The low - cost Germanwings Air Carrier launches flights to Bulgaria's biggest Black Sea coast cities of Varna and Burgas
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There is already a strong interest to Bulgaria as a new member of the EU and as a country which offers great opportunities for new business projects or property investments and not last as a preferred holiday destination.These are some of the reasons for many world famous airline companies to start launching new routes to some of the Bulgaria’s biggest cities. The German air carrier “Germanwings” is the next company which put Bulgaria in its schedule. “Germanwings” starts low-cost flights to the Bulgarian biggest summer destinations at the Black Sea coast. The routes will be from Berlin and Köln/Bonn to Varna and Burgas. The company is a filial of “Eurowings”, and part of “Lufthansa”, the representatives of the company announced.The first flight Berlin – Varna will be launched this Saturday (19, May, 2007). At the same time the route Köln/Bonn – Varna will be opened, and the Burgas destination – on the next day. “Germanwings” have put flights on sale until the end of October, 2007. This includes some of the already existed company’s routes and a number of new ones, including the flights to Bulgaria’s Varna and Burgas.The air carrier offers flights with starting price of EUR19, included airport taxes and new “Airbus” planes. You can buy the low – cost tickets only from the official website of the company. ‘Germanwings’ is a major low-cost airline company, based in Germany. The air carrier will flight to 66 destinations this summer. The company uses 27 planes, 24 of which are A319, and the rest – A320.Source: BTA |
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Destination Bulgaria
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Bulgaria is located in Southeastern Europe, in the Eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. For more than 13 centuries the country has been a commercial and cultural link between the East and the West. Today's Bulgaria is the result of the evolution of ancient civilisations and the activity of great people who wrote its turbulent history. Bulgaria is known for its picturesque beauty. In spite of its relatively small territory (110 912 km2, about the same land area as the State of South Carolina in the United States), the country has a wide variety of natural landscapes.The scenery changes from vast plains, to areas of rolling hills and high mountains. Large beaches and beautiful rocky shores stretch out along the Bulgarian Black sea coast. Bulgaria is especially proud of its rich folklore traditions. Folk dances, music, historic national costumes and traditional rituals have an important place in the life of all Bulgarians and will most certainly be enjoyed and remembered by all visiting this beautiful and culturally diverse country.
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Central Balkan Range Monasteries
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The monasteries in the Central Balkan Range are not accessible via key motorways and highways. The Central Balkan Range National Park - the route is based on visits to seven Balkan Range monasteries – Glozhene Monastery, Trojan Monastery, Novo Selo Monastery, Batoshevo Monastery, Sokolski Monastery and Dryanovo Monastery. Other stopovers include the Ethnographic complex Etura near Gabrovo, Bacho Kiro Cave and the eco-trail above Dryanovo Monastery, all in central northern Bulgaria.
The starting point of the route is the town of Yablanitsa, but not necessarily for the delicious Turkish delight and halva made locally. It is close to the village of Malak Izvor and to Glozhene Monastery in the northern slopes of the Balkan Range. The monastery was founded in 13th c. by Ukrainian Prince Georgi Glozh with a blessing from Tsar Ivan Assen II. Bulgaria’s best loved national hero Vassil Levski, who in the 1860s devised the strategy for the country’s liberation from Turkish rule, found refuge in the Glozhene Monastery on many occasions. After the Liberation, in the late 19th c., prominent Bulgarian politician and writer Vassil Drumev was exiled there.
The next stopover in the route of mountain guide Vladimir Stratiev is Novo Selo Monastery in the town of Apriltsi. The Novo Selo Monastery is the first monastery built during the National Revival. Most of the other monasteries originated earlier than the Revival which started in mid-18th c. Novo Selo Monastery is located in Novo Selo neighborhood of the town of Apriltsi and was built in 19th c. by local leaders. The daughters of some of them became the first nuns there. The monastery was the regional headquarters of the anti-Turkish April Uprising. In the course of nine days a Bulgarian authority was established here and the Novo Selo Republic was proclaimed. Novo Selo was besieged by the Turkish troops for an unequal battle. Finally the survivors found refuge in the monastery. Bullet traces can still be seen there, as the holy place keeps the relics of nuns who died from Turkish swords. Today Novo Selo Monastery looks like a haven as if no massacre took place here. It has a lovely garden with a fountain in front, and the four majestic spruce trees add a special touch to the vista.
