CULTURAL TOURISM

Discover Bulgaria - a thousand years of age in the new Millennium! Bulgaria - a thousand years of age, with area of only 2% of the territory of the Europe, amazes everyone who comes here for the first time. It has over 40 000 historical monuments, 7 of which in UNESCO World heritage list, 36 cultural reserves, 160 monasteries, 330 museums and galleries. The ancient inhabitants of this land have left us too many monuments and landmarks from different ages: prehistoric findings, Thracian tombs, Rome castles, Greek culture, historical monuments from The First and The second Bulgarian Kingdoms, architecture masterpieces from the Bulgarian Renaissance. The ancient Thracians once inhabited this land have left us the magnificent tombs in Kazanlak and Sveshtari, which are included in the UNESCO World heritage list, the valley of the Thracian kings with recently found 15 new tombs. During the last several years the Thracologists made unbelievable discoveries. In year 2000 they discovered the tomb near Starosel village and the Thracian Palace near Perperek (Perperikon) village. The scientists guess that the tomb near Starosel village is the biggest preserved Thracian Palace with a mausoleum in Southeastern Europe and it is being built around the 5th century B.C. They are also quite sure that there are other interesting things to be found inside the tomb. Once again according to them the complex in Perperikon is the well known from the ancient manuscripts - The saint city of the Thracians. This capital is dated to be built around 5th century again. During the excavations the scientists discovered the one and the only Palace of a Thracian king. The archeologists are determined that this region has been always inhabited since that time. According to doc. Valeria Foll Perperikon is the only place in Europe and may be in the whole world where the civilizations have not destroyed each other but have learnt from one another. After 18 years of conservation and restoration, with the very help of the British foundation ‘’Hedley Trust’’, in year 2000 the unique tomb near Sveshtari village was open for the public. It is included in the UNESCO World heritage list and is dated to be built around 3rd century B.C. It is quite magnificent with the amazing figures of the caryatids and the preserved picturesque decoration. Our national pride are the monuments of culture included in the UNESCO World heritage list:
- The Kazanlak TombКазанлъшката гробница - IV-III century B.C.
- The Thracian Tomb near Sveshtari village – 2300 years B.C.
- The Madara Horse rider – in the beginning of VIII century A.D.
- The Boyana Church with its wall-paintings – the year 1259 A.D.
- Ivanovski cliff churches near Rousse Русе - XI-XIV century A.D.
- The Rila Monastery - X century A.D.
- The Old Town in Nessebar
The monasteries and the churches have saved the Bulgarian history, ideals and customs during the wild years of the Ottoman invasion in Bulgaria. The most visited monasteries nowadays in Bulgaria are Rila, Bachkovski, Rozhenski, Troyan, Zemenski, Preobrazhenski, Aladzha, etc. Around 20 of the monasteries in Bulgaria allow the visitors to stay for the night. There are also hundreds of churches that have preserved unique masterpieces of the traditional Bulgarian schools of iconography, zography, and wood carving, old manuscripts, etc. Veliko Tarnovo, The old Plovdiv, Tryavna, Troyan, Koprivshtitza and some other towns, as well as villages offer a great opportunity to feel the original atmosphere as it was during the Bulgarian Renaissance. The guests of our country can get acquainted with some of the traditional commercial activities – producing wine, rose oil, etc.; can practice some of the traditional Bulgarian crafts –embroidery, wood carving, pottery,etc.; or can study the traditional folk music. All of the activities mentioned above are offered in the Ethnografsky Museum ‘’Etara’’ near Gabrovo, the old neighborhood ‘’VAROSHA’’ in Blagoevgrad, Etnografski complex ‘’Kulata’’ – Kazanlak, Bansko, Sofia, Samokov, Brashlyan village, ‘’Chiflika’’, etc. There are also quite lots of events during the whole year including traditional Bulgarian holidays, folk festivals and gatherings. More and more tourists are attracted by the multiple diversity of colors and forms, by the queer masks and possessing rhythm of hundreds of bells and folk instruments at the traditional folk gatherings in Koprivshtitza, Shiroka Laka, Rozhen, Predela. There is a festival of the traditional and international folk music in Bourgas – annually after the 15th of August, Festival of the Rose in Kazanlak – annually in the beginning of June, Folk Festival in Koprivshtitza – every five years, International Festival of Kukeri and mask games in Pernik. For the admirers of the art, there are great many opportunities to visit prestige international music, film, theatrical, opera, ballet festivals, concerts of world famous musicians and bands, exhibitions, etc.