Stara Zagora is situated in the central part of Bulgaria. It is the 5-th biggest city in the country, with a population of 165 000 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°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 town is located 231 km east of Sofia, 90 km northeast of Plovdiv, and 70 km southwest of Sliven.
     Apart from being one of the most ancient towns in Bulgaria it is a big and important district industrial and cultural centre.

     History

     Stara Zagora is one of the most ancient settlements in Europe. It has been inhabited for at least 8000 years. The recently established public organization "Eight Thousand Years - Stara Zagora" has the ambition to promote, at all levels, its historical and cultural heritage.
     Both the remains of Neolithic dwellings (6th century B.C.), and the various archeological excavations from Thracian and Roman times witness to its millennial history. It was established by the Thracians in VI century B.C. under the name of Beroe. Later (II-IV century A.D.) when Thrace had been included in the Roman Empire, the city was rebuilt again, next to the ancient Thracian settlement, experiencing its peak in development, when it was named Avgusta Trayana (Ulia Augusta Trayaa) in honour of Emperor Marcus Trayan. The excavation of the remains from the forum, thermal baths, and the city wall of the southern and western gateways reveal the city's importance, as the second largest in the province. During the centuries, it has also been named Vereya (VI-XII c.) and Irinopolis (VIII c.) - after the Byzantine Empress Irina. During the Middle Ages it was named Boruy (XIII-XIV c.), while after their conquest the Turks called it Eski Zaara. During the second half of the 19th century it was called, for a short period, Zheleznik. It received its present name, Stara Zagora, in 1871.
     During the Russo-Turkish War, in 1877, some of the most violent and intense battles took place near Stara Zagora. That year the Turks burnt the city and razed it to the ground, leaving Eski Mosque as the only untouched building. The city received its freedom on January 23rd 1878, but according to the Berlin Treaty, it remained within the autonomous region of Eastern Rumelia.
     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.

     Landmarks

     The whole central part of the town is proclaimed archeological reserve.
     Bereketska Mound - Just southwest of the city of Stara Zagora lies the ruins of the largest prehistoric settlement found in Bulgaria dating back to the early Neolithic age - from the 6th millenium BC to the 12th century AD. Bereketska Mound is 17 meters high and has a diameter, at its foundation, of 250 meters. A necropolis (burial ground) dating from the early bronze epoch, 3rd millenium BC, is found east of the mound.
     Neolithic Dwellings - Remains of two houses from a settlement of the Neolithic age, dating from the 6th millenium BC, in Stara Zagora are considered the best preserved from this early time uncovered, to date, on the European continent. Witness the preserved ovens, grain storage pots, primitive mill for grinding grain, pottery, tools, etc. A museum exhibiting pottery, jewelry, tools, etc. from the numerous archeological excavations in the Stara Zagora region is located on the lower level.
     Forum of the antique town Augusta Triana - This antique forum, a semi-circular gathering place, with the preserved pedestal for the statue of the Roman emperor Tryan, is one of the most monumental public facilities from the Roman town of Augusta Triana. An amphitheater/auditorium consisting of nine rows of descending stone seats is found in the northern portion of the area. The upper part of the amphitheater is crowned with an arched colonnade. A facade of the town's thermal baths, built in the middle of the 2nd century AD, was discovered directly behind the auditorium on an area stretching for 1 3/4 acres. To the west of the forum one can observe the fortress-like walls of the ancient town. The inside wall was built at the end of the 2nd century and rebuilt, with increased thickness, in the 4th century. The outside wall was built at the end of the 5th century. An antique city-center east-west street, with ridges from chariot traffic, crosses the stone open space and ends at the western gate of the town. The gate is 4.2 meters wide and has three doors- two that raise up and down and one two-winged.
     South gate of Augusta Triana - Exhibited in the lower level of an administrative building at 38 Ruskie Street, in a fortified section of the walls, are the remains of the entrance gate to the ancient town of Augusta Triana. This structure indicates that the gate was a square building measuring 64 square meters. Above the gate there was a two-story tower.
     19th Century Urban House Museum - This house, built in 1883 by a master builder from Debar for the family of a Stara Zagora merchant, is located in the city center at 68 Dimitir Naumov Street in Stara Zagora. This late type symmetric style house, without portico, is typical of the times. Inside the house is an exhibition reflecting the lifestyle of Stara Zagora's citizens towards the end of the 19th century. Traditional locally made pieces and belongings are intermingled with imported pieces- bedroom furniture from Vienna, upholstered pieces and a teakettle, for the center of the table, from Russia. The clothing exhibition is typical of the time.
     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 town.
     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 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.
     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.

     Surrounding areas

     The Starozagorski Mineralni Bani (Stara Zagora Mineral Baths) is a balneological resort, situated 15 km to the northwest from Stara Zagora, in the south forest branches of the Sarnena Gora (Sredna Gora), at an altitude 370 m above sea level. The warm water spring gives the opportunity for conducting healing and rehabilitation curative activity. The resorts' climate is determined by its boundary location between the Subtropical and the Temperate Continental Area and its low-mountain location and softened by the Mediterranean influence. The winters are warm, with rare and weak snowfalls. The summer days are sunny and hot, but not stuffy, and the nights - cool and pleasant. The average annual temperature is about 11°C, and the average July temperature - about 24°Ñ. The winds are rare, and the foggy days per year are few. The hills surrounding the hollow are from 600 to 800 m high. Òhey are covered with oak, hornbeam, hazel and artificial pine forests.
     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.