Located in southeastern Europe, Bulgaria covers the northeastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. The whole territory of the country is 111 000 sq. km. On the east Bulgaria borders on 378 kilometers with the Black Sea, on the west with Macedonia and Serbia, on the north with Romania and on the south with Greece and Turkey.

The lay of the country is various, as in vertical plan it ranges from 0 to 2925m.

There are 16 mountains in Bulgaria. They cover about 1/3 of the territory of the country. Here is located the longest mountain chain (The Balkan Mountains) and the highest massif on the Balkans (Rila). Musala peak in Rila Mountain is the highest peak on the Balkan Peninsula. The gentle slopes alternate with high peaks, deep precipices, picturesque river valleys and impressive gorges. The mountain regions are distinguished by huge variety of vegetative and animal world. In some places there are preserved natural massifs of broad-leaved and coniferous woods at the age of 250-300 years. The oldest tree (Baykusheva mura (white fir) in Pirin) is at the age of over 1300 years and it is coeval of the Bulgarian state. Unique caves, rock phenomena and waterfalls attract great number of tourists.

The climate in the country is extremely healthy with four clearly expressed seasons - moderate warm in the summer and moderate cold in the winter, with much sun and continuous retention of snow cover in the high mountains. The average annual temperature in Bulgaria is 10.5?C. The number of sunny days in Bulgaria is 18-20% more than those of Central, Northern and Northwestern Europe, and the quantity of rainfalls in the spring and summer months – lower by 26-65%.

The mountains Rila, Pirin, the Rhodopes, Vitosha and the Balkan Mountains offer convenient tracks and facilities for ski tourism and winter sports. The duration of the ski season in the mountain resorts is up to 190 days. The total length of ski tracks is over 80 km.with displacement up to 1500 m.

The Black Sea water is with low salt content. That together with its moderate temperature in the summer (22-24 °С), makes it especially pleasant for bathing. The high and low tides are slight. Here are not any strong water streams or dangerous animal and vegetative species, which represent threat for people’s health and life. In the Black Sea flow picturesque rivers, the outfalls of which are surrounded by thick and cool moisture loving woods. Parts thereof are navigable for small motor boats and they offer to the tourists unforgettable rows downstream. The multiple sea lakes – lagoons and firths are shelter for a huge variety of rare plants and animals, especially birds.

Bulgaria is also famous for its natural hot mineral springs – about 1600 nbr. In the past the "holy" springs of Thrace were famous in all corners of the Great Roman Empire. They offer excellent opportunities for balneotourism and SPA procedures. The country is much rich of ancient monuments of culture and artifacts of different epochs from its over 1300 year history and before. Thracians, Romans, Slavs, Greeks and Turks have left their marks on the numerous historical monuments. We may boast of 9 sites included under the protection of UNESCO. The numerous monasteries, churches and mosques, some with hundredths of year history, represent natural attraction for each tourist.

Our country offers a combination of quiet country landscape in the villages, which have preserved their unique spirit of old times and modern towns beating with the rhythm of growing business and always changing fashions. Regardless of your preferences and interests, you will always find something entertaining and fascinating in this small piece of land.

The real estates in Bulgaria are the most quickly growing assets. During the past one-two years the prices thereof generally increased by more than 25%, and some of them increased their prices by 50 %, especially those in the capital city of Sofia, on the Black Sea and ski resorts.

The improved economical status, the political and social stability in Bulgaria contributed during the last 3-4 years for a real leap in the prices of real property.

Another important factor for the increase of prices is the growing demand, prompted by the enormous potential for tourism in our country – wonderful natural attractions – incredible picturesque mountains, beautiful and clean coast with over 70 beach lines with total area of about 9 mln. sq. m., some of them wide and allowing to hundredths of visitors to enjoy the hot sun, other small and calm, nestling in picturesque sea bays with improbable landscape, preserved provincial districts / minimum urbanization/, thousands year history on these lands etc.

