Bulgaria is a republic in Southern Europe, located in the northeastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. The country has an area of 110,879 square kilometers and approximately 6.9 million inhabitants, according to an estimate from the World Bank in 2021. Perhaps you’ve been on vacation in Bulgaria? Or do you have plans to visit? Then you must learn about these interesting facts about the country in question!
The 6-Year-Old King Who Later Became Prime Minister…
When the Bulgarian monarch died at the age of 49 during World War II, his 6-year-old son Simeon became the successor king. Shortly thereafter, 97% of Bulgaria’s population voted to end the monarchy in favor of democracy. In 2005, the then 64-year-old Simeon ran for prime minister of Bulgaria and won, making him the country’s leader once again. [source]
Where the World’s Oldest Gold Treasure Was Found…
The world’s oldest gold treasure was discovered in Bulgaria in 1972! Over 3,000 gold objects dating back more than 6,000 years were found in 294 graves. [source]
No Bulgarian Jews Ended Up in Death Camps During World War II…
Bulgaria was the only nation in all of Europe that saved its entire Jewish population of around 50,000 people from the Nazi concentration camps. [source]
Where the Foundation of the Cyrillic Alphabet Was Laid…
The Cyrillic alphabet was developed in the city of Preslav, Bulgaria. It was once an important European city, but wars between Kievan Rus and the Byzantine Empire in the 9th century destroyed the city. Today, the population of Preslav is only about 8,900 inhabitants. [source]
A Stray Dog Caused an Invasion of Bulgaria…
A stray dog caused a war between Greece and Bulgaria in 1925. The war between the countries claimed 171 lives before a peace treaty was signed. [source]
The Probability of This Happening Barely Exists…
The same winning lottery jackpot numbers (4, 15, 23, 24, 35, and 42) were drawn in two consecutive draws in Bulgaria, leading to accusations of rigging. However, after a series of investigations, it was concluded that it was purely random, no matter how unlikely it may seem. [source]
War Monument Transformed into American Superheroes…
In 2011, a Soviet war memorial in the capital city Sofia was vandalized overnight, with the soldiers depicted as American pop culture characters and the spray-painted caption “Abreast with the Times.” A picture of the new “artwork” can be found below. [source]
A Different Way to Transition to Daylight Saving Time…
All trains in Bulgaria stop for a full hour during the transition from winter to daylight saving time. No other country in Europe does this. [source)
Where the World’s Oldest “Modern” Book Was Found…
The world’s oldest multi-page book, similar to the books we read today, is about 2,500 years old. It was found in a grave revealed during the excavation of a canal in Bulgaria. It contains 6 sheets of 24-carat gold. A picture of the valuable book can be found below. [source]
Retained Part of Romania After World War II…
Bulgaria was the only Axis power to retain the territory it conquered during World War II and permanently acquired southern Dobruja from Romania. [source]
