Folklore, Architecture, Arts

Bulgaria is an interesting country, because it combines the cultures of many peoples. The folklore represents a colorful bouquet of songs and dances, in which the typical Bulgarian traits and temperament can be recognized. Depending on the occasion, there are different kinds of songs – fun-loving and fast or sad and slow. They are performed with the accompaniment of different instruments: bagpipes (very typical for the Rhodopes), drums, fiddle, tambourine, kaval (wooden flute), duduk (wooden pipe) etc. The dances are complicated and often performed with small steps. Typical Bulgarian dances are “ruchenitsa” and “horo” (chain dance) with its varieties in the different folklore regions of Bulgaria. If you want to listen to Bulgarian songs and music and enjoy the “colorfulness” of the Bulgarian dances, we suggest you a visit to the cheerful grannies of Bistritsa, included in the UNESCO World Non-Material Cultural Heritage List. The grannies have unique old-time singing style – the experts have identified it as polyphony.

Two of the most interesting Bulgarian customs are “Kukeri” and “Nestinari” (fire dancing). The “Kukeri” dancers perform every year during the last weekend of January in Pernik. These are disguised people carrying horrifying masks made out of fur, feathers and colorful fabrics. Their dances are believed to expel evil. “Nestinari” is a Bulgarian custom dated as far back as the Thracians. The fire dancers perform on glowing embers and pray for health, prosperity, fertility and remission of sins. Original “Nestinari” in Bulgaria can be seen only in Strandja mountain (Balgari village). There they perform the Nestinari ritual on 21st May and 3rd June. Nowadays recreations of the ritual can also be seen in many other places as a tourist attraction.

Bulgaria is famous for its architecture from the Revival period. A variety of remarkable old houses can be seen in more than 10 architecture-reserves (Koprivshtitsa, Bozhentsi, Brashlian, Zheravna, Plovdiv, Arbanassi and others). Many Bulgarian towns also bear the traces of the Revival – Bansko, Sopot, Tryavna, Melnik, Elena, etc. The architecture of these towns is very similar – a main street (charshia) leads to the central square, where you can most often find a clock tower and a church. Depending on the region and the climatic conditions the houses are made of various materials: bricks, stone, wood, clay and others. Most of them are two- or three-storey buildings, decorated with wall paintings and woodcarvings (particularly the houses of the rich merchants).

Bulgaria has numerous art galleries with rich exhibitions, devoted to a variety of themes, artists and trends. Some of the most famous are: the Gallery for Foreign Art, the National Art Gallery and the Museum Gallery of Modern Art in Sofia, the Art Gallery of the famous Bulgarian painter Vladimir Dimitrov – The Master in Kjustendil, the Museum House of Humor and Satire in Gabrovo, the Gallery of Nikola Manev in Chirpan and many others.

Naturally, the Art also includes Theatre, Ballet and Opera. According to your interests we can organize visits to interesting cultural performances.

Many festivals and celebrations are carried out in Bulgaria. Here are some of the most famous:

• Sofia New Year music festival;

• March music-days: International Festival for chamber-, symphonic- and opera-music, Rousse;

• Sofia Film Fest, International cinema festival, March;

• Eastern Music Festival, Plovdiv, April;

• Varna Summer, International festival for classic music, jazz and theater, end of July;

• International Ballet Competition, Varna;

• International Jazz Festival, Bansko;

• Kaliakra Rock Fest, International rock festival, Kavarna;

• Apollonia, Festival of arts, museum city Sozopol

and others