The city of Burgas is surrounded by the Burgas Lakes, which are situated within the westernmost portion of the Black Sea. The huge Burgas Bay has the biggest and the most significant port in the country. Burgas is now a key cultural, economic, and tourist attraction of the southeastern portion of Bulgaria. The city also has an airport that serves the country’s resorts in the southern coast.

Geography

The city is located on the western portion of the Burgas Bay. It is also located on the eastern portion of the plain that lies on the Upper Thracian Plain. Burgas lies within 389 kilometers of Sofia, 350 kilometers of Istanbul, and 272 kilometers of Plodiv. Bodies of water, including lakes, surround the northern and eastern portion of the city. The lakes in the city include Vaya, Mandrensko, and Atanasovsko. The lakes in Burgas are also the habitat of various species of birds. Moreover, the Pan-European Corridor 8 passes through Burgas.

The Administrative Division of Burgas

The city of Burgas is subdivided into numerous neighborhoods. These neighborhoods are listed below:

• Bratya Miladinovi
• Akatsiite
• Vetren
• Centar
• Izgrey
• Sarafovo
• Vazrazhdane
• Lazur
• Karimorie
• Meden Rudnik
• Beneyo
• Lozoyo
• Pobeda
• Zornitsa
• Gorno Ezerovo
• Petko Slaveykoy
• Dolno Ezevoro

According to the 2009 Decision from the Minister Counsel, the neighborhoods or villages of Vetren and Baneva are now incorporated in the city of Burgas. A city plan currently being considered by the administration involves opening Burgas to the sea. This plan will also include the construction of numerous residential sites as well as highway junctions.

Economy

Burgas is a significant and popular industrial center. The biggest and perhaps the most famous industrial enterprise in the city is the LUKOIL Neftochim Burgas, the biggest refinery within the entire southeast portion of Europe. This is also the biggest manufacturing plant in the Balkans.

Activities in Burgas

Water Sports and Other Water Activities

There are plenty of tourists in Burgas during the summer because there are lots of activities to do. Popular water sports in Burgas include surfing, diving, and parasailing. Kite-surfing is also popular in Burgas. There are numerous sea sports and surfing schools that teach both the locals and visitors how to enjoy the beautiful sea in Burgas. In addition, visitors can also book diving lessons where they will be taught on a one-on-one by an experienced diver guide.

Boat renting is also ppular in Burgas since the city has a huge number of small islands. Among the most visited islands are St. Anastasia, which is formerly known as the Bolshevik Island, and St. Ivan, or the Snake’s Island. The boats that travel to the island of St. Anastasia leave from the Burgas Bridge. Boat renting is only offered during the months of August and July at 10 AM, 12 noon and, 2 PM.

Burgas also offers a venue to enjoy extreme sports such moto-paragliding or, simply, paragliding. There are also courses on tandem flights that are offered in the city.

Entertainment

Cinemas – People in Burgas love to see a movie during the winter season. All the movies in the cinemas are subtitled in Bulgarian language. The movies are rarely done with voiceovers. This means that there will not be any problems if the movies are in English. There are also a few exceptions when it comes to children’s movies.

• Museums – There are numerous museums in the city. Some of them are listed below:
  • Archeological Museum – This museum is located at 21 Bogorodu Street and is open from Mondays to Saturdays at 10 AM to 7 PM. The museum hosts a wide variety of exhibits that feature Byzantine, Greek, and Roman antiques.
  • Ethnographic Museum – This museum is located at 69 Slavianska Street. It is open from Mondays to Fridays at 10 AM to 7 PM. There are numerous ethnic exhibitions in the program. It also offers summer school for crafts, arts, and dances.
  • Historical Museum – This museum is situated at 31 Lermontov Street. It is open at 10 AM up to 7 PM every weekday. It offers exhibits of national and local history and various guest exhibits from other museums in other countries.
  • Science and Nature Museum – It is located at 30 Fotinov Street. The museum is open from 10 AM up to 7 PM every Monday to Friday. It covers the subjects of medicine, flora and fauna, as well as various thematic exhibits and physics.
• Galleries – There are numerous galleries in Burgas. Some of the popular galleries in the city include Bogoridi, Petko Zadgorski, and Briz – Boiadzhiev Art Gallery.
• Shopping – The center of Burgas is basically a shopping area. The city’s shopping area consists of two main streets. There are also some shopping areas within the smaller streets. All the prices in the area are very reasonable. Some shops offer international brands while others offer local produce. There are also numerous gold shops in the area and most of their products are imported from Turkey.

Facts about Burgas

• Burgas is a city within the Province of Burgas in Bulgaria.
• Burgas is located at 27 degrees 28’ 2” Eastern Latitude and 42 degrees 20’ 1” Northern Longitude.
• The altitude of the city is 30 meters above sea level.
• Burgas has a total land area of 1,703 sq. kilometers.
• The time zone of the city is 2 EET.
• The city has eight districts.
• The currency of the city and the country of Bulgaria is BGN.
• The mayor of Burgas is Dimitar Nikoloy.
• The mode of public transport in Burgas is through bus, railway, and the international airport.
• Burgas has a total of 11 museums.
• The city has four theaters.
• There are five universities and high schools within Burgas.

During the olden days, Plovdiv was originally a Thracian settlement before becoming a major city ruled by the Romans and Greeks. During the middle ages, Plovdiv retained its intentional regional significance; changing hands between Bulgarian and Byzantine Empires. The city was under the Ottoman rule during the fourteenth century. In 1878, Plovdiv was made the capital of the independent Ottoman region of Eastern Rumelia.

Landmarks

The city of Plovdiv is a prime cultural center. It has more than 150 archaeological sites. About 20 of the 150 archeological sites have national significance. There are numerous remains from ancient times. For instance, Plovdiv is among the cities with two ancient theaters that are marked as remains of the medieval towers and walls. Ottoman mosques and baths are well-preserved. There is also an old quarter, showcasing beautiful churches, houses, and narrow paved streets, which survived from the National Revival period. There are many cultural institutes, museums, and art galleries. Plovdiv also hosts film, musical, and theater events.

Plovdiv is the starting point for excursion trips to several sites in the region, including the ski-resort of Pamporovo, which is 90 kilometers to the south, the Bachkovo Monastery, about 30 kilometers to the south, and the spa resorts of Krasnovo, Strelcha, Banya, and Hiserya. There are also more than 40 hotels with a total of 6,500 beds in the area. Moreover, there are numerous motels, hostels, and other forms of lodging in Plovdiv.

