Bulgaria Travel

Bulgaria, formally the Republic of Bulgaria, Bulgarian Republika Bŭlgariya, is situated in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula along the Black Sea just above Greece and Turkey.

Neanderthal remains dating to around 150,000 years back, or the Middle Paleolithic, are several of the earliest human traces on the grounds of modern-day Bulgaria, with Neolithic Karanovo culture from 6,500 BC being the first established society. Between the 6th and the 3rd century BC, the region was a battlefield for Thracians, Persians, Celts, and old Macedonians. Stability arrived when the Roman Empire conquered the area in AD 45. The Eastern Roman, or Byzantine, Empire lost several of these areas to an attacking Bulgar horde in the late 7th century. The Bulgars established the First Bulgarian Empire in AD 681, which dominated most Balkans and considerably influenced Slavic societies by establishing the Cyrillic script. This state fell in the 11th century when Byzantine emperor Basil II overcame and dismantled it. A successful Bulgarian revolt in 1185 developed a Second Bulgarian Empire, which reached its peak under Ivan Asen II (1218 - 1241). After various exhausting battles and feudal quarrels, the Second Bulgarian Empire broke down in 1396, as its territories fell under Ottoman regulation for virtually five centuries. The Russo-Turkish War of 1877 - 78 resulted in the formation of the existing Third Bulgarian State. Numerous ethnic Bulgarian populations were left outside its borders, which led to multiple conflicts with its neighbors and an alliance with Germany in both world wars. In 1946 Bulgaria ended up being a one-party socialist state and part of the Soviet-led Eastern Bloc. The Communist Party renounced its monopoly on power after the transformations of 1989 and allowed multi-party elections. Bulgaria, after that, transitioned into a democracy as well as a market-based economy.

The nation is impressive for its variety of surroundings - its majestic mountains, quaint Black Sea resorts, an east-meets-west mosaic architecture, religious heritage, and cuisine. At the foot of domed Vitosha mountain is its capital city, Sofia, dating to the 5th century BC. With over one million residents, Sofia has three times as many people as the following biggest cities, Plovdiv and Varna. The Bulgarian writer Yordon Radichkov has placed Sofia along the axis of 2 significant global routes: (1) the historical Silk Road that links China and the west and (2) a major natural path of moving birds referred to as the "Grand Route of Aristotle." In Radichkov's words, "The universal core of Bulgaria is to be found at the crossroads of these two routes."

Through this series of articles, I intend to share our stories and experiences of traveling across Bulgaria with our fellow photography and travel enthusiasts. I hope they help you plan your travels across this beautiful country!