What Plovdiv is known for

The city of Plovdiv houses over 200 archaeological sites, including two ancient theaters, medieval walls and towers, Ottoman baths and mosques, and an old quarter from the National Revival period with houses, churches, and narrow cobblestone streets. The city also features several museums, art galleries, and cultural institutions, making it a hub for musical, theatrical, and film events. Some of the local ancient sites include the Ancient Theatre, Roman Odeon, Ancient Stadium, Roman Forum, and the Eirene Residence. The Archaeological Museum, Regional Historical Museum, and Regional Ethnographic Museum house fairly significant collections. Additionally, Plovdiv serves as a starting point for exploring the region, with attractions such as the Bachkovo Monastery and the Pamporovo ski resort to the south, and northern spa resorts such as Hisarya, Banya, Krasnovo, and Strelcha.[8]
People who prefer natural recreation can venture to the Central Balkan National Park, preserving biodiversity, protecting wildlife, promoting scientific and educational activities, and fostering sustainable tourism. Within the park's boundaries lie nine reserves, contributing to its classification as a protected area. In 2017, the park was also declared a UNESCO Biosphere Park, encompassing adjacent municipalities, and became part of the UNESCO World Heritage site protecting Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe. The park offers a tourism zone with a network of 580 kilometers of tourist routes, welcoming visitors throughout the year. The park's diverse landscapes, including mountains, meadows, and forests, provide opportunities for hiking and exploration. Marked routes, eco-trails, interpretation complexes, and visitor information centers are among the reasons people tend to visit the natural park.[7]

The province's capital city isn't the only historical site within Plovdiv. In the northwestern part of the province, in the town of Starosel can be found a Thracian Cult Complex, which houses a tomb and an adjacent cult complex. The site, discovered in 2000, has a history dating back to ancient settlements around 7-8 millennia ago. It became an ancient Thracian settlement in the 5th century BC and continued its existence into the Second Bulgarian State. Today, the cult complex is a considerable tourist attraction, featuring a stone block fence, a grand staircase with a corridor, and a cult site. The "temple" within the Heroon tomb is a circular domed chamber with half-columns and colorful ornaments. Nearby, an empty grave and separate pits with dismembered human remains and valuable items were found, highlighting the site's historical significance. In addition to the Thracian complex, Hisarya is known for its mineral springs. The town's combination of climate, thermo-mineral springs, and cultural heritage makes it a destination for treatment and tourism. With a history dating back to Roman times, Hisarya offers visitors a chance to explore ancient ruins, thermal baths, an amphitheater, early Christian basilicas, and more. Today, it features hotels and spa resorts, making it one of Bulgaria's most extensive spa destinations.[9]

Geography

Plovdiv Province encompasses various geographical features, including portions of the Upper Thracian Plain, the Rhodopes, Sredna Gora, the Sub-Balkan valleys, and Stara Planina, home to its highest peak, Botev, which stands at 2,376 meters. Crisscrossed by several rivers, such as the Maritsa, Stryama, and Pyasachnik, the province also features numerous reservoirs, with Pyasachnik being the most notable. There's a considerable number of mineral springs found within the region, with spa resorts such as Hisarya, Narechen, and Banya, as well as smaller spas in Klisura, Asenovgrad, Kuklen, Rosino, Krasnovo, Stoletovo, and more. Furthermore, the area is home to various natural attractions, particularly within the Central Balkan National Park, which is home to the Raysko Praskalo waterfall, the highest waterfall in the Balkans.[4]

The northern part of the Plovdiv province is represented by the already-mentioned Central Balkan National Park, which stretches across the region's borders into several other provinces. One of the reserves of the national park found within Plovdiv's territory is the Stara Reka Reserve, which was established to protect the combination of broad-leaved, coniferous, and mixed forests in the Staroplaniniet area, encompassing the Stara Reka watershed above Karlovo town. The area features the Stara Reka River, which meanders through relatively steep rocky terrain and forms pools. Within the reserve, the forest is considerably diverse, with heat-loving dogwood, hornbeam, and water hornbeam coexisting with beech, fir, and spruce trees. The reserve is also known for its wealth of endangered plant species, boasting over 45 varieties from the Bulgarian Red Book, including twenty that are exclusive to the area. The animal species inhabiting the Stara Reka reserve are reportedly also valuable for conservation efforts, with 65 vertebrate species breeding there. Several of these, especially birds of prey such as the golden eagle, white-tailed buzzard, various hawks, and owls, face threats of extinction. Amphibians and reptiles such as tree frogs, tadpoles, and rain frogs are also present.[5]

The climate in Plovdiv is moderately continental, with hints of a mountainous climate in the elevated regions.[1] August is usually the warmest month in Plovdiv Province, as its average temperature is 30°C. The coldest time of the year is January at 6°C on average. The most precipitation falls in May, while August tends to be the driest month in Plovdiv.[6]

History

In former times the Plovidv Province area was inhabited by Thracians who founded numerous settlements, the most prominent being Evmolpias, the site of today's Plovdiv. Under Philip of Macedonia's rule, the city was called after him, before being changed to Pulpudeva by the Slavs. In the Middle Ages, several of these settlements grew into important trade and manufacturing centers, including Philibe (present-day Plovdiv), and Stanimaka (present-day Assenovgrad).[1]

Plovdiv is considered one of Europe's oldest cities, predating Rome, Athens, and Constantinople. Its exact age remains uncertain, but historical and archaeological evidence suggests its ancient origins. The city showcases a cultural heritage dating back to Thracian times, an ancient population with written records found on the Balkan Peninsula. Plovdiv's history is intertwined with various cultures, notably during the era of Philip of Macedonia, flourishing under the Roman and Byzantine empires, and enduring throughout the Ottoman Empire. Thus, to this day, the city preserves numerous valuable monuments, including the Roman Stadium, Ancient Theatre, Odeon, mosaics, Aqueduct, walls, and remnants of Thracian settlements. Plovdiv's earliest name may have been Kendrisiya, potentially associated with cedar forests or the Thracian tribe Kendrisi. It was later named Philippopolis after Philip II of Macedonia's conquest in 342 BC, subsequently becoming a center of culture and commerce within the Roman province of Thrace. In the 7th century, Slavic settlements began, and the city's name evolved from Philippopolis to Pulpudeva, Puldin (Plavdiv), and finally Plovdiv, reflecting its generally diverse historical journey.[2]

After the Russo-Turkish War (1877–78), it became the capital of Turkish Eastern Rumelia and later united with Bulgaria in 1885. Its present name was officially adopted after World War I. Today, Plovdiv is Bulgaria's second-largest city serving as a junction on the Belgrade–Sofia–Istanbul rail line and as a hub for various industries, including nonferrous metals, machinery parts, textiles, carpets, and fertilizers. The city's fertile region produces tobacco, rice, vegetables, and fruit, and it hosts an international trade fair every two years. Known for its ethnic and religious tolerance, Plovdiv also played a role in regional peacekeeping efforts in 1999, initiated by Balkan countries.[3]