Bulgaria, one of the EU’s newest members (joining in January 2007), has been through mammoth changes in the last few years. Many of the cities and resorts have been undergoing
construction booms galore, tempting buyers from Western Europe with relatively cheap property.
Bulgaria’s
beach and
ski resorts are expanding quickly as a result. The main cities have shrugged off their weary Communist-era image and have become
vibrant and attractive, with well-kept boulevards, varied shopping and lively nightlife.
Spectacular
mountains occupy half the
country’s territory and the swathe of
golden beaches along the 370km- (232-mile-) long
Black Sea bring in hordes of tourists from around the world.
Visitors can stay in towns and villages that have aimed to preserve the authentic Bulgarian spirit and hospitality. Bulgaria is especially proud of its
rich folklore traditions, and folk dances, music, national costumes and traditional rituals play an important part in the life of Bulgarians.
Bulgaria has had a
turbulent history and recently experienced radical political changes. Having been a satellite of the Soviet Union for nearly half a century, Bulgaria chose its first democratically-elected president, Zhelyu Zhelev, in 1990. A constitution was adopted in 1991, the political parties were restored, and privatization and restitution of the land started. Such changes escalated in the run-up, and subsequent accession, to the European Union in 2007.
GeographyBulgaria is situated in Eastern Europe and bordered to the north by the River Danube and Romania, to the east by the Black Sea, to the south by Turkey and Greece and to the west by Serbia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The Balkan Mountains cross the country reaching to the edge of the Black Sea and its golden beaches. The land is heavily cultivated, covered with forests and crossed by rivers. Although Bulgaria lies in the very southeast corner of Europe, the climate is never extreme in summer, even on the red-earthed plains of Southern Thrace. The Black Sea resorts have some of the largest beaches in Europe and offer sunbathing from May until October, while in winter heavy falls of snow are virtually guaranteed in the mountain ski resorts.
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