“And chestnuts bloomеd in the bustle, blossom and bloom again” – was sang in a Sofia old song.
The home of the horse chestnut is the Balkan Peninsula, but for many years the tree has not been spotted by local people. Foreign travelers took its seeds to Western Europe. With its beautiful leaves and colors, a relatively long age and rapid growth, the tree conquers the European cities.
After 1879 Sofia was chosen as the capital of Bulgaria, a question arised about its landscaping. Top European gardeners recommended horse chestnut. Besides, its closest natural locality was not far away, in Stara Planina.
Thus the horse chestnut “returned” to its homeland and became a favorite tree of Sofia citizens.
Today in Sofia there are over 7000 chestnut trees.
