria

The Republic of Bulgaria is located in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula.

Bulgaria is bordered to the south by Greece and Turkey, to the west by Serbia and Macedonia, and to the north by Romania. In the east, it is washed by the waters of the Black Sea.

State symbols

Flag- a rectangular panel consisting of three horizontal equal stripes: the top one is white, the middle one is green and the bottom one is red. The first of them personifies freedom and peace, the second - forests and agriculture, the third - the blood shed in the struggle for state independence.

Coat of arms- a scarlet shield crowned with the historical crown of Bulgaria. In the shield is a rearing crowned golden lion. The shield is held by two golden crowned lions. Under the shield are oak branches and a ribbon with the motto "Union to rule silat" ("Unity gives strength").
It is generally accepted that the three lions mean the three historical lands of Bulgaria: Moesia, Thrace and Macedonia. The current coat of arms of Bulgaria was adopted by the National Assembly in 1997. This is a slightly modified version of the coat of arms used in 1927-1946. This coat of arms was based on the personal coat of arms of the Bulgarian Tsar Ferdinand I.

Brief description of the modern Republic of Bulgaria

Form of government- parliamentary republic.
head of state- President elected for 5 years.
Supreme body of the legislature a unicameral People's Assembly.
Head of the government- Prime Minister. Elected and dismissed by the People's Assembly.
Capital- Sophia.
Largest cities- Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Ruse, Stara Zagora, Pleven, Dobrich, Sliven, Shumen.
Religion- freely. The traditional religion is Orthodoxy, professed by 75.96% of the population.
Territory- 110,993.6 km².
Population– 7 364 570 people Bulgarians make up 84.8% of the population, Turks - 8.8%, Gypsies - 4.9%, Russians - 0.15%.
Official language- Bulgarian.
Economy- market, industrial country with developed agriculture.
Agriculture. Main products: vegetables, fruits, tobacco, wool, wine, wheat, barley, sunflower, sugar beets.
Climate- continental and mediterranean.
Administrative division e - is divided into 28 regions, which are subdivided into 264 communities.
Education- school education is regulated by the "Law on Public Education", divided by degrees:
primary education: primary education - from 1st to 4th grade; pro-gymnasium education - from 5th to 8th grade.
Secondary education: gymnasium education - from 9 to 12 grades.
Secondary education is considered obtained after the successful completion of the 12th grade and the successful passing of the required exams. School education is free.
Higher education regulated by the Law on Higher Education.
Higher schools in Bulgaria can be public and private. Types of higher educational institutions in Bulgaria: universities (there are 47 universities in the country), specialized higher schools, colleges.
Currency- Bulgarian lev.
Sport The most popular sport is football. Bulgaria has traditionally high achievements in weightlifting and athletics, wrestling, boxing, volleyball, artistic and rhythmic gymnastics, shooting and rowing.

Tourism in Bulgaria

The country is promising in terms of tourism, there are many natural and cultural attractions. A popular destination for beach tourism is the Black Sea coast. The most popular Black Sea resorts: Albena, Golden Sands, Riviera, St. Constantine and Elena, Obzor, Sunny Beach, Sozopol, Elenite, St. Vlas.

sunny Beach

The largest sea resort in the east of Bulgaria. Located near a bay in the Black Sea with a beach 10 km long and up to 100 m wide in the central part, covered with fine yellow sand. Located between the cities of Varna and Burgas, is part of the city Nessebar, the old part of which is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Bulgaria (1983)

City of Nessebar is one of the oldest cities in Europe. It is the successor of an ancient Thracian settlement called Mesembria, which existed from the beginning of the 1st century BC. BC e. With 510 BC e. it was turned into a Greek colony.
From antiquity to the present day, the ruins of the fortress wall, towers, gates, and reliefs have remained. In the old part of the city, intensive archaeological research is underway. During the excavations, the ruins of a church built IX century. n. e., as well as the remains of Byzantine terms.

Ski resorts in Bulgaria

The ski season starts here in December and lasts until February.

Bansko

The highest peak in the area is Mount Vihren (2915 m). Bansko is known as one of the best Bulgarian ski resorts. A stable snow cover lies here from December to April, its thickness is about 2 m. All ski slopes are located at altitudes from 1100 to 2500 m. Their total length is 65 km, the longest route is 2.6 km long.
There is an 8-seater gondola lift in Bansko. There are opportunities for off-piste skiing, a snowboard park with 2 slopes with a total length of 600 m.
In addition to skiing, Bansko is known for its historical sights. South of the city is the Pirin National Reserve. It has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The park covers an area of ​​27,400 hectares, most of it is covered with pine and spruce forests, and at the foot of the highest peak, Vihren, there are more than 180 lakes, mostly of glacial origin. In the vicinity of Bansko, the remains of ancient fortresses in Staroto Gradishte, a section of the cemetery in the town of Dobrokyovitsa, which dates back to the 2nd century BC, as well as the medieval settlements of the Holy Trinity, were discovered. In Bansko itself is interesting Church of the Holy Trinity. It was built in 1835 There are paintings, frescoes and icons in the church, and its walls are decorated with paintings and wood carvings.

Borovets

A popular Bulgarian ski resort, located in the suburbs of Sofia, on the northern slopes of Rila Mountain, at an altitude of 1350 m. The longest run is 5,789 m. Two ski jumps.

Pamporovo

Ski resort. Nestled in a magnificent pine forest, it is a popular holiday destination in the summer and skiing and snowboarding in the winter.

