Bulgaria is officially known as People’s Republic of Bulgaria. It is ranked as the 16th largest country in Europe and one of the most beautiful countries in the continent. All school in this country is free.
Bulgaria has a total area of 110,994 km². The country is bounded by Romania in the north, Serbia and Macedonia in the west, Greece and Turkey in the south and the Black Sea in the east. Sofia, its capital and its largest city, has a population of 1,405,000 people.
Here are the most interesting places to visit in Bulgaria.
1. Primorsko
The beautiful Primorsko, a town and seaside resort in the southeastern part of Bulgaria, is a well-known resort on the Black Sea Coast. With a beach strip that extends about 1 km and with favorable climate, Primorsko is indeed conducive for tourism. The Snake Island reserve is also located near this lovely town.
2. National Palace of Culture
The magnificent National Palace of Culture in Sofia is a large multifunctional congress, conference, convention and exhibition center that opened in 1981. It was declared the best congress center in the world in 2005 by the International Organization of Congress Centers. With a wide variety of technical equipment, it is capable to host different types of events, such as concerts, conferences, exhibitions and shows. The total area of this congress center is 123,000 m² on eight floors and three underground levels. It has 13 halls and 15,000 m² of exhibition area, a trade centre and a car park.
3. Rila Monastery
Rila Monastery, which was founded in the 9th century, is striking in its mountainous setting. Its complete name is Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila but it is better known as the Rila Monastery. It was named after the famous Bulgarian saint and hermit – Ivan of Rila. It is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. This monastery, which is a popular tourist attraction, is situated in the northwestern Rila Mountains.
4. Euxinograd
The beautiful Euxinograd is a late 19th-century royal summer palace and park on the Black Sea Coast. The palace is now being used as a governmental and presidential retreat hosting cabinet meetings in the summer and offering access for tourists to several villas and hotels. It is also the venue of the Operosa annual opera festival since 2007.
5. Raysko Praskalo
Raysko Praskalo, "Heavenly Spray", is a towering waterfall with a height of 124.5 meters making it the highest waterfall in all of Bulgaria and the Balkans. It is located under Botev Peak in the Balkan Mountains. The waterfall gathers water from snow-drifts.
6. Tigrad Gorge
The 7 km long Trigrad Gorge is a magnificent canyon of vertical marble rocks in the Rhodope Mountains in the southernmost part of Bulgaria. The western wall of the gorge is 300 meters tall while the eastern wall rages between 300 and 350 meters tall. The farthest distance of the walls is 300 meters and the closest is 100 meters. Trigrad Gorge encloses the course of the Trigrad River that plunges into the Devil’s Throat Cave and comes out as a large karst spring half kilometer away.
7. Baikushev’s Pine
The Baikushev’s Pine, a coniferous tree located in Pirin, is the oldest tree in Bulgaria. It is estimated to be over 1,300 years old and contemporary of modern Bulgaria’s first Khan, Asparukh. This notable Bulgarian tree is 26 meters in height, has a diameter of 2.2 meters and with a circumference 7.8 meters.
Via: factoidz
Travel in 2010 is going to be all about value and how much holiday experience bang you can get for your buck. The recession may be crawling towards an end, but holidaymakers have received a big wakeup call over the past year. And they don’t just want great value. Travellers are increasingly looking for once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
With that in mind, our travelbite editor Natasha von Geldern offers up her ”Top 10 Travel Destinations for 2010.” You’ll find some countries and some cities on her list and a lot of travel experiences to look forward to.
1. Brazil
Riding on the back of the buildup to two major sporting events – the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016 – Brazil is likely to be on the travel radar in the next year. This holiday destination is about lifestyle, nature and adventure. Visitors love the culture, nightlife and carnival attitude of the Brazilian people. New boutique hotels and eco-lodges are popping up all over the place and from the seductive charms of Rio and gorgeous paradise beaches to exploring the Amazon, Brazil has to be on every traveller’s list.
2. United States
Perhaps it’s the Obama effect but it’s no longer politically incorrect to be a fan of the US of A. This vast country has something for everyone, from the spectacular national parks of Utah to fly-drives in the sunshine state of Florida. If you’ve done New York City why not plan a US city break in Philadelphia? This supremely walkable city has history, culture, entertainment and genuine heart.
3. Iceland
There’s no other way to say it, there has never been a cheaper time to visit Iceland. We don’t like to get excited about other’s misfortunes, but this incredible country is now within reach for many more travellers. 2010 is set to be a good opportunity to see the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, indisputably one of mother-nature’s most spectacular sights. Discover Iceland’s rich natural beauty and literary history or take a city break in Reyjkavik. With prices now at their lowest in years, there really has never been a better time to visit Iceland.
4. Cuba
At long last the US government has formally eased travel and commercial restrictions with Cuba, including access to telecommunications companies. This country rich in rhythm and music is likely to become more and more popular with US visitors. But for now it still retains the edginess of an alternative destination. And travelling independently in Cuba is cheap, with Casa Particulare official homestays from £15 per night per room. Find the best mojito in Havana and dance to the beat in Trinidad before McDonalds arrives!
5. South Africa
Yes, it’s all about the football, and the FIFA World Cup is going to set South Africa alight in 2010. The country has spent a lot of effort and cash on preparing for this event, and it’s going to be an amazing opportunity to enjoy what this spectacular country has to offer. See Table Mountain in Cape Town, go wine touring in Stellenbosch, and see the big five in malaria-free parks. For your beach holiday pleasure the coast of subtropical KwaZulu Natal enjoys 23 degree sea temperatures, so you can swim year around.
6. London
London is now more affordable and accessible for visitors from abroad than it has been for a long time, so I’m tipping it will be on many traveller’s lists for 2010. Residents may not notice things have got any cheaper, but the depressed sterling means the United Kingdom capital is no longer one of the world’s most expensive destinations. Star of a multitude of literary and cinematic references, London has the parks, the museums, the shows and the shopping to fill a lifetime of city breaks.
7. Nepal
How many travellers have long held a desire to experience the world’s best trekking in the legendary kingdom of Nepal? After the political unrest of the past decade the monarchy is no more, but the trekking is, and I predict the number of tourist visitors will return to levels seen in the 1990s within a few years. Even at the height of the troubles the trail to Everest Base Camp was busy so I heartily recommend alternatives in the Khumbu such as the Gokyo Trek. The Annapurna region is changing forever with the building of a new road, but there is still plenty of top-class trekking, including to the Annapurna Sanctuary.
Via: Britannica Blog
