What’s the weather in Bulgaria like?

The weather in Bulgaria: an all-year guide

For travelers and tourists who intend to visit the country, the weather in Bulgaria is perhaps one of the most important factors. How could you plan when to go and what part of the country to visit without having the slightest idea of Bulgarian weather?

To locals like me, weather may be mostly a matter of small talk (and regular complaints because believe it or not, we like to complain about the weather too), but I’ve noticed that during my travels, weather information is one of the first things I check before I depart or even plan a journey. To help fellow visitors, kashkaval tourist prepared this all-year guide to the weather in Bulgaria.

In a nutshell: the key Bulgarian weather facts

In general, you can expect a lot of sunshine and dry conditions throughout the year in Bulgaria

In general, you can expect a lot of sunshine and dry conditions throughout the year in Bulgaria

Bulgaria is not a huge country even by European standards, so weather variations between the different regions are usually no more than 6-7 °C. That is if you exclude the high reaches of the mountains, where the altitude makes it dramatically colder.

Bulgaria’s climate is a combination of continental and Mediterranean influences, which means the country has four quite well-defined seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter) and temperatures vary dramatically in different times of the year. In general, you can expect summers to be quite hot and dry and winters to be snowy and freezing, with spring and autumn providing a transition between the two.

The warmest parts of Bulgaria are in the southwest, where the Mediterranean climate effects in the valleys are particularly strong. The seaside has a mild subtropical climate heavily influenced by the Black Sea’s presence. The plains and lowlands in the north and south experience continental weather (with the south usually a bit warmer) and the mountains are known for their Alpine climate conditions.

To give you an idea: the highest temperature ever recorded in Bulgaria is 45.2 °C, while the lowest record stands at −38.3 °C. That’s a staggering difference of 83.5 degrees!

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Voyvodovo - an unknown Czech village in Bulgaria (book review)

Book review: Voyvodovo – an unknown Czech village in Bulgaria

After kashkaval tourist released one of its most successful articles, 6 places you would not believe are in Bulgaria, I was contacted by Czech scholar Marek Jakoubek who has been researching the unique village of Voyvodovo in northwestern Bulgaria. Marek Jakoubek is currently a professor of anthropology at the University of West Bohemia in Plzeň.

Jakoubek visits the village at least twice a year and is the author of a number of publications detailing the village’s curious history. One of his latest works is the book Voyvodovo – an unknown Czech village in Bulgaria (published in Czech and Bulgarian), which is a multi-faceted collection of seven articles and studies, complete with a fascinating personal foreword and a neat timeline of Voyvodovo’s history.

To this day, Voyvodovo boasts an architectural style more akin to that of the Czech lands and Central Europe rather than the Balkans

To this day, Voyvodovo boasts an architectural style more akin to that of the Czech lands and Central Europe rather than the Balkans

What makes Voyvodovo so special is that it was founded by ethnic Czech settlers in 1900 and to this day boasts an architectural style more akin to that of the Czech lands and Central Europe rather than the Balkans. Though the Czech community was resettled to Czechoslovakia by the 1950s, its architectural (and to some extent cultural) heritage is still largely intact – however, efforts to preserve this jewel must be undertaken.

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10 classic Bulgarian films you must watch

10 classic Bulgarian films you must watch

Hollywood’s repeatable storylines and empty blockbusters may be dominating the world’s movie theatres, but believe it or not, quality films have been shot and are being made elsewhere too.

Bulgarian cinema had its golden age in the 70s and 80s, when the state-funded film industry was tasked with providing entertainment for the masses – and did an impressively good job at it! And though Bulgaria is producing less films these days than in the past, quite a few successful and captivating Bulgarian movies have been released in recent years as well.

What is unique about Bulgarian films are the fresh and clever stories, the unforgettable characters and the atmospheric settings which give the movies a look and feel decidedly different from Hollywood’s style that relies on CGI and other visual effects.

From the tale of a plum-eating dolphin to the drama caused by a music teacher who sings terribly,  kashkaval tourist presents 10 classic Bulgarian films you must watch.

1. “Gotta sleep for 10 more minutes and then I’m coming”: With Children at the Seaside (1972)

With Children at the Seaside (1972)

With Children at the Seaside (1972)

With Children at the Seaside (С деца на море, S detsa na more) is a charming collection of two storylines united by their setting at the Bulgarian seaside and the mischievous but honest character of Pipsi.

The first part revolves around a summer love story in Nesebar, a historic Bulgarian seaside town, and a group of kids who keep following the young lovers, hoping to catch a glimpse of the legendary plum-eating dolphin that they reportedly sail off to meet every day.

The second part involves Georgi Partsalev’s memorable character Uncle Mancho who goes to the seaside with his mistress, but is immediately caught on camera by Pipsi. Seeking to destroy the evidence of his affair, Mancho is forced to somehow take the camera away from the children.

2. “Why is this dog green? It’s a little crocodile”: Dangerous Charm (1984)

Dangerous Charm (1984)

Dangerous Charm (1984)

In Dangerous Charm (Опасен чар, Opasen char), famous Bulgarian actor Todor Kolev plays a conman who seduces single women with his charm and intellect, robs them of their money and spends it all on mindless entertainment.

