Sliven municipality is one of the biggest in the country. Its territory is 1366 sq. km and it comprises of 48 settlements. Its population is 148 000 people, 110 000 of whom live in Sliven. The town is situated on the international highway E-773 which connects Sofia with Bourgas. Sliven is only 110 km away from the biggest commercial port of Bulgaria - Bourgas, 270 km east of Sofia, 28 km northwest of Yambol, 70 km northeast of Stara Zagora, 75 km east of Kazanlak The east part of the Balkan Range (Stara Planina), where the town is situated is cut by passages which are very important for the communications between northern and southern Bulgaria. There is an airport with the necessary facilities for passengers and cargo service.

     Relief

     Sliven lies at the feet of the southern flanks of Slivenska Planina mountain (1181m) which borders the east Balkan. South and southeast it is opened to the Sliven field which monotony is broken by the isolated bulk-like heights (up to 300m sea elevation). North of Sliven and close to the living quarters of the town the light imparts a blueish tinge to the prophyry massif known as the Sinite Kamani or Blue Rocks. The park of the same name includes 6684.3 ha of the Balkan.The sea elevation of Sliven varies from 180 to 300m.
     The various attractions of Sliven Balkan are favourable for the development of educational, recreational and cave tourism and mountaineering.

     Climate

     Sliven is located in the region of the sub-Balkan fields and in the transitional continental climatic zone.The average annual temperature is 12.4°C. Winter average monthly temperature - 1.2°C. The winters are mild, the summers are relatively dry - 23.2°C. Autumns are longer than springs.
     Sliven field is warmer and drier compared to the sub-Balkan fields located to the west of Sliven. The average annual relative humidity is 66%. In winter the humidity is over 70%; in summer - even under 55% (in August).

     History

     Most probably the name of Sliven derives from the location of the town, i.e. fusion of the field and the mountain as well as the three rivers Asenovska, Selishka and Novoselska. The town sprang up in the period VII - X century on an old military road from the Danube River to the mountain pass Vratnik (Jelezni vrata) in the Balkan Mountain to Tzarigrad.
     Idrisi, an Arabian geographer was the first one to give information about the town in 1153, calling it Istilifunos. Later it became known with the following names - Silimno, Slivno, and during the Ottoman rule - Islimie, Islivne. Father Paisiy mentioned it for the first time as Sliven in his "Istoria Slavianobulgarska" (Slavonik and Bulgarian History).
     During the first decades of the Ottoman rule Sliven enjoyed the privilege of being a town where people were rearing falcons and guarding the Balkan passes. It also gained popularity for the weaving of the woolen material called "kebe". In 1828 there were about 20 000 inhabitants in the town but after Sliven was liberated from Turkish yoke in the Russian-Turkish war more than 15 000 Bulgarians from the region left with the withdrawing Russian soldiers and settled to live in Romania, Bessarabia and South Russia. In 1872 the population of Sliven was 25 000 inhabitants.
     Sliven grew as a crafts and trading center, making use of the waterpower of the rivers running close by. The craft of the homespun cloth making was best developed. More than 400 trades would annually visit the town to buy thousands of meters of woolen material. The craft of rifle making came second in importance. In 1836 the first textile factory in Bulgaria was built in Sliven, that of Dobri Jeliazkov. It was a three-storey building with 20 spinning machines, 6 mechanical looms and 500 workers. Traders from Turkey, Poland and Hungary would come to the annual fair in Sliven. Nowadays the building of the factory is declared a monument of culture of national significance.
     During the Revival period Sliven became famous as "the town of the hundred chieftains" - Inge, Zlati, Kara Subi, Radoi, Hristo, Konda, Hadji Dimitar, Panaiot Hitov, Taniu Voevoda and many other. Georgi Ikonomov, one of the apostles of the April Rebellion, was born in the town, so were Sava Dobroplodni, Dr. Ivan Seliminski and Dobri Chintulov. After the liberation the textile industry continued to develop and shape the economic image of the town.

     Landmarks

     Sliven is a town with cultural traditions starting from the epoch of the National Revival, with significant contribution in the cultural treasure of the country. Three state Cultural Institutes work in Sliven - a Drama Theatre, a Puppet Theatre and a National Museum of the textile industry. The Municipal professional cultural institutes are: The Historical Museum, The Art Gallery, Folk Song and Dance Ensemble, The Symphony Orchestra, the Universal scientific library and community centres, some of which have over a 100-years history.
     Hadji Dimitar museum house is situated in the southwestern part of the town and comprises a complex of several buildings restored during different periods of time. It includes the native home with its interior, the inn and the rest of the farmhouses.
     The monument of Hadji Dimitar was built in 1935 in the center of the town. The figure of the legendary leader stands on a rectangular column. At the foot of the monument in special niches one can see the busts of other outstanding renaissance people from Sliven.
     The historical elm tree approximately 600 years old is located in the center of Sliven and has probably witnessed many of the events in the history of the town.

