... an 8 000 year old town
Stara Zagora is situated in southern Bulgaria. It is one of the biggest towns in the country, with a population of 150 000 inhabitants.
It is situated at the foot of Sredna Gora mountain, 197 m above sea level. The climate of the town is temperate continental with average annual temperature +13 o C.
Stara Zagora region is rich in fertile land. It is a strategic crossroad between the East and the West, the North and the South.
The first inhabitants of the town date back from the end of the VII and the beginning of the VI millenium B. C.
In the outskirts of the contemporary town, there are five prehistorical settlements from this time. During the IV century B.C. there was a big ancient Thracian settlement famous with the name Beroe.
About the year 107 AD, not far from Beroe, Emperor Mark U.
Traian set up the town Ulpia Augusta Traiana. The forum, streets,
colour floor mosaics and others were
found from the ancient town.
After the foundation of the Bulgarian State, the town
became an important military, strategic and cultural centre.
During the time of the Turkish Yoke, the town was named Eski Zagra. At the end of
50s of XIX century the Bulgarian name Jeleznik was given. During 1871 the
contemporary name of Stara Zagora was officially recognized. During the time of the
liberation war was on fire and ruined.
On the 5th October 1879 the first
symbolic stone of the foundations of the restoration of Stara Zagora was placed ,
according to the plan of Lubor Bayer. Thus, the town turned to be the first Bulgarian
postliberation town with contemporary architecture.
A rapid economic and cultural progress followed. The first provincial opera and
radio was opened in Stara Zagora
The town is full of organized musical and theatrical life.
Today Stara Zagora is one of the most modern contemporary towns of Bulgaria. It is an important industrial, cultural and education centre. There are a number of secondary schools, technical schools and specialized secondary schools, a lot of Research and Cultural Institutes. There is the Thracian University in Stara Zagora.
FAMOUS BULGARIANS
Stara Zagora is famous as the town of lime-trees, painters and poets
It is the birthplace of the writers Georgi Bakalov, Kiril Hristov, Dimitar Podvarzachov, Nikolai Liliev, Veselin Hanchev, the famous opera singer Hristina Morfova, the painters Anton and Georgi Mitovi, Vasil Kostakiev, Mario Zekov, Atanas Mihov, Dimitar Gudjenov.
The famous poet Geo Milev lived and worked in Stara Zagora as well.
STARA ZAGORA MINERAL BATHS
Near the (in the vicinity) town there are the Stara Zagora Mineral Baths - a spa resort, covered with oak, hazelbush and planted pine forests. The warm water spring gives the opportunity for conducting healing and rehabilitation curative activity.
The beautiful nature, interesting objects, the comfortable position and the quick and diverse communications make the town of Stara Zagora an attractive place for many tourists
The rich cultural traditions and the spirit of the contemporary creators maintain an artistic atmosphere, which has always gone together with this town as old as its name.