Just above Ostrets neighborhood on the outskirts of Apriltsi, the road surges upwards to take us to the highest peak in the Balkan Range, Botev standing at 2376 m above sea level. Batoshevo male monastery is only 10 km away in the slopes of the mountain. The monastery was founded in 13th c. by the then Bulgarian patriarch. During the National Revival it housed one of the first monastery schools, the precursors of the Bulgarian secular education. Next is Sokolski Monastery just above Etura, some 15 km to the southeast of the town of Gabrovo. The name of the monastery derives from the name of its founder and first Father Superior Iosif Sokolski.
The first thing that captures the eye as you enter the monastery is its beautiful yard with a garden. Center stage is given to a unique round fountain designed by the celebrated National Revival architect Kolyo Fitcheto. It has 8 falcon-shaped spouts. The church of the monastery boasts of remarkable exterior and interior frescos created by local artists a century and a half ago. There is evidence that a rock monastery stood in this place during the Middle Ages. No wonder then that there is monastery here today too.
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Bulgarian national parks
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II protected areas by the World Conservation Union, the Parks are managed in accordance with the latest conservation principles and approaches. Worldwide, national parks are generally designated to preserve representative natural features, wildlife and habitats of the country. Their designation is intended to preserve natural processes generally free from human manipulation. In Bulgarian national parks, unique samples of natural habitats and elements of ecosystems are preserved within reserves. The Bulgarian National Parks offer excellent opportunities for tourism, scientific research and education. The National Parks also include rivers, lakes, natural landmarks, waterfalls, and exceptional landscapes. National Parks allow opportunities for recreation, spiritual enrichment and contact with nature. Bulgaria has three National Parks – Pirin, Rila and Central Balkan. They have a total area of 193,049 hectares and comprise more than one-third of all protected areas in Bulgaria. Pirin, Rila and Central Balkan are among the largest and most valuable protected areas in Europe. They contain some of Europe’s remaining, extant, wild regions. Identified as Category
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Spa tourism in Bulgaria
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Following the undisputed motto “Healthy spirit in healthy body” Bulgarians and foreign guests have been spending ever more time in modern-equipped Spa centers preferred by people keen on maintaining both their health and their looks. The mania on healthy life has covered Bulgaria, too. It is no longer enough to spend your vacation in pure air and enjoy the silence and beautiful views comfortable lying in a long chair by the sea or in some mountain resort. If you wish to be in tune with latest tendencies, you should absolutely return home weighing less, younger-looking and full of sprightly energy. For the purpose, however, you will have to spend some time in local SPA centers, wherever you are. That would mean you would have to leave yourself to the wide range of sessions and recreation programmes. One of Bulgaria’s advantages as compared to other Spa tourism destinations is the country’s endless diversity of mineral springs, says Ivan Metev from the Bulgarian Association of Spa and Wellness Tourism. Curative waters of various properties spring over the entire territory of the country. Close to them, since Roman times, there have been built curative spas. Nowadays you can find modern Spa hotels up to West European standards even in the remotest parts of Bulgaria. These are about 70 hotels throughout the country and their number is continues to grow year on year. Most of them are 4 or 5 star hotels and dispose of mineral water pools, saunas, solar studios, fitness equipment and cosmetic studios; as well as of teams of well-trained professionals in charge of visitors’ health and wellness. “Each hotel offers of such rehabilitation packages,” Ivan Metev explains. “They consist of programmes for 3 days up to 2 weeks and offer various combinations of relaxing massage. The programme is worked out after consultations with the respective expert, depending on the health status of the client. Parallel to that visitors are offered the inevitable for such places mineral water treatment – mineral showers, hydro-massage, warm and cool basins etc. We also offer various beauty programmes including products of world cosmetic companies.” For centuries people in our lands have been making use of the health properties of hot mineral water, bathing in geysers, hot springs and tubs. Plunging in them dilates blood vessels, boosts blood circulation and enhances the influx of Oxygen to all tissues of the organism. Similar is the effect of hydro-massage tubs and pools in prestigious SPA centers. Some of their clients are guests from Finland, Denmark, France and Belgium. Besides traditional rehabilitation sessions, you may try mud-treatment, chromatic therapy, tallasotherapy and other health and wellness programmes. Such programmes are to be found in most of Bulgaria’s Black Sea resorts as well as in the renowned Spa centers of Hissar, Chiflic, Velingrad and Kyustendil. Aromatherapy enjoys special popularity here. We use the ethereal oils of the famous attar-yielding Bulgarian rose, wild herbs, lavender, mint, which stimulate the natural defense forces of the organism. By the way Bulgaria is well known for the very rich variety of medicinal herbs as well as with the excellent possibilities for treatment with the entire range of Honey products. Some Bulgarian resorts have worked out their own know-how in Spa tourism. One such place is the mountain resort town of Velingrad. “Velingrad has become a very attractive destination lately”, Ivan Metev says. “There exist special Spa sessions using the famous “Mursalski” tea. This is a plant that grows only in the Pirin Mountain. It has pronounced anti-oxidant properties and is very good in chasing stress away as it helps eliminate almost entirely the harmful influence of free radicals. Local hotels offer bathtubs with “Mursalski” extracts. When taken as a drink, it tones the body. In ancient times the people in these lands used it as an aphrodisiac and some still do.”