Bulgaria is considered as the most quickly growing market of tourism in Europe.

That is the thing, which the foreign buyers of real property in Bulgaria most esteem.

The constantly increasing prices make the purchase of property in Bulgaria, one of the best investments, which you may do now!

Here are few other reasons to invest in Bulgaria listed in brief:

• Strategic geographical location.

• Easy access to Western Europe - just 2 hours by plane.

• Most suitable healthy climate for living – you enjoy four seasons.

• Well developed and permanently improving summer and winter resorts.

• Politically stable country.

• Economically stable and permanently stabilizing economy/Currency Board Arrangement-dd. 1997/.

• Permanent growth of Gross Domestic Product /4. 7 - 4. 9 %/ per year since 2004.

• A full member of NATO since 2004.

• An official full member of the European Community since January 2007!

• Most of the Bulgarian laws are harmonized with the European Union legislation.

• Much competitive price of labour in comparison with the remaining part of Europe.

• Well educated and highly trained, English speaking labour force.

• Much competitive profit tax - 10 % dd. 1 Jan.2007.

• One of the most liberal legislations for a foreign investment in the region – third place in 2007 for attracted direct investments in Southeastern Europe./The foreign investors are convinced of the good future of Bulgaria as a place for direct investments, and the EU membership redirects the focus from the industry to activities with higher value added tax. These are the conclusions from the second issue of the research of Ernst & Young. The attractiveness of Southeastern Europe for direct investment, based on consultation with 200 top managers in the world. Over 68% from the inquired persons prognosticate that during the next 3 years the attractiveness of Bulgaria as a place for direct investments shall improve. The reasons determining the increased interest of the investors are the favorable corporate taxation, the reasonable price of labour and the flexible employment legislation/.

• Still one of the lowest actual prices of properties in Europe.

Bulgaria is on the agenda in the European funds for real property investments.

For those who are curious a short history of Bulgaria

The archeological findings show that the territory of Bulgaria was inhabited even since the Stone epoch. Since that time is dated the Valchitran treasure. It is the oldest golden treasure in the world and it was found near the town of Varna.

In the Bronze epoch on the Bulgarian lands settled the Thracians. They were engaged in agriculture and stock-breeding and they left multiple evidences for a rich culture. Within the period XI - VI century B.C. appeared the first Thracian state unions.

In I century B.C. their lands were conquered by Rome, and since V century they were included in Byzantium.

In VI century on the Balkan Peninsula settled Slavs, and during the second half of VII century – proto-Bulgarians. The Slavs and the proto-Bulgarians united and they created the Bulgarian state, officially recognized by Byzantium in 681. The leader of the proto-Bulgarians khan Asparuh was placed at the head of the state, and as a capital was announced Pliska. Under the rule of khan Tervel (700-718) Bulgaria turned into a great political power, а and during the rule of khan Krum (803-814) she extended its territory.

In 864, during the rule of Prince Boris I Mihail (852-889) the Bulgarians accepted Christianity as an official religion. By means of that were removed the ethnic differences between proto-Bulgarians and Slavs and commenced the formation of united Bulgarian nation.

At the end of IX century Kiril and Methodiy brothers created and spread the Slavonic alphabet. Their students went in Bulgaria, where they were cordially welcomed and found good conditions for work. They developed rich educational and literature activity. From Bulgaria the Slavonic writing was also spread in other Slavonic countries as Serbia and Russia. The time of Tsar Simeon’s reign (893-927) is determined as the "Golden century of the Bulgarian culture". The borders of Bulgaria during that time were determined by the Black sea, Aegean Sea and the Archipelago. During the reign of the heirs of Simeon the country became weaker by internal fights. In 1018 following long wars Bulgaria was conquered by Byzantium. Yet during the first years under Byzantium control the Bulgarians started fighting for their liberty. In 1186 the revolt leaded by the brothers boyars Asen and Petar, rejected the rule of Byzantium. Then was established the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, and Tranovo became a capital. After the year of 1186 the country was first ruled by Asen, and then – by Petar. The previous power of Bulgaria was restored during the reign of their smallest brother Kaloyan (1197-1207).

