Information
Bulgaria has approximately 8 millions citizens and comprises Ethnic Bulgarians : 85% Bulgarians, 9% Turkish and 7% other nationalities.
There has been settlement in this area since 4600 years B.C. and it was established as an independent state in 1879 in the form of Parliamentary Republic.
The country has an area of 110993,6 sq. m. (42,818 square miles) and borders the Black Sea . There are 237 administrative areas and 14424 villages. The average lifespan is 71,65 years, as for men – 68,06 and for women – 75,44.
The religion of the country is 85% Christian Orthodox, 13% Muslims, 2% other.

Food And Wine Tradition
The best wines are produced from grapes sorts as Merlot and Cabernet Savignon. The most famous wines are those of Gamza, Mavrud, Melnik and Pamid. The vine production was stately owned until 1990, but is now more and more in private hands. Bulgaria is well known with her wide variety of cheeses, vegetarian food and soups. Some famous Bulgarian dishes are : Lamb drob sarma, Stewet leg of mutton, Wine cebab, Rustic chicken stew, Kavarma “Srednogorie”, Meat on a spit.

Destination
The medieval region of Veliko Tarnovo and the old picturesque area of Nessebar are well known worth visiting. There is shopping in Varna and Burgas.
There is a historic museum named “Pobitite kamani” just outside Varna , alternatively, night clubs and cassinos in Sunny beach, Albena or Golden sands.
Ski slops can be found in “Borovetz” – 1300 meters above sea level, “Maliovitsa Alpin Station” in the Rila mountains, “Vitosha” – 1819 meters above sea level in the Vitosha mountain, and “Pamporovo” – 1931 meters above sea level.

Nature
The average temperature in the summer months is 26 degrees. The bathing temperature lasts whole 7 months per year. In some places the Black sea is 2245 meters deep with many types of fish, even dolphins.
There are high mountains such as the Rila Mountains with peaks of 2995 meters above sea level, Trojan-Kalofer - 2376 meters above sea level, where the snow lies for approximately 200 days a year. There are 970 mineral sources with water temperature from 8 to 101,4 degrees. Most of the country is agricultural with forests taking up to approximately 28%.

Turist Development/ Price Development
” Bulgaria is the fastest developing tourist destination in Europe ” says Sofia Morning News ( 4 March 2004 ).
Tourism in Bulgaria was growing by 18% in year 2003 and became the highest growth in the whole Europe . Tourism from the other European countries to Bulgaria is growing even more by 25,3%.
There is also growth in winter tourism with 28,34% more tourists visiting Bulgaria in December 2003 compared with December 2002.
The Black Sea Coast of Bulgaria is the property investment hotspot of the moment. Property prices are still considerably lower than comparative European countries even though the market has been growing dramatically over the last few years and with EU membership planned for 2007 there will be even greater stimulus to the property market over the next three years.
The price of properties in Bulgaria in 2003 raced ahead by 24 – 28% on average. That was mainly because of the low renting prices and growing international interest on properties in Bulgaria.
Bulgaria is certainly the place to invest right now.

Stately Priority
The Bulgarian government is developing a program for tourism directed specially towards the ski loops and summer tourism. It includes support and development of the country’s infrastructure, service sector, cultural cities, historical sightseeing, care for parks and open spaces and opening of tourist’ information centers.
The French magazine “Paris Enterprises” and the English magazine “Homes overseas” present Bulgaria as Europe ’s “Hot Spot”. Bulgaria is presented as a country with a stable economy and which will become a member of European Union in 2007. The economy of the country is described as growing rapidly.