"and participant in the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1983, when it reached the second knockout round and played Manchester United F.C.. By 2018 Varna should have a redevloped 1950's ""Yuri Gagarin"" stadium in accordance to UEFA/FIFA specifications. Modern Bulgarian swimming dates to 18 May 1923 when the Bulgarian Public Marine Union was established in Varna. The organisation was the first to manage and administer swimming as a sport in Bulgaria. Famous Bulgarian swimmers from Varna are Aleksi Aleksiev (aka the Pope), Milko Rachev (aka Brother Milko), Maria Nikolova, Julian Rusev. Some of the leading swimming clubs are PSK Cherno"
"Varna Varna (, Varna ) is the second-largest city in Bulgaria and the largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. Situated strategically in the Gulf of Varna, the city has been a major economic, social and cultural centre for almost three millennia. Varna, historically known as ""Odessos"", grew from a Thracian seaside settlement to a major seaport on the Black Sea. Varna is an important centre for business, transportation, education, tourism, entertainment and healthcare. The city is referred to as the maritime capital of Bulgaria and headquarters the Bulgarian Navy and merchant marine. In 2008, Varna"
"four decades. According to the 2011 census, among those who answered the optional question on ethnic identification, the ethnic composition of the municipality was the following: Varna Municipality Varna Municipality () is a seaside municipality (""obshtina"") in Varna Province, Northeastern Bulgaria, located on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and near Varna lake. It is named after its administrative centre - the city of Varna - which is also the capital of the homonymous province. The municipality embraces a territory of 237.5 km² with a population, as of March 2016, of 373,601 inhabitants, the nation's second largest municipality after the Sofia"
"including FIVB Volleyball World League games, at the Palace of Culture and Sports. Varna athletes won 1 of the 3 medals for Bulgaria at the 2016 Summer Olympics and 4 of the 12 medals at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Varna Varna (, Varna ) is the second-largest city in Bulgaria and the largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. Situated strategically in the Gulf of Varna, the city has been a major economic, social and cultural centre for almost three millennia. Varna, historically known as ""Odessos"", grew from a Thracian seaside settlement to a major seaport"
"with European firms and attracting foreign investment. The automotive industry has ceased the manufacture of cars, trucks, and buses. Manufacture of forklifts, a speciality in the communist era, also has stopped. In the early 2000s, shipbuilding has prospered at the major Varna and Ruse yards because of foreign ownership (Ruse) and privatization (Varna). Only in recent years electronics and electric equipment production has regained higher levels. The largest centres include Sofia, Plovdiv and the surrounding area, Botevgrad, Stara Zagora, Varna, Pravets and many other cities. Household appliances, computers, CDs, telephones, medical and scientific equipment are being produced. In 2008 the"
"from different countries. The city also has a duty-free zone since 1987. It has a customs terminal handling cargo from trucks and trains. Economy of Plovdiv Plovdiv is the second only to Bulgaria's capital Sofia in economic importance and output. It is a major industrial, commercial, financial and shopping centre. Recently, Plovdiv has one of the country's fastest growing economies with average GDP growth of 12-13%. As of 2005 the total revenues are 9.4 billion leva (approximately 4.8 billion euro), which is with 88% more than in 2001. The profits for the same period rose 4.5 times. The unemployment is"
"Varna is the largest port in Bulgaria and the third largest on the Black Sea. The port of Balchik is a small fishing town. On the Danube, important ports are Silistra - fourth largest on the river, and Tutrakan. Varna is Bulgaria's second financial capital after Sofia; the city produces electronics, ships, food and other goods. Other important industrial centers in the region are Shumen - production and repair of trucks; Dobrich - big food-producing city, unofficial capital of Dobruja; Silistra - electronics, food; Devnya - big chemical center (cement and nitric fertilizer); Tutrakan - food and fishing boat. Severoiztochen"
"is the second or the third-largest cosmopolitan city inhabited by Bulgarians, after Sofia and possibly Varna. According to the 2001 census, out of a population of 338,224 inhabitants, the Bulgarians numbered 302,858 (90%). Stolipinovo in Plovdiv is the largest Roma neighbourhood in the Balkans, having a population of around 20,000 alone; further Roma ghettos are Hadji Hassan Mahala and Sheker Mahala. Therefore, the census number is a deflation of the number of Roma people, and they are most likely the second-largest group after the Bulgarians, most of all because the Muslim Roma in Plovdiv claim to be of Turkish ethnicity"