     Surrounding areas

     On 24th May 2004 a new GOLF COURSE was opened near Sliven. It spreads on the territory of 5 000 sq.m. This is the second golf playground oprating in Bulgaria after the one near Ihtiman. It proposes all kinds of modern facilities even for the most capricious clients.
     The Sinite Kamani Nature Park is famous for its nature landmarks. Halkata - the arc-shaped stone garland, possessing, according to the legends, magic force - is one of the symbols of the town of Sliven. The forms that the nature has sculptured in the cave Zmeevi dupki - Zmejat, Orelat and Vladishkija tron are amazing. The ancient beech forest in the vicinity of the Kushbunar spring in the region of Karandila is quite picturesque. The specific climate and lay conditions of the nature park determine the great diversity of flora and fauna. The plant species are more than 1000, about 900 of which are representative of high species. The invertebrate animals are represented by 235 species - eight species of fish, nine species of amphibians, nineteen species of reptiles, 165 species of birds and 34 species of mammals. The lay is of typical mountain type - steep and ravine slopes and at sea level between 290 and 1181 meters above the sea level. The north and northwest winds, the wind called bora, famous also as the wind of the town of Sliven and the night breeze are typical for the region. Through the park flow many rivers and their beds form numerous shoots, pools and waterfalls.
     This beautiful Balkan region has an enormous cultural and historic heritage. The research shows that in the park were situated settlements of the Thracian and Illyrian tribes from the stone ages. In the regions Hisralaka, Daula, Dzendema, Djuleva reka, Mollova kurija can be seen ruins of walls and coverings from the fortress Tuida, the settlements Marichino and Marinino, healing springs and ancient roads. The foundations of churches and monasteries, called Slivenska malka sveta gora -small Holy wood, built in thirteenth - fourteenth century, were preserved during the years. The haiduti movement (liberation movement during the Turkish yoke) is interrelated with the region - there is hardly a gorge, spring or a spot which do not invoke memories for certain events in the life of the brave voivodi - folk leaders - Hadhji Dimitar, Panaiot Hitov, Georgi Trankin, Stoil voivoda, the Apostle of liberty Vassil Levski.
     The Mineral Baths of Sliven (also called Dzhinkovski) - situated 12 km south-west of Sliven at the village of Zlati Voivoda (former Dzhinovo), near the road to Nova Zagora. A whole balneological resort has sprung up near the mineral springs (44°-45°C and output rate of 16 litres per second). People use the water to cure diseases of the spine and bone-system, the peripheral nerve system, stomach, intestines, liver and gall-bladder, etc. Apart from the sanatorium and the other medical establishments, there are two hotels, The Central Hotel and Zhiva Voda (Water bringing back to life) Hotel. There are regular bus lines to Sliven and Nova Zagora.
     The town of Kottel is located in a small picturesque glen in the eastern part of the Stara Planina mountain, in the Sliven region. Kottel is striking with its majestic scenery, fresh air and clear mountain brooks. The town is of paramount importance for the national revival and that is why it is called "stronghold of Bulgarian national spirit" and "cradle of Bulgarian Revival".It is birthplace of a lot of prominent figures from that period, of whom we are now proud. No wonder that the first gymnasium for folk singing and instrumental folk music "Philip Koutev" found its home here, still astonishing everyone with the folk songs. Kottel boasts very interesting samples of late Bulgarian Revival architecture and at that time was an important centre of the art of carpet-weaving. There are over 30 explored caves in its surroundings, offering a real challenge to the lovers of strong emotions. The rich history, unique architecture and the lovely mountain scenery attract in this pretty mountain town a growing number of local and foreign tourists, who, enchanted by the sights and the history of the town, are willing to purchase some property, just to be able to return whenever they want in this tiny piece of paradise on earth!
     The village of Zheravna is sited in the middle part of the Stara Planina mountain, and is another place of interest, that the local people and tourists like to visit a lot. The simple reason for that is, that each single house in the village is a monument of traditional Bulgarian architecture from the period of national revival. Other villages like Medven, Neykovo, Gradetz and Katunishte are also famous for their architecture, and many buildings in them are proclaimed national cultural and architectural monuments from the same period.
     The beautiful nature, mineral water springs and the numerous cultural and historical monuments are an important part of the biggest potential opportunities of Sliven in the sphere of international tourism.