Antique City

The attractive Antique Theater is one of Bulgaria’s most famous monuments from antiquity. The theater was constructed in the early second century throughout the period of Roman Emperor Trajan. This theater is located in a natural saddle between Taksim Tepe and Dzhambaz Tepe Hills. The Antique Theater is separated into two parts, with about 14 rows each, which are separated from each other with a horizontal line. It can accommodate more than 3,000 people. It also has a three-storey scene, which is situated on the southern part of the theater, and is decorated with statues, friezes, and cornices. The Antique Theater was restored, studied, and conserved between the years 1968 and 1984. Several events are still celebrated in the venue, such as the International Folklore Festival and the Verdi Festival.

The Roman Stadium is also a significant monument in this ancient city. The stadium is located between Sahat Tepe and Three Hills in modern Dzhumaya Square. This Roman Stadium was constructed in mid-second century and designed after the beautiful stadium in Delphi.

Tourist Attractions

The Old Town of the city is a historic preservation site famous for its Bulgarian Rienaissance architectural style. It covers an area of three central hills, including Taksim Tepe, Nebet Tepe and Dzhambaz Tepe. About every house in Old Town has its own interior and exterior characteristics that distinguish it from the other houses in the area.

The Archaeological Museum is the People’s Museum of Eastern Rumelia, which was built in 1882. During the year 1928, the Archaeological Museum was moved to the nineteenth-century edifice in Saedinenie Square, which was built by Josef Schnitter, a popular Plovdiv architect. This museum contains rich collections of Thracian art. It has three sections, including Antiquity, Middle, and Prehistoric Ages, which contain valuable artifacts from the Paleolithic Era to the beginning of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries or the Ottoman period. The popular Panagyurishte treasure is also part of the Archaeological Museum’s collection.

The Natural Science Museum was established in the year 1955 in an old structure, which was constructed in 1880, in the city’s municipality. The museum is one of the most significant museums in Bulgaria and has rich collections in its Botany, Paleontology, and Mineralogy sections. There are also numerous rooms for wildlife and it houses Bulgaria’s biggest freshwater aquarium, which contains more than 30 species of fish. The Museum of Natural Science also contains collections of minerals from the Rhodope Mountains.

The Historical Museum was founded in 1951 as a cultural and scientific institute for researching, collecting, and saving historical evidence about Plovdiv during the sixteenth up to the twentieth century. The exhibition is located in three buildings.

The Aviation Museum was opened in September of 1991 in the vicinity of the Krumovo airbase. It is about 12 kilometers to the southeast of Plovdiv and possesses more than 45 aircrafts and outdoor and indoor exhibitions.

The Regional Ethnographic Museum of Plovdiv was opened in 1917. In October 1943, the museum was moved to a house in Old Town and in the year 1949 the Municipal House-museum was distinguished as the People’s Ethnographic Museum. It was renovated in 1962.

Temples, Churches, and Mosques

There are several nineteenth century churches in Plovdiv and most of them, such as the Churches of Saint Helena, Saint Constantine, Saint Nedelya, Saint Marina, Saint Petka, and the Holy Mother of God, follow the construction style of the Eastern Orthodox. There are also several Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, Apostolic, and Protestant churches in the city. There are two mosques remaining in Plovdiv from the period of the Ottoman rule.

Economy

Situated in the center of a rich agricultural region since the twentieth century, the city has grown as an industrial center. Brewing, textiles, food processing, and tobacco are the major pillars of the industry. During the period of communist rule, Plovdiv’s economy significantly expanded and was dominated by heavy industry. It now produces zinc and lead, cosmetics, chemicals, motor trucks, electronics, and machinery. After the collapse of communism and Bulgaria’s planned economy in 1989, a number of industrial complexes ceased to exist.

Transportation

By train – There are numerous daily trains that operate from and to Sofia. The time duration is approximately two and a half hours. There is also a train from Istanbul, Turkey that takes roughly about 11 hours.

By bus – Buses operate every hour from Sofia. They are slightly faster compared to trains. There are buses to most principal Bulgarian cities everyday.

By car – The expressway A1 connects Plovdiv westward to Sofia and extends a short distance to the east.

The oldest settlements that characterize the territories of Sliven date back to around 6000 B.C.E. of the Neolithic Age. Sliven is a gold mine for ancient artifacts that give significant historical information about the country’s culture on architecture and trade at around the fifth to the third centuries B.C.E. Thracians, a group of Indo-European tribes, occupied the city, leaving traces of their culture during the said period. Evidence of Thracian settlements and ceramics has been found in the area of Hisarlanka, a small hill in Sliven. Hellenistic coins have also been found in the said hill. The ancient tribes Asti, Kabileti, and Seti likewise occupied the lands of Sliven. During the time of Phillip II and Alexander the great of Macedon, the independence of these tribes was dissolved when the armies of both historical figures conquered them.

Sliven did not escape the scope of the Roman conquest in the second century B.C.E. because it was part of northeastern Thracia. In 72-71 B.C.E., Sliven, along with Kabile and Apolonia, were conquered, and these cities became part of the Thracian Province of the Roman Empire.

The first written records of a settlement in the city date back to the fourth to the second centuries B.C. This settlement’s name was Tuida, the spelling of which is different on some accounts. Sometimes, it is called Suida or Tsuiada. Although the name is most likely of Thracian origin, the etymology is not fully understood. It was a sanjak center at first Rumelia eyalet, after Silistre (also called Özi) eyalet, Edirne vilayet, finally Eastern Rumelia vilayet in Ottoman Empire as “İslimye” before being included as part of the Principality of Bulgaria in 1885.

Bulgarian Haiduts (outlaws and freedom fighters) inhabited Sliven during the nineteenth century. These freedom fighters fought against the rule of the Ottoman Turks and they have remained an iconic symbol to the city’s people and a part of their identity. At the center of the city, a large smooth-leaved elm, called Stariya Briast or “The Old Elm” believed to be a thousand year-old, still stands. It was used during the Ottoman Occupation for the execution of revolutionaries as they were hanged with nooses attached to the branches. Today, the city keeps the tree alive with the addition of cement at its base for support. So great is the tree’s iconic significance that it has been incorporated in the city’s coat of arms.

Many of the city’s old historical heritages are still preserved making Sliven one of Bulgaria’s most significant cultural centers. Sliven’s cultural heritage is one of the beneficiaries of the Bulgarian National Revival, a period of socio-economic and national integration where the preservation of the country’s identity was a priority. This offers many citizens and tourists lots of opportunities, not just to catch a glimpse of Bulgaria’s history and people, but to experience history itself.

