Bulgaria: landmarks, animals & facts for kids

Bulgaria is a country in southeastern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula, with a coastline on the Black Sea. Its capital is Sofia, and about 6.5 million people live there. Bulgaria is known for its mountains, sandy Black Sea beaches, roses grown for perfume oil, yogurt, painted monasteries and its long history, including ancient Thracian gold treasures.

On My Earth Toy you can visit Rila Monastery, hidden in a forested valley of the Rila Mountains. Founded in the 900s by the hermit Saint John of Rila, it has striped arches, colourful wall paintings and a medieval stone tower, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Geography and nature

The Balkan Mountains cross the middle of Bulgaria from west to east. In the southwest rise the Rila and Pirin mountains; Musala, in Rila, is about 2,925 metres high, the tallest peak in the Balkans. The Rhodope Mountains in the south are full of caves and gorges. The Danube River forms much of the northern border. Between the mountains lies the Rose Valley, where fields of pink roses bloom in early summer.

People, languages and culture

People speak Bulgarian and write it in the Cyrillic alphabet, which was developed in the medieval Bulgarian state. Most believers are Eastern Orthodox Christians, and there is also a Muslim minority. On 1 March, people give each other martenitsi, red-and-white tasselled bracelets, to welcome spring. Bulgarian folk singing, with its unusual harmonies, is famous. Shopska salad, banitsa pastry and yogurt are everyday favourites.

History in a nutshell

The Thracians lived here in ancient times, leaving tombs and gold treasures. The First Bulgarian Empire was founded in 681 and became a major power in medieval Europe. In the late 1300s the Ottoman Empire took over and ruled for about five centuries, until 1878. Bulgaria declared full independence in 1908. After World War II it had a communist government until 1989. It joined the European Union in 2007.