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Wine tourism in Bulgaria
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The wine tourism is one of the most rapidly developed forms of the incentive tourism that indicates significant growth in the national tourist product during the last years. Not by chance the Bulgarian wine producers are more and more successful in establishment and distribution of their production at the international market. Many of them have opened wine tasting halls and offer to their guests the opportunity to take pleasure of the superior qualities, taste and flavor of the Bulgarian red and white wines. All these things, combined with the rich Bulgarian culture and splendid nature, bring on unforgettable experience for the tourists, who have chosen one or other wine route. Bulgaria, as a country of ancient cultures and civilizations has inherited long traditions in production of wines. The archeological finds during the last years are an eloquent proof that the divine drink was known ever since the time of the ancient Thracians. The recently discovered temple of the God of wine Dionysus in the ancient town of Perperikon - capital of the Rhodopean ruler, gives a reason for the scholars to conclude that our country is the land of origin of wine. We can not omit the facts connected with the reputation of our Melnishko wine, bags of which were sold in Europe by Greek tradesmen and the memory for the annual supply of 500 liters of the same wine ordered personally by sir Winston Churchil is still living. All that was mentioned above is a good premise for us to invite you to participate in the newly prepared by our company first in its kind specialized edition of WINE TOURISM IN BULGARIA. It will comprise a rich photographic material, information about the wine regions and sorts of grapes, offers from Bulgarian tour operators and tour agencies of wine tours, data about the branch organizations and associations in the sphere of wine production, abundant information about wine cellars and wine producers from all over the country etc. The edition will be rendered in English and German language. It will have a countrywide distribution network of more than 600 commercial points, trade complexes of Shell, OMV, Lukoil, specialized bookstores, hotels, it will be distributed by tour operators, tourist agencies etc. Abroad the product will be shown and distributed at the biggest tourist markets and exhibitions in London, Madrid, Berlin, Moscow, Bratislava, Zagreb, Prague, Kiev, Thessalonica, Istanbul, Skopje, Poznan, as well as at some other (more than 20) exhibitions. We are pleased to submit to your attention the conditions for participation with advertising materials in the first edition of the WINE TOURISM IN BULGARIA reference book.For more information please contact www.east.travel |
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Ski resorts in Bulgaria
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Four resorts in four different mountains, each with its own unique appeal. Borovets – The champs’ ski resort. Borovets is the oldest Bulgarian resort and the most famous winter resort. It is located 1350 m above sea level, on the northern slopes of the Rila Mountain, right at the foot of Mount Moussala (2925), the highest peak on the Balkans. Borovets offers excellent conditions for all ski disciplines: alpine, cross-country, biathlon, snowboard, jumping.The winter season lasts over six months – from November to May. The ski runs vary in difficulty and are suitable for all skiers from absolute beginners to aces. They are very well kept and marked according to international standards. Hotels in Borovets are both large and small, but always high-class, providing elegance and comfort. The Hotels offer numerous restaurants, traditional taverns, day bars, night clubs etc. Sports: swimming pools, sauna, fitness, bowling, billiards, table tennis, sleigh riding, horse riding, and lots of other enjoyable things. Nightlife in Borovets will rival all ski-slope emotions. Ski shows demonstrated by professional skiers are another big attraction of the resort. Trips to interesting places and sites in the Rila Mountain and its surroundings, or other famous sites like Rila Monastery, Plovdiv, Melnik or Sofia are amongst the additional attractions which will make your stay at Borovets an unforgettable experience. Pamporovo – The sunniest ski centre in Europe. Pamporovo is Europe’s southernmost ski resort. It is located 1650 m above sea level in he heart of the Rhodope Mountains, the birthplace of the mythical singer Orpheus. A great advantage of this resort are its longer ski runs, ensuring a lasting skiing pleasure. Due to its excellent conditions, Pamporovo is a frequent host of various international winter events. Hotels in Pamporovo offer high-class facilities. You could go swimming indoors or stay in a sauna, or have a massage, or play bowling, or go ahead tobogganing. Restaurants and entertainment spots are numerous. Do bear in mind that this region of the Rhodope Mountains is famous for its delicious cuisine and exquisite wines. In your free time you can visit some very