The city of Bourgas came into existence almost 2000 years ago. At first it served as a trade and military settlement of the town of Apollonia (Sozopol).

Most of the residents were military veterans. The town had various military and fishermen towers, which led to its name being “Pyrgos,” meaning ‘tower.’ Slight changes lead to the nowadays name of the city.

Bourgas, the current name, is connected to the writings of Ottoman historians, who mention it for the first time in 17th century.

Until the end of the 19th century Bourgas remained small and lacked any major role. The first school and church of the settlement were built in 1868. After the end of the Ottoman rule, Bourgas developed into a modern, European city. A conflagration in XIX century destroyed almost the entire city, which had to be rebuilt afterwards. This event contributed to the modern look of the city.

The port of Bourgas was built in 1903 and its trade high school appeared in 1905. The high school prepared young experts to deal with the expanding trade relations with foreign cities. The state mechanical and technical school opened doors in 1925. The high institute of chemistry and technology appeared in 1963.

Today the port of Bourgas is the largest cargo port on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. The airport in the city is one of the busiest in Bulgaria, especially during the summer tourism season.

Contemporary Bourgas features as the largest southeast Bulgarian city and the fourth largest in the country. In terms of trade, it plays a key role. Bourgas is also strategic energy centre because of the presence of Neftochim Bourgas, the largest refinery in the country.

During the summer hundreds of tourists visit the city. Various foreigners are among them. Bourgas offers excellent vacation conditions. It combines beautiful nature and beaches with the commodities available in a bigger city.

Restaurants, caf?s and hotels offer various types of services for the different tourist groups. The marine garden is a quite place giving visitors the chance to take a quite walk and get acquainted with the work of artists and musicians.

Bourgas hosts cultural events, apart from being a tourist center. Its international folklore festival already has 35 years of history and attracts the lovers of Balkan folk music. The national flowers exhibition brings together people enchanted by colors and aroma. Bourgas and the Sea, a national music competition has become important event for Bulgarian musicians.

The romantic proximity to the seashore probably affected Bourgas and made it the birthplace of many famous poets, painters and musicians. All of them contributed significantly to the development of Bulgarian art and culture.

Complex Katarino is located at the foot of the Rila Mountains, of the picturesque namesake site, about 10 km away from Bansko and 2 km away from Razlog. The complex comprises of a 4 star hotel and 46 holiday houses.

The hotel offers 114 standart double rooms, 2 luxury double rooms and 20 apartments.

The attractive holiday houses are one – stories and two-stories, which have bed room, dining room, shower and bath, WC, balcony.

The facilities of complex Katarino include – restaurant, lobby bar, club/tavern, modern SPA and wellness centre, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, bowling, tennis courts, bridge hall, snooker hall, table tennis, hairdresser’s and beauty parlour.

Belasitsa is a relatively unknown mountain in the southwestern part of the country. During the socialist regime the area fell within the former iron curtain border zone and was fenced with barbed wire and public access was restricted. As a result of this, nowadays, unique flora and fauna species have been preserved in the mountain. Approximately 30% of the territory of the mountain falls within the territory of Bulgaria and this is the only Bulgarian mountain, which can be proclaimed as a trilateral transboundary protected area between Bulgaria, Greece and Macedonia. This is a good basis for sustainable development of the region within the joint European future.

The territory of Belasitza mountain is a typical example of a landscape-level ecosystem divided by national borders of 3 countries – Bulgaria, Greece and F.R.O.Y. Macedonia. The mountain also plays the role of climatic border between the Mediterranean and the sub-continental region. The mountain hosts some of the most representative examples of biodiversity in Bulgaria – more than 1200 flora species – 1/3 of the Bulgarian flora, 102 of them with high conservation value. The invertebrate fauna is remarkably rich in species and scientists discover new species, still unknown for the science. Belasitsa mountain also hosts numerous vertebrates – 8 species of amphibians, 15 species of reptiles, 120 bird species and more than 50 mammals.

The centuries old chestnut forests are of conservational interest not only in Bulgaria, but also in Europe.

Why Belasitsa must be protected?
• In order to preserve the natural chestnut forests;
• In order to protect the centuries-old mixed beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) forests;
• Because the mountain protects flora and fauna species threatened by extinction: albainan lily (Lilium albanicum Grsb.), yew (Taxus baccata L.), holly (Ilex aquifolium L.), alfalfa (Medicago carstiensis Jacq. ssp. belassitzae Koz.);
• In order to develop ecotourism and sustainable traditional use of mountain resources;
• To enhance extensive cattle breeding in mountain pasture areas.
• In order to develop multifunctional forestry;
• Transboundary cooperation for sustainable development of the region

The new Nature park (with territory of 11,700 ha), which is a part of the Balkan Green Belt and the Natura 2000 network, will guarantee further protection of the mountain’s natural resources and will also provide new opportunities for the local communities.

Verila is one of the smallest mountains in Bulgaria. It is located between the much bigger Rila and Vitosha.

The mountain lacks water. Very few rivers flow down its slopes. This characteristic gives its name. Verila comes from ancient Thracian as the opposite of Rila, which on its turn means water mountain.

Golyam Debelets is Verila’s highest point, 1415 m. The mountain is part of the climate division between the colder continental climate of the north and the much milder weather of the south.

Verila lacks major landmarks. It is suitable for one-day trips and picnics. Staying overnight there is not preferable since the region lacks hotels and cabins. The lack of water is another obstacle.