Why Bulgaria?

  1. EU Accession in 2007
  2. Full member of NATO
  3. Political stability
  4. Rapid economic growth (GDP growth 2004 Q 3 - 6%)
  5. Constant world-wide investment interest
  6. Low property prices
  7. Expanding tourist industry
  8. Lower cost of living
  9. Healthy climate
  10. Friendly atmosphere

  Bulgaria is situated in the South-Eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. The country's population is 7.85 million and has a territory of 110,912 sq.km, bordering Greece and Turkey to the South, Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro to the West. The River Danube separates it from Romania to the North. Its natural eastern border is the Black Sea. Bulgaria ranks fifteenth in size among the European countries. Its climate is Continental-Mediterranean.

  Capital city: Sofia, with 1 200 000 inhabitants

  Larger cities: Plovdiv (350 000 inhabitants), Varna (300 00 inhabitants), Bourgas (200 000 inhabitants), Stara Zagora (150 000 inhabitants), Rousse (140 000 inhabitants), Pleven (120 000 inhabitants), Veliko Tarnovo ( 80 000 inhabitants)

  Highway network: 36 720 km

  Railway system: 4 300 km

  Airports: Sofia, Varna, Bourgas, Gorna Oriahovica (10km from Veliko Tarnovo)

  Harbours: on the Black Sea - Varna, Bourgas, Balchick, Nessebur; on the Danube - Vidin, Lom, Oriakhovo, Nickopol, Svishtov, Rousse, Toutrackan, Sillistra

  Monetary unit: lev( 1 EUR = 1.955 LEVA), with bank-notes (bills) of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and100 leva.

  Official language: Bulgarian

  Religion: Orthodox Christianity, Islam

  Relief: The lowlands occupy 31%, the plains and the hilly terrains 41%, and the mountains 28% of the country.s territory. The larger mountain ranges are the Balkan mountains (with its highest peak Botev - 2376 m), the Rhodopes (highest peak - Goliam Perrelick - 2191 m), Rila (highest peak - Moussala - 2925 m), Pirin (highest peak - Vihren - 2914m), Vitosha (highest peak - Cherni Vruh - 2290 m).

  Climate: The predominant climate in Bulgaria is moderate and transitional continental. (2,000 to 2,400 hours of sunlight per year). Four seasons. Dry and hot summer. Average temperature (April - September): + 23 °C. Cold winter with snowfalls, average temperature: 0 °C. The average yearly temperature is 10.5 °C.
  A Mediterranean climate, with dry summers and mild, humid winters, prevails in the valley of the southwestern Rhodope Mountains. The northern limits of the climatic zone is the Balkan Range.