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Central Southern Bulgaria >> Stara Zagora
Along with Kazanluk and Gabrovo, it stands nearly at the ideal centre of the country. The town is located at the distance of 231 km east of Sofia, 90 km north-east of Plovdiv, 70 km south-west of Sliven, 48 km north of Dimitrovgrad and 35 km to the south-east of Kazanluk. Apart from being one of the most ancient towns in Bulgaria, it is a big and important regional industrial and cultural centre.
History. Mostly due to its central position, this town has a rich and most interesting history. In the 6th century BC, it was a major Thracian settlement called Beroe. In the 2nd century the Romans built the town and call it Augusta Trayana (to the name of the emperor Trayan), which is soon to become one of the greatest and most famous towns in Roman Thrace. At the beginning of the 6th century, the town was destroyed, later on to be populated by incoming Slavic tribes, who named it Vereya. For some time in the mid of 8th century was conquered by the Byzantine Empire and renamed again, this time in honour of the Empress - Irinopolis. In the 9th century, the town became an administrative centre of a vast district under the name of Borui. It was as late as the 12th-14th century that the district was named Zagore wherefrom much later its contemporary name derived. Under the Turkish Rule, it was known as Eski Hisar (old fortress) and after 1488 - as EskiZaara ("zaara" meaning a fertile area). During the Revival Stara Zagora is an important economic centre populated by Bulgarians mainly, extremely active in the sphere of Bulgarian educational revival and national liberation movement. Among the teacher in the five-class primary school of 1859 are the esteemed enlighteners Neofit Rilski, Ivan Bogorov, P. R. Slaveikov and among the pupils, one reads the names of Vassil Levski and Raina Popgeorgieva. A revolutionary committee was established in town and it was headed by Kolyo Ganchev, Georgi Apostolov and the Zhekov Brothers under the leadership of Stefan Stambolov and Georgi Ikonomov but due to treason, the planned uprising failed before it was to start. For the third time in its history, Stara Zagora was put to the torch and turned to ashes during the Russian-Turkish War of Liberation. After the Liberation, the town was built yet once again in the fashion of straight geometrical system - straight streets crossing in perpendicular. The Czheck urbaniser Loubor Bayer worked out the town plan. The principles laid therein are further observed in the construction works, which makes the town unique in Bulgaria. Stara Zagora is the birthplace of the poets Kiril Hristov, Nikolai Liliev, Vesselin Hanchev, of the singer Hristina Morphova; of the painters Anton and Georgi Mitovi, Atanas Mihov, Mario Zhekov. It is commonly known as the "town of lime-trees and poets".
Landmarks. The Town Museum of History (11, Graf Ignatief Str., tel.: 042 44081, 23931). The Bereketska Mogila (Hill) (west of Kolyo Ganchev Quarter) is the biggest prehistoric settlement excavated in Bulgaria. It is 17 meters high; its diametrical dimensions at the base are over 250 meters. Close to the District Hospital (16, Armeiska Street or Bareiro Street), scientists have found the biggest dwelling mounds in Bulgaria. Therein were the remains of two ancient dwellings dated back to the neolith - the middle of the 6th millennium BC and they are the best preserved such finds in Europe to date. Working hours: 9 a.m. -12 a.m. and 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday. The antique forum Augusta Trayana (The Bishop Methodi Kousev Blvd., on the back of the Law Court) is one of the most monumental facilities built in the Roman city of Augusta Trayana. Working hours: 9 a.m. -12 a.m. and 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday. Late antiquity floorage mosaic – 4th century (Gen. Stoletov Street, behind the Opera House). Preserved is only the guest hall of a rich house, situated in the centre of Augusta Trayana. Only the floor has stood up to the decay of time and it is in an impressive and lavishly ornamented square hall of about 10 x 10 meters. The composition, the colours chosen and the craftsmanship employed make it one of the most impressive examples of provincial Roman art of the 6th century. Working hours: 9 