The history of Bulgaria goes back thousands of years and begins its countdown in the distant Neolithic era, when nomadic agricultural tribes moved here from the territory of Asia Minor. In the course of its history, Bulgaria more than once became a coveted trophy of conquering neighbors and visited the Thracian Odrysian kingdom, Greek Macedonia, was included in the Roman Empire, and later in Byzantium, and in the 15th century. conquered by the Ottoman Empire.
Having experienced invasions, wars, conquests, Bulgaria, nevertheless, managed to revive, finding its own nation and gaining cultural and historical self-determination.

Odrysian kingdom
By the 6th c. BC e. The territory of Bulgaria was the outskirts of Ancient Greece, stretching along the Black Sea coast. For several centuries, on the basis of the Indo-European tribes who came from the north, a tribe of Thracians was formed here, from whom Bulgaria received its first name - Thrace (Bulgarian Thrace). Over time, the Thracians became the main population in this territory and formed their own state - the Odrysian kingdom, which united Bulgaria, Romania, northern Greece and Turkey. The kingdom became the largest urban conglomerate in Europe at that time. The cities founded by the Thracians - Serdika (modern Sofia), Eumolpiada (modern Plovdiv) - still have not lost their significance. The Thracians were an extremely developed and rich civilization, the tools and household items they created were ahead of their time in many ways (skillful metal blades, exquisite gold jewelry, four-wheeled chariots, etc.). Many mythical creatures passed to the neighbors of the Greeks from the Thracians - the god Dionysus, the princess Europe, the hero Orpheus, etc. But in 341 BC. weakened by colonial wars, the Odrysian kingdom fell under the influence of Macedonia, and in 46 AD. became part of the Roman Empire and later, in 365, Byzantium.
First Bulgarian kingdom
The first Bulgarian kingdom arose in 681 with the arrival of the Asian nomads of the Bulgars on the territory of Thrace, who were forced to leave the steppes of Ukraine and southern Russia under the onslaught of the Khazars. The resulting alliance between the local Slavic population and the nomads proved to be very successful in campaigns against Byzantium and made it possible to expand the Bulgarian kingdom by the 9th century, including Macedonia and Albania. The Bulgarian kingdom became the first Slavic state in history, and in 863 the brothers Cyril and Methodius created the Slavic alphabet - Cyrillic. The adoption of Christianity by Tsar Boris in 865 made it possible to erase the boundaries between the Slavs and the Bulgars and create a single ethnic group - the Bulgarians.
Second Bulgarian Kingdom
From 1018 to 1186, the Bulgarian kingdom was again under the rule of Byzantium, and only the uprising of Asen, Peter and Kaloyan in 1187 allowed part of Bulgaria to secede. This is how the Second Bulgarian Kingdom was formed, which lasted until 1396. Constant raids on the Balkan Peninsula by the Ottoman Empire, which began as early as 1352, led to the fall of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, which ceased to exist as an independent state for five long centuries.

Ottoman domination
As a result of the five hundred years of the Ottoman yoke, Bulgaria was completely ruined, the population decreased, and cities were destroyed. Already in the 15th century. all Bulgarian authorities ceased to exist, and the church lost its independence and became subordinate to the Patriarch of Constantinople.
The local Christian population was deprived of all rights and subjected to discrimination. Thus, Christians were forced to pay more taxes, did not have the right to carry weapons, every fifth son in the family was forced to serve in the Ottoman army. The Bulgarians raised uprisings more than once, wanting to stop the violence and oppression of Christians, but they were all brutally suppressed.

Bulgarian National Revival
In the 17th century the influence of the Ottoman Empire is weakening, and the country actually falls into anarchy: power is concentrated in the hands of the kurjali gangs that terrorized the country. At this time, the national movement revived, interest in the historical self-awareness of the Bulgarian people increased, a literary language was being formed, interest in their own culture was being revived, the first schools, theaters appeared, newspapers in the Bulgarian language began to be printed, etc.
Princely semi-independence
Princely rule arose after the liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman rule as a result of the defeat of Turkey in the war with Russia (1877 - 1878) and the country's independence in 1878. In honor of this key event in the history of Bulgaria, a majestic temple was erected in the capital of Sofia in 1908 Alexander Nevsky, which has become the hallmark of not only the city, but the entire state.
According to the Treaty of San Stefano, Bulgaria was granted the vast territory of the Balkan Peninsula, which included Macedonia and northern Greece. However, under pressure from the West, instead of gaining independence, Bulgaria received broad autonomy within the Ottoman Empire and a monarchical form of government headed by the German prince Alexander, the nephew of the Russian Tsar Alexander II. Nevertheless, Bulgaria managed to reunite, as a result of which the country gained Eastern Rumelia, part of Thrace and access to the Aegean Sea. But in this composition, Bulgaria was able to exist for a short 5 years (1913-1918), after the defeat in the First World War, the country lost most of its territory.