"links to Communist-era secret services or the military. However, it is noted that in Varna, the so-called ""mutri"" (Mafia) presence was by no means as visible as it was in smaller coastal towns and resorts. Over the last couple of years, crime has subsided, which is said to have contributed to Varna being named as Bulgaria's Best City to Live In (2007); in 2007, the regional police chief was promoted to the helm of the national police service. There are consulates of the following countries: Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Norway, Russia – Consulate General,"
"It was discovered by the Belgian astronomer Eric W. Elst and the Bulgarian astronomer Violeta G. Ivanova on 8 August 1986. Plovdiv Peak () on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, is also named after Plovdiv. Plovdiv Plovdiv (, ) is the second-largest city in Bulgaria, with a city population of 345,213 and 675,000 in the greater metropolitan area. It is an important economic, transport, cultural, and educational center. There is evidence of habitation in Plovdiv dating back to the 6th millennium BCE, when the first Neolithic settlements were established; it is said to be one of the"
"others. Industry is very well developed: ferrous metallurgy near Plovdiv; thriving electronics industry in Plovdiv, Saedinenie, Voivodinovo, Radinovo and other villages in the area; agricultural machinery (tractors) in Karlovo; weapon and military plants in Sopot, Karlovo, Plovdiv; chemical industry in Plovdiv, Asenovgrad; food industry is developed almost everywhere, most notably in Plovdiv and Asenovgrad (wines). Tourism is a growing industry with the rich cultural heritage of the province and the numerous mineral springs which are of international importance. Plovdiv Province Plovdiv Province (: ""Oblast Plovdiv"", former name Plovdiv okrug) is a province in central southern Bulgaria. It comprises 18 municipalities"
"Sodi AD (formerly Sodi Devnya EAD) was the second largest cash privatization deal in the nation after 1989. Devnya is also the seat of Devnya municipality (part of Varna Province), which includes the following 2 villages: Devnya Valley on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named after Devnya. Also there's a Devnya street in Alverca, Vila Franca de Xira, Portugal, its twin city. Devnya Devnya () is a town in Varna Province, Northeastern Bulgaria, located about 25 km away to the west from the city of Varna and The Black Sea Coast. It is the administrative centre"
"with an observation deck and a restaurant was erected. The tallest building is INTERNATIONAL Hotel Casino & Tower Suites Golden Sands Golden Sands (Bulgarian: Златни пясъци, ""Zlatni pyasatsi"") is a major seaside resort town on the northern Bulgarian Black Sea Coast, adjacent to a national park of the same name in the municipality of Varna. Located 17 km north of downtown Varna, it is virtually connected to the city by a continuous swath of resorts and villa communities. It is a popular tourist destination, drawing many visitors from Romania, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, the United Kingdom, Russia, Scandinavia, France, Central and"
"is a park-museum with a symbolic cenotaph of Władysław III in Varna, built on an ancient Thracian mound tomb. Władysław III of Poland Władysław III (31 October 1424 – 10 November 1444), also known as Władysław of Varna, was King of Poland from 1434, and King of Hungary and Croatia from 1440, until his death at the Battle of Varna. Władysław III of Varna is known in Hungarian as I. Ulászló; in Polish as Władysław Warneńczyk; in Slovak as ""Vladislav I""; in Czech as ""Vladislav Varnenčík""; in Bulgarian as ""Владислав Варненчик"" (""Vladislav Varnenchik""); in Lithuanian as ""Vladislovas III""; in Croatian"
"Banya, Plovdiv Province Banya (Bulgarian: Баня) is a town in Southern Bulgaria. It is in Karlovo Municipality, Plovdiv Province and is close to Karlovo. The health resort village of Banya is in a large park at the foot of the ""Sashtinska Sredna gora"" mountain, near the geographic centre of the country in the Rose Valley, between the Balkan and the Sredna Gora mountains. It is easily reachable by car, train, or bus. The beaches, swimming pools, sport complexes, balneological hotels and rehabilitation establishments in town create wonderful conditions for pleasant summer holidays and tourism. The fans of the Bulgarian wines"
"It attracts more than 600,000 visitors from many countries. The city has had a duty-free zone since 1987. It has a customs terminal handling cargo from trucks and trains. Plovdiv's geographical position makes it an international transport hub. Three of the ten Pan-European corridors run into or near the city: Corridor IV (Dresden–Bucharest–Sofia-Plovdiv- Istanbul), Corridor VIII (Durrës-Sofia-Plovdiv-Varna/Burgas), and Corridor X (Salzburg–Belgrade-Plovdiv-Istanbul). A major tourist centre, Plovdiv lies at the foot of the Rhodope Mountains, and most people wishing to explore the mountains choose it as their trip's starting point. The city is a major road and railway hub in southern"
"northeastern and southeastern Bulgaria, including much of Varna province. After the liberation of 1878, with the exodus of most Turks and Greeks and the migrations of Bulgarians from other parts of Bulgaria, mostly Stara Planina, as well as North Dobruja, Asia Minor, Bessarabia, and later from Macedonia and Eastern Thrace, ethnic diversity gradually gave way to Bulgarian predominance. One of the versions of a folk song, inspired by the Ruse blood wedding, can be heard in the province. The province is second only to Sofia in foreign direct investment; its GDP per capita is higher and its unemployment is the"