Sliven is also home to many of the country’s prominent historical figures. Hadzhi Dimitar, an important voivod or military general, took part in the Liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman Rule during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78. This led to the establishment of the Bulgarian state and, eventually, the full ratification of Bulgaria’s independence on September 22, 1908. Hadzhi Dimitar was born in Sliven. The Hadzhi Dimitar Museum-House is devoted to this national icon. Here, information and objects about him could be found. Along with Dimitar, Dobri Chintulov was also born in Sliven. Chintulov was a poet and teacher who supported the Bulgarian National Revival, otherwise called the Bulgarian Renaissance. The Dobry Chintulov Memorial House Museum is located north of the city. Sliven also served as the birthplace of other contributors to the enlightenment like Evgeniy Chapkanov and Ivan Seliminski. Anton Pann, who composed the Romanian national anthem, and Dobri Zhelyazkov, who established the first factory in Bulgarian lands in the city in 1834, were also natives of Sliven.

Industry has been the focus of Sliven’s economy since the early nineteenth century. Sliven played a very important role as one of Bulgaria’s industrial centers because of its long-lived traditions on workmanship. These industries included local textile production, machine-building, glass-making, chemical production, and food production. They not only supported the country’s economy but also its cultural growth during the Bulgarian National Revival. In 1944, the communist rule in Bulgaria began and many of the industries were nationalized. Industrial buildings were constructed and the country’s development was also spurred. However, after the fall of communism, many of the big industries stagnated and many of the plants and factories established were forced to shut down. Development slowed down and the economy slackened.

In contemporary times, however, Sliven gradually experienced a surge in economy with an increase in investments and banking establishments, as new industries began to emerge. Minessotta Mining and Manufacturing Company or 3M, an American multinational conglomerate, invested in Sliven a plant that produces machinery used to cut metals. The city also produces electric lights and electrical machines. Light industries that thrive in Sliven are mostly those of food and textiles with many companies making wool clothing and socks. Past industries in food production, such as the dairy industry, which has long been present, continue to grow and flourish. The wine industry, with companies such as Vinprom and Vini Sliven and about a dozen others, continues to prosper as grapes are easily grown due to the climate conditions. Sliven’s geography is also an interest to investors. The light industry is currently exploring the possibility of utilizing the famous local wind, Bora, for the production of electricity.

Aside from the existing industries, Sliven’s climate conditions and natural resources make it a destination preferred by many. On the west region of the city lie great peach orchards and the area is known as the Peach Valley. The famous rocky massif, Sinite Kamani or “The Blue Rocks”, and the associated national park with its fresh air and mineral springs, offer diverse opportunities for leisure and tourism. Mineral baths are also an attraction in Sliven because their water is believed to treat liver diseases and nervous system complications.

In the city center, the people of Sliven have dedicated a venue for the performing arts, the dramatic theater of Sliven, which is named after Stefan Kirov, a Sliven native who rose to fame as a prominent actor and director. Many of the buildings in the city are built in the National Revival Architecture style. The Hadzhi Dimitar House-Museum, one of the buildings designed in the said architecture style, is located at the south western part of the town. Along with the museum, an old traditional inn for visitors and a native memorial home are also located in the same area.

To get a good view of the city, most visitors go to the Karandilla, a hilltop 1,050 meters above sea level. Its location accords a great panoramic view and picturesque scenery of the city to visitors. A rock formation, called the Hulkata or “The Ring” which protrudes from the hilltop, has a rather peculiar myth. It is called the “ring” because of the presence of a hole at the center of the rock formation. According to legend, one would change gender upon passing through the hole. Higher up the hill is the peak Bulgarka, 1,181 meters above sea level.

Varna is considered as the summer capital and marine capital of Bulgaria. It is a major tourist spot, university center, and business center. It is also a major seaport. In addition, this city is the home of the merchant marine and Bulgarian Navy headquarters. Moreover, the city of Varna is the center of the Northeastern planning region of Bulgaria, or the NUTS II, and the Varna Province. Varna also comprises various provinces including Shumen, Targovishte, and Dobrich.
The city is designated as the seat of the European Region’s Black Sea, a new organization that focuses on regional cities and countries within Europe. This is different from the Euro-region of the Black Sea by the European Council.

Geography

This city has a coverage area of about 205 square kilometers. It covers verdant terraces, including the Moesian platform of the city’s monocline. Varna’s coverage descends from the Franga Plateau, which is about 356 meters high, on the northern portion and the Avren Plateau on the southern portion along the Black Sea’s Varna Bay, which is famous for its resemblance to a horseshoe. It also features the Lake Varna and two artificial waterway systems that connect the Varna Bay and the Varna Lake and are bridged by the Asparuhov.

Varna is the center of the growing conurbation that stretches along the coastline, which is about 20 kilometers on the northern portion and 10 kilometers on the southern portion. The southern coastal portion of Varna is mainly composed of recreational and residential homes. The Varna Lake, which is about 25 kilometers, on the city’s western portion is mainly composed of industrial facilities and transportation. Since the olden days, the city of Varna had already been surrounded by various forests, orchards, and vineyards. The commercial facilities of the city are relocated inland, while the Varna bay remains a tourist area for recreational purposes.

The water of the Black Sea has become cleaner after 1989 because of the decreased use of chemical fertilizers when farming. The water has low salinity. It also lacks poisonous species and huge predators. Moreover, the tidal range of the Black Sea is virtually hardly noticeable.

Climate

The city’s urban area has an excess land area of about 20 kilometers. This excess land is composed of sandy beaches that are abundant in mineral and thermal water sources. The urban area has a continental and mild climate that is greatly influenced by the sea. The city has long and mild autumns similar to that of the Mediterranean climate, but it has a hot and sunny climate during the summer that is considerably colder than the Mediterranean climate. In addition, Varna has regular rainfalls and a moderated breeze. The city has abundant groundwater that keeps the hills lush green throughout the entire summer season, though it only receives 2/3 of the average rainfall in Bulgaria. Varna is cut off from the northern and northeastern winds by the hills along the bay. Between the months of January and February, the city’s climate can be bitterly cold with blizzards.

Transportation

Varna is located about 47 kilometers away from another big city, Sofia. The nearest cities in Varna include Dobrich, which is 45 kilometers towards the north, Burgas which is 125 kilometers towards the southwest, and Shumen which is 80 kilometers towards the west.

Varna is virtually accessible by all kinds of air transportation because it houses the Varna International Airport. The city is also accessible by water via the Port of Varna Cruise Terminal. Moreover, the city has a railroad station called the Central Train Station. It has numerous well-built roads located within the city boundaries, which make it accessible by buses and automobiles.

Major roads and highways in the area include E87, which leads to Constanta, Romania, and Istanbul, and the E70 European route which leads to Bucharest. The national motorway of A-2, more commonly known as the Hemus Motorway, is also a main road leading to Sofia. The A-5, or the Cherno More Motorway, leads to Burgas. There are numerous bus lines that travel to many international and Bulgarian cities from a train ferry and two bus terminals and ro-ro services that lead to Ukraine, Poti, Russia, Batumi in Georgia, Port Kavkaz, and Odesa.