a.m. -12 a.m. and 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. from Tuesday to Friday. Late antiquity municipal building with mosaics (4th – 6th century) can be seen in the cash hall of the Central Post Office, where archaeologists have excavated a big building of the southeastern end of Augusta Trayana in the immediate vicinity of the city walls. The floor of this official building is covered with a colourful mosaic, which employs allegorical and zoological symbols to represent and illustrate the seasons of the year and the endless spiral of life. Working hours: 9 a.m. - a.m. and 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday. The Defenders of Stara Zagora 1877 Memorial Complex is a 50-meter high monument erected in 1977 on the historical Chadar Hill to commemorate 100 years from fierce battle for the liberation of the country during the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878 when the Bulgarian volunteers, waving the national colour - the sacred Samara Flag - went to their maiden battle. It stands proud in the Bulgarsko Opulchenie Park on the outskirts of the town. Youri Gagarin Astronomic Observatory and Planetarium (located on the top floor of the High School of Foreign Languages "R. Rolane"). The Art Gallery (110, Tsar Simeon the Great Blvd., tel: 042 22843, 21380) hosts more than 4000 works of art from all genres. The golden fund of the gallery keeps a rich collection of medieval Bulgarian icons and prints as well as works from Georgi Danchov, Stansilav Dospevski, the Mitov Brothers, Ivan Penkov, Tseno Todorov, Vladimir Dimitrov - the Master, David Perez, Dechko Uzunov, etc. (Working hours: 9 a.m. -12 a.m. and 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday). The Hilendar Convent ( tel.: 042 32086) is a reconstruction of the original convent with the Hilendar Monastery at Sveta Gora, which actually functioned in the town before being finally burned down when the town was put on fire. In those days, Levski lived there for three years. A central place has the exhibition "Levski in Stara Zagora". (Working hours: 9 a.m. -12 a.m. and 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday. The House-Museum "Town Life in the 19th century( close to the centre of the town) is located in Hadzhiangelov's House, which was built in 1883 by a master-builder from Debur and is a typical representative of the later type of symmetrical architecture with no portico. (Working hours: 9 a.m. -12 a.m. and 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday. Geo Milev House Museum (37, Geo Milev Str., tel.: 042 23450) is a rich, modern and well arranged museum to visit. (Working hours: 8.30 a.m. - 4.30 p.m. Monday through Saturday). Metodii Koussev Park (Ayazmoto - the Spring) is a big, artificial green park arranged over the slopes of the Sredna Gora in the northern part of the town. Its creator was the notable restoration activist Bishop Metodii Koussev and planting began in 1895. Today the park spreads over an area of 2600 decares and is a true botanical garden with various kinds of trees and flowers from all over the world. In the park there are the St. Theodor Tiron Church, the memorial to Aleko Konstantinov, a zoo, jogging alleys, sport facilities and is an excellent place for outdoor recreation among exotic nature. Metodii Koussev Memorial (1838-1922) is the work of the sculptor Valentin Starchev and the architect Tanko Serafimov. The opening ceremony was held on 1 November 1996. Stara Zagora is a big cultural centre. The Geo Milev Theatre of Drama (Bishop Metodii Koussev Blvd.) stages its plays in the beautiful building of the Old Theatre House in the centre of the town. The State Opera House (111, Gen. Stoletov Street, tel: 042 24416, 29584, tel. /fax: 042 41015). The State Puppet Theatre (46, Gen. Gourko Street). Stara Zagora is a university centre, as well.
Accommodation: Ezeroto Complex (60, Bratya Zhekovi Street). Vereya Hotel (100, Tsar Simeon the Great Street, in the centre, the biggest hotel in town). Zheleznik Hotel (1, Peter Parchevich Street) Char Hotel (12, Kamenev Street). All hotels have restaurants offering national cuisine.
Tourist information. At the Council on Tourism (6000 Stara Zagora, 107, Tsar Simeon Blvd., tel.: 042 39603, 26864), at Surnena Gora Tourist Association (62, Tsar Simeon Blvd., tel.: 042 38435).