Natural attractions of Bulgaria

Srebarna Nature Reserve

The reserve includes Lake Srebarna and its surroundings, this area lies on the main migratory route of migratory birds between Europe and Africa, called "Via Pontica". The reserve was established in 1948., covers an area of ​​600 hectares, another 540 hectares are a buffer zone. Srebarna- a large lake formed in a wide karst depression, with a depth of 1 to 3 m.
Almost 100 species of birds nest in the reserve, some of them are recognized as endangered. Approximately 80 species of birds come to the lake for the winter. Among the most remarkable birds are the curly pelican, great white, red and black herons, loaf, spoonbill. There are 6 species of fish and 35 species of amphibians in the lake.

Chuprene Reserve

One of the largest biosphere reserves in Bulgaria (area 1439.2 ha). The reserve was formed February 9, 1973, for the protection of the northern coniferous forests of Bulgaria and as an ornithological reserve for the preservation of the only natural population of capercaillie in Bulgaria. There are a large number of rivers on the territory of the reserve, which originate on the nearby mountain slopes.
A wide variety of fauna is represented in the reserve: amphibians (11 species): fire salamander, Greek long-legged frog, common toad, etc.; reptiles (15 species): snake, viper, copperfish, etc.; mammals (53 species): fox, wolf, stone marten, pine marten, mink, forest cat, squirrel, 14 species of bats, etc.; birds (170 species): capercaillie, black vulture, owl, golden eagle, woodpecker, thrush, hawk, kestrel, lark, quail, wren and others. Chuprene is the only Bulgarian reserve where wolves live permanently.

Seven Rila Lakes

A group of lakes of glacial origin located in the northwestern Rila Mountains. The lakes are located between 2100 and 2500 m above sea level.
Each lake has its name associated with its most characteristic feature. The highest of them is called "Teardrop" due to its clear waters. The next highest lake is called "The Eye" because of its almost perfectly oval shape, etc. The lakes are stacked on top of each other and connected by small streams that form tiny waterfalls and cascades.

Yantra (river)

A feature of the river are the numerous gorges that it forms.

Rose Valley

Region in Bulgaria, located south of the Balkan Mountains. Geologically, it consists of two river valleys: striama in the west and Tunji in the east.
The valley is famous for its roses, which have been grown there for centuries for industrial purposes: 85% of the rose oil produced in the world is produced here. Rose oil production center Kazanlak, other cities: Karlovo, Sopot, Kalofera and Pavel Banya. Every year there are festivals celebrating roses and rose oil.
The collection season runs from May to June. During this period, the valley emits a pleasant aroma and is covered with colorful flowers. The harvesting process is traditionally feminine and requires great dexterity and patience. The flowers are carefully cut one at a time, placed in willow baskets and sent to the factories.

Belogradchik rocks

They are a group of strangely shaped sandstone and a conglomerate (separate fragments) of rocks located on the western slopes of the Balkan Mountains, not far from the city of Belogradchik. The rocks differ in color, some reach up to 200 m in height. Many breeds have bizarre shapes and are associated with interesting legends.

Shipka

Picturesque mountain pass through the Balkan mountains.
During the Russo-Turkish War 1877-1878 Shipka was a battle arena where Russian soldiers fought, relying on the Bulgarian militias, and the Ottoman Empire.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Bulgaria

Boyana Church

Medieval church. Located 8 km from Sofia, in the village of Boyana at the foot of the Vitosha Mountains.
AT 10th century in the village of Boyana, the first small church was built, dedicated to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and St. Panteleimon. At the beginning 13th century. a new two-story church, decorated with frescoes, was added to this church.

Madara Rider

Archaeological monument, a relief image of a rider, carved on a sheer cliff at a height of 23 m. Located in the north-eastern part of Bulgaria, near the village of Madara.
The monument is dated approximately 710 year n. e. and was created during the reign of the Bulgar Khan Tervel. According to one version, there is an image of the Khan himself on the rock. According to another version, the rock relief was created by the ancient Thracians and depicts a Thracian god. There is also a third version: an image of Svyatovit (Slavic god) is carved on the rock around the end of the 6th century AD. e.

Cave churches in Ivanovo

A complex of churches, chapels and cells carved into the rocks. It is located 21 km south of the city of Ruse near the village of Ivanovo at an altitude of 32 m above the canyon of the Rusensky Lom River. The complex began to be inhabited by monks from 13th century. During the heyday of the monastery, there were 40 churches and chapels and about 300 monastic cells. After the 17th century the monastery became uninhabited, most of its buildings fell into disrepair.

Thracian tomb in Kazanlak

Part of the ancient necropolis near the city of Kazanlak. The tomb was created at the end 4th-early 3rd c. BC e. for the Thracian ruler Roigos. The walls are lined with marble slabs and decorated with frescoes. The paintings that tell about the life of the Thracians and their military victories were created by the artist Kodzamakis, who used 4 colors in his work: black, red, yellow and white. The plots of the frescoes are connected with the reign of the person for whom the tomb was built.
The tomb of the Thracian ruler was found by a soldier in 1944 during the construction of a trench in the north-eastern part of the city of Kazanlak.
Today, access to the tomb is restricted to ensure the preservation of the frescoes. An exact copy has been created for tourists.

Pirin National Park

The park was created in 1962 under the name Vihren National Park with the aim of preserving the forests in the highest parts of Pirin. The park occupied an area of ​​62 km², which is one sixth of the current area of ​​the park. AT 1974 it was renamed the Pirin National Park, its territory was expanded.
About 1300 species of higher plants, about 300 species of mosses and a large number of algae grow in the park. In Pirin, there are 18 local endemic species, 15 Bulgarian and many Balkan endemics, many rare and endangered species grow, including edelweiss, the symbol of Pirin.

Edelweiss

About 2090 species and subspecies of invertebrates live in the park.

