The Republic of Bulgaria is a relatively large European country located in the south east region of Europe. It borders the Black Sea, Romania, Serbia, Macedonia, Greece and Turkey.

The world's oldest written language was found in Bulgaria, which dates more than 6000 years and stems from the Thracian civilisation. Thrace, as it was then known, became later a province in the Roman Empire. In 632, the region became independent under the name Great Bulgaria, which in the 9th and the 10th Century became a major European power. However, in 1018 Bulgaria was conquered and destroyed by the Byzantine Empire.

A century later a new Bulgarian state was formed, which remained independent until the 15th Century when it was conquered and became part of the Ottoman Empire. It became independent once more at the end of the 19th century. After World War II, Bulgaria became a socialist state and member of the Warsaw. In 1990 it became a republic and it joined the European Union in 2007.

Inhabitants: 7,700,000
Area: 111,000 km2
Capital: Sofia (1,300,000inhabitants)
Languages: Bulgarian
Religion: Orthodox (83%), Muslims (12%), others (5%)
GDP (PPP) per capita: $11.000
Government: Parliamentary democratic republic
Climate: Temperate climate, with cool damp winters and very dry hot summer.