Quest Bulgaria Property and Lifestyle Magazine

I have a fondness for Sofia after living there for four years. The extremes of the town are evident with horse and cart beside Porsches and Mercedes: the poverty of some areas compared with the rich items for sale on Vitosha Boulevard.

Plovdiv City is found in the province of Plovdiv and is the second largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia. Even though Plovdiv is the second city in Bulgaria, if you ask any number of people outside of the country they are likely to say they have not heard of the city; or, if they have, do not know anything about the great past of Plovdiv. Plovdiv is one of the oldest cities in Europe; it is actually older than well known cities in Europe such as Rome or Constantinople.

With the heat of the summer gone yet the cold of the winter still to descend, autumn in Bulgaria is a great time to visit one of the artificial manmade lakes. The thrill of the wonderful autumnal colours in the trees and fresh air will have you feeling in top form in no time. There are over thirty large dams / artifical lakes in Bulgaria, so there is plenty of choice and inevetably one to be found near you, most of them offering accommodation in the holiday village right on the water. An escape for the weekend can be enjoyed simply doing nothing or walking, cycling, horse riding and angling. For fishing enthusiasts, the lakes in Bulgaria are brimming with perch and carp.

The little village of Ichera is a haven away from the mass tourism along the coast in summer and the ski resorts in winter. Not far from Sliven, this small destination is little known and is ideal for a 'get-away-from-it-all' break. Offering complete serenity and quiet, houses are dotted up the narrow streets which lead uphill from the Luda Kamchiya river. Those seeking a spot away from the hordes will delight. In winter you can jump in your car and within less than an hour ski all winter long; in summer this is a wonderful place to be away from the scorching heat on the beach, in a beautiful mountain area perfect for days out strolling, in the car or cycling.

 

If you are looking for rural and authentic Bulgaria away from mass tourism, then you need to look no further than the southwestern Rhodopi Mountains and the beautiful area of Garmen, where you will discover a piece of rural paradise. The area is a hidden gem of Bulgaria, full of locals, authentic old villages, crafts and traditions. The Roman ruins at Nikopolis ad Nestum, the warm mineral baths of Ognyanovo, the rural tourism village of Leshten and possibly the most impressive village in Bulgaria, Kovachevitsa, are all in this region. Only known for many years to afficionados of Bulgarian village life, these villages are now finding themselves with more and more tourists, who are visiting for a slice of the real Bulgaria.

The beautiful small town of Kotel, often dubbed "The Stronghold of Bulgarian Spirit", lies in a small, picturesque valley in the Balkan Range. It is a lush, green area with pure air and fresh mountain water and is a significant cultural and historic centre. Kotel is a fascinating place, rich in architectural heritage and history. The old town contains around a hundred houses from the 18th and 19th century, which survived many Ottoman attacks and raging fires.

 

Once an ancient market town, Targovishte is on first sight not the most attractive of Bulgarian cities. It lies on the Danube Plain in the north east of Bulgaria and is a regional and municipal centre. As you approach the town, the rough urban feel contrasts with the steep hills and fertile, green plains, but this is an area famed for its agricultural and wine production. First impressions are deceiving here, the town centre is extremely pleasant with some great historical buildings and the surrounding area offers many forests abundant with wild animals, artificial lakes ideal for recreation and some spectacular countryside.