interesting tourist spots: the architectural and ethnographic reserve Shiroka Luka, the picturesque village of Stoykite, Smolyan or the Bachkovo Monastery. A side-trip to Plovdiv and its Old Town will remain unforgettable. Bansko – Modern comfort and old traditions. Bansko is situatedat the foot of one of the most beautiful mountains in Bulgaria – Pirin; a national reserve included in UNESCO’s List of World Natural Heritage. Bansko is relatively new resort, very different from the other Bulgarian winter retreats. The skiing area in the mountain is simply fantastic. Winter in Bansko is longer. The mountain has a predominantly Alpine character, with three peaks over 2900 m. Skiing conditions are superb. Hotels in Bansko were built over the last few years and provide modern high-class luxury. All hotels provide a friendly local atmosphere and hospitable service. If you prefer delving into history and tradition, Bansko is the museum settlement for you , with over 150 cultural monuments. If you manage to take time off skiing, some remarkable tourist sites – Melnik, the Rozhen Monastery, Sandanski – await you. Vitosha – Skiing Paradise above the capital city Sofia. Vitosha, Sofia’s “park” is fittingly claimed to be the lungs of Sofia. Vitosha is the most visited Bulgarian Mountain. It rises immediately above Sofia and is one of the symbols of our capital. Few are the big cities in the world, and capitals are even fewer, that possess such a natural advantage. Vitosha Mountain is the most significant part of the Plana-Zavala Mountain system. With its highest peak - Cherni Vrah (2290 m.) it occupies the fourth place among the Bulgarian mountains. The Vitosha ski resort is situated 18 km from downtown Sofia, at a height of 1800 m above sea level. The best evidence of the excellent conditions offered by this resort, probably, was that Sofia was a candidate to host at Vitosha the Winter Olympic Games in 1992. Vitosha is indeed a high-class ski resort. Snow in winter is a guarantee. The close proximity of the big city with its dynamic and variegated nightlife is so captivating that the next day you will need to relax on the ski runs.
Source: www.east.travel |
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Cultural tourism in Bulgaria
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Being a country of millennial history, Bulgaria has been a point of settlement for many peoples. In turn, they have left their imprints on its cultural identity. More than 40,000 monuments of culture from various epochs have been found in its territory. More than 5 million valuable items adorn the halls of 230 museums. It is not accidental that an increasing number of visitors form EU, USA and the Far East have been coming to Bulgaria to get in touch with the cultural and historical monuments of one of the most ancient states in Europe. Until a few years ago, Bulgaria was perceived as a mass tourism destination in the main, thanks to its decent and relatively inexpensive seaside and winter resorts. In the meantime, because of insufficient information or ineffective advertising, foreign tourists would often leave the country unaware of its amazing heritage. As the EU accession date of January 1 approached, interest in Bulgarians, their history, traditions and folklore became keener. Travel agents who had previously marketed standard packages in the respective hotel, started to diversify their offers to make a vacation in Bulgaria more memorable. Now tourists can opt for visits to lovely monasteries snuggled in mountain slopes; to ethnographic neighborhoods with preserved architecture dating 200 years back; to impressive ruins of medieval fortresses and basilicas; or to sites displaying the ancient heritage of the Thracian people. Foreign tourists are interested in monuments of culture put on the UNESCO heritage list, including the breathtaking Sveshtari Thracian tomb from 3rd c. BC and the unique Kazanlak tomb from the 4th-3rd c. BC. Many people go to visit the ancient rock sanctuary in Perperikon, in the Rhodopi Mountains. Another key attraction is the collection of gold treasures found in the Valley of the Kings in Kazanlak, southern Bulgaria. The National Museum of History and the National Archaeological Museum in Sofia display priceless items from Antiquity found recently in our lands. Visitors can see items from the funeral of a Thracian sovereign found in 2005 near the village of Zlatinitsa, and the gold objects dug out last summer near the Black Sea village of Sinemorets. In the meantime, a EU project is set to restore the Thracian capital of Seutopolis, the remains of which lie at the bottom of the Koprinka Dam near Kazanlak. After part of the water has been pumped out, the city will be restored and converted into an open-air museum. Traces of Bulgaria’s medieval culture and Byzantine heritage are also of great interest.Foreign tourists join special tours to visit Bulgaria’s ancient towns and ethnographic centers fraught with the atmosphere of an idyllic 19th c. Tryavna, Dryanovo, Ichera, Zhervana, Kovachevitsa, Dolen and other revival period mountainous towns have emerged as key attractions for foreign tourists. Some visitors join special courses in wood-carving, weaving and other traditional crafts. Bulgarian folklore has never stopped to fascinate tourists. Source: www.east.travel