"and the Day of Plovdiv. After Unification Plovdiv remained the second city in population and significance after the capital Sofia. The first railway in the city was built in 1874 and after 1888 it was linked with Sofia. In 1892 Plovdiv became host of the First Bulgarian Fair with international participation which was succeeded by the International Fair Plovdiv. After the liberation the first brewery was inaugurated in the city. In the beginning of the 20th century Plovdiv grew as a significant industrial and commercial center with well-developed light and food industry. German, French and Belgian capital was invested in"
"annual capacity of was planned to come ashore at Varna, possibly near the Galata offshore gas field, en route to Italy and Austria. Nevertheless, the project was stopped due to the EU-Russia conflict. With the nearby towns of Beloslav and Devnya, Varna forms the Varna-Devnya Industrial Complex, home to some of the largest chemical, thermal power, and manufacturing facilities in Bulgaria, including Varna Thermal Power Plant and ""Sodi Devnya"", the two largest cash privatisation deals in the country's recent history. There are also notable facilities for radio navigation devices, household appliances, security systems, textiles, apparel, food and beverages, printing, and"
"Bulgarian First League. The football rivalry, which has attracted the most domestic and international attention over the years has been played between the two most successful clubs in the history of Bulgarian football, CSKA Sofia and Levski Sofia, otherwise known as the Eternal derby of Bulgarian football. The second largest Bulgarian city Plovdiv also has its own derby match, known as the Plovdiv derby, and is contested between the two historic clubs in the city, Botev and Lokomotiv. Other notable rivalries include matches contested between Cherno More and Spartak in the city of Varna and cross-city rivals Chernomorets and Neftochimic"
"Sopot, Plovdiv Province Sopot () is a Bulgarian town situated in the fertile sub-Balkan mountain valley of Karlovo (which is the western part of the famous Rose Valley), immediately below the steep southern slopes of the Troyan Balkan Mountain (Central Stara Planina). Sopot is part of Plovdiv Province and is the administrative centre of a municipality. It lies 2 km west of Karlovo, 136 km east of Sofia, 63 km north of Plovdiv and 61 km south of Troyan. It is the birthplace of arguably the best known and most renowned Bulgarian novelist, Ivan Vazov. Sopot is also a machine"
"which employs 300 high-qualified personnel. Another significant factory is Saninelli which produces cloth and has 1,400 employees. Plovdiv is the seat of one of the oldest breweries in the country, Kamenitza, founded in 1881. Currently Kamenitza is the leading national beer company with market share of 18%. The brewery is situated in the Eastern district and employs 650 workers. Due to the growing demand for business office space Business Park Plovdiv is going to be constructed in the district of Trakiya. The investment is for €68,000,000 and the future park will occupy a built area of 110,000 m². A commercial"
"Voyvodinovo Voyvodinovo () is a village in the Plovdiv Province, southern Bulgaria. As of 2006 it has 2,018 inhabitants. It is one of the biggest villages in the Maritsa Municipality and is at 2 km to the east of Plovdiv. There are mineral waters in the village. Due to its proximity to the second largest city in the country, the Trakiya motorway and the well-organised transport, Voyvodinovo attracts many investitors to build manufacturing plants here. Currently the total amount of the investments exceeds €70 000 000. The biggest investment is €30,000,000 for the largest electronics plant in the Balkans which"
"collectors from Europe, a summer art school, dance projects, etc. Although it is located in the middle of a rich agricultural region, Plovdiv's economy has shifted from agriculture to industry since the beginning of the 20th century. Food processing, tobacco, brewing, and textiles formed the pillars of the industrial economic shift. During Communist rule, the city's economy expanded and was dominated by heavy industry. After the fall of Communism in 1989 and the collapse of Bulgaria's planned economy, a number of industrial complexes were closed; production of lead and zinc, machinery, electronics, motor trucks, chemicals, and cosmetics have continued. Plovdiv"
"Crime in Varna Varna was rumored to be the main hub for Bulgarian organized crime. Some sectors of the economy, including gambling, corporate security, tourism, real estate, and professional sports, are believed to be controlled in part by business groups with links to Communist-era secret services or the military; the TIM group, based in Varna, is one example. In 2003, Iliya Pavlov, chairman of MG Holding (former Multigroup), owner of the St. Elias resort at Constantine and Helena and president of PFC Cherno more, was shot down in Sofia, as was Emil Kyulev, chairman of DZI Financial Group and owner"