Rila Monastery

Saint's monastery John of Rylsky- the largest stauropegial monastery of the Bulgarian Church. According to legend, founded in 1930s. St. John of Rylsky (876-946), whose name he bears since the reign of the Bulgarian Tsar Peter I (927-968). Saint John lived in a cave not far from the current monastery, while the monastery itself was built by his disciples who came to the mountains to continue their studies.

Thracian tomb in Sveshtari

It is located 2.5 km southwest of the village of Sveshtari in northeastern Bulgaria.
It was discovered in 1982 during the excavations of the settlement. Dated 3rd century BC. It was built, presumably, for the Thracian ruler of the Getae tribe and his wife.

Other sights of Bulgaria

Bachkovo Monastery

Monastery of the Mother of God. One of the largest and oldest Orthodox monasteries in Europe. The monastery is known and appreciated for its unique combination of Byzantine, Georgian and Bulgarian cultures, united by a common faith. The monastery was founded in 1083 Although the monastery survived the Turkish invasion of the Bulgarian land, it was plundered and destroyed, but restored at the end of the 15th century. The refectory, whose paintings by an anonymous artist are of significant artistic value, was reconstructed in 1601, and the Church of Mary - in 1604, they have survived to this day.

National Art Gallery

Located in the building of the former royal palace, built in 1880. The art gallery was founded in 1892. It contains more than 50,000 pieces of Bulgarian art.

Evksinograd

ex at the end 19th century Bulgarian summer royal palace and park on the Black Sea coast, 8 km north of the city of Varna. It is currently the summer government and presidential residence. Since 2007 it has also hosted the annual opera festival Operosa.

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia

Bulgarian Orthodox Cathedral. Built in neo-Byzantine style, it is the Cathedral of the Patriarch of Bulgaria and one of the largest Orthodox cathedrals in the world, as well as one of the symbols of Sofia and the first tourist attraction. It is the second largest cathedral on the Balkan Peninsula after the Cathedral of St. Sava in Belgrade. Basically, the construction of the cathedral was completed in 1912. It was created in honor of the Russian soldiers who died during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878, as a result of which Bulgaria was liberated from Ottoman rule.

Kaliakra

A long and narrow cape in the region of the northern Bulgarian Black Sea coast, located 12 km east of the town of Kavarna. The coast is steep, with sheer cliffs to the sea.
Kaliakra is a nature reserve where you can watch dolphins, cormorants and pinnipeds. It is located on Via Pontica, one of the main migration routes for birds from Africa to Eastern and Northern Europe. In spring and autumn you can see many rare migratory birds here.
Here are also the remains of the fortress walls, plumbing, baths and the residence of the despot Dobrotitsa.

Troyan Monastery

The Monastery of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin or, as it is more commonly called, the Troyan Monastery is the third largest monastery in Bulgaria. Located in the northern part of the country, in the Balkan Mountains, founded no later than at the end 16th century

Ledenika

It is a cave in the northwestern part of the Balkan Mountains, 16 km from the Bulgarian city of Vratsa, the entrance to which is 830 m above sea level. It surprises with an abundance of galleries and impressive karst formations, including stalactites and stalagmites, dating back a thousand years. The cave is about 300 m long and consists of ten separate halls. The largest of them is a concert hall. The path to it goes through the passage of sinners. Only those whose heart is pure can pass through it. Previously, the cave was filled with water, but now there is only a small lake left here - the Lake of Desires. The legend says: if you dip your hand into the icy water of the lake and make a wish, it will come true.

Chernigrad

Peak of Vitosha mountain in Bulgaria. Altitude up to 2290 m. Here is a weather station founded in 1935 A very popular place among tourists.

broken stones

Several groups of natural rock formations with a total area of ​​7 km. Basically, these are stone columns from 5 to 7 m in height. The pillars do not have a solid foundation, appearing to be stuck in the surrounding sand.
There are several theories of the origin of this phenomenon: organic or mineral. Dynamic reconstruction of the origin of these structures, fluid migration processes and possible microbial interference during carbonate deposition is under investigation by scientists from the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium.

Nativity Monastery

It is the largest monastery in southwestern Bulgaria. This is one of the few medieval Bulgarian monasteries.
The monastery church was built before 15th century. and dyed in 1597., preserved some frescoes. The monastery was devastated by fire between 1662 and 1674, the library was destroyed, and most of the buildings were seriously damaged. The monastery was rebuilt over the next century with the financial help of wealthy Bulgarians from all over the country. Reconstruction began in 1715 and was fully completed in 1732

Panorama of Plevna

Depicts the events of the Russian-Turkish war 1877-78., in particular, the five-month siege of Plevna, which made the city world famous and contributed to the liberation of Bulgaria after five centuries of Ottoman rule. More than 35,000 soldiers died here.

The panorama was created by 13 Russian and Bulgarian artists and officially presented on December 10 1977. The panorama expanded the already existing Skobelev Park, which is located on the site where three of the four major battles that led to the liberation of Bulgaria took place.

Russian church in Sofia

Officially known as the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, it is a Russian Orthodox church in the center of Sofia, located on Tsar Liberator Boulevard.
Construction started in 1907., and the church was consecrated in 1914

Monument to the Tsar Liberator

It was erected in honor of the Russian Emperor Alexander II, who liberated Bulgaria from Ottoman rule during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78. The foundation stone was laid on April 23 1901. in the presence of Prince Ferdinand I of Bulgaria, and the monument was completed on September 15 1903. Ferdinand also took part in the unveiling of the monument on 30 August 1907 together with his sons Boris and Kirill, Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia, son of Alexander II, together with his wife and son.

