Bulgaria · The Bulgarian Rose

Bulgarian rose cultivation is primarily associated with the so-called Valley of Roses. The area is located near Kasanlak between the Balkan Mountains and the Sredna Gora mountain range. The climate, with mild winters, wet springs and warm summers, favors the cultivation of fragrant roses there. The most important variety is the Damask rose (*Rosa damascena*), which is also known as the Kazanlak rose.

The extraction of rose oil developed in Bulgaria over several centuries into a specialized economic sector. Traditionally, the flowers are picked by hand as early in the morning as possible, because their fragrance is particularly intense then. They are subsequently processed by steam distillation. A large quantity of flowers is required to produce a small amount of rose oil; rose water is also produced alongside the oil. Both products are used, among other things, in perfume production, cosmetics and food production.

The rose harvest shaped not only agriculture but also everyday life in the growing regions. Family businesses, seasonal working groups and craft-based traditional methods were part of the regional culture for a long time. The flowering period in late spring is associated with local festivals and events, particularly in the area around Kasanlak. There, the rose is perceived both as part of the landscape and as an expression of a work tradition passed down through generations.

The subject is suitable for a Bulgarian commemorative coin because several aspects of the country’s history converge in the rose: the development of a special agricultural product, its processing using traditional methods and the economic relations that arose through the export of rose oil. The motif therefore does not refer to a single historical event, but to an ongoing cultural and economic practice that is associated with Bulgaria outside the country.