Haskovo
The region of Haskovo is situated in the south-eastern part of Bulgaria
on a territory of 5 541 sq.km. It includes the valley of the Maritza
River, the Haskovo hills and parts of the Upper Thracian lowlands, Sakar
Mountain and the Eastern Rhodopes. To the Southeast it borders on the
Republic of Greece and the Republic of Turkey. The region is characterised
by fertile land and moderate continental climate. The rivers Maritza, Arda
and Tundzha flow through the territory of the region. Roads connecting the
Mediterranean with Thracia and the Rhodopes have been built along the
rivers since ancient times. Many monuments from the Thracian epoch, the
Greek antiquity, the Roman times, the Middle ages and the Renaissance are
preserved in the region. Haskovo is one of the oldest settlements in
Bulgaria. Its history dates back from the Neolithic - i.e. the habitation
is about seven thousand year old. And the town of Haskovo celebrated its
thousandth anniversary in 1985.
The town is 225 km and 75 km to the south-east of Sofia
and
Plovdiv , respectively; 64 km and 16 km south of Stara Zagora and
Dimitrovgrad, respectively; 50 km north-east of Kurdzhali and 70 km
north-west of Svilengrad. One of the most outstanding events in the past
of Haskovo region took place near the village of Klokotnitsa on March, 9th
1230. Then the Bulgarian army, led by Tzar Ivan Assen II, won a glorious
victory over the Byzantines. To the South of Haskovo there are vestiges of
the medieval citadel Hissar. The oldest Moslems religious building in
Bulgaria is the ,,Eski Djumaya" mosque, built in 1395.
Haskovo municipality includes the town of Haskovo and 35 villages. It
is a transport cross road between Europe, the Near East and the Middle
East, which is a good prerequisite for an international commercial and
cultural exchange.
The geographical location on the border of Greece and Turkey and our
complicated history has designated this region as a crossroad of different
cultures, religions and ethnic traditions. This combination has created a
cultural richness to a land full of natural beauty that makes the region
of Haskovo one of the most attractive for tourists in Bulgaria.
Haskovo municipality offers a good tourist base, as well as a
facilities base for sport, business and cultural events.
The guests of Haskovo are mainly attracted by the healing Haskovo
mineral springs and the picturesque "Kenana" - a splendid oak forest with
a spacious park, restaurants, tennis grounds, and houses for recreation.
The remains of ancient fortresses and mineral pools from the Roman period
in Mineralni Bani municipality are of special interest for tourists.
Attractive tourist sights are also Kaleto Fortress and "Sharapanite"
(with the best kept “sharapani” – wine cellars dated from the ancient
Thracian times – one millennium B.C). |
