If ever a flower needed to be a national symbol, then the rose was certainly meant for Bulgaria. In keeping with this, next month the world famous (but somehow under-publicized) Kazanlak Rose Festival gets underway. Scheduled for June 4th and 5th, this historic event pays tribute to the legacy of this amazing flower in Bulgarian history and commerce.
Rose Festival - Courtesy Drive Bulgaria blog
For those who do not already know Rosa Damascena is the name of the oil-yielding rose from which Bulgaria is most famous around the world for. If ever you detected a hint of rose in the perfume of a lovely lady, it is very likely the essence came from Bulgaria. The country is notorious for producing the highest quality rose oil on Earth.
Bulgarian rose oil - it sells from the price of gold - courtesy one Festival website
When the Rosa Damascena mill was brought to Bulgaria in the 17th Century when the county was part of the Ottoman Empire, a legacy of sweet scented pleasure became another of Bulgaria’s many treasures. Some fascinating facts about this wonderful scent are (taken from the Brill Travel website);
- Much of the world’s attar of roses is obtained in the Valley of Roses
- It takes 3,5 tons of rose petals to produce one kilogram of rose oil – image this mountain of petals
- The Bulgarian “attar” of roses is an crucial component in the perfumery business throughout the world
- Bulgarian rose oil is used in the space industry as a lubricant due to its unusual properties
For more information on this fantastic festival, or Bulgaria in general, you can visit the official Bulgaria travel website, or the official website of the Kazanlak Rose Festival here. The reader should check out Brill’s Rose Festival deals as well. For a great alternative along the path of the festival tour, Argo recommends the Novotel in Plovdiv. You can learn more about this hotel via the link provided or contact them via this number +359.32.934136 for booking information. Alternatively, check out the Novotel via their corporate website here at € 420 for two persons and 5 nights, you’ll have cash and time to spare to take in the rose valley .
Thracian's take their rose oil seriously - courtesy the Festival activities page
