Bulgaria is beautiful with its high mountains

Hello dear students, In our today’s lecture I am going to introduce you to my mother country. You probably know that Bulgaria is in the continent of Europe, more precisely, in the Balkan peninsular. To the east, Bulgaria borders the Black sea, to the west – Serbia and Macedonia, to the north the river Danube separates us from Romania, and to the south are Greece and Turkey. In territory Bulgaria is 15th in Europe – square kilometers. In our mother country there are vast plains and lowlands spreading far and wide. Its skies are scraped by the high mountains with sweeping torrents and rivers running down their slopes. At every step the beautiful scenery changes before our eyes. The Valley of the river Danube is the largest one in Bulgaria. It is also recognized to be the main region of wheat- growing. Equally popular and beautiful is the Rose valley with its vast rose plantations which provide the material for the rose-oil production. 90% of the well-known Bulgarian rose-oil is exported to countries all over the world.

Bulgaria is also famous for its longest mountain – the Balkan, which separates the North from South Bulgaria. Rila is the highest mountain in Bulgaria and its peak - Moussala – 2925m /the highest in the Balkan peninsular/. Next comes Pirin, with the Vihren peak – m famous for its edelweiss, a flower under law protection. The population of Bulgaria amounts to 8 million. Some more 7.5 million Bulgarians live abroad /in Besarabia, Serbia, Ukraine, Macedonia, Romania, Hungary. Bulgaria has a long-lasting history and culture of more than 1300 years. Rich in natural and cultural sites, it is visited by a big number of foreign tourists. Our country owes its beauty to the fascinating nature, the hospitality of the people, and its centuries-lasting traditions. The Bulgarian songs and dances are among the most beautiful achievements of the world culture.

The Rila monastery – one of the most beautiful monasteries at the foot of Rila Mountain.

The Madara rider (7th century AC). What makes it unique is the fact that the sculpture is carved into a 100m –high cliff.

Belogradchik’s rocks – one of the natural wonders of Bulgaria

One of the seven lakes in Rila Mountain – the highest mountain in Bulgaria

The city of Veliko Turnovo – the splendid capital of the second Bulgarian kingdom - its architecture is unique with its houses overhanging the Jantra River.

Koprivshtitza – the house where the great Bulgarian revolutionary G. Benkovski was born.

The church in the town of Shipka –built by the Bulgarians in honour to the heroes of the Russian-Turkish war of 1877/1878 – Russian soldiers and Bulgarian volunteers

A view from the old part of Nessebar – a beautiful and preferable Black Sea resort

A street in the old part of Sozopol – another Black Sea town where the ancient Bulgarian architecture is preserved.

Ropotamo River – a unique river on the Black Sea coast where water- lilies grow and the flora and fauna is preserved

And now we are going to learn something more about the past, present and future of the city we live in – our capital city, Sofia which is one of the oldest European cities situated near to the mountains of Vitosha and Lyulin, 550m above sea level. The earliest name of the city is known to have been Serdica, the settlement of the “serds”, a Thracian tribe. The healing quality of the mineral water in Serdica was widely-recognized. In the IX century people started using the proto- Bulgarian name of Sredets. The new name of the town spoke for the central situation it had in the Balkan peninsular. During the long-lasting wars between Bulgaria and the Byzantium, Sredets acquired the importance of a Bulgarian stronghold.

In the last decade of XIV century Sredets became Sofia. Apparently, the fortress was named after “St. Sofia”, the largest and the most beautiful church in the outskirts of the town. At that time Bulgaria fell under Turkish yoke. Five centuries later it was liberated and Sofia became again an important trade center. On 3rd April 1879, the Constituent Assembly of the young Bulgarian state proclaimed Sofia a capital city. The modern guise of Sofia was due to the buildings of the National Assembly, the “Ivan Vazov” National theatre, Sofia University etc. Nowadays, Sofia is the beating heart of Bulgaria. Here are the houses of the Presidency, the Government, and the Parliament. The capital city houses the biggest cultural and science institutes of Bulgaria, a number of schools and universities, libraries, theatre, cinema and concert halls, museums, orchestras, choirs, etc.