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Overview
Bulgaria abounds in hydrothermal
resources, unique in composition (over 600
mineral springs with temperatures between 10 C
and 102 C) and known for their curative
properties even in antiquity. The climate is
healthy and has a marked curative effect in
certain regions of the country. The varied
relief. warm sea, fresh verdure and mountains
air, combined with various treatment procedures,
exert a favourable influence on a number of
ailments.
The health resorts are situated in some of the
most picturesque places of Bulgaria and in the
mbalneological treatment is in combination with
climate treatment and physical therapy.
The best known ones are SANDANSKI -
beneficial to the treatment of bronchial asthma,
HISSARYA - known for the successful
treatment of urological and liver diseases,
VELINGRAD - for non-specific conditions of
the respiratory tract, disturbances of the
locomotory system, neurological disorders,
gynaecologycal complaints, mild forms of
diabetes, obesity, and Kyustendil - for
conditions of the bones, joints and tendons,
disorders of the nervous system, cardiovascular
diseases, disturbances of the reproductive
system and sterility.
The best known Black Sea spa centers are at the
Albena resort, the Golden Sands
resort, Riviera Holiday Club, Sunny
Day and at the St. Constantine
resort.
Hissarya
The health resort of Hissarya is situated in
central Bulgaria, in the southern folds of
Sredna Gora, 42km north of Plovdiv and 160 km
east of Sofia. There are 22 curative mineral
springs in the resort. The mineral water is
light, clear and slightly mineralized with a
temperature of 37 to 52C. The town itself is
ecologically clean. There are no industrial
plants or factories in the region, and it is
rich in parks and green areas.
Velingrad
Velingrad lies at the western end of Chepino
Valley, one of the most attractive parts of the
Rhodope Mountains in Southern Bulgaria. There
are 70 sources of mineral water with curative
and preventive properties.
The mineral waters vary considerably in
temperature, mineralization, radon, silicic acid
and
 fluorine
content, and are suitable for treatment of a
wide range of diseases.
The summer is warm with an average July
temperature of 19C.
In addition to he numerous mineral waters
Velingrad takes pride in another natural
phenomenon - the Leptuza. This is the biggest
karst spring in Bulgaria with a flow of 1200
litres of ice-cold water a second.
Sandanski
The town of Sandanski is one of the biggest spa
centers in Bulgaria. It is situated in the
valley of the Sandanska Bistritsa River, at the
foot of the south-western slopes of Pirin.
The climate in Sandanski is unique. Throughout
the year, air temperatures are higher than
anywhere else in the country. The average annual
temperature (14.7C) is the highest in Bulgaria.
The air is remarkably clean and pollution free.
The resort also features a multitude of mineral
springs. The wells and natural springs situated
in two thermal zones have a total flow of 1,500
l/min.
The Sandanski Spa Hotel has a modern health and
balneotherapy center offering all the usual
treatments and baths. |
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The richness of cultural and historical
monuments, including ancient Thracian, Greek,
and Roman makes Bulgaria the perfect destination
for history lovers. Many of the cultural
monuments in Bulgaria are listed under the
protection of UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
Ancient culture, endless beaches and an emerald
sea, high mountains with marvelous gorges and
caves, clear lakes and rivers full of fish, wide
valleys, healing springs, ancient culture,
hospitable people, tempting cuisine and wines,
diverse flora and fauna...
Explore this land!
The Museum Towns
Etera
or Etura - The live craftsmen museum
Is an ethnographic museum park below the open
skies, located on the outskirts of the mountain
town of Gabrovo. Its 18th-19th century crafts
and lifestyle come alive before the eyes of
visitors & provide you with an exciting and
memorable experience..
The workshops and shops located on the opposite
left bank make up the so-called arts and crafts
street. The two-storey houses are exact copies
of the 'houses of famous old masters, with shops
and workshops on the ground floor, and the
living quarters above them. In this case, too,
the various mechanisms, the arrangement of the
workshops and the manual tools are completely
authentic.
Veliko Ternovo - The Royal city
The royal city of Veliko Turnovo, the capital of
the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1187-1393) is
situated on three hills & are circled by the
deep cutting Yantra River above whose
magnificent gorges sheer rocks rise into the
sky. Perched one above the other on the rocks
the houses reach right down to the riverbank.
Plovdiv - The
city of Philip the Macedonian
Old Plovdiv - a picturesque architectural
National Revival period ensemble fashioned by
the generous talent, heart and mind of the
Bulgarian masters.
Situated on three hills in the Thracian Plain,
encircled by the slow running waters of the
Maritza river, Bulgaria's second largest city
today, Plovdiv has a 24 centuries long history
and is one of the ancient crossroads between
East and West.
Nessebar - The Mediaeval 40 churches town
Is one of the oldest towns in Europe. It is the
successor of the ancient Thracian settlement
called Messembria founded in the 2nd century AD.
