Archived from the original tour planning site. Trivia facts about Bulgaria, shared ahead of the 2018 tour.
- A Bulgarian folk song was sent into deep space aboard NASA’s Voyager I probe, as part of a collection of humanity’s finest cultural artifacts.
- Bulgaria’s army has never lost a single flag in battle.
- A Bulgarian physicist invented the first electronic computer, digital watch, and car air bag.
- Bulgaria’s air force included the first woman in the world to participate in a military flight.
- Bulgaria has topped surveys as a top spot for bargain vacations.
- UNESCO declared the ancient Bulgarian calendar the most accurate in the world.
- The oldest gold treasure in the world was found in Bulgaria — 3,000 gold objects across 294 graves, dating back more than 6,000 years.
- Nearly a third of Bulgaria is covered in forest, with over 40 mountains.
- Bulgaria is one of the world’s biggest winemakers, producing 200,000 tons a year.
- Bulgarian roses produce 70–85% of the world’s rose oil, a key component in perfume.
- Bulgaria is the only country in Europe that hasn’t changed its name since it was first established.
- Though an EU member, Bulgaria maintains its own currency.
- With EU accession on January 1, 2007, the Bulgarian (Cyrillic) alphabet became the third official alphabet of the EU.
- Bulgaria’s national instrument is the bagpipe.
- In the film The Terminal, Tom Hanks’s character speaks Bulgarian.
- Bulgarians shake their heads to mean yes, and nod for no.