National Museum of Earth and Man

This is one of the largest mineralogical museums in the world. Founded December 30 1985 and open to visitors on June 19 1987. Located in a reconstructed and adapted historic building built at the end of 19th century It has a number of exhibition halls, stock rooms, laboratories, a video room and a conference room. Its collection covers 40% of all known natural minerals, as well as artificial ceramics made by Bulgarian scientists.
In addition to permanent exhibitions related to minerals, the museum hosts exhibitions on other topics, as well as chamber music concerts.

Sofia Zoo

Currently, the Sofia Zoo has a huge number of exotic animals, as well as animals that live on Bulgarian soil. Was created in 1888. The zoo is constantly expanding.

Gabrovo

A city in central Bulgaria with a population of 58 thousand people. The city is considered the Bulgarian capital of humor, like Odessa, it annually hosts humor festivals. Gabrovians themselves often act as characters in jokes (the so-called Gabrov humor), where they are usually presented as overly stingy people who want to save on everything (similar to English jokes about the Scots). In Gabrovo, there is a one-of-a-kind House of Humor and Satire, which regularly holds various humorous competitions.

House of humor and satire in Gabrovo

History of Bulgaria

Bulgarian statehood has existed since 681 g. But Proto-Bulgarians were a single ethnic group before. The first mention of the Bulgarians goes back to 354 g.

Monument to Khan Asparuh in the city of Dobrich

First Bulgarian kingdom existed since 681 on 1018 years. It was formed by the ancient Bulgarians and Slavs under the leadership of Khan Asparuh. During the period of greatest prosperity, it covered most of the Balkan Peninsula and had access to three seas. It ceased to exist as a result of the conquest by Byzantium.
The ruins of the ancient capital of Bulgaria Pliska.
Byzantine Bulgaria existed for a short time 1018-1185.
Second Bulgarian kingdom (1185-1396). AT 1396 it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire.
Having become a part of Byzantium, after the defeat of the Western Bulgarian kingdom and the subordination of the Bulgarian Church to the Patriarch of Constantinople, Bulgaria constantly fought against Byzantium, because. many noble families were resettled in the Asian part of the empire. But all the uprisings were crushed.
AT 14th century Bulgaria has a more formidable and dangerous neighbor - the Ottoman Turks, who seized possessions in Asia Minor. Already in 20s 14th century. they began to make devastating raids on the Balkan Peninsula, and in 1352 captured the first fortress in the Balkans - Tsimpe. AT 1396 Bulgaria ceased to exist as an independent state for five long centuries.
Vidin kingdom (1396-1422)
A state that broke away from Bulgaria (Tarnovo kingdom) in 14th century. After falling into 1395 of the Tarnovo kingdom and the conquest of the Vidin kingdom in 1396, Konstantin II Asen ascended the throne of Vidin. He ruled either as a vassal of the Turkish sultan, or as the Hungarian king, and also temporarily declared independence, but his power extended to part of the former Vidin kingdom. Since 1396 on 1422. these remnants of the Vidin kingdom represented Bulgaria. There was no more dispute between Tarnovo and Vidin. A number of foreign states recognized Constantine II Asen precisely as the ruler of Bulgaria. In this form, Bulgaria continued to exist until 1422, when, after the death of Constantine II Asen, the Vidin kingdom ceased to be mentioned in the sources (apparently, it was finally liquidated by the Turks).
Ottoman Bulgaria (1396-1878)
At that time, there was no independent Bulgarian state, and the lands of the Bulgarians were under the dominion of the Ottoman Empire (also called "Turkish slavery" or "Ottoman yoke" in Bulgarian historiography).
The independent Bulgarian Patriarchate was liquidated, which was subordinated to the Patriarchate of Constantinople. At first, Bulgaria was in vassalage, and in 1396 Sultan Bayezid I annexed it after defeating the Crusaders at the Battle of Nikopol.

Illustration from the "Chronicles" by J. Froissart

The Turks consolidated their power in the Balkans, becoming an even greater threat to Central Europe.
Principality of Bulgaria (1878-1908)
Under the name of the Principality of Bulgaria in history, the Bulgarian state is known from obtaining autonomy within the borders of the Ottoman Empire in 1878. before the declaration of independence in 1908. It was a constitutional monarchy with a unicameral parliament (People's Assembly). The head of state is the prince. The title of the monarch is "prince of the Bulgarians". Ruling dynasties: in 1879-1886. - Battenberg, 1887-1908 - Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. A collective regency was envisaged in the event of the incapacity of the prince.
Third Bulgarian Kingdom (1908-1946)
The Bulgarian state that existed from the declaration of independence in 1908. before the abolition of the institution of the monarchy in 1946. It was a constitutional monarchy (the Tarnovo Constitution of 1879, as amended). The king was the head of state.
World War I
AT 1915 The third Bulgarian kingdom followed Ferdinand's pro-German orientation. In an effort to annex all of Slavic Macedonia, she entered the First World War on the side of Germany, Austria and Turkey. Bulgaria began to be considered in the Entente countries as a "traitor of the Slavs."
The Second World War
February 2 1941 Bulgaria and Germany signed a protocol on the deployment of German troops on the territory of Bulgaria.
March 1, 1941 Documents were signed in Vienna on Bulgaria's accession to the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Pact.
In April 1941. Bulgaria, together with Germany and Italy, took part in the Greek operation and in the Yugoslav operation, as a result of which it received part of the Aegean coast and part of Vardar Macedonia. Although Bulgaria made a claim, it did not receive either the city of Thessaloniki or Holy Mount Athos. Already in September 1941. in the area of ​​the city of Drama, inhabited by Greek repatriates from Turkey, the Bulgarian occupying forces used terror, unambiguous with genocide, after which the Third Reich reduced the territory of Central Macedonia, which was owned by the Bulgarians.
After June 22, 1941 large-scale resistance unfolded in Bulgaria. December 13, 1941 Bulgaria declared war on Great Britain and the United States, but the fighting did not follow. However, the Bulgarian cities began to be subjected to allied air raids. Bulgaria did not declare war on the USSR, but provided its territory for the deployment of German troops, discriminatory measures were also introduced in Bulgaria against the small Jewish population, but not a single Jew was deported from Bulgaria. September 5, 1944 After the capitulation of Romania, the USSR declared war on Bulgaria. The Bulgarians offered practically no resistance to the Red Army. On September 9, as a result of an uprising prepared by the forces of the Fatherland Front, the pro-German government was overthrown, and the new authorities declared war on Germany. Then an anti-communist mountain movement arose in the country.
On September 8, 1946, a referendum was held, 92.72% of the population voted for the republic.
Of the territorial acquisitions, Bulgaria retained only Southern Dobruja. 150 thousand Bulgarians were deported from Western Thrace (Greek) and from the Greek part of Macedonia. At the same time, almost the entire Greek population, who had lived on the Black Sea coast for thousands of years, was deported from Bulgaria.
People's Republic of Bulgaria (1946-1990)
As soon as the Soviet Army entered Bulgaria, on the night of September 9-10 1944 army units, together with partisan detachments, carried out a coup d'état. AT 1946. was proclaimed People's Republic of Bulgaria, the first prime minister of socialist Bulgaria was Georgy Dimitrov.