The police are following the conman in his trails, though his ingenious decisions and clever use of fake names (as well as completely made up Frank Lloyd Wright quotes!) pushes his plan forward… Until the conman himself finds love, or does he?

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July Morning in Bulgaria: the feast of the rising sun

July Morning in Bulgaria: the feast of the rising sun

July Morning, the celebration of the rising summer sun on the morning of 1 July every year, surely counts among Bulgaria’s most unique holidays.

Sparked by the Bulgarian counterculture movement that existed clandestinely under socialism in the 1980s, the celebration was named after legendary rock band Uriah Heep’s hit song July Morning. Remarkably, to date the holiday retains its authentic appeal and has not been ruined by commercialization, nor has it faded away after the fall of communism.

Each year on the eve of 1 July, Bulgaria’s youth and young at heart gather in nature (whether in the mountains or at the Black Sea side) to have a party, play live music and rock through the night in anticipation of the sunrise. The steep cliffs of the scenic seaside village of Kamen Bryag are a popular gathering spot, though impromptu parties are organized throughout Bulgaria. In the capital Sofia, for example, it’s common to celebrate July Morning at 1345 metres above sea level by the Kopitoto TV Tower on Vitosha, looking east over the city towards the rising sun.

And why, you might ask? To celebrate nature, to give summer a proper kick-off and to escape from the routines of daily life, I would say.

Happy July Morning and cheers to all who feel like celebrating summer!

8 unusual museums in Bulgaria

8 unusual museums in Bulgaria

As a land rich in history and with an astounding architectural heritage, you may have guessed correctly that Bulgaria has a lot of historical and archaeological museums. And they’re mostly quite interesting, exhibiting artifacts like the oldest worked gold in the world or incredibly elaborate Thracian treasures.

What you may not have had a clue about, though, is Bulgaria’s list of unusual museums, focusing on curious topics that reveal the country’s image in a very different way and helping you complete the big picture. From the communist red star that once stood above the former Party House to the home of Bulgarian humour and satire, kashkaval tourist presents 8 unusual museums in Bulgaria!

1. Workers of the world, unite: Socialist Art Museum, Sofia

Workers of the world, unite: Socialist Art Museum, Sofia

Workers of the world, unite: Socialist Art Museum, Sofia. Photo credit: Ivanov id, Wikipedia.

Opened in 2011, the Socialist Art Museum in Sofia’s Izgrev neighbourhood is a proper trip back in time to the five decades during which Bulgaria was a socialist republic and essentially a Soviet satellite. The museum features examples of socialist art, both on a grand scale and in smaller proportions.

In the Socialist Art Museum, Bulgarian communist leaders are lined up next to regular workers, Lenin’s head next to the huge red star which once adorned the top of the Party House in Sofia. Now, whether the red star was made of real ruby is up to you to decide…

2. Remember the milk: Yogurt Museum, Studen Izvor

Remember the milk: Yogurt Museum, Studen Izvor

Remember the milk: Yogurt Museum, Studen Izvor. Photo credit: Krasimir Mihov, Wikipedia.

Bulgaria has a worldwide reputation for the quality of its yogurt – quite deserved, in my opinion. And it’s only fair that the world’s one and only Yogurt Museum should be located in Bulgaria. The museum occupies a typical Bulgarian house from the 19th century in the tiny village of Studen Izvor west of Sofia, near the Serbian border.

Why this unusual location, you might ask? Because the village is the birthplace of Dr. Stamen Grigorov, whose discovery of the bacterium Lactobacillus bulgaricus, which plays a key role in the production of yogurt from milk. The Yogurt Museum in Studen Izvor boasts exhibits related to the history of yogurt production and consumption as well as a showcase of the entire production process.

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7 incredible Bulgarian sports achievements

7 incredible Bulgarian sports achievements

With the FIFA World Cup in Brazil now just around the corner (unfortunately yet again without Bulgarian participation) and the summer months finally rolling in, it’s a good time to get some sports inspiration from Bulgaria’s surprisingly rich sports history. For a country of its size (and I like to emphasize that often enough), Bulgaria has achieved some remarkable sports achievements.

From the first modern Olympics to world chess domination, kashkaval tourist presents 7 incredible Bulgarian sports achievements.

1. Overlords of chess: Veselin Topalov and Antoaneta Stefanova, 2005-2006

Overlords of chess: Veselin Topalov and Antoaneta Stefanova, 2005-2006

Overlords of chess: Veselin Topalov and Antoaneta Stefanova, 2005-2006. Photo credit: Karpidis and Frank Hoppe, Wikipedia.

Chess is seen by many as the ultimate mind sport and the title of FIDE World Chess Champion is the most prestigious trophy one can hold in the world of chess. Astonishingly, Bulgarians held both the men’s and women’s world chess titles for about a year, between 2005 and 2006. Bulgarian grandmaster Veselin Topalov won the World Chess Championship a year after fellow chess wizard Antoaneta Stefanova had clinched the women’s title in 2004.

Though both Topalov and Stefanova lost their titles in 2006, they have remained at the top of the game, consistently ranking among the top chess players in the world.

