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Област Стара ЗагораKhan Omurtag · CC0
Rose Valley & Upper Thrace

Stara Zagora Province

Област Стара Загора

Neolithic homes, Roman streets, Thracian tombs, rose fields and Balkan monuments span eight millennia of history.

Archaeology · 4 →
01

Start with the provincial city

Стара ЗагораKhan Omurtag · CC0
City guide

Stara Zagora

Стара Загора

Stara Zagora combines rare prehistoric remains, a Roman street plan and forum, strong museums and broad parks within a modern city rebuilt on an ordered grid.

  • Neolithic dwellings
  • Augusta Traiana
  • Ayazmoto and city parks
City guide →
Казанлъшка тракийска гробница / Kazanlak Thracian TombKmrakmra · CC BY-SA 3.0

Local characterМестен характерLokaler CharakterL’esprit des lieuxCarácter localCarattere localeIdentidade localLokaal karakterLokalny charakterMístní charakterSpecific localΤοπικός χαρακτήραςYerel kimlikМестный колоритМісцевий колоритЛокални духLokalni karakterHelyi arculatالطابع المحليאופי מקומיस्थानीय पहचान地方特色

Kazanlak Thracian TombКазанлъшка тракийска гробница

A UNESCO tomb is known for extraordinary painted scenes; visitors usually enter a precise nearby replica.

Explore the placeРазгледай мястотоDen Ort entdeckenDécouvrir le lieuExplora el lugarEsplora il luogoExplore o lugarOntdek de plekOdkryj to miejsceProzkoumat místoDescoperă loculΕξερευνήστε τον τόποYeri keşfedinОткрыть это местоВідкрити це місцеИстражите местоIstražite mjestoFedezd fel a helyetاستكشف المكانגלו את המקוםइस जगह को जानें探索此地
02

Explore the province

Осемте хилядолетия на Стара ЗагораKhan Omurtag · CC0Stara Zagora

Stara Zagora's eight millennia

Осемте хилядолетия на Стара Загора

Neolithic dwellings, Roman Augusta Traiana and a planned modern grid reveal repeated lives of the city.

Read the guide
Казанлъшка тракийска гробницаKmrakmra · CC BY-SA 3.0Kazanlak

Kazanlak Thracian Tomb

Казанлъшка тракийска гробница

A UNESCO tomb is known for extraordinary painted scenes; visitors usually enter a precise nearby replica.

Read the guide
Паметникът на ШипкаVislupus · CC BY-SA 4.0Shipka Pass

Shipka Monument

Паметникът на Шипка

A monumental tower above the Balkan pass commemorates decisive battles of the Russo-Turkish War.

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Паметник БузлуджаAnnboeva · CC BY-SA 4.0Buzludzha Peak

Buzludzha Monument

Паметник Бузлуджа

A vast late-socialist monument dominates a windswept peak and is viewed primarily from its exterior.

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Старозагорски минерални баниZlatan.Zlatanov · Public domainStara Zagora Mineral Baths

Stara Zagora Mineral Baths

Старозагорски минерални бани

A small spa settlement and forested archaeological area provide a quiet break west of the city.

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Язовир Жребчево и потопената църкваCvdr · CC BY-SA 4.0Zapalnya and Nikolaevo

Zhrebchevo Reservoir and submerged church

Язовир Жребчево и потопената църква

A large Tundzha reservoir is famous for the surviving church of the flooded village of Zapalnya, visible beside changing water levels.

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Бузовградски мегалитPredavatel · CC BY 3.0Buzovgrad

Buzovgrad Megalith

Бузовградски мегалит

A rock opening on a ridge above the Rose Valley is interpreted as an ancient solar sanctuary and viewpoint.

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Гробница ОструшаIvo E. Stankov · CC BY-SA 2.5Valley of the Thracian Rulers

Ostrusha Tomb

Гробница Оструша

A monumental Thracian burial complex includes a precisely carved stone chamber and fragments of refined painted decoration.

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Голяма Косматка и гробницата на Севт IIIAd Meskens · CC BY-SA 4.0Shipka

Golyama Kosmatka & Tomb of Seuthes III

Голяма Косматка и гробницата на Севт III

A long stone corridor leads to the burial temple associated with King Seuthes III and some of Bulgaria's most celebrated Thracian finds.

Read the guide
03

City, town or village

04

Municipalities

05

Directions

Public transport

Buses and trains

Stara Zagora is a major rail/bus hub; frequent trains and buses reach Kazanlak. Mountain monuments need bus-plus-taxi planning.

Bulgarian food

Local food

Local food →

rose jam · Thracian wine · lamb dishes · chirpan-style meatballs

Rose petal jamWikimedia Commons contributors
Floral preserve · regional

Rose petal jam

A fragrant preserve that captures the Damask rose harvest in translucent syrup.

What's in it Edible rose petals, sugar, water and citric acid or lemon juice.
GyuvechМарина1972 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Clay-pot stew

Gyuvech

A slow clay-pot bake in which meat, seasonal vegetables and rice exchange flavours for hours.

What's in it Pork, lamb or beef, peppers, aubergine, okra, tomato, potato or rice, depending on season.
TutmanikMpb eu / Wikimedia Commons · public domain
Cheese bread · breakfast

Tutmanik

A soft, pull-apart yeast bread layered or rolled with white brined cheese and butter.

What's in it Flour, yeast, milk or yogurt, eggs, butter and sirene cheese.
KyufteWikimedia Commons contributors
Grilled meatball

Kyufte

A flattened grilled meatball, juicy inside and fragrant with cumin, pepper and onion.

What's in it Minced pork or mixed meat, onion, cumin, pepper, salt and sometimes parsley.
Shopska saladViktorija N. Ivanov / Wikimedia Commons
Salad · vegetarian

Shopska salad

The classic first order: tomatoes, cucumber and peppers under a generous snowy layer of white brined cheese.

What's in it Tomatoes, cucumber, roasted or fresh pepper, onion, parsley and sirene cheese.
BanitsaBiso / Wikimedia Commons
Breakfast · pastry

Banitsa

Crisp filo layers wrapped around eggs, yogurt and white cheese—a warm Bulgarian breakfast staple.

What's in it Filo pastry, eggs, yogurt, sirene cheese and butter or oil.
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Public transport

Стара Загора

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