Located in South Eastern Europe, Bulgaria is bordered by Greece and Turkey to the South, Romania to the North and Macedonia and Serbia to the West. Its Eastern Border is formed by the beautiful Black Sea Coast. A country of outstanding natural beauty the environment remains unspoilt and is incredibly varied. A relatively small country, a few hours drive will take you from the snow covered central Pirin mountain Ranges to the long sandy beaches of the Black Sea coast.
Forming the heart of several of ancient histories greatest civilizations Bulgaria's rich culture is reflected in a vast number of architectural treasures. Only Greece and Italy have a greater number of historical monuments. Throughout the country you will find ancient Greek sites, Roman amphitheatres and Byzantine churches. The country is home to 160 monasteries, 36 cultural centres and 40,000 listed archaeological monuments. Seven sites have achieved a coveted place on the UNESCO world heritage list.
Bulgaria is said to have one of the lowest costs of living in Europe. A wonderful meal for 2 including wine will rarely exceed around 7.00 GBP.
First time visitors to Bulgaria are surprised by its diversity and its stunning natural beauty. For years a real effort has been made to preserve the country's rich and unspoilt flora and fauna. As a result, Bulgaria is ecologically one of the purest countries in Europe, with exceptionally clear air and water resources. There are 7 national parks, more than 3000 protected natural sites and 17 bio-spherical reserves (the greatest recorded number in Europe). There are also 419 protected animal species and 63 protected types of plant.
Not only is the quality of life in Bulgaria good, but the cost of living is one of the lowest in Europe.
The 380 kilometers of beaches are amongst some of Europe's cleanest and safest. Many of them have been awarded prestigious "Blue Flag" status. The region enjoys average summer temperatures of between 25-30 degrees. The season extends from April to October. Coupled with the renowned low cost of living it is easy to see why the Black Sea coast provides and an ideal summer destination - and is surprisingly easy to access from an ever increasing number of European Airports.
Even though the Black Sea coast is an established tourist area, with resorts such as Sunny Beach attracting tourists since the late 1950's, it has recently become one of the fastest growing summer tourist destinations in Europe. So fast growing in fact that last year demands for tourist beds outstripped supply by 20%.
Bulgaria is said to be the fastest growing holiday destination for 2004 and at least 200,000 Britons were likely to visit the summer resorts this year - nearly double last year's total. Next year three new major UK tour operators will also be offering summer holidays in Bulgaria.
Modern Borovets is one of the largest and increasingly popular winter resorts in the Balkan region. It is situated on scenic northern slopes of the Mousala Ridge in the east of the panoramic Rila Mountains. The resort lies huddled in thick pine forests some 1390 meters above sea level. The area has a long history - attracting people to ski here since as early as 1896 - taking advantage of the many pistes which rise to a staggering 2,600m!
The resort is a perfect place to enjoy excellent facilities off pist as well as on the snow. Many restaurants are clustered around the well appointed and superbly equipped major hotels, making dining a real pleasure with an endless array of contemporary and traditional eating places available. Borovets is the perfect place to relax and provides many other recreational opportunities throughout the year. The climate is considered to be healthy, enjoying beautifully clean air, mild winter temperatures and of course mountains of snow! Usually the slopes at Borovets are covered in snow from mid December through to April.
Borovets is also easy accessible with miles of first class road connects it with Samokov, the most sizeable town in the area. Sofia is just 45 minutes away. There is a regular bus transport into Samokov every 30 minutes and excellent links from there to the capital.
Bansko is considered by many to be Bulgaria's number one ski resort. It has the most modern ski facilities in the country and is a well-established destination for winter sport enthusiasts from all around the world. The town of Bansko is situated at 160 km south from Sofia, where is the International Airport. Transfer time from Sofia to Bansko is 2 hours.
Bansko has developed into a favourite ski and snowboard destination, but also boasts unique architecture, has many historically significant sites nearby, as well as beautiful scenery and countryside for miles around. With more than 50 km ski runs equipped and support by the best facilities Bansko welcomes more than 450 000 people each year and it managed to combine the latest technological developments of the best ski resort with the authentic atmosphere of a traditional Bulgarian village.
During the last years, Bansko manage to gain an incredible popularity and became the country's leading resort. It has been approved as top investment destination! More and more funds have been budgeted and released regarding the resort's infrastructure including new lifts and snow making machines. Offering a true alternative to the Alps, this charming little town will impress any skier who appreciates well-groomed slopes with modern infrastructure in breathtakingly beautiful surroundings.
Approximately EUR 40 M have been invested over the last 2 years in Bansko. The winter resort Bansko remains the subject of significant investor interest on behalf of construction companies. The municipality has issued 180 building permits for '05. Around 70% of them are for the construction of holiday villages. The combined apartment inventory of these developments is expected to reach 6,000 by the end of '06.
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