Portal:Bulgaria

Topics Culture Geography Health History Mathematics Nature People Philosophy Religion Society Technology Bulgaria (Bulgarian: България, [bɤlɡˈariɤ]), officially the Republic of Bulgaria (Bulgarian: Република България, [rɛpˈubliˌkɤ bɤlɡˈariɤ]), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the east, Greece and Turkey to the south, Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia to the west, and Romania to the north, mostly along the Danube. Bulgaria's civilized history dates back more than six millennia to a prehistoric time and place within the heart of its territory that marks the birth of Europe's and possibly the world's first literary culture. Though relatively small in terms of territory and population, Bulgaria's continuous historical wealth throughout prominent cyclical eras of growth, decline and medieval renaissance rivals that of the much larger and more populous countries of China, India and Egypt. The modern Bulgarian state was first established in 681 AD creating the First Bulgarian Empire. After the Empire fell to the Byzantine Empire in 1018 the Second one took its place in 1185. The Second Bulgarian Empire established much of Bulgaria's heritage we know today. The empire was completely occupied by the Ottoman Empire in 1396 and fell in 1422. The current Bulgarian state declared independence in 1878 and was completely separated from The Ottoman Empire in 1908. Part of the Eastern Bloc after World War II, today Bulgaria is a democratic, unitary, parliamentary republic, a member of the European Union and NATO. The capital is Sofia, one of the oldest capital cities in Europe. Sofia <phonos file="Sofia.ogg">listen</phonos> (Bulgarian: София), is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Bulgaria, with a population of 1,270,450 (making it the 14th largest city in the European Union), and some 1,380,406 in the metropolitan area, the Capital Municipality. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of the mountain massif Vitosha, and is the administrative, cultural, economic, and educational centre of the country. One of the oldest capital cities in Europe, the history of Sofia dates back to the 8th century BC, when Thracians established a settlement there. Sofia has had several names in the different periods of its existence, and remnants of the city's millenary history can still be seen today alongside modern landmarks. Sofia's development as a significant settlement owes much to its central position in the Balkans. It has been a centre of Christianity since the times of the Roman Empire. With a population of 385 Melnik (Bulgarian: Мелник), situated near the Melnik Rock Pyramids, is the smallest town in Bulgaria. August 29: Four men go before Hungarian court after 71 found dead in lorry June 27: Russians continue to top podium on third day of European Deaf Swimming Championships June 25: Russians top podium on second day of European Deaf Swimming Championships August 7: Deaflympics 2013: US swimmer breaks second world record June 23: One Australian male and female archer qualify for Olympics after Ogden event February 12: Anti-ACTA activists protest across Europe February 8: European cold spell kills hundreds May 15: Azerbaijan win 2011 Eurovision Song Contest Viscountess Strangford ...that Lady Strangford (pictured) is honoured in Bulgaria for the work she did following the Batak massacre? ...that the Samara flag, presented as a gift from Russia to the Bulgarian volunteers in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78, is the only flag awarded a Bulgarian Medal for Bravery? ...that the bulk of Bulgarians in Hungary descend from gardeners and other professionals who settled in the country prior to World War I? ...that although it was not particularly well-known in Bulgaria until the late 19th century, today Bulgarian beer is one of the country's most popular alcoholic beverages? 20px Bulgaria • Education • Religion • Sport • Health Society • Provinces • Municipalities • Cities and towns Geography • Subdivisions • Environment • Buildings and structures • Tourist attractions • Rivers • Extreme points 20px Economy • Companies • Communication • Science and technology • Tourism • Transport Culture • Arts • Cuisine • Languages • Literature • Media • Music Template:/box-header History • Thracians • Bulgars • Slavs • Bulgarians • Old Great Bulgaria • First Bulgarian Empire • Second Bulgarian Empire • History of Ottoman Bulgaria • National awakening • History of Independent Bulgaria • Balkan Wars • During World War I • During World War II • History of the People's Republic of Bulgaria • History since 1989 Geography • Provinces • Municipalities • Cities and towns • Villages • Rivers • Extreme points Politics • Government • Presidents • Prime Ministers • National Assembly • Elections • Parties • Foreign relations Culture • Music • Language • Literature • Religion • Education 20px Economy • Communications • Tourism Template:/box-header Requested articles • Bulgarian architecture • Bulgarian art • Bulgarian gardeners • Traycho Traykov • Totyu Mladenov • Alexander Tsvetkov • Nona Karadzhova • Stefan Konstantinov • Minko Gerdzhikov • Nikolay Liliev • Teodor Trayanov • Bulgarian dress • Bulgarian art • Pliska–Preslav culture • Evgeni Tanchev Expand • Dulo clan • Yantra River • Nestinarstvo • Vrana Palace • Pliska • Gate of Trajan • Georgi Ivanov • Georgi Benkovski • Ekaterina Dafovska • Name days in Bulgaria • Evlogi Georgiev • Turks in Bulgaria • Sliven • Shumen • Shishman dynasty Requested images • Klokotnitsa • Naftex Stadium • Palitsi • Vrana Palace • Dimitar Petkov Further information • WikiProject Bulgaria • Bulgarian Collaboration Project • Translation into English/Bulgarian Bulgarian Empire European Union Romania Turkey Greece Serbia Republic of Macedonia The following Wikimedia sister projects provide more on this subject: What are portals? 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