Fun Facts About Bulgaria

Bulgaria is a relatively undiscoverd travel destination.  The primary language is Bulgarian, yet many of the younger generation speaks English quite well.  German, French and Italian are also spoken to some extent.  The older generation speaks Russian, as that was required learning under the Communist Regime.  The natural beauty of the country is only surpassed by the friendliness and hospitality of the people who live there. Here is a list of interesing facts about Bulgaria that you may not have known.

CYRILLIC ALPHABET

The Cyrillic Alphabet was developed in the 9th century AD during the First Bulgarian Empire.  It is the basis of alphabets used in Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mongolia, Montenegro, Serbia, Russia, and other Ex-Russian Republics.  Over 250 million people use the Cyrillic Alphabet in their native languages.

PLOVDIV

Plovdiv is one of the oldest cities in Europe dating back to the 6th century BC.  It is more ancient than Rome, Athens and Constantinople.  It has been invaded by the Persians, Greeks, Celts, Romans, Goths, Huns, Bulgarians, Slav-Vikings, Crusaders, and Turks.  It has many well preserved historical remains including a Roman Stadium, and Theater.

YOGURT

Bulgaria is famous for it’s yogurt.  Bacillus Bulgaricus is a live bacteria strain found in most of the worlds yogurts.  This wonderful probiotic food is an exclusive Bulgarian invention and is believed to have been known for at least 4000 years.  It’s not the same as the yogurt you buy in an American grocery store.  There is no sugar or preservatives added to traditional Bulgarian Yogurt, and it is very healthy, having helped sustain civilizations for centuries.

THE ROSE

The Valley of The Rose is in central Bulgaria.  The climate in this region is ideal for growing the Rosa Damascena.  The oil distilled from this flower is the most important ingredient in the worlds finest perfumes.  Bulgaria is the worlds largest exporter of Rose Oil, called also "Liquid GOLD".

THE COMPUTER

John Vincent Atanasoff known as the "Father of the modern computer" was a physicist and inventor of Bulgarian descent who is credited with inventing the first electronic digital computer in the early 40's together with Clifford Berry for the University of Iowa.

RAFAIL'S CROSS

Rafail’s Cross is a famous wooden crucifix at Rila Monastery.  It was carved out of a single piece of wood over more than 12 years and contains 104 religious scenes and 650 miniature figures, some no larger than a grain of rice.  The monk lost his eyesight while while creating it.

GOLD TREASURE

The oldest gold treasure in the world was found in Bulgaria near the seaside town of Varna.  It is nearly 7000 years old and is considered one of the most important archeological discoveries in history.  By comparison, the Egyptian Pyramids are around 4500 years old.

SOFIA'S YELLOW BRICK ROAD

The streets around the capital of Sofia are paved with "Gold" Bricks. Even though they may not be made of solid gold, they are indeed yellow designed to rival the cities of Vienna and Budapest. These bricks were donated to the Tsar Ferdinand I as a wedding present From the Austrian King.  

FOREST

Nearly one third of Bulgaria is covered in forests and this shouldn’t be too surprising given the fact that there are over 40 mountains on its territory. Needless to say, they are all great for skiing and mountaineering.

TIME CAPSULE

The Bulgarian folk song Izlel e Delio Haydutin has been flying around open space together with Bach’s and Mozart’s greatest works since 1977 when the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 probes left the Earth.

Bulgaria is the country with the highest number of natural mineral springs in Continental Europe – over 600.