Burgas, Bulgaria

 

Burgas or Bourgas (Bulgarian: Бургас, pronounced [burˈɡas]) is the second-largest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and the fourth-largest inBulgaria after Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna, with a population of 200,271 according to the 2011 census. It is the capital of Burgas Province and an important industrial, transport, cultural and tourist centre.The city is surrounded by the Burgas Lakes and located at the westernmost point of the Black Sea, at the large Burgas Bay. The LUKOIL Neftochim Burgas is the largest oil refinery in south-eastern Europe and the largest industrial enterprise. The Port of Burgas is the largest port in Bulgaria, andBurgas Airport is the second-most important in the country. Burgas is the centre of the Bulgarian fishing and fish processing industry.

 

Toponymy

There are several possible origins for the name of the city, which is similar to Burgos, a city in Spain. When the city was founded, the inhabitants of the surrounding country got into the fortified village, named "pyrgos" or "burgos", which is Latin for "tower" or "fortress" (see: Burgus). By another theory, the city's name comes from Latin, or a Gothic name meaning signified consolidated walled villages (Gothic "baurgs").

 

 

Geography

 

Topography

Burgas is situated in the westernmost point of the bay of the same name and in the eastern part of the Burgas Plain, in the east of the Upper Thracian Plain. Burgas is located 389 kilometres (242 mi) from Sofia, 272 km (169 mi) from Plovdiv, and 335 km (208 mi) from Istanbul. To the west, south and north, the city is surrounded by the Burgas Lakes: Burgas, Atanasovsko andMandrensko, which are home to several hundred bird species. Pan-European corridor 8 passes through the city,[5] theEuropean routes E87 and E773, and the longest national rout I/6.The St. Anastasia Island is a part of the city.

 

Climate

Burgas has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa), with some maritime and continental influences.

 

Flora and fauna

The Burgas Wetlands are highly recognized for their significance to biodiversity and as a resource pool for various products utilized by people.Lake Burgas is Bulgaria's largest lake and situated in the middle of the city. It is important for migrating birds. Over 250 species of birds inhabit the lake area, 61 of which are endangered in Bulgaria and 9 globally, attracting keen birdwatchers from all over the world; the lakes are also home to important fish and invertebrates. In the site have been recorded several IUCN red-listed species of animals - 5 invertebrates, 4 fish, 4 amphibians, 3 reptiles, 5 birds and 3 mammals. Situated along the second largest migration path of birds in Europe, the Via Pontica, the site is an important stopover and staging site for a large number of water-birds, raptors and passerines. Yearly during migration and wintering more than 20,000 (up to 100,000) waterbirds congregate there. The Atanasovo Lake is one of the two salt-water lakes in the Black Sea region and contains rare and representative examples of wetland habitats. It is a hot spot for biodiversity, with many red-listed species of plants and animals. It is a well-known bottleneck site for migratory birds, with around 60,000 raptors and 240,000 storks, pelicans and cranes passing over the site and often landing in large numbers for staging. The highest numbers in Europe of migrating White Pelicans (Pelecanus onocrotalus), Dalmatian Pelicans (Pelecanus crispus), Marsh Harriers (Circus aeruginosus) and Red-footed Falcons (Falco vespertinus) have been recorded here.

 

History

 

Classical antiquity

The Thracians built the first settlements in the area now known as Burgas: the mineral baths of Aqua Calidae and the fortress Tyrsis. Under Darius I became part of theAchaemenid Empire, before the Odrysian kingdom was built. Greeks from Apollonia built in area of Sladkite kladenzi (today Pobeda-neighbourhood) a marketplace for trade with the Tracians kings.During the rule of the Ancient Romans, near Burgas, Colonia Flavia Deultemsium (or Dibaltum, or Develtum) was established as a military colony for veterans byVespasian. The Romans built the Colonia on the main road Via Pontica. It was the second most important city in the province Haemimontus.In 376 the Goths destroyed an elite roman company near Develtum.

