Discover the Intriguing: Top 7 Fun Facts About Bulgaria You Never Knew

1. Blooming Rose Valley Fragrance Factory

Roses are red, roses are pink, but in Bulgaria, they're lined up like a fragrant assembly line – and France is their picky perfume partner: During the blooming season, from May to June, Bulgaria's Rose Valley transforms into a breathtaking sight filled with red and pink roses, exporting their rose oil worldwide – particularly to France. The town of Kazanlak, dubbed the capital of this Rose Valley, celebrates it all with their spectacular Rose Festival, attracting tourists with rosy cheeks and photo-ready grins.
Source => meijibulgariayogurt.com

2. Wine Over Fast-Food, Please!

In a land where the burgers cower in fear at the might of a fermented grape beverage: a delightful peculiarity in Bulgaria is that a combo meal at a fast-food joint can be lighter on your wallet than a humble bottle of red table wine.
Source => expatistan.com

Discover the quirky charm of Romania's Merry Cemetery, where laughter lives on through comically painted wooden crosses and witty epitaphs. This unique and lively graveyard is a must-see attraction!

=> Fun Facts about Romania

3. Bulgaria's Astronomical Adventures

When Bulgaria shot for the stars, they reached a little farther than the moon: In collaboration with the Soviet Union's Interkosmos program, the country sent two cosmonauts, Georgi Ivanov in 1979 and Aleksandar Aleksandrov in 1988, to carry out scientific experiments aboard the Salyut 6 and Mir space stations, making Bulgaria a proud member of the space-faring nations club.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Luxurious Essence of Bulgarian Roses

Roses are red, violets are blue, but did you know Bulgaria's blossoms ooze with precious dew? When life hands you roses, they better be from the Kazanlak and Karlovo valleys: That's where the famous Rosa Damascena is grown, used to produce exquisite rose oil, requiring specific rainfall conditions and a whopping 3,000-3,500 kilograms of Kazanlak Whites or 4,000-5,000 kilograms of Red oil-bearing roses for just one kilogram of this luxurious essence. Talk about high-maintenance!
Source => rosefestivalkazanlak.com

5. Yogurt: Bulgaria's Secret to Longevity

Hold onto your yogurt, folks: Bulgaria's Rhodope Mountain villagers live so long it has more centenarians than Japan - and it's not just because they appreciate a good Bulgarian yogurt joke. The secret lies in their traditional, low-stress lifestyle, paired with a healthy dose of homemade, full-fat yogurt teeming with calcium and good bacteria, which helps protect their system from toxins, infections, and various ailments. Move over, Japan!
Source => huffingtonpost.co.uk

6. Thracian Paint-and-Sip Masterpiece

If ancient Thracians had paint-and-sip parties, the Kazanlak tomb is where they left their masterpiece: The Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak in central Bulgaria, dating back to the late 4th century BC, boasts exquisite Hellenistic-style frescoes, showing a Thracian funeral feast and chariot race. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and while the original tomb is closed to us mere mortals, a nearby replica invites everyone to step back in time and enjoy their artistry.
Source => ipanematravels.com

7. Herbology and Mystic Sight of Baba Vanga

They say laughter is the best medicine, but for Baba Vanga, it might've just been herbology and a dash of mystic sight: This blind Bulgarian seer, born in 1911, predicted monumental world events like the Soviet Union's collapse, the Chernobyl disaster, and the infamous 9/11 attacks, becoming a celebrated figure in Eastern Europe for her alleged clairvoyant and precognitive powers. Today, her childhood home is a museum dedicated to showcasing her extraordinary life and work.
Source => en.wikipedia.org