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Bulgarian rural tourism
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Quite attractive is country tourism. It acquaints you with everyday life of the contemporary Bulgarian village. Thus you will not only get closer to the work and family of the Bulgarian countryman, but also you yourself will take part in preparing home-made typical Bulgarian meals, canned food, dairy and meat products; in picking up fruit from the local vineyards, fruit orchards and vegetable gardens; in taking care of domestic animals; in preparing the famous Bulgarian yoghurt. This kind of tourism is successfully combined with eco-tourism. |
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Destination "Golden Sands"
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Golden Sands – A modern resort with traditions, and history going back 50 years!A true pearl of the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast! A unique blend of lovely nature park, warm sea, and fine golden sand!Golden Sands – Excellent possibilities for recreation, entertainment, new acquaintances, health and beauty!Golden Sands – Only 18 km away from Varna, the city of the oldest gold treasure in the world!Located in a picturesque and environmentally-clean bay in the Northern part of the Black Sea coast, only 18km separate the Golden Sands resort from Varna.It was declared a protected territory in 1943. Golden Sands tourist complex covers a territory of 177,13 hectares. Thus the larger part of the park is preserved in its natural state, untouched by human hand. The proximity of the sea, the mild climate and the sea breeze have influenced strongly the flora and fauna in the park which is why it differs greatly from the other national parks. The thick deciduous forest with entwined creeping plants in places gently descends to the seacoast.Among this magnificent greenery nestle 69 hotels, 14 of which 4-star, and most of the rest 3-star. There are many eating, sports and entertainment facilities, not only along the beach but also in the beautiful woods. The golden beach starts right in the foot of the forest. The resort also boasts a number of healing mineral springs.Golden Sands is the winner of a "Blue Flag" – a prestigious international award for environmentally clean resorts. The major microbiological, physical and chemical readings of the atmosphere, sea and sand are monitored monthly. Within the resort, several types of transportation are at the disposal of the guests – velorikshaws, bicycles, mini-trains, and solar-battery powered taxies.The beach strip in the resort is 3,5 km long, up to 100m in places, and is known as one of the best sand beaches in Europe. It is flat, covered with fine golden sand. The sandy sea bottom gently slopes into the sea, there are no rocks or sudden drops.The clean and calm waters of the sea with low salinity lower than that of the Mediterranean for example, and the absence of fish and animals dangerous to human health, are ideal for scuba diving and vacationing with children. Source: www.east.travel |
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A Bulgarian souvenir
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The souvenirs from different parts of Bulgaria tell their own stories. They usually depict the characteristic symbol of a given city or place. The local people have used their creative imagination to turn the object into a beautiful piece of art. This can be an elaborately embroidered hand-woven shirt, the chimes of the copper sheep bells or even the colorful shells and stones from the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, gathered while enjoying the warmth of the sunrays. In Sofia most popular with tourists is the arts and crafts market around the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Here you can find all kinds of typical Bulgarian souvenir items. Embroidered table cloths, jewellery, lace, handmade toys, ceramics, wooden items, imitation icons and paintings, as well as so called antiques. There are also plenty of serious Antique shops around which may hide a treasure or two. Never pay more than what it is worth to you, and check whether you require an export certificate when buying genuine antiques. Our recommendations for souvenirs include: Bulgarian wine and rakia (the schnapps) sealed in ceramic urns, Bulgarian carpets, icons and also some of the famous Troyan pottery especially the earthenware casserole dishes, which make great inexpensive oven to table wear. Again in Sofia the cobbled and tree lined “Czar Ivan Assen II ”street runs from Orlov most (Eagles’ Bridge) up to Sitnyakovo str. and the Rumanian Embassy and is very much an artery for the surrounding residential area. There are plenty of boutiques, small cafes, food outlets, cosmetics and household product shops along its stretch to make it worth a wander. Unfortunately the traffic along this street is totally frustrating with people parking on both sides of the street leaving little space for the two-way traffic. However, one can usually manage to find a parking space somewhere nearby albeit in one of the side streets. Going to Plovdiv, in the very center one will find the souvenir shop of Evgeni Todorov and his wife Vessela. Here every item has preserved and tends to represent part of the atmosphere of the city, which you can easily carry home with you. Here is what Mr. Todorov says about the people who visit his shop: “I take it as a great compliment when people come to the shop several times during their visit to Plovdiv. This means that I have managed to accomplish what I had in mind: to offer something tempting, which every one will gladly take home. I am even happier when people, who have bought something several years ago, never fail to visit us again during subsequent comings to Bulgaria. We have had customers from almost all over the world,” says Mr. Evgeni Todorov. As of last year the Todorovs have turned the second storey of the house into an art gallery. Many young artists show their work there and they are frequently bought by visiting tourists. Almost anyone will find something to his or her taste. Before establishing themselves in Plovdiv Evgeni and Vessela Todorov used to travel around the country to offer the souvenirs. Now they are happy to live among the beautiful objects, each of them offering a part of charming Bulgaria. Source: www.east.travel |
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Bulgaria for Golf lovers
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Seven golf courses under construction offer profitable off-plan investment opportunities Bulgaria is turning into an attraction centre for golf admires and professional players. The perfect conditions for a sea or a mountain holiday add more charm to the sport tourism. Although Bulgaria is not a big country, there are three functioning big golf courses – near Ihtiman , near Sliven and the “St.Sofia” golf course in the village of Ravno Pole near Sofia. Due to the growing tourist’s interest to Bulgaria, seven more golf courses are now being built in different parts of the country. Almost all of them are in proximity to mountain or Black sea resorts but are secluded enough to offer the perfect conditions for sport and recreation. It is now extremely profitable to invest in vocational homes that are still under construction in the area around the golf complexes.
One of the appropriate places is located at the North Sea Coast. There are two courses that are currently being constructed in this area around Balchik and near Kavarna. The golf course in the area called Tabiata near Balchik is designed by the British golf professional player Ian Usnam. He did the first sod himself in 2005. The complex is going to be called “Lighthouse Golf Resort” with a fantastic sea view. The climate allows the golf course to be used for 10 months during the year. An advantage is the close proximity to the area called Tuzlata and the healing virtues of its mud and mineral water.
Ian Usnam expects that within the next 4-5 years “Lighthouse Golf Resort” near Balchik is going to become one of the world’s most famous golf complexes attracting some of the best players in this aristocratic sport for practicing and recreation.
The other two complexes near Kavarna and Balchik are designed by the world famous player and golf course designer Gary Player. The golf course near Balchik is called Black Sea Rama” and spreads over 996 000sq.m. also including 350 houses. The prices vary between 1000 and 1800 euro per sq.m. the houses are going to be categorized with four stars and are going to offer between 1600 and 2000 beds.
South in Primorsko near Sozopol is the location of another golf course which is still under construction. One more golf course is going to be constructed in the mountain and ski areas in the resort of Bansko. A huge golf complex is now being built in Dolna Banya, between Kostenets and Borovets. It should be ready in 2007 when Bulgaria is going to join the European Union. Another course near Razgrad is already almost finished.
If you intend to buy a vocational home near some of the newly built golf courses, you should have in mind that the prices out of the complexes of the playgrounds are about 500 euro per square meter lower. When finished the apartments near the golf course are going to cost about 1400 euro / sq.m., and about 800-1000 euro per sq.m. in the surrounding areas.
While you are waiting for the new golf courses to get ready, you could practice your shot at the three very nice golf courses in Bulgaria.
Spanish architects in cooperation with English experts have designed and built a gorgeous golf course with 18 holes spreading over 4 583 sq.m. category Par 71 near Ihtiman. The Ihtiman Golf Club is situated 40 km away from Sofia close to the Trakia highway including a hotel complex. There are luxurious guest houses finished equipped with all facilities.
The guests of the complex have to their disposal two tennis courts, a football playground, a swimming pool, a volleyball playground, bowling, night bar, conference halls, you could ride a horse etc.
