Where Europe encounters the Orient, where cooler climes meet the milder Black Sea coast, Bulgaria reveals unexpected attractions. Bears live in the thickly forested mountains, frescoed monasteries are hidden away in the unspoiled valleys, while the coast, inhabited since Antiquity, roll out a golden carpet of sandy beaches. With its memories of the old Bulgarian kingdom, its cobbled streets and quaint wooden houses, its perfumes and culture, the land exudes an aura of bucolic charm.