Explore Bulgaria, Hidden Gem of Europe
Bulgaria, an unexpected treasure to discover.
Come explore the cultural and natural riches of Bulgaria.
Discover Bulgaria: An Adventure Between Nature and History
This member state of the European Union since 2007 is indeed worth a visit for its cultural treasures listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites and the great variety of its landscapes, from the Balkan Mountains to the beautiful golden sandy beaches on the shores of the Black Sea.
Bulgaria is the historical and geographical crossroads of Central Europe where the West and the East, as well as the Slavic soul and Mediterranean culture, have met. You can encounter, whether on a self-drive tour or an organized trip, as a couple or with friends, more than a hundred orthodox monasteries in often grandiose natural sites like in the Rila Mountains, ancient Thracian and Roman cities carefully preserved like in Abritus, and even rock churches carved into the stone at Ivanovo.
Going to Bulgaria also means diving into the sources of thermalism with your partner or friends in hundreds of natural springs and a multitude of thermal spas, on the shores of the Black Sea as well as in the mountains. Green tourism is indeed a major asset for coming to hike here among forests, mountain ranges, lakes, and valleys in about ten national parks. And winter is beautiful too, especially thanks to the three local ski resorts.
An Unknown Destination to Discover
Aside from yogurt, its capital Sofia, or a football team that made French supporters cry in the 1990s, Bulgaria probably doesn't evoke much for you. Yet, around ten million foreign tourists visit Bulgaria each year, coming from Russia, Germany, and England.
Must-See Attractions
Nestled in a wide bay of the Black Sea, the city of Balchik is built at the foot of high hills in a setting of dazzling white limestone rock. This magical setting is rich in tourist attractions, with several renowned seaside resorts nearby.
The Aleksander Nevski Cathedral-Monument in Sofia, along with the Saint Sophia Basilica, is another symbol of the Bulgarian capital. It is the largest cathedral in the Balkans and one of the most important in the Orthodox world, drawing attention with its rich interior decoration and splendid golden domes.
Veliko Tarnovo, the former royal capital, offers a unique arrangement of houses laid out in an amphitheater around the Yantra River and its meanders in the north of the country.
The Rila Monastery, still inhabited by Orthodox monks after ten centuries, is the most famous in Bulgaria. This site blends spirituality and architectural splendors of the 19th-century Bulgarian Renaissance in a wild and enchanting setting, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Discover Bulgaria Differently
The largest natural park in the country stretches 100 km south of Sofia. It is an area of forests and mountains, including Mount Moussala, the highest point in Bulgaria at 2925 m. It is traversed by large rivers and dotted with more than a hundred lakes, notably the seven lakes of the Rila mountain at over 2,000 m altitude.
In the Rila massif is also located the largest and oldest winter sports resort in the country. Perched at 1300 m, Borovets was inaugurated in 1896 by Prince Ferdinand I of Bulgaria. Despite its age, it is a modern and upscale resort.
Sozopol is one of the oldest Bulgarian towns, founded by the Greeks in the 5th century BC. Located on a rocky peninsula by the Black Sea, it offers its many summer visitors a charming maze of cobbled streets in its historic center.
The "City of 7 Hills," Plovdiv, was less affected by Soviet urbanism than Sofia. European Capital of Culture in 2019, it boasts an impressive number of ancient ruins in its historic center, including a Roman amphitheater and stadium. Its cobblestones and colorful houses are also worth a look.
A Destination with Varied Natural Charms
Bulgaria's climate is temperate, with a mix of continental and Mediterranean influences. For decades, Nordics from the Eastern bloc found their Riviera there. This means that there are few unpleasant months for outdoor tourism. Beautiful days are frequent throughout the year. The culture of cafés and terraces is characteristic of the country, as are evening strolls on pedestrian avenues, walks along the seaside or in parks. Between March and October, evening strolling is a national activity in Bulgaria. The natural conditions for practicing outdoor sports are excellent all year round: skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing in winter; swimming, windsurfing, sailing, diving, trekking, hiking, climbing, and mountaineering in summer. Additionally, this good climate will allow you to enjoy excellent quality fruits and vegetables with rustic flavors all year round. Not to mention the wine...
Discover Spectacular Nature
Bulgarian nature is beautiful and varied. Low and medium mountain landscapes, plains, valleys, gorges, and alpine meadows, wine-growing foothills, cliffs, beaches, bays, and lagoons compose sumptuous panoramas. The southwest of Bulgaria is the most spectacular region for mountain enthusiasts. It is covered with medium and high mountain ranges, with landscapes between the Massif Central and the Alps. These young mountains, similar to the Alps, reach nearly 3,000 meters.
This ensemble includes the massifs of Vitosha, Rila, Pirin, and the Rhodopes. The Grand Balkan, or Stara Planina, is another fascinating massif. These regions form a paradise for mountain and nature lovers, suitable for hiking and mountain sports. The wildlife is abundant with bears, lynxes, and wolves. Bulgaria boasts a superb diversity of ecosystems: the Black Sea, the Danube River courses, and exceptional bird reserves. For its size, it offers unparalleled ecological richness.
The Land of Thermal Baths
With its nearly 600 mineral water springs with healing properties, the Bulgarian territory was already recognized in ancient times as a popular spa destination. The Thracians, and later the Romans, built towns and public baths around these springs, located at the foot of the mountains and along the Black Sea coast. Emperor Septimius Severus and Julia Domna extended their stay to enjoy the thermal waters of Sofia. The Romans constructed the largest baths on the Balkan Peninsula in Varna.
Today, these waters present varied chemical compositions with a high and constant mineralization rate. The combination of a mild climate and healing properties attracts many visitors. Several well-equipped resorts offer a wide range of treatments. Notable sites include a geyser in Sapareva Banya, as well as the spa towns of Velingrad, Sandanski, Devin, and Hissarya.
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