AT 1950 a consistent Stalinist becomes prime minister Vylko Chervenkov, he completes the collectivization of agriculture, suppresses the actions of the peasants, accelerates industrialization.

After Stalin's death gradually ceded influence Todor Zhivkov, who headed the Bulgarian Communist Party in 1954.
The era of Zhivkov (1954-1989)

T. Zhivkov led Bulgaria for 33 years. Relations with Yugoslavia and Greece are being restored in Bulgaria, labor camps are being closed, and the persecution of the church is being stopped.
He was loyal to the Soviet Union, supported the suppression of the Hungarian uprising in 1956, and sent troops to help suppress the Prague Spring in 1968.
10th of November 1989 Zhivkov was removed from the posts of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the BKP and Chairman of the State Council. Prime Minister of the communist government Andrey Lukanov and Chairman of the State Council Peter Mladenov, who replaced Zhivkov in this post, took a number of steps aimed at democratizing the political system.

August 1, 1990. was elected President of Bulgaria Zhelyu Zhelev, former dissident and leader of the SDS. In November, in response to massive demonstrations and a four-day general strike, Lukanov's government resigned.
On July 12, 1991, a new constitution was adopted.

The history of Bulgaria goes back thousands of years and begins its countdown in the distant Neolithic era, when nomadic agricultural tribes moved here from the territory of Asia Minor. In the course of its history, Bulgaria more than once became a coveted trophy of conquering neighbors and visited the Thracian Odrysian kingdom, Greek Macedonia, was included in the Roman Empire, and later in Byzantium, and in the 15th century. conquered by the Ottoman Empire.
Having experienced invasions, wars, conquests, Bulgaria, nevertheless, managed to revive, finding its own nation and gaining cultural and historical self-determination.

Odrysian kingdom
By the 6th c. BC e. The territory of Bulgaria was the outskirts of Ancient Greece, stretching along the Black Sea coast. For several centuries, on the basis of the Indo-European tribes who came from the north, a tribe of Thracians was formed here, from whom Bulgaria received its first name - Thrace (Bulgarian Thrace). Over time, the Thracians became the main population in this territory and formed their own state - the Odrysian kingdom, which united Bulgaria, Romania, northern Greece and Turkey. The kingdom became the largest urban conglomerate in Europe at that time. The cities founded by the Thracians - Serdika (modern Sofia), Eumolpiada (modern Plovdiv) - still have not lost their significance. The Thracians were an extremely developed and rich civilization, the tools and household items they created were ahead of their time in many ways (skillful metal blades, exquisite gold jewelry, four-wheeled chariots, etc.). Many mythical creatures passed to the neighbors of the Greeks from the Thracians - the god Dionysus, the princess Europe, the hero Orpheus, etc. But in 341 BC. weakened by colonial wars, the Odrysian kingdom fell under the influence of Macedonia, and in 46 AD. became part of the Roman Empire and later, in 365, Byzantium.
First Bulgarian kingdom
The first Bulgarian kingdom arose in 681 with the arrival of the Asian nomads of the Bulgars on the territory of Thrace, who were forced to leave the steppes of Ukraine and southern Russia under the onslaught of the Khazars. The alliance that emerged between the local Slavic population and the nomads proved to be very successful in the campaigns against Byzantium and made it possible to expand the Bulgarian kingdom by the 9th century, including Macedonia and Albania. The Bulgarian kingdom became the first Slavic state in history, and in 863 the brothers Cyril and Methodius created the Slavic alphabet - Cyrillic. The adoption of Christianity by Tsar Boris in 865 made it possible to erase the boundaries between the Slavs and the Bulgars and create a single ethnic group - the Bulgarians.
Second Bulgarian Kingdom
From 1018 to 1186, the Bulgarian kingdom was again under the rule of Byzantium, and only the uprising of Asen, Peter and Kaloyan in 1187 allowed part of Bulgaria to secede. This is how the Second Bulgarian Kingdom was formed, which lasted until 1396. Constant raids on the Balkan Peninsula by the Ottoman Empire, which began as early as 1352, led to the fall of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, which ceased to exist as an independent state for five long centuries.

