Stara Zagora

Stara Zagora (Стара Загора) is a city in Northern Thrace, Bulgaria. It is the centre of booming industry, having a remarkable culture, and numerous tourist attractions. The beauty of the city of linden continues to be an appealing destination for travellers. Don't miss the Roman Villa Mosaics, the Neolithic Dwellings, the Regional Art Gallery, and the countless coffee-shops and art-galleries, which give the city the feeling of a small Paris.

Understand
Stara Zagora is the centre of the Stara Zagora province. With over 8000 years of history, it is one of the oldest continuously populated places in Europe.

Geography and climate
Situated almost in the geographical centre of Bulgaria, Stara Zagora is linked with major roads and railroads to the rest of the country and the neighboring Turkey, Greece and Romania. In less than 4 hours drive, you can be in all these three countries by very decent roads.

Sheltered from the north winds by the mountains of Sredna Gora and the Balkans, Stara Zagora enjoys very mild winters, long springs and falls. Thanks to the big amount of trees, the summers in the city are sufferable and not very hot, with specific micro-climate. The rich soils and its geographical situation were the main reason behind the 8000 years

History
In the city limits of today Stara Zagora, the place has been continuously inhabited since the Neolithic era (over 8000 years ago) through the times of the Thracians, to achieve its glory in the past during the Roman times. Then the city was called Augusta Traiana and it was one of the most prominent cities in the Roman Province of Thrace. Huge avenues, covered with marble slabs, lined with statues, and a large amount of archaeological artifacts remain from this period, including the Roman Walls and Gate of the city, mosaics and the Roman Forum.

During the centuries to follow, the city was called Beroe, Irinopolis, Eski Zagra and finally – Stara Zagora (old city behind the mountain). Just before the liberation from the Ottoman Empire, the city was burned 3 times in the late 1800s and there is not too much left to see from the medieval or Bulgarian National Revival buildings. The exceptions are the few churches and monasteries within the city limits, as well as a 15th-century Ottoman mosque with amazing frescoes, declared now a National Monument of Culture.

Modern life
After its rebuilding in the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, Stara Zagora became one of the few Bulgarian cities build on grid. This was also the time that the large boulevards and small streets were lined up with linden trees, giving the city the aroma of late spring perfume so enchanting in the beginning of June.

Stara Zagora was also called the city of “poets” since many Bulgarian poets were born, spend their lives and created amazing poetry here, in the inspiring surroundings of one of the most prominent cultural centers in Bulgaria. Stara Zagora also has the first Opera House built outside of Sofia, one of the oldest telephone communication systems and the first robotics plant in Bulgaria.

Now it continues to be the center for prosperous cultural life, and important industrial and agricultural center.

Get in
Situated almost in the geographical center of Bulgaria, Stara Zagora is linked with major roads and railroads to the rest of the country and the neighboring Turkey, Greece, and Romania. In less than 4 hours drive, you can be in all these three countries by very decent roads.

By plane
Local airport accessible for small private planes.

By train
Stara Zagora is a major railroad hub, linking all Danube countries and North Europe (Romania, Russia, Moldova, Ukraine) to the Mediterranean with the line Ruse - Svilengrad - Istanbul.

Additionally, the city is on the crossroads between east - west railroad line Burgas - Sofia.

By car

 * From Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, take the Trakia expressway.
 * From Burgas, on the Black Sea Coast, take the Trakia expressway.
 * From Istanbul, Turkey, take the highway via Edirne, and Svilengrad, which is a good highway.
 * From Ruse, in North Bulgaria, take the highways crossing Shipka or Haimboise Passes.

By bus
Buslines link Stara Zagora with all cities in Bulgaria and almost all towns and some of the villages. Regular lines every hour or half an hour from/to Sofia, Plovdiv, Haskovo, Bourgas, Sliven, Veliko Tarnovo, Ruse, Varna, etc.

Do

 * Football: Beroe play soccer in First League, the top tier. Their Stadion Beroe (capacity 12,000) is 2 km northwest of town centre.

Buy
There are many shops in the central street of Stara Zagora. Buying rose water and rose oil would be a great idea. You can buy small handmade metal and wooden gifts and souvenirs.

Diary products like kashkaval cheese and the local white cheese (sirene). Also honey and forest products like walnuts and mushrooms, very cheap and delicious.

Eat
There are plenty of options, from local restaurants to luxury restaurants around Zagorka Lake. Generally, restaurants offer Bulgarian-style food and international food.

Stay safe
Stara Zagora is a very safe city, even for late night walks, or coming back from a bar or a dance club.