"Władysław III of Poland Władysław III (31 October 1424 – 10 November 1444), also known as Władysław of Varna, was King of Poland from 1434, and King of Hungary and Croatia from 1440, until his death at the Battle of Varna. Władysław III of Varna is known in Hungarian as I. Ulászló; in Polish as Władysław Warneńczyk; in Slovak as ""Vladislav I""; in Czech as ""Vladislav Varnenčík""; in Bulgarian as ""Владислав Варненчик"" (""Vladislav Varnenchik""); in Lithuanian as ""Vladislovas III""; in Croatian as ""Vladislav I. Jagelović"". Latin: ""Wladislaus Dei gracia Polonie, Hungarie, Dalmacie, Croacie, Rascia etc. rex necnon terrarum Cracouie, Sandomirie,"
"temperate, with cold, damp winters and hot, dry summers, and akin to Mediterranean along the Black Sea coast, with milder winters and cooler summers. The Varna province (област, ""oblast"") contains 12 municipalities (, plural: ). The following table shows the names of each municipality in English and Cyrillic, the main town (in bold) or village, and the population of each in December 2009. The following table represents the change of the population in the province after World War II: In late 2009, the population of the province, announced by the Bulgarian National Statistical Institute, numbered 465,465 of which are inhabitants"
"the latest 2011 census data, the individuals declared their ethnic identity were distributed as follows: Total: 334,781 In Varna Municipality 290,780 declared as Bulgarians, 11,089 as Turks, 3,535 as Gypsies and 34,758 did not declare their ethnic group. According to the 2001 census data, the ethnic composition was as follows: Total: 320,464 Economically, Varna is among the best-performing and fastest-growing Bulgarian cities. In 2016 the unemployment rate is 3.5% and the average salary is nearly 900lv (450€) per month. The economy is service-based, with 61% of net revenue generated in trade and tourism, 16% in manufacturing, 14% in transportation and"
"Plovdiv Province Plovdiv Province (: ""Oblast Plovdiv"", former name Plovdiv okrug) is a province in central southern Bulgaria. It comprises 18 municipalities (общини, ""obshtini"", sing. общинa, ""obshtina"") on a territory of 5,972.9 km² with a population, as of February 2011, of 683,027 inhabitants. The province is named after its administrative and industrial centre — the city of Plovdiv. Plovdiv Province includes parts of the Upper Thracian Plain, the Rhodopes, Sredna Gora, the Sub-Balkan valleys and Stara Planina, including its highest peak, Botev (2,376m). The main rivers in the province are Maritsa, Stryama, Pyasachnik. There are numerous dams, the most important"
"Province is subject to strict national and international protection, due to its vulnerability and international significance. Varna Province Varna Province (, former name Varna okrug) is a province in eastern Bulgaria, onе of the 28 Bulgarian provinces. It comprises 12 municipalities (общини, ""obshtini"", sing. общинa, ""obshtina"") with a population, in April 2016, of 494,216 inhabitants. The province is named after its administrative centre, Varna. The province's territory is 3,819.5 square kilometres. It borders the Black Sea and covers parts of the hilly Danubian Plain (including parts of the Franga Plateau, South Dobruja, the Provadiya Plateau, Ludogorie, and the Avren Plateau),"
"has been invested in construction of new factories. Trakia Economic Zone which is one of the largest industrial zones in Eastern Europe, is located around Plovdiv. Some of the biggest companies in the region include the Austrian utility company EVN, PIMK (transport), Insa Oil (fuels), Liebherr (refrigerator plant), Magna International (automotive industry), Bella Bulgaria (food manufacturing), Socotab (tobacco processing), ABB Group, Schneider Electric, Osram, Sensata Technologies, etc. The commercial sector is developing quickly. Shopping centers have been built mainly in the Central district and the district of Trakiya. Those include Shopping Center Grand, Market Center, and two more all on"
"Black Sea Euroregion Black Sea Euroregion (, translit. ""Chernomorski evroregion"", ) is a seaside Euroregion, located in Bulgaria and Romania. The Congress of the Council of Europe launched a Black Sea Euroregion on 26 September 2008, when the constituent act was signed by 14 authorities in four countries. The region is composed of: The largest city is Varna. The administrative center of the euroregion is Varna. The port of Constanţa is marginally the largest port on the Black Sea. This is a list of cities over 10.000 inhabitants in the region: The ""Black Sea Euro-region"" initiative seeks to encourage greater"
"air travel hubs, while Varna and Burgas are the principal maritime trade ports. The population of Bulgaria is people according to the 2011 national census. The majority of the population, or 72.5%, reside in urban areas. , Sofia is the most populated urban centre with people, followed by Plovdiv (345,000), Varna (344,000), Burgas (209,000) and Ruse (160,000). Bulgarians are the main ethnic group and comprise 84.8% of the population. Turkish and Roma minorities comprise 8.8 and 4.9%, respectively; some 40 smaller minorities comprise 0.7%, and 0.8% do not self-identify with an ethnic group. Former Statistics head Reneta Indzhova has disputed"