 

Bulgarian and Byzantine

Middle AgesIn the Middle Ages, there were some important settlements in the area: the fortress Skafida, Poros, Rusokastron, (Battle of Rusokastro), the Baths of the Byzantine, Bulgarian and Ottoman Emperors Aqua Calidae and the a small fortress called Pyrgos was erected where Burgas is today and was most probably used as a watchtower. Under Byzantine Empire became an important city on the coast of Black Sea. The Bulgarian ruler Krum built with the Erkesiya a 140 km (87 mi) longer border wall from the Black Sea (near Gorno Ezerovo) to the Mariza River.1206 the Latin Emperor Henry of Flanders (see Fourth Crusade) destroyed Aquae Calidae, who was now known as the Thermopolis at this time, The Baths was later rebuilt by the Byzantines and Bulgarians again. Poros 1270 was mentioned in a document of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Close to Poros in 1304 took place the Battle of Skafida, when the Bulgarian Tsar Todor Svetoslavdefeated the Byzantines and conquered the southern Black Sea coast.At the beginning of the 14th century the region was sacked by the Catalan Company. In the 13th century Burgas is mentioned by the Byzantine poet Manuel Philes in his works as Burgas.

 

Ottoman rule

It was only in the 17th century that a settlement renamed to Ahelo-Pirgas grew in the modern area of the city. It was later renamed to Burgas again and had only about 3,000 inhabitants. In the early 19th century Burgas was depopulated after raids by kurzdhali bandits. By the mid-19th century it had recovered its economic prominence through the growth of craftsmanship and the export of grain. The city was a small town in İslimye (Sliven) sanjak in at first Rumelia Eyalet, after that in the Silistra Eyaletand Edirne Eyalet before the liberation in 1878.In the 17th and 18th centuries Burgas became an important port for cereal and possesses its own grain measure, the Burgas-Kile. The town was the regional centre of trade and administrative centre of the Burgas Kaaza. In 1865 the port of Burgas was after Trapezunt the second most important Ottoman port in the Black Sea. Burgas was at this time the major centre on the southern Bulgarian Black Sea Coast.

 

After the liberation until 1945

It was a department centre in Eastern Rumelia before incorporated in the Principality of Bulgaria in 1885. From the late 19th century Burgas became an important economic and industry center. The first development plan of the city was adopted in 1891 and the city's layout and appearance changed, especially through the newly constructed public buildings. In 1888, the city library was founded, in 1891 the sea garden was created and in 1897 the Cathedral of the Holy brothers Cyril and Methodius was built. In 1895 Georgi Ivanov opened the first Printing house in Burgas, followed by the house of Christo Velchev in 1897, which changed in 1900 his name in Velchevi Brothers Printing house. The opening of the railway line to Plovdiv on 27 May 1890 and the deep water port in 1903 were important stages of this boom and led to the rapid industrialization of the city. In the period after 151 factories were founded. Among them were the Sugar refinery founded byAvram Chaliovski, the Great Bulgarian Mills of Ivan Chadzipetrov and the oil and soap factory Kambana. In 1900 the mineral springs by the ancient Aquae Calidae were included in the urban area. In 1903, the new building of the Burgas Central railway station opened. Founded in 1924 in Burgas Deweko (now HemusMark AD) was the first pencil factory in Southeastern Europe and became in 1937 official supplier to the Bulgarian Monarchy. 1925 opened in Burgas a specialized high school for mechanics and technologies. The following year, a large covered market was opened. Because of the cold wave in winter 1928/29 the Black Sea iced in late January and early February, so that the island of Sveta Anastasia could be reached on foot. 1934, Burgas already had 34,260 inhabitants.

 

Communism

During World War II on 9 September 1944 Red Army troops occupied the city and soon the whole country. In the following People's Courts, especially members of the wealthy families of the intelligentsia and members of the Bar Association were convicted. The two Chambers of the People's Courts met in Burgas in the former building of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Burgas (now the seat of the Governor of the Province Burgas). After the Communists took power in 1945, the German and Italian School and the People's University was closed and over 160 factories and businesses (including the large companies Great Bulgarian Mills, Veriga, Plug, Dab, etc.), shops, baths and other private property were nationalized. The nationalization and inability to lead by the new rulers led the companies to the collapse of the food supply and the shortage of goods of daily life in the city. The political repression against the population of Burgas continued for the next few years. Access to universities and other higher education in the Bulgarian capital was refused for the young people of Burgas and some of them were interned in prison and labor camps. The Haganah organised after the end of the Second World War several convoys for the European survivors of the Holocaust, which expired on Burgas ships towards Palestine. These convoys approximately 12,000 people emigrated, including the Jewish population of the city. In the following years the city centre of Burgas, unlike many other Bulgarian cities, was not much affected by Communist-type urbanization and has kept much of its 19th- and early-20th-century architecture. A number of oil and chemical companies were gradually built.The terrorists of the Movement 2 June, Till Meyer, Gabriele Rollnik, Gudrun Stürmer and Angelika Goder were arrested on 21 June 1978 in Burgas by West German officials and then brought into the Federal Republic.