Nessebar is on the UNESCO World Heritage List
for its unique colour and architecture. The town
is a real museum showing the building traditions
in Bulgaria with over 20 places of interest.
Valuable monuments from all ages of its
thousand-year old existence have been preserved
there.
Nessebar is a charming shopping center, where
you can buy crystal wear. ceramics, leather
goods and many other souvenirs items.
Koprivshitsa
- The architectural open-air museum
The
museum town of Koprivshtitsa is one of
Bulgaria's best-preserved towns, with primary
coloured examples of National Revival
architecture apparent everywhere. The town is
perhaps best known for its Great Koprivshtitsa
Folklore Festival, held every four years.
Zervana-Kotel
With many examples
of houses of the National Revival style; Kotel,
which is located in a small valley in the Balkan
mountain range, and is famous as a centre for
carpet making; and the village of Zheravna, in
the Eastern Balkan range, containing beautiful
17th-century wooden houses. |
Overview
Splendid
architecture ensembles, ancient icons and wood-carving,
marvelous preserved frescos, all surrounded by verdure,
this is just a part of the historical cultural wealth of
the mysterious and romantic world of the Bulgarian
monasteries. There are more than 120 monasteries in the
country.
Rila
Monastery
It was founded in the l0th century by the Bulgarian monk
St. Ivan of Rila and was rebuilt in the l3th - l4th
century. From that time are; the fortress tower (1334),
the bishop's throne, richly carved doors and some
manuscripts, icon-paintings and church plates. In the
l5th century, when Bulgaria fell to the Ottoman Turks,
the monastery was abandoned for a short time but it was
restored in the second half of the 15th century. The
Rila Monastery has been listed as a world monument of
culture. There is an interesting legend surrounding Rila
monastery and its Saint, Ivan. After his parents' death,
he gave away all of his material items and went to live
in a cave in the Rila mountains. Ivan lived without
material possessions and grew healthier and stronger
than he had ever been. Upon Ivan's death, his body was
wrapped in a shroud and buried. His body did not decay
and all those that visited his tomb were cured of their
sicknesses.
Bashkovo
Monastery
Lies in the valley of the Chepelare river. surrounded by
the hills of the Rhodopi mountain, which together with
its size and ancient spirit make it one of the most
visited monasteries in Bulgaria.The complex have grown
into a tourist sight where dozens of small shops,
stalls, and restaurants , stand on both sides of the
walkway to the gates. The monastery was founded in 1083
by a Byzantine military commander. The bone-vault is a
must-see building there, for its unique wall-paintings,
which rank among the most valuable works of Orthodox
art. It was restored towards the end of the 15th
century. But what draws mostly on visitors is its icon
of Virgin Mary, believed to be wonder-working. A long
queue of pilgrims wishing to say their prayers to the
miraculous image of the God’s Mother. The St Nicolas
church rises in the southern part of the yard and is
worth visiting for the well-kept paintings of the famous
artist Zahari Zograf.
Troyan
Monastery
 The
Troyan Monastery, is known above all for the creative
work of Zahari Zograph who painted both the exterior and
the interior (a rare practice for the time) of the main
church built in 1835, 7 km from the town of Troyan. It
is a fine example of the impact of the popular
conception of the world and the influence of housing
architecture on religious construction.
Fortunately, mast of the great works of old and National
Revival art have survived. The iconostasis of the main
church made in 1839 is a masterpiece of woodcarving.
Amazing in its originality, is the much earlier (1794)
carving of the holy altar gates in the St. Nikola
Chapel. The icons introduce us once again to the best
known National Revival artists.
Dryanovo
Monastery
The historical Dryanovo monastery, St Archangel Michael,
is situated in the picturesque gorge of the Dryanovo
river where limestone rocks rise high on all sides of
the gorge.
Its founders were two rebel boyars of the old capital
city of Ternovo. At the beginning of the 15th century,
the monastery was destroyed by the invading Ottoman
troops. Later on, it was reconstructed on a neighbouring
site, known as the Big St Archangel, but the fate of
this monastery was no happier than that of its
predecessor. The Dryanovo monastery was restored anew at
the end of the 17th century, this time in its
present-day place. Dryanovo monks took active part in
the Bulgarians’ uprisings and plots against the Ottoman
rule. The most recent reconstruction was carried out
shortly after the Liberation. A new part and a museum
were added to the existing buildings.
Aladja
Monastery
This is the most preserved and accessible rock
monasteries in Bulgaria, dating from the early Middle
Ages and conforming to the idea of silence, asceticism
and moral perfection. Monastic cells and a small church
have been dug into a sheer rock with differently colored
old frescoes.
The Catacombs has an origin and history similar to those
of the Monastery.
Dragaleftsi Monastery
The “Virgin Mary of Vitosha” monastery, is located about
3 km kilometers south of the village of Dragaleftsi up
in the lower parts of the Vitosha mountain. One of the
most beautiful and well preserved monasteries.