Hotels in Varna

There are a number of 2-star to 5-star hotels in Varna. On the northern portion of the city along the 20-kilometer strip in the areas of Constantine, Helena, Chaika, Riviera, Golden Sands, Sunny Day, and Euxigrad, are beachfront resorts. There is a total of over 60,000 hotel guest rooms and bedrooms as well as villas offering private lodgings. Below is a list of affordable hotels in Verna.

Affordable Hotels

• Gregory’s Backpackers – This hostel is located outside the center of Varna within the Zvezditsa village. It has abundant facilities, including a DVD or satellite TV lounge, a bar, and an Internet café. It also features a well-equipped kitchen for the guests.
• XHOSTEL – This hotel is located at 16th St. Number 19 Euxinograd Varna, Bulgaria. It offers free transportation to the Varna City Center and the Golden Sands. It has a pool, international staff, free breakfast, on-site restaurant, a relaxing garden, a common game or TV room, and a sea-view terrace. It is perhaps the newest hotel in the area and is only a 13-minute walk towards the beach and the thermal baths of St. Constantine and the nearby cafes and markets.

Other Hotels in Varna

• Alekta Hotel
• Fllinis Hotel
• Amfora Hotel
• Hotel Divesta – This is a luxury hotel located within the city center.

Dobrich’s inhabitants number at around 114,994. According to the 2001 census data, the inhabitants of Dobrich comprise the following: 86% of Dobrich’s inhabitants are ethnic Bulgarians, 8% are Turks, and 3.5% are Roma. The apportionment of Orthodox Christians is 86%, whereas 10% of the population are followers of the Muslim faith.

Historically, the first evidence of settlement in present-day Dobrich dates back from the fourth to the third centuries BC. A Bulgar necropolis, a large and elaborate graveyard, was found among the ruins in the center of Dobrich from the second to the fourth centuries and the seventh to the eleventh centuries. The necropolis is an important discovery as it serves as a tangible proof of the existence of pagan practices around the area during the period before the proliferation of Orthodox Christianity.

During the eleventh century, Pecheneg invasions ravaged the center of Dobruja, leaving many communities in the region deserted at the time of the Second Bulgarian Empire. Pechenegs or Partizaks were semi-nomadic Turkic people from the steppes of Central Asia. They are culturally and ethnically defined by the Pecheneg language they speak, which comes from the Turkish language family. The Pecheneg invasions are part of the town’s history because the intervention of these people paved the path towards the occupation of Dobrich by the Ottoman Empire when many of the town’s culture were cultivated from Turkish influences.

To delve deeper into the history of Dobrich, one cannot discount the history of Dobruja. Dobruja or Dobroudja is a historical and geographic region on the Balkan peninsula. It encompasses the eastern part of the Lower Danubian plane and reaches to the Black Sea eastwards and to the Danube River northwards. The region is historical in nature for two countries: Bulgaria and Romania. The Northern part of Dobruja is part of Romanian territory while Southern Dobruja is part of Bulgarian territory under the administrative regions Dobrich and Silistra. To create a distinction between the Bulgarian and Romanian territories, the Bulgarian region is named Dobrudzha and the Romanian region is called Dobrogea.

In prehistoric times, Dobroudja was inhabited by people of the Late Neolithic, Eneolithic, and the Bronze Ages. This was at around 5300 B.C. to the twelfth century B.C. These periods have revealed that cultures existed in prehistoric times. These cultures are Hamangia, Boyan, Sava, Varna, Koslogeni, and Babadag. In this region, the First Bulgarian Kingdom was established with Dobrich being the existing remnant of the founding Bulgarian tribes that migrated from the Roman Empire during the first century, when Dobruja was within Rome’s rule. Dobruja at the time was a province of Scythia Minor. During this period, Roman advancement aided the region through the construction of roads and infrastructure that became the foundations of fortresses and towns.

At the end of the fourteenth century, Dobroudja fell within the boundaries of the Ottoman Empire. During that time, intensive demographic processes occurred in the region. The Ottoman colonization from the fifteenth to the seventeenth centuries and the emigration of Bulgarian population from the eighteenth to the nineteenth centuries imposed the co-existence of various ethnic and religious communities and groups in this area.

In the sixteenth century, a Turkish merchant named Hacıoğlu Pazarcık founded another settlement in the area of Dobrich bearing his name until 1882. According to Turkish data from 1646–1650, there were over 1000 houses in the town, about 100 shops, three inns, three Turkish baths, 12 mosques, and 12 schools.

The town later became the center for the development of three primary industries, namely: handicraft, trade, and agriculture from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries. Dobrich became famous for its people’s mastery of weaving, homespun tailoring, coppersmith’s trade, leatherwork, and agricultural production. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the town’s population reached 12,000, many of whom were refugees from eastern Bulgaria after the Russo-Turkish Wars. The cultural life of the town was also formed. The first Orthodox church was built in 1843.

In the search for national liberation from Ottoman Rule and to achieve Bulgarian enlightenment, Dobrich, along with the rest of the region of Dobruja, was included in the Bulgarian National Revival. Its aim was to preserve its distinctive national culture. The cultural independence of the country was one of the factors which facilitated its true independence from the Ottoman Empire. In 1878, Dobruja was freed from Ottoman rule.

At the Berlin congress, the Great Powers separated the territory of Dobroudja, giving its northern part to Romania. During the next decades, South Dobroudja became a coin of exchange in the relations between the two neighboring countries. From 1913–1916 and 1919–1940, the region was under Romanian rule. It was returned to Bulgaria with the Kraiova Agreement in 1940.

After the Treaty of Bucharest of 1913 (confirmed by the Treaty of Neuilly of 1919), Dobrich and the whole of Southern Dobruja were incorporated in Romania for a period until 1940. During that time, the city bore the name Bazargic and was the center of Caliacra County (judeţ in Romanian). On 25 September 1940, the Bulgarian army marched into the town after signing the Treaty of Craiova in September 7, 1940; that date is celebrated as the town’s holiday.

As for Dobrich, the exact date of its liberation was on January 27, 1878. It was renamed Dobrich on February 19, 1882 after Dobrotista, a medieval ruler of Dobruja. This was done by means of a decree issued by knyaz Alexander I. The name of the town would yet again change. During the period of Communist rule, Dobrich was renamed Tolbukhin after Russian military commander Fyodor Tolbukhin. However, on 19 September 1990, a presidential decree restored the town’s old name of Dobrich.

A point of interest on Dobrich is that it has a Regional Museum of History. The Regional Museum of history in Dobrich was established in 1953. Its establishment is associated to the names of Dr. Lyubka Bobcheva, Dimo Dragnev, and Margarita Dakova. In 1960, the first exhibition was opened in the building of the former casino. During the following years, the classical museum structure was developed and a systematic and collective research work began on the territory of the recently established district.