Ottoman domination
As a result of the five hundred years of the Ottoman yoke, Bulgaria was completely ruined, the population decreased, and cities were destroyed. Already in the 15th century. all Bulgarian authorities ceased to exist, and the church lost its independence and became subordinate to the Patriarch of Constantinople.
The local Christian population was deprived of all rights and subjected to discrimination. Thus, Christians were forced to pay more taxes, did not have the right to carry weapons, every fifth son in the family was forced to serve in the Ottoman army. The Bulgarians raised uprisings more than once, wanting to stop the violence and oppression of Christians, but they were all brutally suppressed.

Bulgarian National Revival
In the 17th century the influence of the Ottoman Empire is weakening, and the country actually falls into anarchy: power is concentrated in the hands of the kurjali gangs that terrorized the country. At this time, the national movement revived, interest in the historical self-awareness of the Bulgarian people increased, a literary language was being formed, interest in their own culture was being revived, the first schools, theaters appeared, newspapers in the Bulgarian language began to be printed, etc.
Princely semi-independence
Princely rule arose after the liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman rule as a result of the defeat of Turkey in the war with Russia (1877 - 1878) and the country's independence in 1878. In honor of this key event in the history of Bulgaria, a magnificent temple was erected in the capital of Sofia in 1908 Alexander Nevsky, which has become the hallmark of not only the city, but the entire state.
According to the Treaty of San Stefano, Bulgaria was granted the vast territory of the Balkan Peninsula, which included Macedonia and northern Greece. However, under pressure from the West, instead of gaining independence, Bulgaria received broad autonomy within the Ottoman Empire and a monarchical form of government headed by the German prince Alexander, the nephew of the Russian Tsar Alexander II. Nevertheless, Bulgaria managed to reunite, as a result of which the country gained Eastern Rumelia, part of Thrace and access to the Aegean Sea. But in this composition, Bulgaria was able to exist for a short 5 years (1913-1918), after the defeat in the First World War, the country lost most of its territory.

Third Bulgarian kingdom
The third Bulgarian kingdom covers the period from 1918 to 1946. Despite the agreement signed in 1937 on "unbreakable peace and sincere and eternal friendship" with Yugoslavia, during the Second World War Bulgaria chooses Germany as its ally and introduces its troops into the territory of a neighboring country, thus supporting the German intervention. Tsar Boris's attempt to change course was unsuccessful. After his premature death, his 6-year-old son Simeon II, who later fled to Spain, takes the throne. In 1944, Soviet troops entered Bulgaria, and already in 1944-1945. the Bulgarian army begins to conduct military operations against Germany and its allies as part of the Soviet armed forces. The further political course of Bulgaria was predetermined, in 1944 power passes to the communists under the leadership of Todor Zhivkov. In 1946, as a result of a referendum, the monarchy was liquidated, and Bulgaria proclaimed itself a republic headed by a prime minister.

Communist Bulgaria
During the communist regime, Bulgaria achieved high results in the development and modernization of industry, industrialization and collectivization of agriculture, which made it possible not only to provide the country with jobs, the latest technology, various goods and food products, but also to become a major exporter. The main consumer of Bulgarian exports was, of course, the USSR. Thus, industrial and textile goods, agricultural products, various canned food, tobacco products, alcoholic beverages (cognac, beer) and the first computers were actively supplied to the Soviet republics, and Bulgarian resorts became a popular vacation spot for Soviet citizens. However, in 1989, the wave of perestroika also reached Bulgaria, and after the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, the communist system was overthrown, and the permanent 78-year-old leader of the Communist Party, Todor Zhivkov, was sent under arrest and later stood trial on charges of corruption and bribery.

Modern Bulgaria
Modern Bulgaria has taken a course towards the West and European integration. Thus, on March 29, 2004, the country joined NATO, and on January 1, 2007, the European Union. Carrying out a comprehensive modernization, every year Bulgaria becomes more and more attractive for foreign tourists, a popular destination for summer and winter holidays. The widespread construction of new hotels, the development of infrastructure, the improvement of the quality of service and the diversification of services have allowed Bulgaria to repeatedly increase the tourist flow.
Today, the resorts of the country are modern complexes for a comfortable and fulfilling vacation - an excellent hotel base, a variety of excursion routes, entertainment for every taste, alternative forms of tourism and much more. Attractive prices, low compared to other European resorts, make holidays here affordable for a wide range of tourists - from youth companies to families with children, while luxurious 5 * hotels meet the requirements of the most demanding guests.
Despite the fact that Bulgaria is more associated with a beach holiday, the country has amazing opportunities for winter tourism. Excellent ski resorts - Bansko, Borovets, Pamporovo - fascinate with the beauty of the surrounding nature, modern tracks for both amateurs and professionals, excellent opportunities for the smallest fans of skiing, as well as for those who prefer snowboarding to skiing.
And if you still don't feel confident enough, experienced instructors are at your service. They will not only teach you all the necessary skills and abilities in a short time, but will also offer you communication in your native language. The absence of a language barrier, the commonality of cultures and Orthodox traditions make visiting the resorts of Bulgaria even more enjoyable, come and see for yourself!