2. Fastest English Channel swim: Petar Stoychev, 2007

Bulgarian swimmer Petar Stoychev is deservedly counted among the legends of long-distance (marathon) swimming. He boasts numerous titles in prestigious extreme long-distance swimming competitions, including the World Cup (of which he’s a seven-time winner) and the Grand Prix.

In 2007, Stoychev became the first person to swim the treacherous waters of the English Channel in less than seven hours. His time of 6 hours and less than 58 minutes set a new record for the fastest English Channel swim. Stoychev’s amazing feat was the record for 5 years, until Australian Trent Grimsey beat his time by about 3 minutes in 2012.

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Travel back in time to Bulgaria in the 1960s!

“It’s roses, roses all the way… this, wherever it is, is a land of happiness!”

In the 1960s, Bulgarian tourism was still in its infancy and Bulgaria’s natural beauty was relatively untapped by mass tourism. This video must be one of the first attempts to advertise tourism in Bulgaria to the Anglophone world. Check out below what could bring a foreign visitor to Bulgaria in the 1960s!

Celebrating Saints Cyril and Methodius

Sofia University is named after Saint Clement of Ohrid, one of Cyril and Methodius' disciples and the traditionally accepted inventor of the Cyrillic alphabet

Sofia University is named after Saint Clement of Ohrid, one of Cyril and Methodius’ disciples and the traditionally accepted inventor of the Cyrillic alphabet

Every 24 May, Bulgaria honours Saints Cyril and Methodius’ Day, officially known under the rather lengthy name “Day of Bulgarian Education and Culture and Slavic Literature”. Cyril and Methodius are celeberated for their efforts in christianizing the Slavs in the 9th century and for inventing the Glagolithic alphabet, the oldest Slavic alphabet.

Cyril and Methodius’ disciples (particularly Saint Clement of Ohrid and Saint Naum of Preslav) played an important part in the foundation of Bulgarian literature and created the Cyrillic alphabet, now used by hundreds of millions of people around the world.

7 mystical Bulgarian monasteries and their well-kept secrets

7 mystical Bulgarian monasteries and their well-kept secrets

Eastern Orthodox monasteries are among Bulgaria’s most valuable cultural heritage. Some like the fortress-like Rila Monastery are rightfully UNESCO World Heritage Sites, others like the Bachkovo Monastery in the verdant Rhodopes attract crowds with their unique and aesthetically-pleasing Byzantine architecture.

However, many of the most interesting Bulgarian monasteries remain relatively off the beaten track. As a result, they have retained their antique appeal and authentic appearance. Put on your cassock (or not) and head for the holy water, for kashkaval tourist presents 7 mystical Bulgarian monasteries and their well-kept secrets!

1. Nine centuries of stone: Zemen Monastery

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If you somehow end up in the tiny town of Zemen between Pernik and Kyustendil, you’ll be surprised to discover a well-kept piece of medieval Bulgarian history. The fascinating Zemen Monastery (Земенски манастир Zemenski manastir) dates to the 11th century and has preserved a curious cube-shaped church as old as the monastery itself. In the church’s cool stone interior you can see vivid biblical frescoes from the 14th centuries as well as one of the earliest donor’s portraits (of an unnamed Bulgarian aristocrat and his wife Doya).

Curiously, on my visit to the monastery three years ago I also found a not-so-ancient cassette player. Thankfully, it was playing religious hymns rather than tacky Bulgarian pop folk music!

2. Bulgarian Gothic: Lopushna Monastery

Did you know Bulgaria made its own unique contribution to Gothic architecture… albeit some three or four centuries after it went out of fashion in Western Europe? Indeed, a few dozen 19th-century churches in northwestern Bulgaria bear the classic traces of medieval Gothic architecture – including sharp arches, geometric details like rosettes and rich carved stone decoration.

The Lopushna Monastery (Лопушански манастир Lopushanski manastir) near Georgi Damyanovo is perhaps the most majestic examples of this late Bulgarian Gothic style. Established in medieval times, this monastery was reconstructed in its present appearance in the 1850s – and the monastery church stands out with its unique sharp-pointed design and naïve exterior reliefs, including stone (self?) portraits of the moustached architect and his assistant.

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Saint Anastasia Island: the islet of monks and Bolshevik prisoners

Situated in the Black Sea near the Bulgarian city of Burgas, Saint Anastasia Island (остров Света Анастасия, ostrov Sveta Anastasia) is quite a curious little place. The islet hosts the buildings of the last preserved island monastery off the western Black Sea coast. The Saint Anastasia Monastery is documented from the 16th century, though it was abandoned by the 1920s, when the buildings were turned into a macabre island prison for political opponents of Bulgaria’s right-wing government of Aleksandar Tsankov.

After an extensive reconstruction and gentrification, Saint Anastasia Island will be opened for regular visits from 15th May this year. Three boats a day will take tourists to and from the islet, where visitors can see a lighthouse, a precious antique church and a quay. A restaurant will be serving authentic cuisine, including seafood options, and a small guest house offers the opportunity to spend a night on one of the Black Sea’s very few inhabitable islands.