The largest prehistoric cemetery in the world was discovered and researched on the west bank of Durankulak Lake. Antique and medieval fortresses, settlements, and cemeteries were also explored in Topola, Kamen Bryag, Kaliakra, Chirakman, Balchik, Odartsi, Kladentsi, Skala, Shabla, etc. Topographic maps of the burial mounds and cemeteries in the former Tolbuhin district were worked out. Numerous terrain expeditions and surveys were organized. As a result, the museum funds were enriched, new exhibitions were opened, and monographs and academic publications were issued.

The museum artifacts kept at the cache of the Regional Museum of History in Dobrich form part of the Bulgarian national treasure.

In addition, the city of Rousse is very famous for its nineteenth century and twentieth century Neo-Rococo and Neo-Baroque architecture. The traditional architecture of the city attracts numerous tourists every year. Moreover, the so-called Rousse-Giugiu Friendship Bridge is the only shared bridge within the Roman and Bulgarian section of the Danube that crosses the river.

Geography of Rousse

Rousse is situated on the right portion of the Danube bank. This is perhaps the highest bank that has three land terraces and two underwater terraces measuring 15 to 65 meters in height. The average altitude of the terraces in the city is about 45.5 meters AMSL.

The city’s urban area covers an 11-kilometer ellipse that runs along the river. Rousse extends from the connected land of Matey Island to the mouth of the Rusenski Lom on the western portion towards the hill of Srabcheto on the eastern portion. The western end of the city was modified to a great extent by moving the Rusenski Lom’s mouth to the western portion of the city. The bank and the fairway were also moved towards the northern portion during the late twentieth century. The Sarabair hill is located on the south end of the city and is about 159 meters high. Furthermore, the famous Rousse tower was built on the remains of the Leventtabia, a fortification formerly used by the Turkish people.

Today, Rousse is a big Bulgarian city with more than 170,000 inhabitants. It is a popular tourist destination and is among the basic economic and cultural centers in the country. The accession of Bulgaria to the European Union or EU is expected to offer local benefits via new opportunities and investments for international and e-commerce business.

Transportation

This city is a main railway and road hub in the northern portion of Bulgaria. The railway transportation scheme of Rousse dates back to the year 1867, when it became one of the stations of the first Bulgaria Rousse-Varna line. There are numerous railways to various southern Bulgaria cities, including Varna, Bucharest, and Sofia. The city has two railway stations for public transport, namely the Razpredelitelna station and the Central station. It also has two railway stations especially used for freight transport services.
Rousse also has two inter-city bus operations that liken the city to all the towns and cities in the country and in a few more popular European cities. These buses are stationed in two bus terminals located in the southern and eastern portion of Rousse.

Rousse has a very extensive public transportation system that includes more than 30 trolleybus and bus lines. In addition, the city has numerous suburban bus lines scattered in every portion of Rousse.

A small village named Shtraklevo is located 15 kilometers on the southeast portion of the city. This village is a former military airport. Current plans of development and reopening of the airport for charter, cargo, and internal flights are on their way for opening by the end of 2009. The runway of this airport is long enough to fit Jumbo Jets and Boeing 747s.

Education

Rousse has only one prestigious university, the Rousse University Angel Kanchev, which can accommodate 12,000 students. The structure of the university includes a technological college and a subsidiary. The technological college is located in Razgrad while the subsidiary is located in Silistra.

Culture

The city of Rousse is very famous for its rich and interesting culture. The city hosts the Rousse State Opera, founded in 1949 and is a certain philharmonic orchestra. The city also has numerous museums and religious buildings which are also famous for tourists and Bulgarian locals.

Landmarks

Museums

There are a number of museums within the city boundaries. Below are some of the museums in Rousse.

• Pantheon of National Revival Heroes
• National Transport Museum
• Zahari Stoyanov Museum
• Battenburg Pallace – This museum was founded in 1892. It now hosts the Regional Historical Museum of the city.
• Kaliopa House – This museum depicts the old urban lifestyle of the Bulgarians.

Religious Buildings

• Saint George Church
• Holy Theotokos Church
• Holy Archangel Michael Church
• Holy Trinity Church
• Saint Petka Church
• Holy Ascension Church
• Evangelical Baptist Church
• Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo – This place is declared as a world heritage site. It is situated about 20 kilometers to the south of the city’s center.
• Armenian Surp Astvadzadzin Church
• Seid Pasha Mosque
• Roman Catholic Saint Paul of the Cross Cathedral – This cathedral was built in 1890.
• Seid Pasha Mosque
• Saint Nicholas the Miracle Worker Russian Church

The All Saints Church was replaced by the National Revival Heroes Pantheon when it was destroyed in 1978.

The Jewish community in Rousse built and consecrated a synagogue in the late eighteenth century, but it was destroyed in a fire during the early nineteenth century. Two other synagogues were built between the years 1826 and 1852.

Another landmark in Rouse is the Dohodno Zidaine, which literally means “profitable building”. The Dohodno Zidaine houses its own theater and is considered one of the prettiest buildings in the city.

The city’s TV tower is considered as the tallest TV tower in the entire country. It is also one of the highest buildings within the Balkan Peninsula.

The famous Monument of Liberty was built in the year 1908 up to 1911.

Sofia is located 130 kilometers northwest of Plovdiv, the second largest city in Bulgaria; about 300 kilometers west of Burgas; and more than 300 kilometers west of Varna, Bulgaria’s main port-city on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast (BBSC).

It is situated 200 kilometers from the boundaries of three countries, particularly 55 kilometers from the Kalotina on the Serbian boundaries, 133 kilometers from Gyushevo on the frontier with Macedonia, and more than 100 kilometers from the Greek boundaries of Kulata.

Sofia is the cultural, administrative, educational, and economic center of Bulgaria. It is considered an active Eastern European capital because of its unique combination of Communist and European-style architecture and several attractive orthodox churches. Sofia was founded about 7,000 years ago.

The Boyana church that lies close to Sofia is one of the most valuable memorials of the European and Bulgarian culture. It boasts of frescoes that are highly acclaimed by experts as great examples of medieval art the twelfth century.

Climate

Sofia has a humid continental weather with a high temperature amplitude. The coldest month in Sofia is January while August is the hottest. Up to 1936, the usual yearly temperature was 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Since then, however, the temperature has risen by +1 degree Fahrenheit.

Sofia receives about 650 millimeters of rainfall every year, with winter having the minimum average and summer having the maximum. Temperatures in the city usually remain cooler compared to some parts of Bulgaria in the summer because of the high altitudes of the valley where the city is located.