"NRB" redirects here, see also "NRB (disambiguation)" People's Republic of Bulgaria People's Republic of Bulgaria is a sovereign socialist state ... Wikipedia

See Bulgaria… Great Soviet Encyclopedia

IV.7.7. People's Republic of Bulgaria (partocracy) (09/15/1946 - 11/5/1991)- ⇑ … Rulers of the World

IV.7.8. Republic of Bulgaria (from 5.11.1991)- ⇑ … Rulers of the World

Republic of Bulgaria, state in the south of Europe. The name Bulgaria (Bulgaria) is derived from the name of the inhabitants of the Bulgarians. Geographical names of the world: Toponymic dictionary. M: AST. Pospelov E.M. 2001 ... Geographic Encyclopedia

The Republic of Bulgaria, a state in Eastern Europe. Bulgaria is located in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. It borders in the north with Romania along the Danube, in the south with Greece and Turkey, in the west with Yugoslavia and Macedonia. In the east it is washed by ... ... Collier Encyclopedia

History of Bulgaria ... Wikipedia

BULGARIA- THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA A country in the southeast of Europe, located on the Balkan Peninsula (from 1946 to 1990 it was called the People's Republic of Bulgaria). In the north it borders with Romania, in the south with Turkey and Greece, in the west with Serbia and the former ... ... Cities and countries

BULGARIA- (Republic of Bulgaria; Bulg. Republic of Bulgaria), state in the Balkan Peninsula. Territory: 110994 sq. km. Capital: Sofia (1310 thousand people in 2002). The largest cities: Varna, Plovdiv, Burgas, Stara Zagora, Pleven, Shumen, Ruse. State. language: Bulgarian.… … Orthodox Encyclopedia

Books

• The Institutional Context of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies: A Comparison of University Students' Perceptions in Nine Countries, R. B. Yonni. In this study, the authors compared and contrasted the perceptions of the institutional environment for entrepreneurship development by university students in nine emerging economies of three… electronic book
• Pebble with a hole, Marcel Salimov. It happens like this: a master of laughter known not only in our country, but also far beyond its borders, winner of the international literary awards "Aleko" (Bulgaria), named after Sergei Mikhalkov (Russia) and ...

- 110994 km2.

Population of Bulgaria. 7.171 million people (

Bulgaria GDP. $55.73 billion (

Administrative divisions of Bulgaria. Consists of 8 areas which include communities. The city of Sofia also has the status of a region.

Form of government in Bulgaria. Parliamentary republic.

Head of State of Bulgaria. President elected for a term of 5 years.

Bulgaria's highest legislative body. Unicameral People's Assembly.

Bulgaria's highest executive body. Council of Ministers.

Major cities in Bulgaria. Plovdiv, Varna, Rousse, Burgas.

State language of Bulgaria. Bulgarian.

Religion in Bulgaria. 85% are Orthodox, 13% are Muslims.

Ethnic composition of Bulgaria. 87% - Bulgarians, 9% - Turks, 2.5% -, 2.5% - Macedonians.

Currency of Bulgaria. Lev = 100 stotinka.

The climate of Bulgaria. Continental, transitional. The average annual temperature is + 13°С. reaches zero in January. The average temperature of the warmest month - July - is from + 23 °С to + 25 °С. in the lowlands fall out in the amount of 500-600 mm per year, in the mountains - 1000-1200 mm per year. The entire country from west to east is crossed by the Balkan Mountains, where the vertical line is clearly visible. The highest point is Mount Musala (2925 m). Flora. Forests occupy up to 30% of the territory of Bulgaria. Here there are oak, hornbeam, beech, elm, ash, pine, spruce, fir.

Bulgaria(Bulgaria) - a state in the southeastern part of Europe, located on the Balkan Peninsula. Republic of Bulgaria- a hospitable country that hosts tourists around. The country is distinguished by affordable recreation (compared to other European countries), while demonstrating first-class service in all its manifestations. Bulgaria- these are ski resorts with slopes of different difficulty levels, these are the golden sands of the Black Sea coast, this is wonderful nature and medical resorts.

Bulgaria is a country golden sands»

1. Capital

Capital of Bulgaria- ancient city Sofia(Sofia City), whose history spans more than one thousand years. The capital inherited its name from the main attraction - the cathedral Hagia Sophia. Sofia is located in the western part Bulgaria, at the foot of Vitosha Mountain. Sofia- these are monuments of history and architecture, magnificent mountain nature and green city parks, large shopping and entertainment centers and hotels, ski resorts and mineral springs.

2. Flag

Flag of Bulgaria (Flag of Bulgaria) - a rectangular panel with an aspect ratio of 2: 3, consisting of three horizontal, equal in width stripes: white (top), green (intermediate) and red (bottom). The white stripe is the personification of peace and freedom; green strip natural wealth Bulgaria, and green is also considered the traditional color of Bulgarian kings; the red stripe is the blood of the Bulgarians shed in the battles for state independence.

3. Coat of arms

Coat of arms of Bulgaria (Coat of arms of Bulgaria) is a garnet-colored shield depicting a lion standing on its hind legs, which is held by two golden shield-bearing lions. The shield is located on oak branches. At the top of the composition there is a large crown of the Bulgarian kings, and at the bottom there is a ribbon with the national the motto of Bulgaria « Unity gives strength » (« Unionto rule silat»).

The lion is a symbol of courage and courage; three lions - three historical regions of the state: Moesia, Thrace and Macedonia; the pomegranate color of the shield is the blood of patriots shed in the battles for state independence; golden color is a symbol of wealth and abundance; the crown is a symbol of history; oak branches are a symbol of perseverance, and their green color is a symbol of fertility.

4. Anthem

listen to the anthem of Bulgaria

5. Currency

Official Bulgarian currency — Bulgarian lev, equal to 100 stotinki (letter designation BGN, code 975). The name lev, the currency received from the Dutch coin "leeuwendaalder", which depicted a lion. In circulation there are coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 stotinki and 1 lev, as well as banknotes in denominations of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 leva. The exchange rate of the Bulgarian currency to the ruble or any other currency can be viewed on the currency converter below:

The appearance of the coins of Bulgaria

The appearance of the banknotes of Bulgaria

6. Bulgaria on the world map

Bulgaria- a state in the southeastern part of Europe, located on the Balkan Peninsula, on the Black Sea coast, square which is 110,910 km² . Bulgaria borders: in the north - with Romania, in the south - with Turkey and Greece, in the west - with Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia, in the east it is washed by the waters of the Black Sea. Through the sea Bulgaria has connections with Russia, Ukraine and Georgia.