Open in May 2004 the golf course near Sliven spreads over 500 000 sq.m. with 18 holes categorized Par 71. There is an additional golf playground for practicing. Building of hotels is about to be commenced.
The “St.Sofia” golf course in Ravno Pole spreads over 650 000 sq.m, with 18 holes, total length of 6175 m. categorized Par 72. According to experts, the playground is conformable to the European standards and is suitable for professional championships.
Source: www.bgp.bg |
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Horse Rides in Bulgaria
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If at a certain point you decide to plunge into the wild nature of Bulgaria, better forget about the comfort of modern car or bus transport. The best way to move about would be on horseback. Feel the wind in your hair, tearing the air on horseback among centuries’ old pine forests or broad planes taking you to the horizon. One of the ways to stray away from the burden of modern civilization could be the horse-rides to the beauty sites of Bulgarian wild nature. There are many places in this country, where one can find very well trained horses for the purpose. The horse centers would also provide you with a specialized guide who would take you along narrow paths or dust roads following the steep relief of the highlands across the Central Balkan Range, the Rhodope Mountains and Stranja. In the Pirin Mountain you may be offered one of the special local Karakachan breed – a very strong and resistant type of horse capable of overcoming with ease even the steepest mountain slopes. The keenest fans of horse ride vacations in Bulgaria are guests from Scandinavian countries, Belgium, the UK and Germany. They undertake one-week rides, using accommodation at small family hotels, guesthouses or camping sites. Horseback hikes in Bulgaria, however, offer a combination of beautiful nature, varied landscape and meetings with a specific culture and ethnographic realities. The routes we choose pass through nature reserves and ethnographic villages. Along the way the riders can see interesting archeological sites, related to the millennial history of one of the oldest states in Europe. |
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Rhodope Mountains: Endless adventures
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A vacation in the southern Bulgarian mountain Rhodope can easily grow into a veritable adventure for those who are in love with mountain beauty and who are keen to shun tourism clichés. Either walking, riding a bicycle or a horse, driving a snowmobile or a sledge, such people are happy to get in touch with wild nature. Anybody who has been on holiday in the Central Rhodope Mountain during autumn will tell you this is the perfect season for a mountain adventure. Late autumn usually offers relatively warm daytime temperatures and in Bulgaria’s southern mountain the air is crystal-clear and sunny weather is very often around. Sunrays illuminate a breathtaking landscape with the forest painted in a diversity of warm colors – from light yellow through red and green to velvet brown. Vertical canyons and crevices in the Rhodopes are a blessing for lovers of high mountain climbing. Caves are another challenge – and not only for keen cavers. In the Trigrad Gorge there are two caves rendered accessible for visitors– Yagodin Cave and the Devil’s Throttle. Their interiors offer railed passages for the sake of tourist safety. Those hungry for extreme emotions can enjoy a brand new attraction – accessing The Devils’ Throttle in a boat. A steep and not particularly safe track runs down to the cave’s exit cut out by the ice-cold waters of the River Trigrad. The underground route sets out from here. Seated in an inflatable boat adventurers are taken 100 m into the dark cave vault, the habitat of a large bat population. Caves in the River Arda valley abound in underground mysteries. The guys from the local cavers’ club will tempt you to experience the thrill of the so-called Alpine pendulum. Tied to a rope hanging from the cave’s 40-m vault, adventurers dive into a deep chasm. Anybody who has tried this exercise will tell you that a powerful shot of adrenalin is guaranteed. |
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The Seaside Garden in Varna
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The Seaside Garden will always be associated with the name of the Czech Antonin Novak - a park designer specialized in the Vienna castles of Schoenburn and Belvedere. The 35 years old Novak was invited to Varna and he was assigned the post of a park director. Shortly the slaughterhouse and the garbage heaps were moved away, the beach was cleared and various kinds of trees were planted. Soon the Seaside Garden became known as the most beautiful park on the Balkan Peninsula. Little by little the territory of the park enlarged and in 1905 it reached to 90 decares. In 1912-1913 a couple of fountain-springs were built in the first part of the park and it was partially electrified. In some 10 years Varna was already established as a resort centre and the rest of the park was also electrified.In 1907 a National Revival Committee was established and its idea was to dedicate an alley in the second part of the park to the Bulgarian Revival Movement. Its task was to erect 22 monuments in the Seaside Garden: 20 in honour of outstanding activists in the liberation movement, 1 in honour of Science or Enlightenment and 1 - of Liberty. The project started in 1911 with the monument of the famous poet and revolutionary Hristo Botev, followed a year later by that of another famous revolutionary Vassil Levski. This activity was interrupted by the beginning of the war and in 1920, to commemorate his anniversary and although he was still alive, a monument to the great Bulgarian author Ivan Vazov was erected. A few other statues were built in the course of the following couple of years and after a long break the tradition was renewed again in 1973. All the monuments were made by Varna sculptors. |