Culture

Nightlife and Music

Sofia has a wide variety of nightlife offerings, with several pubs, live venues, nightclubs, restaurants, and mehani, the Bulgarian traditional taverns. Sofia also has played host to several world star concerts.

Museums

The city is home to numerous museums, including the Bulgarian Natural History Museum, the National Archaeological Museum, the National Polytechnical Museum, the National Museum of Military History, the Ethnographic Museum, and the Museum of Earth and Men. In addition, there are also the Bulgarian National Gallery of Arts, the Sofia City Art Gallery, and the Bulgarian National Gallery for Foreign Art as well as several private art galleries.

Points of Special Interest

Sofia is also home to many points of special interest, including the Sofia State Library, the Polish Cultural Institute, the Russian Cultural Institute, the British Council, the Hungarian Institute, the Slovak and Czech Cultural Institute, as well as the French Cultural Institute, Italian Cultural Institute, Instituto Cervantes, the Open Society Institute, and the Goethe Institute. It also includes the St. Cyril and St. Methodius National Library, the oldest cultural institute in the country home to the largest national book collection. Sofia is also famous for its Boyana Church, which is considered as a UNESCO world heritage site. The city is also home to the Sofia Zoological Garden was founded in 1888.

Tourist Attractions

• Church of St. George – It is located in the courtyard of Sheraton Sofia hotel and the late Roman rotunda, which dates back to the fourth century. This church was assembled with several red bricks and is considered as the oldest building situated in Sofia. It is also famous for its medieval frescoes in the central dome, which date back from the twelfth to the fourteenth century.
• Church of St. Sophia –It is the second oldest church in Bulgaria and is where the city took its name. In the second century CE, the church was built on the location of the Roman theater, the spot of numerous earlier churches and places of worship which date back to the days when the church was the necropolis of the Roman town of Serdica.
• Alexander Nevsky Cathedral – It is a Bulgarian Orthodox cathedral in Sofia and is built in Neo-Byzantine style. The church serves as a cathedral church of Patriarch in Bulgaria. It is one of the prime Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the globe and one of the city symbols and prime tourist attractions. It occupies an area of more that 3,000 square meters and can accommodate 5,000 people.
• St. Nedelya Church – It is also an Eastern Orthodox Church in Sofia and serves as the cathedral of the Sofia bishopric of the Bulgarian Patriarchate. St. Nedelya is a medieval church that has gone through a lot of destruction and reconstruction several times. In 1925, the church was razed in the assault that claimed more than 150 victims. It was reconstructed to its modern appearance after that.
• Church of St. Patka – It is also a medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church situated in Sofia. This church features a crypt, a hemispherical apse, and a semi-cylindrical vault discovered during excavations after Second World subway. It is a one-nave edifice dedicated to the eleventh century Bulgarian saint, St. Petka.
• Russian Church – It is a Russian Orthodox church located on Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard in middle Sofia. This church is officially known as the Church of St. Nicholas the Miracle Maker. The church was built in 1914 and is dedicated to the patron saint of the Russian Tsar at the period of Nicholas II.

How to Get Around

• By Mini-Bus – By marshrutki, or mini-bus, is usually the fastest way to go anywhere without using a car. The prices are 1.50 leva or about 0.75 euro.
• By Public Transport – The city has an efficient and well-developed transport system, including a subway line, trams, trolleys, and buses. The public transportation operates from 5:00 am to 11:00 pm. Taxis are the only alternative public transportation at night.

The price of a single ticket is about 1.00 leva or 0.50 euro, which can only be paid in local currency. There are 4.25 leva or 7.50 leva tickets for only one passenger and a daily card, which is valid in all lines. You can purchase the ticket from nearby kiosk and punch it right away after you enter the vehicle.

There are 93 bus lines, 16 trams, 9 trolleys, and 1 metro line. Several buses cover areas outside the city center, such as neighboring villages. Some useful routes are bus numbers 84 and 284, which operate from the airport to the center and to and from the bus and train stations to Orlov.

Being located in the heart of the Danubian Plain in Northern Bulgaria, Pleven has developed into a big economic, administrative, political, transport, and cultural center. The river Vit runs near the town, while the small Tuchenitsa River (known in Pleven as Barata, meaning “The Streamlet”) runs across it.
The climate is moderate continental, having very cold winters (reaching –15°C) and really hot and dry summers (moving up to +35- 44°C) .

The most primitive traces of human inhabitation in the region date back to the Neolithic Age, the fifth millennium BC. During those times, the Thracians settled on the place named Storgoziya, which is now the site of today’s Park of Kailuka in Pleven. They were there for thousands of years. After the barbarians destroyed it, the Slavs reconstructed it and called it Kamenets.

Another settlement to its north was later established, with the name Pleven (from the word “Plevel”, meaning weed). Years passed and the Kamenets and the Pleven settlements unified forces. This unification was first documented in a contract by the Hungarian King Stephen V in 1266 under the name of Pleven. This was the time when the Magyars occupied it.

After the twelfth century, the town evolved as a trade center and a craftsman’s arena. The town put up a violent struggle with the Turkish intruders, which is the reason for its destruction. Its inhabitants were either killed, thrown out, or converted to Islam after its downfall. Pleven was occupied and placed on fire in 1596 by Wallachian Voivoda Mihail Vityaz (Hrabri), the Courageous.

At the onset of the new era, the area became a division of Moesia, a Roman province. It later on developed into a citadel. One of the most precious archaeological shrines in Bulgaria from this period is the Early Christian basilica found near the modern city. It is believed to be from the fourth century.

At some stage in the Ottoman regime, Pleven or Plevne, conserved its Bulgarian facade and civilization. Many schools, churches, bridges, and roads were constructed at the time of the Bulgarian National Revival. The first secular school was opened in 1825, and in 1840, the first girls’ school in Bulgaria was started, followed by the first boys’ school one year after.

During the seventeenth to the eighteenth centuries, the population of Bulgaria in the region grew up in number, and owned the crafts and trade industries. The town started to expand its cultural life, too. The town grew in popularity in Anatolia and on the Balkan Peninsula for its sales of sheep and cattle.

Pleven was where Vasil Levski, the Bulgarian National hero, established the first revolutionary committee on May 6, 1869. This was part of his national revolutionary network. In 1871, Pleven had 3,101 houses and a population of 17,000. The citizens of Pleven participated in the destabilization of Hristo Botev and Philip Totyu’s armed volunteers.

The Russian-Turkish War of Liberation (1877-1878) gave Pleven its popularity after the Russian troops forced to enter the Danube River. Over 40,000 Romanians and Russians and an unidentified number of civilians and Turks died in this war. Inadvertently, because of Plevna’s fall, the northern part Bulgaria was liberated.

