Burgas Maps

Burgas is a city on the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria and the administrative centre of Burgas Province. It is the fourth-largest city in the country, after Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna, and an important industrial, transport and tourist centre in southeastern Bulgaria. The city lies at the western end of the Gulf of Burgas.

People lived in the area in ancient times. Nearby settlements included the Roman colony of Deultum and the thermal baths of Aquae Calidae. The city's name is often linked to a medieval fortress called Pyrgos, from the Greek word for "tower." Burgas grew into a town during the Ottoman period. It became part of the newly established Bulgarian state after the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a railway connection and a modern port helped the city grow quickly.

Burgas is surrounded by three lakes: Burgas Lake (Vaya), Atanasovsko Lake and Mandrensko Lake. Together with their wetlands, they are protected areas. They lie on the Via Pontica, one of Europe's main bird migration routes, and are home to many species of waterbirds.

The economy depends largely on the Port of Burgas, the largest port in Bulgaria, and on the Neftochim Burgas oil refinery, operated by Lukoil and one of the largest in the Balkans. Burgas Airport serves the city and the resorts of the southern Black Sea coast, including Sunny Beach, Nesebar and Sozopol.

Well-known sights include the Sea Garden, a large park along the coast, and the Cathedral of Saints Cyril and Methodius. St. Anastasia Island lies in the Gulf of Burgas.

The city has several institutions of higher education, including Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov University. Its sports clubs include the football teams Chernomorets Burgas and Neftochimic Burgas.

Main sights in Burgas