Departure from Sofia: September 8, 2007, 7.00 h., from Park-hotel Moskva
Arrival in Sofia: September 8, 20.00 h, Park-hotel Moskva
Visits: Bulland nursery, Todoroff wine cellar, town Koprivshtitsa
Excursion fee: 22 Euro

The Bulgarian-Dutch society Bulland Trade Ltd. was founded in 2004 with the main subject of activity – production and trade with ornamental plants. The company opened its nursery on 21 September 2006 near the village Bratanitsa in the western part of the Thracian plain. Partners in the society are the Dutch companies D.v.d. Bosch Export B.V. and Combinatie Mauritz B.V. together with Gardenia – Tatyana Boyadzhieva, Alvers – Stoil Nanovski and KIO – Ivan Uzunov Ltd. from Bulgaria. The total area of the nursery is 10 ha, about 3 of them are used in the moment. The current total number of plants grown in the nursery is 130,000. It is planned to increase it up to 300,000 in 2007. For the time being the company offers 214 species of ornamental shrubs, 101 evergreen plant species and 52 broad-leaved and coniferous tree species. The cultivation of high-quality conifers, shrubs and big-size trees at the nursery is executed according to Dutch technology and cultivating techniques and meets the requirements of EU standards. The shrubs are cultivated in containers with volume of 1.5, 3.5 and 10 litres, while the trees are cultivated in containers with volume of 45, 75 and 100 litres. This allows plants to be planted all around the year, and makes easy the work of landscape architects and everyone else concerned with the beauty of plant life.

"Todoroff" is the first boutique wine cellar in Bulgaria, the inheritor of rich culture, traditions and inspiration, coming back from the centuries. It is specialised in production of high quality red wines of grape varieties Mavrud, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in boutique series of limited quantity. The cellar is situated in Brestovitsa - one of the villages, symbolic for the Bulgarian wine production.
Andonovi brothers established the wine cellar in 1945. They were one of the most famous wine producers and wine dealers in Bulgaria of those days. In 1947 the cellar was nationalised by the government and in 1992 was returned to the inherits. The present owner - Mr. Ivan Todoroff - bought the cellar in 2001 and made total reconstruction and modernisation of the whole building complex. Now the wine cellar is a pretty complex, built in architectural style of the National Revival period, equipped according to the most contemporary and modern technologies for wine production.
Thracian plain is part of the South Bulgarian region, which covers about 35% of the vineyard territories of the country. The main varieties of the region are "Cherven Misket", "Rkaziteli", "Muskat Ottonel", "Cabernet Sauvignon", "Merlot", "Aligotte", and "Mavrud" – a variety typical for this region. Wine production in this region dates from the ancient Thracian ages - a fact, which is evidenced by numerous archaeological discoveries in the area. The tradition of wine producing, inherited from the ancient Thracians, reflects in the approach used in Todoroff Wine Cellar nowadays. This tradition, worshipped during the centuries, is based upon the fines and harmony of aroma and taste, along

The small town Koprivshtitsa (ca. 2600 inhabitants) is situated in Sredna Gora Mts. at altitude 945-1060 m a.s.l., some 110 km eastbound from Sofia. It is an old settlement, most probably established at the end of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (14^th – 15^th century). In the period of the Ottoman Empire (14^th – 19^th century) the town preserves its Bulgarian pattern. During the 18^th century and first decades of 19^th century Koprivshtitsa was flourishing town with population ca. 12,000 and centre of many handicrafts. The church "Uspenie Bogorodichno" (The Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary) is a valuable representative of the architecture of Bulgarian Renaissance period. It was built in 1817, the iconostasis was made in 1821 and the icons – in 1837-1838. The church "Sveti Nikolai" (St. Nicholas) dates back in 1842-1844. The school "St. Cyril and St. Methodius" was built in 1837. The small stone bridge "The First Rifle" is a landmark from the April Uprising in 1876. Most of the houses preserved until today were built in the 19^th century. They are remarkable for their architecture, interiors with wood-carving, wall-paintings, etc. Today Koprivshtitsa is ethnographic museum in the open air, national historical and architectural reserve and is a popular tourist destination. Every 5 years the town hosts the biggest and most famous Bulgarian authentic folklore music festival. More than 16,000 participants present the national folklore heritage on 9 stages in the town and outskirts.

The organisers have contacted a tourist agency which offers two-day sightseeing tour for accompanying persons as follows:

A) FIRST DAY (5th September 2007, Wednesday), afternoon (by minibus): visit to the National Museum of History (rich collection of artefacts from the ancient history of Bulgaria until today; golden Thracian treasures), Boyana church (medieval architectural monument with unique proto-Renaissance frescoes under UNESCO protection - world cultural heritage) and nature park Vitosha mountain (established in 1934, the first one on the Balkan peninsula);

B) SECOND DAY (6 September 2007): transfer to the central part of the city by minibus, followed by sightseeing walking tour:

- St. Alexander Nevski cathedral with the crypt
  (rich icons collection);
- St. Sophia basilica;
- The monument of the unknown soldier;
- Narodno Sobranie Sq. (Buildings of Parliament, Bulgarian
  Academy of Sciences, Monument of Emperor Alexander II);
- Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, National Library,
  Academy of Fine Arts;
- The Russian church St. Nicolas;
- The eastern part of the antique gladiator's arena, built on ancient
  Roman theatre (in the basement of hotel Arena di Serdica);
- The main square Alexander I with the former king's palace
  (today National Art Gallery);
- National Theatre Ivan Vazov and the Public Garden;
- St. George rotunda;
- Remnants from Roman times (the eastern gate of ancient
  Serdica, 1st century A.D.) in the underpass between
  the Presidency and Council of Ministers);
- St. Nedelya church;
- St. Petka Samardzhiyska church;
- The statue of St. Sophia, the patron of the city;
- The ruins of the old church St. Spas;
- The catholic cathedral St. Joseph;
- The central synagogue (the largest on the Balkan peninsula
  and the third largest in Europe);
- The central covered market (Centralni hali);
- The central mineral baths;
- The Banya basi mosque (architectural monument).

During the sightseeing tour accompanying persons will also visit the National Art Gallery and the National Archaeological Museum.

Important notes:

This excursion will be possible only if at least 10 people from the accompanying persons sign up for it.

The price of the excursion includes transportation, insurance, tourist guidance in English, guided tours in the museums, and entrance tickets to museums.

The Price does not include lunch on the second day (6th September 2007). Lunch could be additionally organised in a restaurant for those who would like to. The approximate price would be about 10 EUR per person. The minibus will take the people to the restaurant, and after the lunch break the excursion will continue.

Please inform us not later than 10 August
if you intend to participate.

For any additional questions you might have, please contact the conference organisers - Dr. Alexander Delkov