Bulgaria, situated to the south of Romania, is a beautiful European nation. It is filled with beautiful mountains, legendary monuments, and rich culture. Let us learn some beautiful Bulgaria facts today.
Bulgaria Facts 1-11
1. Bulgaria has a population of 6.92 million. Sofia is the capital city and also the largest city in Bulgaria.
2. Bulgarian is the official language of Bulgaria. Cyrillic is the official script. The lion is the national symbol of Bulgaria.
3. The total area of Bulgaria is 110,993.6 square kilometers or 42,854.9 square miles.
4. Bulgaria is the country of origin for yogurt. They refer to it as “sour milk” and believe it is the secret to their longevity.
5. Bulgaria is the second-largest exporter of rose oil, an essential component of most perfumes.
6. No matter how complicated it may be, Bulgarians shake their heads to indicate “yes” and nod to indicate “no.” It takes a while to become accustomed to the Bulgarian head nod!
7. The gaida, often known as the bagpipes, is the national instrument of the country.
8. Shopska, commonly known as Bulgarian salad, won the European Parliament’s competition for the greatest meal in Europe.
9. Facebook‘s creator, Mark Zuckerberg, has Bulgarian ancestry. He was given the name Marko after his Bulgarian grandfather.
10. Orpheus, the famous Thracian singer, lived in ancient Bulgaria. Orpheus is the son of the River God Oeagros.
11. Rakia is an alcoholic beverage produced by fermenting pears or grapes or apricots. It is the national beverage of Bulgaria and is typically consumed alongside shopska.
Bulgaria Facts 12-22
12. On March 1st, Bulgarians celebrate a special festival called Baba Marta (Grandmother March). Locals trade martenitsas or tassels made of red and white yarn.
13. The village of Kazanlak hosts an annual Rose Festival, during which a young woman is crowned “Rose Queen.” Included in the festivities are street processions, folkloric music, art shows, wine tastings, and exhibitions.
14. Bulgaria’s two principal mountain ranges are the Rhodope Mountains and the Balkan Mountains.
15. The historic village of Bansko is a renowned ski destination.
16. The Rila Monastery in Bulgaria contains a wooden cross with 140 miniature biblical scenes. The largest of the included 1,500 figurines is no larger than a grain of rice. It is one of the numerous intriguing locations in Bulgaria.
17. Bulgaria is the third most biodiverse country in Eastern Europe. It features more than 3,500 plant species and almost 415 bird species.
18. Bulgaria is one of the oldest countries in Europe, having been founded in 681 A.D.
19. Since then, only Bulgaria has retained its original name.
20. Bulgaria ranks third in Europe, behind Italy and Greece, in terms of the number of its significant archaeological sites.
21. Alexander Nevski is the world’s oldest Slavic autocephalous orthodox church.
22. The Bulgarian military has never lost a flag in combat.
Bulgaria Facts 23-33
23. After Bulgaria joined the EU on January 1, 2007, the Cyrillic alphabet became the third official alphabet of the EU. The Cyrillic alphabet originated in Bulgaria and not in Russia.
24. In Bulgaria, the oldest gold treasure was discovered. (3000 gold artifacts that date back over 6000 years)
25. In 1976, UNESCO proclaimed the ancient Bulgarian calendar to be the most accurate in the world.
26. Plovdiv is the oldest inhabited city in Europe.
27. Bulgaria ranks fourth in the world for university education per capita.
28. Izlel e Delyu Haydutin, a Bulgarian folk song, was launched into space aboard the US Space Probe Voyager I.
29. Nearly a third of Bulgaria is covered by forest.
30. The Bulgarian Air Force created the world’s first bomb dropped from the air. On 16 October 1912, during the First Balkan War, the bomb was used.
31. Bulgarian Rayya Kasabova was the first woman in the world to fly in a military aircraft.
32. Musala is the highest point on the Balkan Peninsula. It is located in Bulgaria’s Rila Mountain, 2925 meters above sea level.
33. Bulgaria was the homeland of the Thracians, and the great Spartacus was born there.
Bulgaria Facts 34-44
34. Bulgaria produced over 85 percent of the world’s rose oil. Roses cultivated in Bulgaria’s Rose Valley (Kazanlak) are a vital component in the manufacturing of perfumes.
35. Ireland and Scotland are the other nations that employ the bagpipe as an instrument.
36. Lactobacillus bulgaricus, which provides yogurt its distinctive flavor, is found solely in Bulgaria.
37. Bulgaria ranks second in Europe in terms of the number of natural mineral springs. Bulgaria is a SPA paradise.
38. “Name Days” are commemorated in addition to birthdays and are even more significant to some individuals.
39. Bulgarians celebrate the arrival of spring with Baba Marta. On March 1, Bulgarians gift their friends Martenitsa (white and red wristbands) to celebrate the beginning of spring and to wish them good health. The Martenitsa is worn until a stork or blossoming tree is spotted.
40. Bulgarians spill water in front of the door to success. When a family member leaves for a major event, such as the first day of school, prom, an exam, a wedding, etc., other family members pour water in front of the door with the phrase “may your success flow like water”
41. The Bulgarians celebrate Trifon Zarezan rather than Valentine’s Day. The 14th of February is Winegrowers Day, a celebration of wine appreciation.
42. Peter Petroff, a Bulgarian, invented the first digital wristwatch in the world.
43. John Vincent Atanasoff, who hails from Bulgaria, invented the first electronic computer.
44. Since 1989, no woman has been able to surpass the record set by Bulgarian Stefka Kostadinova at the World Championships in Rome for the high jump with a spectacular 2.09 meters.
Bulgaria Facts 45-55
45. Bulgaria is one of the world’s leading wine-exporting nations. The making of wine dates back to the time of the Thracians.
46. The Bulgarian flag is composed of three horizontally arranged colors: white, green, and red. The white represents hope, the green represents beautiful nature, and the red represents the blood that has stained our lands.
47. Bulgaria was twice its current size for more than 700 years, extending to the Aegean, Adriatic, and Black seas.
48. In Bulgaria, there are 142 resorts, 56 mountain resorts, 26 marine resorts, and 58 balneological resorts.
49. Nine UNESCO sites are located in Bulgaria.
50. Bulgaria boasts one of Europe’s fastest internet speeds.
51. Sofia is among the cheapest European capitals to visit.
52. Bulgaria is the greatest producer of rose oil in the world. A 10-gram quantity of rose oil extracted from roses grown in Bulgaria’s Rose Valley is known as “Bulgarian Gold” or “Golden Liquid” and costs approximately 200 Euros.
53. The famed prophet Baba Vanga, who knew the future of the entire globe and whose famous prophecies are still regularly cited, was born in Bulgaria.
54. Some Bulgarian localities are inhabited by Eskimo peoples. It was discovered during the 1980 census.
55. Since 2007, Bulgaria has been a member of the European Union.