|
The Republic of Bulgaria is situated in the middle of the Balkan Peninsula on the busy crossroads of different cultures. The home of the ancient Thracian race was invaded by Slavs and conquered by Alexander the Great, the Roman and Byzantine Empires. After half a century of communism modern Bulgaria is a country which is bravely struggling to adapt to European standards, while its people remain hospitable in the face of constant changes.
The celebrated "Valley of the Roses" lies midway between Sofia and the coast, between the Balkan Range and the Sredna Gora Mountains. In late May and early June the rose-picking season starts before sunrise each day, before the roses lose their fragrance. The crop, used by all the top perfumeries, is of immense value to the country's economy and is often referred to as "Bulgaria's Gold". Harvesting is also the time of the Festival of Roses, celebrated with carnivals, processions, folk songs and dances.
The ROSE, being the symbol of beauty and youth, at the same time known as the Queen of Flowers, has attracted people since ancient times. In 1903, the citizens of the small town of Kazanluk organized for the first time a Festival of Roses, dedicated to flowers, beauty and grace. The Rose Festival in the Rose Valley has come to be a symbolic reflection of the lifestyle, the spirit and the cultural pattern. |