The town quickly stood up after the Liberation. The new railway lines greatly helped in making it happen fast. Today, Pleven is the seventh biggest town in Bulgaria.

The population in Pleven is around 137,000, with 94% Bulgarians and 5% Roma, while other ethnic groups represented contribute roughly 1%.
Over 90% of the people in Pleven are Eastern Orthodox Christians, 5% of the population are Muslims, and another 5% of the citizens are Roman Catholic by religion, a considerable number compared to the other Bulgarian cities.

The St Nicholas Church (1834), the St Paraskeva Church (1934), and the Holy Trinity Church, built in 1870 are the three Eastern Orthodox Churches in Pleven. The construction of the Our Lady of Fatima Church, which is a huge Roman Catholic Church, began in 2001. To serve the needs of the Muslim population, a mosque was also built in the town, as well as a Methodist church, situated on the spot of the former puppet theatre.

Almost all the landmarks found in Pleven speak about the Russian-Turkish War of Liberation. Approximately 200 monuments remind the present generation of the battles that took place here. In the heart of the town is the Mausoleum-Charnel House devoted to the Romanian and Russian soldiers killed during the war.

Pleven was the center of metal working, oil processing, machinery construction, food, and light industries during the Socialist period. Pleven saw itself in crisis after 1989. Most of the major businesses closed and most workers practically stopped working. Consequently, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Pleven gradually recovered and began developing light industries such as store clothes and knitwear production.

Tourism also gained energy. Other economic sectors also improved when the year 2000 came. Unemployment rates fell from 17% in 2000 to 7.5% in 2005 and are continuously decreasing.

The international railroad, which runs from Sofia to Bucurest and all the way to Moscow also runs through Pleven. At the north of the city, the international motor way E 83 passes. The 14 trolleybus lines maintain the inner city transportation of Pleven. The trolleybus fleet is composed of 70 ZIU-682 trolleybuses.

Pleven is an important spot for sports in Bulgaria. Many celebrated Bulgarian sportsmen were born and trained in this place. One is Galabin Boevski and Tereza Marinova. The most popular sports school in the country may also be found in Pleven.

Pleven is prominent for its Kaylaka. It is where the relics of the Storgozia defense can be found. The Skobelev parks, on the other hand, is where the Pleven Panorama is located. It is the precise site of the encounter during the Russo-Turkish War.

Pleven also claims that its extreme climate makes it famous. The hottest summer temperatures in Bulgaria are mostly recorded here, and it is also extremely cold in the winters.

In 2006, the city census listed the city’s total number of permanent residents to be 103,016. The town of Shumen is situated at the eastern mouth of the Shumen Plateau, on either bank of the Bokloudga River. It is 380 kilometers northeast of Sofia, 115 kilometers southeast of Rousse, 90 kilometers west of Varna, 140 kilometers northeast of Veliko Tarnovo, 41 kilometers east of Turgovishte, 49 kilometers southeast of Razgrad, 113 kilometers south of Silistra, and 56 kilometers northeast of Vurbitsa.
To the east of the city lies Varna, the largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast.

An interesting thing about the topography of the city is that the hills around it are curved in such a way as to resemble a horse-shoe. An irregular ravine passes through the ground along the length of the horse-shoe ridge. From Shumen, roads spread out northwards to the Danubian cities of Rousse and Silistra as well as to Dobruja, southwards to the passes of the Balkans, and eastwards to Varna and Balchik. Shumen once had one of the most expedient military positions in the Balkan Peninsula. This was taken advantage of by the Ottoman regime through the strategic formation of the quadrangle. The quadrangle was composed of the neighboring towns of Shumen, Ruse, Silistra, and Varna, and was formed to fortify the country’s defenses against the Russian advances in 1877. However, this period marked the final days of the Ottoman domination.

During World War II, in the period of 1943-44, within the boundaries of what is today Shumensko Plateau Natural Park located around the city of Shumen, Bulgaria, there was an active POW (Prisoner of War) camp. This camp was for the English and American aircrew members who were shot down over Bulgaria and the Balkan Peninsula.

Shumen has a long history that has brought about a varied spectrum of European and Eurasian influences and periods. Like many, if not all, of the cities of Bulgaria, Shumen was first inhabited by Thracians. The ancient languages of these people had already gone extinct and their cultural influence was highly reduced due to the repeated barbaric invasions of the Balkans by Celts, Huns, Goths, and Sarmatians, accompanied by persistent Hellenization, Romanisation, and later, Slavicisation. Though reduced, the cultures of these people still form part of the origin and history of the city. The Romans occupied the city at a time when Rome was world power while its army was conquering many of the outlying lands that are present-day Bulgarian cities and towns.

During the Roman occupation, Shumen became the center for cultural and religious activities under Simeon the Great, who ruled between 866 and 927. Under his rule, Bulgaria reached a Golden Age of cultural distinction. However, the Roman rule wasn’t always friendly. In 811, Shumen was burned by the emperor Nicephorus, and in 1087, it was besieged by Alexius I.

Shumen was renamed Chumla in 1388, after it was captured and put under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. Being part of the empire was beneficial for the town because it became an important market town. In simple terms, Shumen was opened up to the different cultures by being a medium of economic and cultural trade. Remnants of the period’s multi-ethnicity remain with Shumen’s minority Jewish, Armenian, and Muslim communities. Many years later, in 1848, after the failure of the Hungarian Revolution, many Hungarians also migrated to Shumen.

Shumen is an old town of fortresses. Thracians first built fortresses at around the fifth century B.C. The construction of fortresses provided the town its foundations for both a military and communal settlement. Other fortresses were also built in the surrounding area of Hisarluka on the eastern end of the Shumen Plateau.

The nineteenth century saw Shumen, and many other Bulgarian cities and towns, as a center for the country’s National Revival. On May 11, 1813, the first theatrical performance was held to commemorate Saints Cyril and Methodius of Bulgaria. The birth of enlightenment began to engulf the country and the demand for the performing arts and national identity was greatly spurred. In 1850, the first Bulgarian symphony orchestra was established in Shumen. Also, in 1850, the Hungarian politician and revolutionary leader Lajos Kossuth became an icon for the city. He was very influential and was known throughout Europe and the rest of the world. He was later recognized as a freedom fighter who struggled hard for European democracy. He was exiled in Shumen and the house he lived in is now a museum.

Hungarian emigrants also played a big role in the city’s performing arts. The first symphonic orchestra was conducted by Shafran. The first works of Bulgarian drama were written in Shumen, the first of which was “Mihal” by Sava Dobroplondi in 1853. Vassil Droumev, founder of Bulgarian theater, wrote the short story “Miserable Family” in Shumen in 1860. Another short story written in Shumen is “School Theatre-the Wealthy Man” (1864) by Dobri Voinikov. The great Bulgarian composer Pancho Vladigerov was born in the town.