Third Bulgarian kingdom
The third Bulgarian kingdom covers the period from 1918 to 1946. Despite the agreement signed in 1937 on "unbreakable peace and sincere and eternal friendship" with Yugoslavia, during the Second World War Bulgaria chooses Germany as its ally and introduces its troops into the territory of a neighboring country, thus supporting the German intervention. Tsar Boris's attempt to change course was unsuccessful. After his premature death, his 6-year-old son Simeon II, who later fled to Spain, takes the throne. In 1944, Soviet troops entered Bulgaria, and already in 1944-1945. the Bulgarian army begins to conduct military operations against Germany and its allies as part of the Soviet armed forces. The further political course of Bulgaria was predetermined, in 1944 power passes to the communists under the leadership of Todor Zhivkov. In 1946, as a result of a referendum, the monarchy was liquidated, and Bulgaria proclaimed itself a republic headed by a prime minister.

Communist Bulgaria
During the communist regime, Bulgaria achieved high results in the development and modernization of industry, industrialization and collectivization of agriculture, which made it possible not only to provide the country with jobs, the latest technology, various goods and food products, but also to become a major exporter. The main consumer of Bulgarian exports was, of course, the USSR. Thus, industrial and textile goods, agricultural products, various canned food, tobacco products, alcoholic beverages (cognac, beer) and the first computers were actively supplied to the Soviet republics, and Bulgarian resorts became a popular vacation spot for Soviet citizens. However, in 1989, the wave of perestroika also reached Bulgaria, and after the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, the communist system was overthrown, and the permanent 78-year-old leader of the Communist Party, Todor Zhivkov, was sent under arrest and later stood trial on charges of corruption and bribery.

Modern Bulgaria
Modern Bulgaria has taken a course towards the West and European integration. Thus, on March 29, 2004, the country joined NATO, and on January 1, 2007, the European Union. Carrying out a comprehensive modernization, every year Bulgaria becomes more and more attractive for foreign tourists, a popular destination for summer and winter holidays. The widespread construction of new hotels, the development of infrastructure, the improvement of the quality of service and the diversification of services have allowed Bulgaria to repeatedly increase the tourist flow.
Today, the resorts of the country are modern complexes for a comfortable and fulfilling vacation - an excellent hotel base, a variety of excursion routes, entertainment for every taste, alternative forms of tourism and much more. Attractive prices, low compared to other European resorts, make holidays here affordable for a wide range of tourists - from youth companies to families with children, while luxurious 5 * hotels meet the requirements of the most demanding guests.
Despite the fact that Bulgaria is more associated with a beach holiday, the country has amazing opportunities for winter tourism. Excellent ski resorts - Bansko, Borovets, Pamporovo - fascinate with the beauty of the surrounding nature, modern tracks for both amateurs and professionals, excellent opportunities for the smallest fans of ski sports, as well as for those who prefer snowboarding to skiing.
And if you still don't feel confident enough, experienced instructors are at your service. They will not only teach you all the necessary skills and abilities in a short time, but will also offer you communication in your native language. The absence of a language barrier, the commonality of cultures and Orthodox traditions make visiting the resorts of Bulgaria even more enjoyable, come and see for yourself!

Republic of Bulgaria

Bulgaria is located in the southeast of Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. In the north it borders with Romania, in the west - with Serbia and Macedonia, in the south - with Greece and Turkey. In the east it is washed by the Black Sea.

The country was named after the ethnonym of the people - the Bulgarians.

Capital

Square

Population

8210 thousand people

Administrative division

Consists of 8 areas which include communities. The city of Sofia also has the status of a region.

Form of government

Parliamentary republic.

head of state

President elected for a term of 5 years.

supreme legislative body

Unicameral People's Assembly.

