Bulgaria

The Republic of Bulgaria is a country in south-eastern Europe with a population of 7.67 million people.

It shares borders with five countries - Romania to the north along the Danube, Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south - and its entire eastern border comprises of a coastline on the Black Sea.

The country's economy declined dramatically in the years after it gained independence from Soviet rule in 1989, with the standard of living falling by around 40 per cent in the early 90s. Since 1997, the economy has grown however, with healthy rates achieved last year and in 2005. Important sectors include industry - it is the most important exporter of electricity in its region and is also a strong producer of ferrous metals - and tourism.

Tourism in Bulgaria centres mainly around its ski resorts in winter and its numerous Black Sea and spa resorts in summer. Around 2.7 million tourists visit the country every year.

Bulgarian government takes place in the form of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, with a minister-chairman heading the government. The post-communist social democratic Bulgarian Socialist Party and the liberal National Movement Simeon II are the country's two most dominant parties.

Bulgarian winters are cold in the northern part of the country and much milder in the south. Summers in the north are normally sweltering, while the south enjoys more moderate climes, with temperatures averaging between 28 to 30 degrees Celsius.

Flights to Bulgaria are available from a wide range of UK airports, including Cardiff, Manchester, Doncaster, Edinburgh, Humberside, Exeter and Gatwick. It is also possible to travel to Bulgaria by rail, leaving from London's Waterloo station.