Bulgaria was eventually liberated from the Ottoman rule. Markets for the crafts crashed due to the comparatively cheap quality goods from the West which competed with the local market. On June 22, 1878, Shumen yielded to Russia and became part of the Principality of Bulgaria. One of the first breweries of Bulgaria was established in Shumen and this gradually became the key to the recovery of its economy in 1882. The Shumen beer has since been sought after by many connoisseurs and enthusiasts from all over the world.

In 1981, Bulgaria’s rich historical past was celebrated in Shumen due to its close proximity to some of the country’s important locations. Shumen is close to the first capitals of Danubian Bulgaria, namely, Pliska and Preslav, and the Mandara Knight or Horseman that is now a World Heritage Site, being as ancient as 710 A.D. Virtually, the whole history of Bulgaria is also present in the country’s Monument to 1300 Years of Bulgaria which is also found in Shumen.

The Shumen area has also been important in the field of archeology. Archeologists from Shumen have found well preserved tombs from the Khan period, the period of the Mongol emperor. Excavations were made at the areas of Chair Dere near Makak, one of the town’s districts. The Chair Dere findings date back to the period between the seventh and ninth centuries. At the grave, significant artifacts were found preserved in an earthen vessel in good condition. Some of the artifacts are the head of a horse, riding equipment, and part of a human skeleton.

The town was given a new name during the Roman Empire to honor Emperor Marcus Ulpius Traianus and was called Ulpia Augusta Traiana, “the most flamboyant city of the Traians”.
During the Byzantium period, it was renamed Irinopolis for a short period of time when the Byzantine Empress Irina visited the town.

The city was a member of the First Bulgarian State in 812 AD using the name Vereya. Meanwhile, it was called Boruy during the Second Bulgarian State. The symbol of Stara Zagora, a lioness with a cub, came from this period when a number of the most amazing medieval stone plastic arts were discovered.

The Turks captured the medieval city in 1364 and renamed it “the Old fortress Zagora” or Eski (Hissar) Zagra. It was transformed into an important center of trade and crafts when the Bulgarian Revival came. The Bulgarian name Zheleznik replaced the Turkish name when the 1850s ended.
The city’s current name, Stara Zagora came out for the first time in 1875 on papers from the Church Council of Tsarigrad. In 1878, following the Liberation of Bulgaria before the Unification of Bulgaria, it became a member of the Autonomous Eastern Rumelia.

Stara Zagora (Стара Загора in Bulgarian Alphabet) is in the central area of Southern Bulgaria with a size of 1,019.37 square kilometers. It is in the crossing area of European Pan European Transport Corridors 4, 8, and 9. It is one of the largest cities in the country.

Its total population is about 178,000 and an estimate of 155,000 of the people reside in Stara Zagora city. The first people to inhabit Stara Zagora were farmers. They were in the area at around the conclusion of the seventh millennium BC.

Stara Zagora city is the focal point for the major Bulgarian railroads and is only 220 kilometers from Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia. In 2006, the airport development program was declared. The runway provides right of entry to civil tourism and commercial aircraft. Currently, the airport has a capacity of approximately 60 aircrafts.

The plain is 150-180 meters above sea level, and the Moruley peak, the highest point, is 895 meters above the sea. It has one town with fifty villages. It stretches from the base of the Sarnena Sredna Gora Mountain to the greater Thracian Lowland. The city’s climate is temperate continental with an average annual temperature of +13°C. Rain falls usually in summer and spring.

There are three short and shallow rivers crossing the town namely, the Sazliyka, the Bedechka, and the Banska Reka. The plants on Sarnena Sredna Gora Mountain are composed mainly of hornbeam, oak, beech, and a number of coniferous trees.

Over twenty wild animals inhabit this area. There are red deers, wild boars, hares, jackals, wild cats, foxes, and wolves. Some imperial eagles can be seen hovering over Stara Zagora since their nests are near the city.
Stara Zagora is one of the economic centers of Bulgaria because fertile lands abound in the area. Industries consist of metals, chemicals, electronics, manufacturing, power generation, food processing, textiles, and wine brewing.

The city of lime trees is also known for being the city of straight streets, poets, and painters. It is also the native land of the writers Georgi Bakalov, Dimitar Podvarzachov, Kiril Hristov, Veselin Hanchev, Nikolai Liliev, the famed opera singer Hristina Morfova, the painters Vasil Kostakiev, Anton and Georgi Mitovi, Mario Zekov, Dimitar Gudjenov, and Atanas Mihov.
In the city, there are museums, galleries, parks, orthodox churches, and an astronomical observatory. The museums and galleries like the Regional Historical Museum and the Art Gallery feature historical art, places, and artifacts that highlight the richness of its culture. In its history, the city had been restored to life several times, has continued to exist, has survived many changes, and still strives to flourish. It has always been a center for economic, cultural, and political development.

Parks like the Ayazmoto Park (Metropolitan Metodi Kussev Park) and the Stara Zagora Zoo feature various flora and fauna right in the heart of the city. Majority of the people embrace the Eastern Orthodox bishopric religion, hence, the five main Orthodox churches: the Holy Trinity Church, The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, St. Martyr Dimitar Church, St. Nikolay the Thaumaturge Church, and St. Theodore Tyron Chapel. Lastly, the Yuri Gagarin Astronomical Observatory, one of the firsts in the country, offers educational lectures, introduction to sky maps, observation of the sky, and multimedia presentations.

Stara Zagora has venues for various kinds of entertainment. It has cinema opera theatres like the Geo Milev Drama Theatre, where the first play in Stara Zagora, “Malakova”, was staged in 1870. The city also boasts of the State Puppet Theatre, the Septemvri Open-Air Cinema, and the Arena Cinema.

There are also several restaurants and cafes located in the city. Young people can visit the popular discos and bars, entertain themselves in the bowling halls, play bingo games, or go to the casinos. Its wide range of cuisine offers the traditional Bulgarian “mehana” and gourmet cuisine. Chefs take advantage of the abundance of local fruits and vegetables in preparing their dishes. Their locally produced wines can complement any meal.

As one of Bulgaria’s most modern contemporary towns, Stara Zagora is an important industrial, educational , and cultural center with well-established private and secondary schools, specialised language schools, technical schools, and cultural and research institutes. In this city, the Thracian University and the internationally distinguished Trakia University can be found.

While Stara Zagora is one of the freshest and most modern cities in Bulgaria with big prospects for tourism, sports, spa treatments, and other modern amenities, you can also experience a taste of history by visiting the Roman Baths, The Antique Forum, the Roman Amphitheater, and the Thracian Tomb, to name a few.