Plovdiv, Varna, Rousse, Burgas.

Official language

Bulgarian.

Religion

85% are Orthodox, 13% are Muslims.

Ethnic composition

87% - Bulgarians, 9% - Turks, 2.5% - Gypsies, 2.5% - Macedonians.

Currency

Lev = 100 stotinka.

Climate

Continental, transitional to the Mediterranean. The average annual temperature is + 13°С. The air temperature in January reaches zero. The average temperature of the warmest month - July - in the plains is from + 23 °С to + 25 °С. Precipitation in the lowlands falls in the amount of 500-600 mm per year, in the mountains - 1000-1200 mm per year. The entire country from west to east is crossed by the Balkan Mountains, where vertical climatic zonality is clearly visible. The highest point is Mount Musala (2925 m).

Flora

Forests occupy up to 30% of the territory of Bulgaria. Here there are oak, hornbeam, beech, elm, ash, pine, spruce, fir.

Fauna

Deer, fallow deer, roe deer, chamois, wild boar live in the forests, wolf, fox, hare, ferret, badger, ground squirrel live in the mountains. A large number of birds. Reptiles are common in the south of the country. In the Black Sea they catch mackerel, flounder, in the Danube - stellate sturgeon, pike perch, carp.
Rivers and lakes. Rivers Danube, Iskar, Maritsa.

Attractions

Monument of the Russian-Bulgarian Brotherhood in Arms on the Shipka Pass, a basilica in Nessebar, a round church in Preslav, a large basilica in Pliska, churches of Peter and Paul in Veliko Tarnovo - a reserve town, a monastery of the 10th century. in Rila, a monastery, a mosque and a minaret in Plovdiv, the Cathedral of St. George, the Cathedral of St. Sophia, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral of the 19th century, erected in honor of Russian soldiers who gave their lives for liberation from the Turkish yoke, the Jamia Mosque, the Boyana Church, the archaeological museum .

Useful information for tourists

In the warm season, in addition to windsurfing, water skiing and sailing, scuba diving and catamarans, rowing and all kinds of regattas are at guests' disposal. In spring and autumn, some luxury hotels offer heated seawater pools. Long boat trips along the coast of Golden Sands have a magical attraction, especially for children.
Speed ​​limits: 50 km/h in urban areas, 90 km/h outside and 120 km/h on highways.

- 110994 km2.

Population of Bulgaria. 7.171 million people (

Bulgaria GDP. $55.73 billion (

Administrative divisions of Bulgaria. Consists of 8 areas which include communities. The city of Sofia also has the status of a region.

Form of government in Bulgaria. Parliamentary republic.

Head of State of Bulgaria. President elected for a term of 5 years.

Bulgaria's highest legislative body. Unicameral People's Assembly.

Bulgaria's highest executive body. Council of Ministers.

Major cities in Bulgaria. Plovdiv, Varna, Rousse, Burgas.

State language of Bulgaria. Bulgarian.

Religion in Bulgaria. 85% are Orthodox, 13% are Muslims.

Ethnic composition of Bulgaria. 87% - Bulgarians, 9% - Turks, 2.5% -, 2.5% - Macedonians.

Currency of Bulgaria. Lev = 100 stotinka.

The climate of Bulgaria. Continental, transitional. The average annual temperature is + 13°С. reaches zero in January. The average temperature of the warmest month - July - is from + 23 °С to + 25 °С. in the lowlands fall out in the amount of 500-600 mm per year, in the mountains - 1000-1200 mm per year. The entire country from west to east is crossed by the Balkan Mountains, where the vertical line is clearly visible. The highest point is Mount Musala (2925 m). Flora. Forests occupy up to 30% of the territory of Bulgaria. Here there are oak, hornbeam, beech, elm, ash, pine, spruce, fir.

Victor Pashinsky

One of the important factors in choosing a country for recreation for many tourists is the language barrier.

Well, who among us, going to new countries for himself, did not experience:

• Will they understand me there if I speak Russian?
• Do they speak Russian in Bulgaria? Older or younger generation?
• And what is the language in this Bulgaria?
• Do they speak English there?

Let's try to answer these and other questions from the point of view of people who personally visited 9 . We managed to quite actively communicate with Bulgarians from different age and social groups and understand with whom it is better to speak Russian and with whom in English.

