Europe’s Oldest Surviving Country Name and One of Its Newest EU Members
Bulgaria — a country that has used the same name for nearly 1,400 years without interruption (since the founding of the First Bulgarian Empire in 681 AD) — is one of the oldest continuously named states in Europe. The country sits at the intersection of the Balkans and the Black Sea, with mountains covering much of its interior, a Mediterranean-warm Black Sea coast, and a capital (Sofia) that has been continuously inhabited for 7,000 years.
Modern Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007 and the Schengen Area in 2024 (land borders in 2025). The country has one of Europe’s most affordable tourism propositions, with beach resorts on the Black Sea (Sunny Beach, Varna, Burgas), ski resorts in the Rila and Pirin mountains (Bansko, Borovets), and some of Europe’s most intact medieval heritage.
A Brief History
The territory was home to the Thracians in antiquity, then successively under Persian, Macedonian (Alexander), Roman, and Byzantine rule. Bulgar tribes under Khan Asparuh established the First Bulgarian Empire in 681 AD. Byzantine reconquest (1018) was followed by the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185-1396), then Ottoman rule for nearly 500 years.
Bulgaria gained de facto independence in 1878 after the Russo-Turkish War, and formal independence in 1908. Communist rule (1946-1989) ended peacefully; Bulgaria joined NATO in 2004, the EU in 2007, and the Schengen Area in 2024.
Geography and Climate
Bulgaria covers 110,994 km² — about the size of Iceland. The Balkan Mountains run east-west through the country; the Rila and Pirin mountains in the southwest include Musala (2,925 m), the Balkans’ highest peak. The Black Sea coast is 354 km long.
Climate: temperate continental inland, warmer on the coast.
Culture, Language and Religion
Bulgarian is a South Slavic language (first Slavic language with a standardised written form, in the 9th century). The Cyrillic alphabet was developed in medieval Bulgaria in the 9th century.
Religion: approximately 59% Bulgarian Orthodox, 8% Muslim (Turkish minority), smaller Catholic and Protestant communities.
The Economy
Bulgaria has an upper-middle-income economy (~$100 billion GDP in 2024). Key sectors: tourism (beach and ski), IT services (Sofia is a growing tech hub), agriculture (wine, rose oil — Bulgaria produces 70% of the world’s rose oil for perfumery), manufacturing.
Cuisine
- Shopska salad — tomato, cucumber, onion, pepper, feta — the Bulgarian national salad
- Banitsa — cheese-filled pastry
- Tarator — cold yogurt-cucumber soup
- Kavarma — slow-cooked meat stew
- Rakia — fruit brandy (the national spirit)
UNESCO Sites
Bulgaria has 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Boyana Church (13th-century frescoes), Rila Monastery, Madara Rider (8th-century rock relief), Nessebar (ancient coastal town), and the Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak.
Travel Guide
Entry: Schengen visa-free 90 days for most Western nationalities.
Best seasons: May-October for coast; December-March for skiing.
Budget: Very affordable — daily mid-range €40-€80.
Surprising Facts
- Bulgaria has used the same name since 681 AD — among the oldest unchanged country names in Europe.
- The Cyrillic alphabet — used by roughly 250 million people in Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, and beyond — was developed in medieval Bulgaria in the 9th century.
- Plovdiv is one of Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited cities (over 6,000 years), older than Rome or Athens.
- Bulgaria produces around 70% of the world’s rose oil used in perfumes, mostly from the Rose Valley near Kazanlak.
- Shaking the head means “yes” in traditional Bulgarian gesture (nodding means “no”) — though modern Bulgarians increasingly follow international conventions.
- Bulgarian yogurt is widely credited as the original homeland of the fermentation tradition that spread globally.
Sources and References
See the frontmatter for cited sources.