During the reign of Tsar Ivan Asen II (1218 -1241) the Second Bulgarian Kingdom reached its greatest bloom. The borders were extended to the Black Sea, Aegean Sea and Adriatic Sea. The economy and culture were again blossoming forth.

In 1235 the head of the Bulgarian church received the title patriarch. The differences among part of the boyars lead to separation of the country in two kingdoms - Vidin and Tarnovo Kingdom. That made the country weaker and in 1396 it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire. Within almost five centuries Bulgaria was under the Ottoman rule. The first years were characterized with unorganized attempts to gain liberty. Later the appearance of haidouks allowed the establishment of well-organized national-movement of liberation. Main figures were Vasil Levski, Lyuben Karavelov, Hristo Botev and many other Bulgarians. In the beginning of XVIII century started the formation of the Bulgarian nation and the development of the Bulgarian education. The "Slavonic-Bulgarian History" written in 1762 by the monk Paissiy Hilendarski is of great importance. The ideas for national liberty lead to establishment of independent national church, development of education and culture.

In 1876 burst out the April revolt – the first large and organized attempt for liberation from the Ottoman slavery. The revolts were brutally crushed and drown in blood but it attracted the attention of the European countries into the Bulgarian national issues. In 1878 as a result of the Russian – Turkish War of Liberation (1877-1878), the Bulgarian state was restored. The former Bulgarian territories were divided in three parts – Principality Bulgaria with Prince Alexander Battenberg, Eastern Rumelia with Governor Christian, appointed by the sultan, and Thrace and Macedonia remained under the rule of the Ottoman Empire.

The resolution for partition of Bulgaria taken at the Congress of Berlin (1878.) had never been accepted by the nation. As a result thereof burst out Kresnen-Razlog Uprising (1878-1879), which in 1885 lead to the union of Eastern Rumelia. Ferdinand Sakskuborgotski, a Bulgarian prince since 1887, proclaimed independence from Turkey. In 1908 he became a king of the Bulgarian nation. Bulgaria together with Serbia and Greece participated in the Balkan War (1912) and fought for the liberation of Thrace and Macedonia. Bulgaria won that war, but in the supervening Interallied War (1913) it was defeated by Romania, Turkey and by its previous allies, which detached territories occupied by Bulgarians.

The interference of Bulgaria in the First World War on the part of the Central Powers ended with a national catastrophe. In 1918 King Ferdinand abdicated in favour of his son Boris III. The peaceful Treaty of Neuilly dd. 1919 imposed severe clauses to Bulgaria – it lost its outlet on the Aegean Sea, West Thrace became part of Greece, South Dobrudzha was joined to Romania, and other parts were given to the Serbian-Croatian-Slovenian Kingdom.

In the beginning of the 40-s Bulgaria maintained a policy in favour of Germany. In August 1943 King Boris III died and the regency of the young Tsar Simeon II was announced as a government of the country. On 5 September 1944 the Soviet army invaded in Bulgaria. On 9 September was established the government of the Fatherland Front, having its leader Kimon Georgiev. In 1946 Bulgaria was proclaimed as People’s Republic. The queen mother, Tsar Simeon ІІ and Princess Maria-Louisa left the country through Turkey to Egypt. The Bulgarian Communist Party assumed power. The political parties out of the Fatherland Front were forbidden, the economics and banks were nationalized, the cultivable land was forcibly organized in co-operative societies. 10 November 1989 initiated the beginning of democratic changes in Bulgaria. A new constitution was accepted (1991), the political parties were restored, the property deprived in 1947 was restored, privatization and reversion of land started. In 1990 Zhelyo Zhelev became the first democratically elected president of Bulgaria.

After 1996 main priorities in the foreign policy of Bulgaria became its membership in the European Union and NATO, which are already a fact.