The monastery’s establishment dates back to 1345. In
1476, it was renovated and brought back to life.
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 kempinski'
VIEWS
Five years ago I
went on a trip to Egypt with Spiritual Adventures.
I had previously done a little work with Vivien
for healing on both a physical and spiritual level
and had done the first set of a group of
spiritually enlightening courses that Vivien runs
to help individuals find inner strength and
spiritual peace. Nevertheless, I would at that
point regard myself very much as a
beginner.
The party was a mixed one of nine
members, some of whom knew each other a little and
some of whom had not previously met. The journey
for me was one of, if not the, most important of
my life. For from it I returned perhaps not with
the answers, but at least with the certainty that
I had now the knowledge of how and where to look.
In a sense, my Egypt trip has never stopped,
because from there I have continued on the path
shown to me by Vivien and the spirit powers of
Egypt.
Sometimes I fall off the path, but other
trips with Spiritual Adventures and support from
Vivien are always to hand, remembering always that
ultimately it is about self-determination within
the parameters of your individual
destiny.
Reader, you should know that this (and
other trips) is supremely well organised and
fantastic fun besides the more serious aspect of
the journey.
There is always laughter, the
pleasure of sharing with like minded people and
the hilarity of various “incidents” that occur. If
you want to know about these go on a trip or try a
few courses. If it doesn’t change your life ( or
at the very least make a huge impact ) I would be
very very surprised.”
Stephen Kain (Business
Advisor Manager)
“Its hard to know
where to begin when trying to describe in a few
words our/my adventure in Peru with Vivian and a
number of others. From the dark Amazon to the
clear light and stunning views of the Inca Trail,
the wonder of Machu Picchu and giggly adventures
on a beach at 12,500 feet on Lake Titicaca the
highest navigable lake in the world. Yes it was an
amazing, formative, maybe even life changing
experience. Im so pleased I didn’t miss it! A
physical and spiritual cleansing”
Roger Taylor
(Musician)
“It was a rare
opportunity to take in the Majesty and beauty of
one of the most beautiful countries.
The beauty
and romance of Aquas Calientes at night, the
stunning architecture and colour of Cuzco, the
breathtaking views from Machu Picchu. Our trip
encompassed cities, the Amazon jungle, desert and
mountains, alongside the Peruvian people.
 As well as
travelling extensively, visiting sacred sites, and
taking part in ancient rituals we also had time
for our own excursions, time out and rest. We had
the enormous privilege of taking part in both the
Ayahusca and St. Pedro ceremonies.
Throughout
these and the rest of the trip we were looked
after and supported by the Shamans and in
particular Vivien.
I was profoundly affected by
the experience, on many levels. I witnessed the
enormity of the universe and my minute part in it.
I pushed myself to the limits and I was opened up
by the beauty of the landscape. I became acutely
aware of how my behaviour affected others and how
I in turn was affected by theirs. Most importantly
I learnt to have trust, surrender and let go, and
as a result I gained strength from being totally
venerable yet protected. On my return I made life
changing decisions and acted on them.
The trip
to Peru was a journey on many levels for me. It
was a unique and very personal experience,
allowing self exploration, the making of close
friends and positive change in my life.”
Carol
Finch (Teacher)
“The trip to Peru
was a very special experience for me. The sounds
of the jungle and the fresh organic food added to
the wonderful feeling of nature at its best. The
first view of Machu Picchu just caught my breath.
I was able to relax and take part, as I knew
Vivien was there to help and guide us. I returned
feeling at total peace with myself and centred on
my spiritual path. The whole journey was a most
magical experience.”
Valerie Dickson (Retired
PA)
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We create rich experience
for corporate getaways for both tentative wine
novices or for the touring wine elite! We collaborate
closely with to determine the perfect event to suit your
group needs and budget.
There are many itineraries:
- Half day.
- One day with lunch.
- Two days full board in 4
star hotel with 3 wine tasting.
- 8 days full board in 4
stars hotels with 9 wine tasting.
With reference to Bulgarian Wines, it must be noted that Europe’s first
producers were the ancient Thracians, who lived on what is now Bulgarian
land. Later the ancient Greeks learned from the Thracians the secret of
the divine drink and claimed to be the pioneers in the history of
winemaking. In the 6th century BC the Thracian rulers held ‘symposia’
drinking parties and which they had wine and discussed past and future
battles and undertakings.
 As Bulgarian winemakers strive to perfect their techniques and train new
experts, they are producing more and more quality and competitive wines.
Special attention is paid to ‘New World’ winemaking techniques, and
within the past few years Bulgaria has started to produce wines with a
very strong ‘New World’ character in taste and quality.
Along with the novelties in wine production the industry has kept it’s
time honoured traditions, classical techniques, and ‘Old World’ wines
which have kept their secrets for hundreds of years. |
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