The town of Burgas is situated at the most western part of the Burgas Bay on a peninsula surrounded by three lakes-Burgasko, Anastasovsko and Mandrensko lakes. The town has a population of 191 000 inhabitants. It is the second biggest town on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. Burgas lies at a distance of 387 km from Sofia. The town is a district centre, a seaside resort and a port. Burgas is the municipal centre of 14 settlements.

The first inhabitants of the town have been the Thracian people. During archaeological excavations have been discovered settlements from the Halcolith and the Bronze Age in the Buras lake, while on the southern coast of the Mandrensko lake have been discovered the remains of the ancient fortress of Skafida, at the bottom of the Burgasko Lake has been discovered the ancient Poros. Burgas is the successor of the Roman town Debeltus. During the Middle Ages here has been built a fortress having the name of Pirgos which controlled the road leading to Mala Asia. The first written evidence for the town is from XIII c. The town gets its present-day name in XVII c. Before the Liberation the town has had a population of 3 000 inhabitants. Today Burgas is an important economic and agricultural centre.

The tourist sights of the town are: the sea garden, the cathedrals "Sveta Bogoroditsa"/Holy Virgin/ (1895), "St. St. Cyril and Methodius" (1895), the Armenian Church (1855), the Catholic cathedral, the church "St. Ivan Rilski", the Art Gallery (with its rich collection of icons and the works of local artists), the History Museum and the Ethnographic Museum.

The Burgas mineral baths have been used ever since ancient times. Near the mineral spring from IV c. B.C. have existed a Roman thermal bath. The Burgas mineral baths are a national spa and mud-treatment centre. They are situated at a distance of 15 m northwest of Burgas. The mineral water has a temperature of 41^oC and a capacity of 50 litres per second. The mineral water is suitable for treating diseases of the locomotory system, the nervous system, impaired metabolism and other diseases.

Burgas District is a combination of natural resources and precious archaeological monuments. During the Ancient Times 4 major centres have developed along the coastline - Mesembria, Anhialo, Debelt and Apolonia.

On the territory of Burgas District are located he following natural landmarks: the "Strandzha Mountains" Natural park, the reserves " Ropotamo", "Atanasovsko Lake", "Pyasachna lilia"/Sand Lilly/, "Vodnite lilii"/Water Lilies/ and the natural phenomena - "Lavskata glava"/The Lion's head/ along the Ropotamo River, ‘"Skalnia Sphinx"/The Rocky Sphinx/ near Sozopol, "Razdelenata Kanara"/ The Split Rock/near Sinemoretz.

The most famous seaside resorts are "Sunny Beach", "St. Vlas", "Arkutino", "The Dunes" and "Elenite".

The district is also known for its wineries in Pomorie, Nessebar, Burgas, Slavyani, Karnobat and Sungurlare.

Tourist sights

The Archaeology Museum in Burgas is located in a building which is proclaimed for a monument of culture. The museum houses the biggest exhibition of ancient period anchors on the Balkan Peninsula.

The Ethnographic Museum in Burgas displays collections of folk costumes, textiles and ornaments from the region. The museum is located in a building from 1873 which is proclaimed for a monument of culture.

The Armenian Church in Burgas has been built in 1855 from the Armenian population.

The "St. Anastasia" Island is a small island at a distance of 3 sea miles east of Burgas. In the past there has existed the "St. Anastasia" monastery whose church from XVII c. is well-preserved till present days.