Transport. Being an important transport junction the town maintains contacts with the other parts of the country by road and rail. Regular bus lines to the towns (Plovdiv, Kazanluk, Sliven, Chirpan, Nova Zagora, Dimitrovgrad, and Haskovo) and the villages in the region. The major motorway Sofia - Plovdiv - Bourgas and the road from Rousse to Kurdzhali cross the town. The bus station (64, Slavyanski Blvd., tel.: 042 22145, 22149) and the railway station (20, Gerasim Papazchev Str, tel.: 042 50145, 26752) are near-by each other in the southern part of the town. Railway routes to Plovdiv and Sofia, to Bourgas and Toulovo start from the town, from where one can join Sofia - Karlovo - Bourgas railway line. Stara Zagora Airport (no regular flights at present, Kolyo Ganchev Quarter) is located at the very outskirts of the town. Stara Zagora has a very well organised inter-city transport.
Surrounding areas. Stara Zagora Mineral Baths is a balneological resort, 15 km northwest of the town with an open mineral pool and numerous opportunities for recuperation and rest, boarding and entertainment. In the immediate vicinity a Roman bath from the 2nd century (161 163) was found, which the citizens of ancient Augusta Trayana used. In the area of Mechi Kladenets (Bear's Well) archaeologists have discovered old copper mines (from the Copper-Bronze Age - the 4th millennium BC), which are one of the oldest and biggest of their kind in Europe. The resort is a departure point for a whole-day hiking tour to Kavakliika Chalet in the Surnena Sredna Gora Mountain. The baths are reached by regular town bus line. The resort village of Yagoda is located 20 kilometers north of Stara Zagora - it has an open-air mineral pool. One can get to it by passing through the 14-kilometer long historical Zmeevski Pass, by the famous village of Zmeevo known for its excellent zmeevski white pelin wine. All buses between Stara Zagora and Kazanluk can be taken, as well as the train for Toulovo.
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Central Southern Bulgaria
Batak, Bratsigovo, Peroushtitsa, Pazardzhik, Koprivshtitsa, Sopot, Karlovo, Kalofer, Hissarya - spa resort, Plovdiv, Asenovgrad, Chepelare, Smolyan, Devin, Pavel Banya, Kazanluk, Stara Zagora, Chirpan, Dimitrovgrad, Haskovo, Kurdzhali | Southeastern Bulgaria
Svilengrad, Elhovo, Yambol, Sliven, Kotel, Karnobat, Aitos, Malko Turnovo | Northwestern Bulgaria
Berkovitza, Chiprovtzi, Belogradchik, Vidin, Kozlodui, Oriahovo, Montana, Vratsa, Mezdra, Botevgrad, Etropole, Yablanitza, Cherven bryag, Loukovit, Lom | Central Northern Bulgaria
Teteven, Troyan, Apriltzi, Lovech, Pleven, Nikopol, Svishtov, Pavlikeni, Sevlievo, Gabrovo, Tryavna, Dryanovo, Elena, Veliko Turnovo, Gorna Oryahovitsa, Byala, Rousse | Southwestern Bulgaria
Petrich, Sandanski, Gotse Delchev, Bansko ski resort, Razlog, Blagoevgrad, Doupnitsa, Samokov, Kyustendil, Pernik, Pirdop and Zlatitsa, Panagyurishte, Kostenets, Velingrad | Northeastern Bulgaria
Pliska, Shoumen, Veliki Preslav, Turgovishte, Razgrad, Toutrakan, Silistra, Dobrich, Provadia | Bulgarian Black Sea Coast
Shabla, Roussalka, Kavarna, Balchik, Albena, Zlatni Pyasutsi (GOLDEN SANDS), St. St. Konstantin and Elena, Varna, Kamchia, Obzor, Elenite, Slunchev Bryag (SUNNY BEACH), Nessebar, Pomorie, Bourgas, Sozopol, Dyuni, Primorsko, Kiten, Tsarevo, Ahtopol | Bulgarian Mountains
Rila, Rila Monastery, Borovetz, Malyovitza, Pirin, Melnik and The Rozhen Monastery, Shiligarnika, Stara Planina (The Balkan Mountain), KOM - Emine Route, The Rhodope Mountains, Pamporovo, Bachkovo Monastery, Shiroka Luka, Vitosha |
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