10 Interesting Facts About Bulgaria

“Bulgaria? Why visit Bulgaria? Bulgaria is a beautiful country – with majestic mountains, sunny beaches, picturesque villages, great food, and hospitable people. And it is extremely affordable,” begins the article “10 Incredible Things You Didn’t Know About Bulgaria” by writer and journalist Ellis Shuman, published in the British edition of The Huffington Post.

Let’s recall some of them:

1. Bulgarian roses and rose oil

Bulgarian roses are not only extremely fragrant and beautiful, but about 85% of the world’s rose oil is produced from them and used in perfumery and cosmetics.

2. Yogurt

Bulgarian yogurt is famous for its unique taste and properties due to Lactobacillus bulgaricus, a bacterium naturally found in the region.

3. Shopska salad

Shopska salad is one of the most beloved traditional Bulgarian dishes. It is made of fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, cheese, and onions, seasoned with oil and vinegar and topped with parsley.

4. The Cyrillic alphabet

Saints Cyril and Methodius created and spread the alphabet in the 9th century to improve literacy among Slavic peoples. Bulgaria was the first country to adopt the Cyrillic script.

5. Gold

The oldest processed gold in the world was discovered in Bulgaria near Varna in 1972. Over 3,000 gold artifacts were found, evidence of an ancient civilization.

6. Rakia

The traditional Bulgarian drink is rakia – a distilled spirit made from fermented fruits such as plums, grapes, apricots, and others.

7. The bagpipe

The gaida (Bulgarian bagpipe) is the national musical instrument, made from sheep or goat skin, known for its distinctive powerful sound.

8. Martenitsa

On March 1st, Bulgarians exchange white and red strings called martenitsa, symbolizing health and the coming of spring. They are worn until a stork is seen or a tree blossoms.

9. The first computer

The inventor of the first electronic computer, Dr. John Atanasoff, is of Bulgarian descent. The invention was developed at Iowa State University between 1939 and 1942.

10. Forests

Bulgaria is not only known for its beaches but also for its mountains and forests, which cover about one-third of its territory, along with ski resorts and ancient cultural landmarks.

These are only a few of the things that make Bulgaria fascinating to its visitors.

Source: The Huffington Post