January the 1st was a major turning point for this small but beautiful country as it became a fully fledged member of the European Union and although they wont be adopting the euro for another 3 years the wave of excitement sweeping the country is tangible. A communist member state until the late 1980’s this small country, with a population of 8 million people, has undertaken monumental changes during it’s brief period as a free state and these changes rather than reducing the quality of life for it’s people and diminishing the beauty of this wonderful country have greatly enhanced it.
Infrastructure in terms of roads, transport and amenities are very much akin to what is on offer in the UK. Residents of the UK often take these things for granted as do Bulgarians but residents of Spain will be both surprised and refreshed to see how readily available and reliable phone, electric, water and internet services are. Couple this with the fact that the cost of living in Bulgaria is currently running at a level some 75% below that in the UK and already you have two very strong reasons to consider relocating. Even if viewed from a purely investment perspective, with properties and land prices expected to continue their upward trend at a rate of between 28% and 34% p.a. Bulgaria constitutes a very attractive proposition in comparison with Europe’s previous hot spots of Spain, Portugal and France.
In a nutshell Bulgaria delivers. Whatever you want Bulgaria has it. If its hustle & bustle, lively nights, fine dining & great shopping then head for the big cities of Sofia, Varna, Bourgas etc where amongst a wealth of historical and architectural heritage you’ll find fantastic shopping facilities, historic street markets, designer boutiques, hundreds of great restaurants, intimate bars and state of the art nightclubs. Moving around these cities is both simple and cheap with trams tubes and taxis available from every street corner. A great train network connecting the rest of the country, operates from all of the big cities.
Rural tranquillity with fantastic views, rustic dining and an altogether more peaceful experience then you really are spoilt for choice. Perhaps a chalet style dwelling with lakeside and mountain views is your idea of heaven. Why not a village house 15 mins. from the beach or a large rural villa with easy access to town facilities and with a multitude of outdoor activities, horse riding, skiing, fishing, boating etc on your doorstep. The popular skiing and beach areas along with their surrounding towns and villages offer visitors an open book when it comes to finding an ideal location for their property.
Beachfront villa, apartment or quiet village house within a stones throw from the beach then head for the Black Sea coast. A stretch of the most fantastic coastline sandwiched between the two large cities of Varna and Bourgas. Here you will find top end luxury nestled alongside largely untouched villages all providing everything coast and beach lovers require. Beautiful stretches of golden sands, private coves, golf courses, restaurants ranging from the world class cuisine served up in hotels such as the Kempinski Grand to the fresh seafood served in the many beach bars. Geographically the country could not have been located better. It’s bordering of Romania in the north brings about a continuation of the mountain ranges and vast lake land areas which provide the magnificent skiing facilities in Winter and go onto provide beautiful residential & recreational areas in the summer. The mountains and lakes as well as providing some of the countries most beautiful scenery are also utilised extensively by Bulgarians and visitors alike for sailing, fishing, hunting and relaxation. The extensive area of forest which surrounds Sofia and continues down the country some 100km east bristles with unspoilt villages in lakeside locations, ski chalets, old hunting lodges ( many now converted into residences), great spa come recreation centres and restaurants/bars to numerous to count.
Continuing East into central Bulgaria you are overwhelmed by both the stunning scenery and the changing nature of the towns. This is the agricultural backbone of the country which second to tourism provides Bulgaria with its biggest income. Visitors are always surprised at the abundance of vineyards which rival, according to the locals, the best in France and allow the production of some truly wonderful wines such as Muscat, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon which as well as being drunk in very respectable quantities within Bulgaria can also be found gracing the shelves of many a UK supermarket. Potatoes, fruit and tobacco are the next biggest exports and the temperate climate coupled with great soil means there isn’t much which doesn’t grow well.
To the south the country is bordered by both Greece and Turkey and to the East meets with the Black Sea. The climate in this part of the country is very mild and although the 3 month winter months can be very cold this is contrasted by a 7 month summer during which temperatures average 31°.
Both historically and culturally, Bulgaria has been influenced by a mind boggling list of vastly different civilisations. Starting with the Thracian settlements, traced back to the 7th century BC, the country had seen off or merged with the Byzantines, Alexander the Greats Macedonians, The Greek, Roman and Ottoman empires, before becoming the Communist country most of us remember. The influences of these cultures are still clearly evident today most notably in the cities of Varna and Bourgas where much of the architecture harks back to the times when both were under Roman or Turkish rule. As an example Varna under both the Greeks and Romans was known as Odessus and with it’s easy sea access, warm climate and natural beauty soon became a location for these societies elite to holiday. The worlds largest collection of Thracian gold was recently unearthed here and its beauty has led to it touring some of the worlds most prestigious museums.
The passing of so many great cultures over time has left a welcome and indelible stamp on the country we know and love today. Of course on the architecture and on the land but perhaps more significantly on the people who are, by and large, warm, friendly, happy and welcoming.