In this article, we share our experience and give.

What is the language in Bulgaria?

The official language of Bulgaria is Bulgarian. This is a Slavic language, and therefore for the inhabitants of Russia and Ukraine it is quite understandable. There are usually no problems.

There are quite a lot of Russians in Bulgaria, even if it is not as conspicuous as in Montenegro. A significant part of advertisements and announcements, especially those for the sale of real estate, are written in Russian.

Is Cyrillic or Latin used?

Bulgaria uses Cyrillic, that is, everything is written in Russian letters familiar to us. Of course, like ours, the names of some shops and supermarkets are written in English letters.

At many intersections you can see signs with street names and arrows. The names are written both in Bulgarian and in English. Although we got the impression that the English version was made through Google Translate, there are so many errors in it.

The situation is similar with some descriptions - information can be duplicated in Russian and English. But most often it will be written in Bulgarian understandable to a Russian person and in universal English.

In principle, in terms of language, Bulgaria is a very comfortable country, if not for one but ...

A nod in Bulgaria means no!

There is one detail in Bulgaria that confuses Europeans with Americans, and Russians with Ukrainians.

If Bulgarians disagree with something, they nod just like we do when we want to say yes. That is, the usual nod means “no”. The consent of the Bulgarians is denoted by a peculiar shaking of the head from side to side. Not in the way we show “no”, but by tilting it to one shoulder, then to the second.

Will they understand me in Bulgaria?

We in Bulgaria calmly communicated both in Russian and in English. We were understood even by grandmothers knitting such beautiful tablecloths.

In Bulgaria you will definitely be understood. If they want, of course. Despite the fact that the Bulgarians are simply amazingly friendly people, they also do not like swagger and rudeness. You politely ask something in Russian, you will be understood and answered in Bulgarian. And oddly enough, you, too, will understand everything perfectly.

Many words and expressions in Bulgarian are exactly the same as in Russian. But there are also false words. For example:

• Bulka in Bulgarian means bride
• Mountain in Bulgarian means forest
• Ruler This ambulance
• T-shirt This mother not clothes
• Right means straight- do not confuse
• Table stands for stst, strange, right?

The main advice for communicating with Bulgarians: be polite and friendly and they will definitely help you! Do not forget to say hello (Russian is enough Good afternoon, it sounds similar to Bulgarian), sorry ( excuse me please), do not forget to thank ( thanks to or many thanks).

For example, in a restaurant or at breakfast in a hotel, you might say many thanks, beshe a lot delicious. And you will see how the attitude of the staff towards you will change.

Do they speak Russian in Bulgaria?

The older generation of Bulgarians taught Russian at school as a second language. Most people still remember it and understand it quite well. During the entire trip, we came across only one person who did not understand us - he was a handyman for about 55 years. We asked how to find

The younger generation did not learn Russian at school, but they speak it very well - after all, Russian-speaking tourists are one of the important sources of income for Bulgarians. And you can’t say that they are profiting from us. very democratic, and the service is decent. In supermarkets, given its quality and the "resort town" factor.

Will knowing English help in Bulgaria?

English should only be spoken to young people. Quite a lot of tourists from the USA and Europe come to Bulgaria, and therefore most of the sellers and waiters speak English quite well.

However, to be completely honest, the situations when we helped the Americans and the Bulgarians to understand each other arose quite often. Nevertheless, with Russian in Bulgaria it is better than with English. Especially among the older generation and bus drivers. The ideal option is to know both Russian and English, like we do.

So that you can check whether you understand the Bulgarian language and whether you will feel comfortable in Bulgaria, we have selected several photographs of a variety of signs, documents, menus, price tags.

A typical price tag on the beach is in 4 languages. Everything is simple and clear.

And this is the menu at the local McDonald's in Sunny Beach - there are both Russian and English options

The label on goat cheese is an inscription in Bulgarian. By the way, the cheese was delicious - highly recommended.

Public transport route map - these are available at most stops.

Certificate of the hostess of the hotel where we stayed - all in Bulgarian

Description of the attraction in 2 languages ​​(sometimes in Russian too)

The usual sign in Russian and English. Bulgarians do not seem to buy this.

