Burgas (or Bourgas, Bulgarian: Бургас) is the second largest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. It is also the fourth largest city in the country, following Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna. Burgas is an industrial and tourist center. Burgas International Airport is a connecting point to major Black Sea resorts in Bulgaria like Sunny Beach, Nessebar, Sozopol, Dyuni , Elenite , etc.
Population (2001 est): 209,487
History
Burgas is a successor of the Roman city of Deultum (later named Develt), founded by Emperor Vespasian as a military colony for veterans. Besides Deultum, the present-day city expands over the area of three other ancient settlements: Kastiacion , Skafida and Rossokastron . In the Middle Ages a small fortress called Pirgos was erected in the place and was most probably used as a watchtower. It was only in 17th century that a city named Ahelo-Burgas grew in the present-day area of the city. It was later renamed to Burgas and had only about 3,000 inhabitants at the time of the Liberation. Soon it became a major center on the Southern Black Sea coast and a city of well-developed industry and trade. A number of oil and chemical companies were gradually built. Salt and iron are also mined here and traded far beyond the borders of the country. In 1903 the railway station in Burgas started functioning as well, giving an additional boost to the city's expansion.
Higher Education Institutions
External Links
See also - List of cities in Bulgaria
Last updated: 10-24-2005 01:49:12
