New Types of Tourism in Bulgaria in 2021 - News

Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism Mariyana Nikolova stated at the beginning of 2021 that Bulgaria, and in particular cities such as Burgas, offer wonderful opportunities for the development not only of summer tourism, but also of archaeological, wine, business and shopping tourism. The new tourism directions in Bulgaria allow you to gain a deeper understanding of the country's history and culture, and to become acquainted with the traditions and customs of its inhabitants. And if you know Bulgaria only from holidays on the Black Sea coast or the ski slopes, then now the time has come to sample new varieties of wine, wonderful vegetable, fish and meat dishes, and to stroll through the ruins of ancient cities. 

So, the 2021 tourist season lies ahead, and today we present to you a new and unknown Bulgaria, with your guide being the Bulgaria Avenue real estate agency. We sell apartments and houses in Varna, Burgas and along the entire Bulgarian Black Sea coast, and in our free time we travel.

Wine tourism

One of the most fascinating and elegant tourism directions is wine journeys. Bulgaria is a country in which grapes have been cultivated since ancient times. The fact that the wine here is unique in flavour is mentioned in Homer's Odyssey. According to legend, the sanctuary of Dionysus, the ancient Greek god of winemaking, in which the priests foretold the future, is located in Perperikon, in the Rhodope Mountains.

Today vineyards can be found in every part of Bulgaria, with the exception of small villages set high in the mountains. Each region has its own unique variety, which true gourmets travel to sample. You can taste them at wineries, restaurants, cafes and at the homes of local residents. A special pleasure is to visit the wine cellars, choose the most appealing beverage, and relax in the restaurant hall with a beautiful panorama of the mountains or the sea. 

Several directions of wine tourism in Bulgaria:

• Pomorie. The soils near this seaside town are salty, which gives the wines a distinctive taste. White wines are particularly popular. It is recommended to try Chardonnay, Riesling, Aligote and Sauvignon Blanc. 
• Melnik. Located at the foot of the Pirin Mountains. This is the sunniest and warmest part of the country, and therefore the grapes here acquire a special taste. Red wines are popular.
• Shumen region. The most famous beverage is Osmar pelin, popularly called the elixir of health. Its preparation uses white and red wine along with 30 varieties of herbs, including wormwood. It first became known in the 19th century, and its birthplace is considered to be the village of Osmar, located not far from Veliki Preslav.
• Vratsa, Montana, Vidin in the north-western part of the country. The region is known for the red variety gamza (kadarka), from which a light, aromatic wine is produced. 
• Varna, Dobrudzha. In this area try Dimyat – an old Bulgarian variety of white wine. Although this variety is grown in many regions, here it acquires a particular taste. 

Culinary tourism

For lovers of delicious food, Bulgaria is a true paradise. Here, under the warm sun, vegetables and fruit are grown; the clear mountain rivers are home to trout, while the seas contain sardines, garfish, bonito and mussels. Traditional pies with brynza cheese (banitsa, tutmanik, milinka), tasty appetisers, vegetable side dishes, grilled meat and a variety of sausages are prepared according to old culinary recipes. 

Bulgarian cuisine is a remarkable combination of Slavic, Thracian, Proto-Bulgarian and Turkish cooking. 

Romanian influence is felt in Dobrudzha and the northern regions of the country. A well-known dish is kachamak, made from corn flour with brynza cheese, lard and butter. 

Dishes of Turkish cuisine are popular in the Eastern Rhodopes and the towns of Kardzhali and Haskovo. Worth trying are basturma, dry-cured sujuk sausages, flatbreads with brynza cheese, and gozleme with potato.

When you come to Kazanlak, do not miss the opportunity to try rose petal jam. The small town of Panagyurishte, located 100 km away, is known for Panagyurishte-style eggs, which are prepared like ordinary fried eggs, but only in water, and are served with sour milk mixed with garlic, dill and pepper. The town of Elena is famous for dry-cured pork, 

In any part of the country you can try national dishes: shkembe chorba (tripe soup), banitsa, lyutenitsa, stuffed peppers and sarma (grape leaves), the sour-milk soup tarator, and the ayran drink.

You can travel through all the regions of Bulgaria and sample traditional dishes prepared according to local recipes. Another way to become acquainted with the national cuisine is to attend food festivals. These events are held annually in Burgas, Varna, Plovdiv and other cities.

Archaeological tourism

Another new tourism direction in Bulgaria is archaeology. The country is rich in history. Setting out to any settlement, no matter whether large or small, or on a hike through the forest or to the sea, you will certainly see archaeological monuments. Some are well known and studied, with excursions being held at their sites and restoration works being carried out. Others appear as if from nowhere after heavy rains, storms or earthquakes; only the local residents know about them.  

The most well-known destinations for archaeological tourism:

• The old Bulgarian capitals of Pliska and Preslav. Here you can see how the cities were laid out, and walk around the ruins of churches, houses and baths, as well as restored temples. In Veliki Preslav there is a magnificent archaeological museum, where a collection of ancient gold artefacts is on display.
• Veliko Tarnovo. On Tsarevets Hill the palace of the patriarchs has been restored. Nearby are the ruins of an amphitheatre, churches and dwelling houses.
• Plovdiv. Known for the remains of ancient Roman culture. You can see the amphitheatre, the ancient stadium and the forum. Traces of an ancient Thracian settlement and an old Jewish synagogue have been found here.
• Nessebar. The town is famed for its thousand-year history and is inscribed on the UNESCO list of cultural heritage. It was under the influence of the Thracians, ancient Greeks, Romans, Turks and Bulgarians. The old part is located on a peninsula, where among the buildings executed in the style typical of the Bulgarian Revival period one can see the remains of more than 40 churches. 
• Varna. Odessos, as the town was previously called, preserves memories of ancient temples, ancient Roman structures and baths.
• Kazanlak and the Valley of Roses. More than 100 tombs and graves of Thracian kings have been found here. Some are open to visitors.

However, if you do not feel like travelling around the country, it is worth taking a walk or driving near the town or village where you live. We are sure that you will find the remains of an ancient Thracian fortress, an ancient Roman road or a Byzantine fortress. 

The new tourism directions in Bulgaria allow you to learn something out of the ordinary about the country. Archaeological finds will broaden your horizons, while wine and national cuisine will give you new sensations.

Bulgaria Avenue will select the best property in Bulgaria for you and your holiday or move to the country will become comfortable.