 

Today

Today the local port is the largest in Bulgaria adding significantly to the regional economy. Burgas also holds annual national exhibitions and international festivals and has a vibrant student population of over 6,000 that add to the city's appeal. The historical society also maintains an open-air museum at Beglik Tash and Develtum.Several countries have consulates in Burgas, among them Greece, Turkey, Belarus, Romania, Russia and Ukraine.Burgas Peninsula on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named after the city of Burgas.

 

Population

 

Demographics

During the first decade after the liberation of Bulgaria, in the 1880s the population of Burgas numbered about 6,000 inhabitants. Since then it started growing decade by decade, mostly because of the migrants from the rural areas and the surrounding smaller towns, reaching its peak in the period 1988-1991 exceeding 200,000.

 

Ethnic linguistic and religious composition

According to the latest 2011 census data, the individuals declared their ethnic identity were distributed as follows: Bulgarians: 171,898 (93.2%)Turks: 3,800 (2.1%)Roma: 3,422 (1.9%)Others: 1,330 (0.7%)Indefinable: 666 (0.4%)Undeclared: 19,155 (9.6%). Total: 200,271

 

Economy

Burgas is an important industrial center. The most notable industrial enterprise is LUKOIL Neftochim Burgas - the largest oil refinery in South-eastern Europe and the largest manufacturing plant in the Balkans.

 

Education

Prof. Dr. Assen Zlatarov University

Bourgas Free University

 

Culture

Main sights:Burgas Regional Historical MuseumEthnographic MuseumArcheological MuseumMuseum of Nature and ScienceRoman City of DeveltumThe Roman and medieval Baths of Aquae CalidaeThe Poros FortnessThe Rusokastro FortnessThe Erkesiya-Border wallCity GalleryTheatre Adriana BudevskaCity BeachPantheonThe Burgas pierSea CasinoNavel of BurgasThe building of Regional Customs BurgasBurgas Central railway stationOpera HouseThe modern building of the Burgas Opera House is home to the city’s two major musical institutions; the Burgas State Opera and the Philharmonic Society of Burgas. 

 

Sea Garden

A municipal park built in 1910 for the residents of Burgas by the city’s chief gardener, Georgi Duhtev.

 

Churches and monasteries

Bulgarian Orthodox Churches

Saints Cyril and Methodius Orthodox Cathedral

Holy Theotokos Orthodox Church

Saint John of Rila (Ivan Rilski) Orthodox Church

Holy Trinity Orthodox Church

Saint Demetrius Orthodox Church

Saint Athanasius Orthodox Church

Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church

Saint Poimen of Zographou Orthodox Church

Holy Theotokos Monastery

Saint Anastasia Monastery on the St. Anastasia Island

Armenian Orthodox Church

Armenian Apostolic and Orthodox Church Surp Hach (Church of the Holy Cross) was built in 1853 an is one of the oldest in the city and has been named as one of the city’s monuments of culture. With stained glass windows and intricate decoration inside, the picturesque church was built in 1855.

Catholic Churches

Dormition of the Theotokos Byzantine Catholic Church

Holy Mother of God Roman Catholic Church

 

Regular events

April - International Audition for performances of German and Austrian music

 

May - Burgas Sailing Week

         - Petja Dubarowa Contest

         - Erata na Wodoleja-Theatre Festival

 

July - Three Week Festival of Opera and Classical Music

       - Burgas Marathon swimming

 

August - Kiteboarding Regatta

             - Spirit of Burgas

             - International Folk Festival

 

December - Every 6 December Burgas pays respect to its patron saint, St. Nicholas, also the patron saint of fishermen

                  - WDSF Burgas Cup

 

Professional sports

PFC Naftex Burgas

PFC Neftochimic Burgas

FC Chernomorets Burgas

PSFC Chernomorets Burgas

FC Master Burgas

FC Olimpic Burgas

FC Sveti Nikola Burgas

FC Sparta Burgas

BC LUKoil Neftochimic

BC Chernomorets

Cycling Club Burgas

VC LUKoil Neftochimic

Yacht Club Port Burgas

Windsurf Club Burgas

Rowing Club LUKoil Burgas

Rowing Club Chernomorets Burgas

Water polo Club Chernomorets

Water polo Club Neptune