As we have already said, the Bulgarians are simply amazingly hospitable and hospitable people. Montenegrins were like that 5-10 years ago, while Russian-speaking tourists went there not so massively.

To win the favor of the Bulgarians, it is enough just not to forget to say hello, smile and thank you.

It is so comfortable in this country that even the usual, polite attitude does not become a little unpleasant.

How to set up an offline translator?

When we were preparing a similar one, we added a short phrasebook at the end. On the one hand, this is convenient, but on the other hand, such phrasebooks are laughed at much more often than they are taught.

Geography of Bulgaria

Bulgaria is a state in the southeast of Europe, located on the Balkan Peninsula, in its eastern part. Bulgaria is washed by the Black Sea. On land, the country borders Turkey, Greece, Serbia, Romania and Macedonia. The main territory of the country is occupied by mountain ranges: Sredna Gora, Stara Planina, Rhodopes, Pirin, Rila, where Mount Musala is located - the highest point of the Balkan Peninsula with a height of 2925m. In the northern part of Bulgaria there is the Lower Danube Plain, in the south - the Upper Thracian Plain, in the central part - the Kazanlak Basin. Approximately one third of the territory of Bulgaria is occupied by forests.

State structure of Bulgaria

Bulgaria is a parliamentary republic, the head of state is the president, who is elected by direct vote for 5 years.

Weather in Bulgaria

The north of Bulgaria is characterized by a temperate continental climate, the Thracian plain is steppe, and on the coast the climate is close to the Mediterranean.

In the Danube Plain, more than 600 mm of precipitation falls annually; in early summer, precipitation is more abundant. In the Thracian Plain, the drought begins already in August, there is less rainfall. 450-500mm of precipitation in Eastern Dobruja and in the Maritsa and Tundzha rivers. But in the mountainous regions (Rila, Pirin, Rhodopes and the Balkans) more than 1000 mm of precipitation falls.

Language of Bulgaria

The official language is Bulgarian.

Almost everywhere you can explain yourself in Russian. German, English, and French are also quite common.

Religion in Bulgaria

Most of the population of Bulgaria, approximately 85% - Orthodox Christians, about 12% - Sunni Muslims. The country has 0.8% Jews and 0.5% Protestants and Catholics each.

Currency of Bulgaria

The monetary unit of Bulgaria is the lev, in one lev there are 100 stotinki.

Customs restrictions in Bulgaria

It is allowed to import into Bulgaria without paying duties 50 cigars or 200 cigarettes, wine (2 liters), or 1 liter of strong alcoholic drink, you can also import gifts and souvenirs in a reasonable amount, you can import foreign currency without restrictions. You just need to remember that if you import currency in excess of 10,000 US dollars, you need to fill out a customs declaration. You also need to declare video cameras, computers, jewelry and other expensive items.

When exporting valuables from Bulgaria, they must be included in the customs declaration. Foreign currency in the amount of less than 1,000 US dollars can be exported without providing documents, the amount from 1,000 to 10,000 dollars is entered in the declaration. In the event that a currency exceeding $ 10,000 is exported from the country, papers must be provided that explain the origin of the money.

National features of Bulgaria

Traditions

One of the distinguishing features of the Bulgarians is the way they express their agreement or disagreement. In contrast to the nod of the head in agreement accepted in Russia, the inhabitants of Bulgaria shake their heads, and in case of a negative answer, they nod.

Tips

As a rule, the restaurant bill includes the cost of service. If the tip is not included in the bill, then it is customary to leave a tip of about 10-15% of the amount on the bill. In a hairdresser and in a taxi, 10% of the total amount on the bill is left for tea. At the hotel, you can leave the amount in leva, equivalent to a dollar, for tea.

Office Hours

On weekdays, shops are open from 10 am to 8 pm, on Saturdays from 8 am to 2 pm. Banks are open from Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 11:30, then a break until 14:00 and continue to work until 18:00; on Saturdays, customers are expected in banks from 8:30 to 11:30.

Mains voltage:

220V

Country code:

+359

First level geographic domain name:

.bg

Emergency Phones:

Police - 166
Ambulance - 150
Fire protection - 160
Roadside Assistance - 146

Representative offices of Bulgaria in Russia:

consulate-General

Address: Moscow, 119590 Moscow, Mosfilmovskaya 66
phone: 143-67-00
fax: 232-33-02
www.bulgaria.ru