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Zlatni Pyasatsi

Despite being the site of extensive Black Sea package resorts and the source of several good wines, Bulgaria all too often dismissed as the dour place it was before 1989, when it served as one of the Soviet Union's most loyal East European allies.

As with many little-known destinations, however, there's a great deal to discover here: much of Bulgaria is like an open-air museum of Balkan culture, with beautifully decorated churches, fine mosques, wonderfully preserved rustic villages and a great deal of enduring folklore.

The mountainous interior makes it one of the top hiking destinations of Europe, while over on the Black Sea coast, the white-sand beaches are just as magnificent in reality as they look in the tourist brochures.

Tourists generally balk at pronouncing Zlatni pyasвtsi, so most Bulgarians along the coast will understand if you say "Goldstrand" or Golden Sands instead.

It's a polyglot place: of all the nationalities here, Germans predominate, and two members of the 2nd of June terrorist group were actually arrested here in 1978 after being recognized by a West German prison warder who, like them, was on holiday.

The resort's myriad hotels occupy a wooded, landscaped strip behind Zlatni pyasatsi's greatest asset, its beach: a soft, pale golden expanse 4km long, sloping gently into an undertow-less sea.

Golden Sands also offers a wide range of bars, restaurants and discos; and activities such as scuba diving, waterskiing and paraskiing are offered by kiosks along the beach.

The strolling areas behind the beach feature well-tended gardens, outdoor pools, and plenty of sports facilities for children.

(Article from: www.beach-vacation-guide.com )