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Rila Mountains
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The majestic Rila Mountains south of Sofia are a hiker's dream. The classic trip across the mountains to Rila Monastery can be done in a couple of days, depending on your mettle. The dedicated can start at the Borovets ski resort and climb Musala Peak, the highest mountain in the Balkan Peninsula.Nestling in a narrow valley, Rila Monastery helped to keep Bulgarian culture alive during the dark age of Turkish rule from the 15th to the 19th centuries. The monastery was founded by Ivan Rilski in 927 and served as a retreat for hermits; it was moved 3km to its present location in 1335. |
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Nesebar
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In 510 BC the Greeks founded Nesebar, ancient Mesembria, on the site of a Thracian settlement. The town sits on a small rocky peninsula connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus. There are still remnants of the second-century city walls, and stone and timber houses line winding, cobbled streets.It was once of great importance to Byzantium as a trading town, although many of the 40 churches built in Nesebar during the 5th and 6th centuries are now in ruin. Nesebar ceased to be an active trading post in the 18th century and today lives mostly from fishing and tourism. |
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Tsarevets Fortress
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Home to Bulgarian tsars during Veliko Tarnovo's reign as the nation's capital (1185-1393), this hilltop citadel looms over the medieval town. Inside the triangular walls are the remains of over 400 houses and 18 churches, built between the 5th and 12th centuries.Following the left wall from the main gate, you go past a watch tower then to execution rock where the convicted saw their last moments in the living Bulgarian world.At night, when tour groups shell out the bucks, an extravagant 'sound and light show' illuminates the citadel (and town). Locals love it, and watch from all over town for free. |
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Sofia shopping centers
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There are already two Malls in Sofia where you can find everything you need – many services are offered, biggest fashion brands presented and you can enjoy a vast variety of entertainment facilities.
MALL OF SOFIA
Services you can take advantage of:
Hypermarket
Banks and banking services
ATMs
Pharmacy
Mobile telecommunication services
Soft play for kids
Beauty salon
Internet cafe
Travel agency
DVD and video rentals
Dry cleaning
Shoe repair
Key cut
Pet store
Flower shop
Underground parking
Fashion cafes and fancy restaurants
Food court area with national and international cuisine
Internet cafe
Computer and video games
M-Tel communication center
Soft play for kids
Cinema City with 12 multiplex screens
The first 3D M-Tel IMAX movie theater on the Balkans
In Mall of Sofia you will find a variety of 130 selected shops with:
Ladies' fashion
Gents' fashion
Kids' clothing
Perfumery and cosmetics
Footwear, bags and leather goods
Fashion accessories
Books, newspapers and stationery
Media store
Video arcade
Computer and electronic goods
Home decor and appliances
Black electronics
Toys
Gifts
Specialty foods
LOCATION: 101, Alexander Stamboliiski blvd.
SOFIA CITY CENTER
Services you can take advantage of:
Beauty Saloon
Food and Beverages:
Coffee Heaven
Enjoy Café
Fancy Pizza
Fancy Restaurant
Hadjidraganov's Houses
Ice Line
KFC
Pain D'or
Pastarito Restaurant
Sushi & Bar Stand By
BMS
Dry Cleaning
Banks
Pharmacy
Cinema:
The trade center has six cinema halls, located on a territory of 3800 sq.m. Cineplex interior is after the design of Franchesko Lukeze. Every hall is different from the others. The seats fixed at a distance from one another and their adjustment device contribute to the clients’ comfort. In the area there are a number of places selling popcorns, soft drinks and cocktails
Kids zone:
The kids zone, located on the area of 400 sq.m. in City center Sofia will offer entertainment to the youngest. The zone will be parted to different areas according to age and kid’s self dependence. In proximity to the play ground the parents will be able to buy everything they need for their children – clothes, shoes and toys. In the kids zone a cozy coffee bar is planed for recreation. Rentomobile.com recommends the Mall of Sofia. |
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