The photo exhibition "Burgas — Exciting and Artistic" was recently on display at the Bulgarian Embassy in Paris as part of the special program for European Heritage Days, introducing the coastal city to a French audience.
The embassy building is itself a grand 19th-century Parisian mansion that today houses Bulgaria's diplomatic mission in France. During the event, visitors toured the reception halls, the grand staircase and several of the building's distinctive architectural features.
Organizers used photography as a way of preserving and sharing the memory of different places. The images took guests on a journey through Bulgaria — landscapes, culture, traditions and scenes from everyday life — turning the visit into a kind of tour of the country.
Part of that journey was the story of Burgas, a joint project of the Burgas Municipality and the Burgas Photographic Community Association. In 20 photographs, authors Dimitrina Andreeva, Venelin Todorov, Georgi Ivanov, Zhecho Planinski, Stefka Delcheva, Tencho Petkov and Hristo Stefanov captured the many faces of the city. The images bring to life the sea, culture, sports and festivals, revealing the inspiration that Burgas offers.
The exhibition was opened by Bulgaria's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to France, Her Excellency Radka Balabanova-Ruleva. The photographs show iconic sites in Burgas, cultural events and festive moments, as well as sporting events and scenes from city life. Together, they build an image of Burgas as a modern European destination with a vibrant cultural scene and a strong connection to the sea.
Before Paris, the exhibition was also shown in Bratislava, continuing its tour before European audiences.
The exhibition's presence in Paris also serves as another opportunity to promote Burgas's bid to host Eurovision 2027.