Bulgaria — Capital, Flag and Country Facts

Explore Bulgaria: capital Sofia, population, flag, geography, languages, history and culture.

Bulgaria is in Europe. Its capital is Sofia.

Climate

Temperate continental with cold, damp winters and hot, dry summers; Mediterranean influence in the south

Mountains in the west and south; Danubian plain in the north; Thracian plain in the southeast

Bulgaria is the birthplace of the Cyrillic alphabet.

Bulgaria has never changed its name since it was first established in 681 AD.

The Bulgarian yogurt bacterium Lactobacillus bulgaricus is named after the country and exists naturally only in Bulgarian air.

681: First Bulgarian Empire established, one of Europe's oldest states

893: Preslav Literary School develops the Cyrillic alphabet

1396: Ottoman Empire conquers Bulgaria, beginning nearly 500 years of rule

1878: Liberation from Ottoman rule after Russo-Turkish War

1989: Fall of communist regime and transition to democracy

2007: Bulgaria joins the European Union