There are three geographical regions in the country: the first is the Danube Plain; the second is a mountain range consisting of the Balkan and Rhodope systems; the third is the Southeast Plain. The main river of the country is the Danube, which forms a natural border between Bulgaria and Romania.

7. How to get to Bulgaria?

8. What is worth seeing in Bulgaria?

- these are monasteries and churches, historical monuments and museums, national parks and reserves, hot springs and ski resorts, beautiful beaches and invigorating water parks.

And here is a small list of attractions which you should pay attention to when planning excursions to Bulgaria:

• Aqua Planet water park in Primorsko
• The ancient fortress of Serdika
• Bachkovo Monastery
• Varna Archaeological Museum
• rose valley
• Dragalev Monastery
• Evksinograd
• Stone forest in Varna
• Banya-Bashi Mosque
• Monastery Aladzha
• National Art Gallery of Bulgaria
• Saint Anastasia Island
• Borisov Gradina Park
• Rila Monastery
• Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin in Varna
• Thracian tomb in Kazanlak
• Temple - a monument to St. Alexander Nevsky in Sofia
• Weird rocks

9. The largest cities in Bulgaria

List of ten largest cities in Bulgaria

• Sofia (capital of Bulgaria) - (Sofia the capital of Bulgaria)
• Plovdiv (Plovdiv)
• Varna
• Burgas
• Rousse
• Stara Zagora
• Pleven
• Sliven
• Dobrich
• Pernik

10. Climate

The climate of Bulgaria in most of the territory - temperate continental, with a fairly clear division of the four seasons. The Mediterranean climate dominates in the southern part of the country and in the coastal regions. The average summer temperature is +19°С +26°С, and in the hottest month - July, it can reach +30°С. The water remains warm until the end of September. The average winter temperature is -1°С + 1°С, and in mountainous areas it can drop to -14°С - 16°С. The average amount of precipitation per year is 900 - 1000 mm in the highlands and 650 - 700 mm in the plains.

11. Population

Makes up 7,070,039 people (as of February 2017), of which 82% are Bulgarians, 9.5% are Turks, 4.6% are Roma, 0.3% are Russians. Also Armenians, Romanians, Ukrainians, Greeks and Jews live in the country. The average life expectancy of the local population is: men - 68 years, women - 75 years.

12. Language

State Bulgarian language – Bulgarian , it is spoken by 82% of the total population of the country. Quite common are: Turkish - 9.5%, Gypsy - 4.6% and Russian - 0.3%. Less common: Armenian, Romanian, Greek, Ukrainian, Macedonian, Tatar, Arabic and Hebrew.

13. Religion

Religion in Bulgaria. The country's constitution provides freedom of religion. Of the entire population of the country, 82% consider themselves to be believers. Of these, 85.2% are Orthodox Christians, 12.5% ​​are Muslims, 1.1% are Catholics, 0.5% are Protestants and a small part of other world religions.

14. Holidays

National holidays in Bulgaria:

• January 1 - New Year's Eve January 6 - Epiphany
• January 7 - Midsummer Day (in honor of John the Baptist)
• February 14 - Valentine's Day (Valentine's Day)
• March 3 - Day of the liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman slavery
• movable date in April - May - Orthodox Easter ("Velikden")
• May 1 - Labor Day
• May 6 - Day of St. George the Victorious (Day of the Armed Forces of Bulgaria)
• May 24 - Day of Slavic Literature and Culture
• June 1 - International Children's Day
• August 15 - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
• September 6 is the Day of the Unification of Bulgaria.
• September 22 - Independence Day
• December 6 - Constitution Day
• December 24 - Christmas Eve
• December 25 - Christmas

15. Souvenirs

Here is a small list most common souvenirs which tourists usually bring from Bulgaria:

• fragrant spices
• Bulgarian wines
• wallets in the form of various animals, fruits or vegetables
• copper coffee pots
• natural cosmetic
• bee products
• crafts made of wood and ceramics
• textile
• jewelry and silver and gold

16. "No nail, no wand" or customs regulations

They do not restrict the import and export of currency, however, the amount over $10.000 or 7.000€ must be declared. When importing, jewelry, photo and video equipment are also declared, which in the future must be exported from the country.

Allowed:

Persons over the age of 17 may bring: 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 gr. tobacco, 1 liter of spirits (more than 22%), 2 liters of alcohol less than 22%, not more than 500 gr. coffee or 200 gr. coffee extract, 100 gr. tea or 40 gr. tea extract. As well as other goods for personal use in the amount of 175 euros per person.

Forbidden:

To Bulgaria the import of meat and dairy products (including sausages and chocolates) is prohibited. An exception is baby food and special food for people with various diseases, however, in these cases, the products must be well packaged and their weight should not exceed 2 kg. If meat and dairy products are found, they will be confiscated, and a fine will be charged from the person who carried them.
To Bulgaria the import of drugs, weapons, ammunition, explosives, potent psychotropic or poisonous substances, rare and protected animals and plants is prohibited. As well as items of historical, artistic or other value.

Plants and animals:

All animals, plants, and products of plant origin must be presented to the quarantine service. Import and export of pets is allowed only if there is a certificate of vaccination against rabies, made no earlier than 12 months and no later than 30 days before the date of entry to Bulgaria. You must also have a medical certificate for a pet, received at least 5 days before entering the country.

17. Voltage in the electrical network of Bulgaria

Mains voltage: 230 AT, at a frequency of 50 Hz. socket type: Type C, F.

18. Telephone code and domain name Bulgaria

Phone country code: +359
First level geographic domain name: .bg

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