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 | First
time visitors to Bulgaria are often surprised by the diversity and
stunning natural beauty. For years a real effort has been made in order
to preserve the country?s rich and unspoilt flora and fauna. As a
result, today?s 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. | As Bulgaria continues to attract more and more visitors, the list of activities available continues to grow. Mountain Sports Bulgaria
has no less than four different mountain ranges, the Stara Planina, the
Rhodope, the Rila and the Pirin mountains. After receiving major
investment from the EU Bulgaria now boasts three international quality
ski resorts, Pamporovo, Borovets and Bansko. These resorts offer piste
up to 2715m above ski level with ski runs totalling up to 75km.
In
summer the mountains continue to attract a large number of visitors
with some of the best hiking in Europe available. Mountain bikers and
horse riders are also beginning to discover the attractions of Bulgaria. The area around Sopot in the Stara Planina also boasts some of the best handgliding and paragliding conditions in Europe. |  |
Beach Resorts  | With
a coastline of 354 km along the Black Sea, Bulgaria attracts many
hundreds of thousands of holiday makers every summer. The commercial
season runs from May through to October every year with most beach
resorts remaining shut outside of this main holiday period. The
coastline boasts a number of world class beaches offering deep, fine
golden sand. The area of the Black Sea around Bulgaria also has sea
temperatures in the summer months that are actually higher than the
Mediterranean. | With little or no tide and very small waves, swimming in
the Black Sea is very safe for both young and old. Health Spas |
In the coastal regions many areas offer special mud treatments from the
coastal lakes. These have become famous for their healing and youth
giving qualities attracting many tourists all year around. In
the mountain regions, Bulgaria has literally hundreds of natural
mineral water springs. A great many of these are thermal with
temperatures up to 60 degrees and with a wide variety of
mineralisations. Towns such as Bania (near Bansko) and Velingrad offer
traditional spas (some dating back to Roman times) where bathing and
other health treatments are available. As with most activities in
Bulgaria, these health spas cost around 20-30% of the price of similar
locations in Western Europe. |  |
Cultural Attractions
Bulgaria has a rich history. Many visitors find time to journey to many
of the cultural sites dotted throughout Bulgaria. Some of the most
important archaeological sites in Europe are located within Bulgaria?s
borders with new discoveries still being made. Combined with the rich
religious heritage of the region, there is no shortage of sites to
visit. In recognition of the importance and unique nature of many of
these locations, some have now been given UNESCO World Heritage status.
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many other parts of the world, Bulgaria has retained a great number of
traditional folk and religious celebrations. Almost every week in
Bulgaria there is a celebration taking place in one of its many
regions. From the orthodox Easter to the Valley of the Roses
celebrations, visitors should find the time to explore at least some of
these events.
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