In Antiquity and onwards the area developed as a thriving centre for mining lead, iron, silver, gold and copper. As it happened, one of the first Bulgarian rebellions against the Ottomans originated here, in the 17th century. It was organised and led exclusively by Roman Catholics, the main religious group in the area. Today the town's main claim to fame is the local carpet weaving craft.
It wouldn't be that chaotic if I were the organiser.
Ekaterina Yordanova, GERB, who, according to some reports, was behind the protest of public transit drivers in Sofia
It's simple. The boy is incapable of doing anything properly. In two years, he hasn't solved a single issue – garbage, traffic gams, anything.
Boyko Borisov, GERB, on Sofia's mayor, Vasil Terziev
All the most 'capable' people of GERB can do is to punish the people of Sofia.
1. Bulgaria's first capital was called…
A. Pliska
B. Tarnovo
C. Vidin
2. What is depicted on the back of the 1 lev coin?
A. A lion
B. St Ivan of Rila
C. Bulgaria's coat of arms
3. Where is the first bridge over the Danube, connecting Bulgaria to Romania?
A. Silistra
B. Oryahovo
C. Ruse
The immediate reason for their civil disobedience was a plan to relocate the local festival of tsatsa, as the small fry is called in the vernacular, to Balchik, which is the regional centre.
Easter, according to Boyko Borisov, was the "brightest of holidays" and we all lived in the "best days of the Christian religion."
Bulgaria's roads are a delayed death sentence.
Diana Rusinova, European Center for Transport Policies
I am not going to spoil the kids' celebration with talking about Bulgarian politics.
President Rumen Radev during a school visit, when asked to comment on Russia's deadly attack on Sumy on Palm Sunday
1. Which town is known for its mines and heavy industry?
A. Pernik
B. Plovdiv
C. Pazardzhik
2. The Veleka river flows into the...
A. Danube
B. Black Sea
C. Aegean
3. The oldest gold treasure in the world was found in...
A. Sofia
B. Burgas
C. Varna
Cultivating the rose bushes is difficult enough, but the real challenge comes with picking up the buds: it can be done only within a few weeks in May and early June, and only very early in the morning. A relatively simple procedure follows as the rose petals are boiled and distilled, and – bingo! – the attar of roses that Bulgaria has become world famous for appears.
Besides the fortress, it sports plenty of Ottoman-era heritage, including a well-preserved city wall, a post office, a cross-shaped barracks and perhaps the most eccentric mosque this side of the Bosporous. A local maverick warlord who fell out with the sultan replaced its crescent with a... heart. And the town used to be a major meeting place for a lively Jewish community. Its magnificent synagogue, dwarfed only by the one in Sofia, lay in ruins for decades but was recently restored.
It originates in... the village of Zabardo, in the heart of the Rhodope mountain range. Scripted by Valentin Cherpokov, Zabardo's mayor, it was sung by a local group called The Euro-Grannies, accompanied by a traditional Rhodope bagpipe. Here is a translation of the lyrics: