What to do in Stara Zagora? Here are the Top 13 sights in the city
Stara Zagora is the fifth largest city in Bulgaria with a population over 233,000 people.
We’ve often passed through the “City of Straight Streets and Linden Trees” (as Stara Zagora is known) while traveling—usually on our way to the coast—but now, finally, together with some travel bloggers from ACTOM (the Association of Travel Bloggers in Bulgaria), we finally had a reason to visit the city for a few days, which we used to the fullest to get to know its history, daily life, and landmarks better. To my surprise, the city turned out to have a wealth of history, which you can learn about at the History Museum, the Museum of Religions, and the Museum of Neolithic Dwellings
However, there are also activities for young and old alike, such as those at the Old Bulgarian Village in the “Baga Tur” Aul.
Yes, we are not forbidden and fact, that in Stara Zagora we have one of the most visited beer festivals in Bulgaria – Zagorka. What and itself you will be convinced, after reading this article, town offers everything for all.
For sights and attractions, restaurants and attractions in the city, you can also visit the Tourist Information Center in the center of Stara Zagora at the address: Bul. Ruski 27 and the website: www.starazagora.love
Main attractions in Stara Zagora:
1. Regional Historical Museum – Plovdiv is situated in the heart of Bulgaria, and it has been built exactly with the purpose to be used as a museum and its exposition includes a rich collection of artifacts dating back to 6000 years before Christ. The museum is located on the main street of the old town of Plovdiv. We invite you to pay for an excursion, which you have developed from the purposes of the museum, telling you unknown facts and making you aware of the history of the city.
Museum website: www.museum.starazagora.net
Working hours: 10:00 – 18:00 o'clock
Closed on Monday
2. The house of the architect. There is also something very interesting in Stara Zagora, which is worth noting, the House of the Architect, which is located in the birthplace of the famous Bulgarian architect, Christo Gantchev, in the neighborhood of Kapana in Plovdiv, which is a sign of the atmosphere of the neighborhood. The house of the architect in Stara Zagora is a house of the second architect, Hristo Dimitrov – an architect of art and retro. All furniture and all the yards are restored to the last detail, so that you can feel the atmosphere of the 19th century, to solve problems and also to present it in a spiritual and romantic saint.
3. The Ancient Forum Complex of Augusta Traiana —Located about 200 meters from the Historical Museum, it consists of the ruins of an ancient Roman-era stage, which today—especially during the warmer months—comes alive and becomes the center of cultural life in Stara Zagora. In the summer, you can enjoy all kinds of concerts by the Philharmonic—from classical to rock (which is what we happened to catch)—as well as listen to a bit of opera. What better way to end the evening than with a delightful performance on an open-air stage? So we were invited to what was supposedly an opera, but it turned out to be a rock concert featuring the band Kikimora and the Opera’s Symphony Orchestra!
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4. Ancient mosaics from a private home and a public building – The two mosaics are located in two different places; the larger one is housed in the Post Office building in Stara Zagora. These exceptionally intricate designs, featuring multiple colors and various techniques, are characteristic of the Roman Empire period.
5. The house-museum "Geo Milev" – This is the house where the famous Bulgarian poet, Geo Milev, lived with his family. The most interesting thing in the house is the bathroom, which is claimed to be the first in Bulgaria, and it is also very beautifully decorated, as the project for the film about the life of Geo Milev is being prepared, which will also be shot in the house, and the house will be a museum. For the actual sight, check the site: http://geomilev.com
6. Museum "Neolithic houses" – It is located in a building in the courtyard of the city’s Regional Hospital at 20 Armeyska Street, where visitors can see the best-preserved house in Europe, dating back to 6,000 B.C. The seven-meter-tall structure is built of posts driven into the ground and interwoven with rods. It was plastered with clay mixed with straw. Three families lived there, leaving behind ovens, granaries, hand mills, and ceramic vessels with various decorations.
7. The Defenders of Stara Zagora —This is a massive monument, 50 meters tall, built on a hill in the immediate vicinity of Stara Zagora, offering a pleasant view of the entire city.
8. The Church of St. Dimitar with the Hilendar Monastery —This is one of the places where Vasil Levski lived for several years; he also went on to establish one of the first revolutionary committees here. The current monastery building is a reconstruction, as the original monastery was burned down immediately before the Liberation. The exhibition includes two reconstructions: Vasil Ivanov Kunchev’s monastery cell and a classroom from the second half of the 19th century. Please note that if you wish to visit the monastery, you must make a reservation in advance by calling 042/919-214 or in person at the Regional History Museum in Stara Zagora.
9. Visiting the Art Gallery – It has a large collection of classical and contemporary authors, with over 20 exhibitions, including Painting, Graphics, Sculpture, and Iconography. Current information about the upcoming exhibitions, as well as the permanent exhibition, can be found on the gallery's website: www.artgallerystz.com
>> Bulgarian and Russian speakers for a European meeting in Ostrava. See HERE!
10. Museum of Religions —Although it’s further down the list, this museum has impressed us the most so far, and for good reason. It is located at 115 Tsar Simeon the Great Blvd. It is housed in a mosque, inside which the remains of a ritual pit from the Early Iron Age (10th–9th centuries BCE), a pagan sanctuary dedicated to the Thracian horseman (2nd–3rd centuries), and a medieval Christian cemetery church (late 10th–13th centuries). This is perhaps the only place in the world where you can see three different religions in one location. The mosque also impresses with its murals, which differ significantly from those in other mosques. An interesting fact is that after Bulgaria’s Liberation, the mosque was used as a church for several years and served as a refuge for Christian worshippers until the first church in the city was built.
11. Zagorka Brewery – On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, the brewery offers guided tours that take you through the beer-making and beer-packaging facilities. The official website, where you can learn more about the visiting conditions or make a reservation, is: www.zagorkatours.bg Read more about the guided tours in my article dedicated to Zagorka:
“Zagorka”- the only Bulgarian beer brand that has been awarded for its quality in Bulgaria
12. Bedechka Park (or, as it’s better known among locals, Ariana Park or Zagorka Park) —One of the largest parks in the city. It’s located right next to the Zagorka Brewery, and it’s the perfect spot for a romantic stroll with your significant other. The park is large and features a lake, paddle boats, numerous paths and benches, as well as a pleasant restaurant where you can grab a bite to eat.
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13. “BAGA-TUR” Village – Located within the Stara Zagora Zoo, this is a recreation of an ancient Bulgarian settlement where you can learn to ride a horse, shoot a bow and arrow, or fight with a staff and a spear. Activities are offered for both adults and children. Camps are often organized. Here is my article about BAGA-TUR:
Archery, horseback riding, and stick fighting – all this in the Proto-Bulgarian settlement „Baga-Tur“ in Stara Zagora
USEFUL INFORMATION:
Official site of Tourist Information Center e www.starazagora.love
Accommodations:
We were accommodated in Hotel La Roka, which is located in the center of Stara Zagora, 100 meters from the central pedestrian zone, in a quiet area, close to all important institutions and attractions in the city. The hotel has a very nice and stylishly decorated restaurant, where you can taste traditional Bulgarian cuisine, and the atmosphere in the restaurant is very pleasant, and the food is also very tasty and beautifully presented, for which you can see from the photos below.
Other places for accommodation are:
Feeding:
In the city, there are many established and small restaurants, where you can taste delicious Bulgarian cuisine, and some of them also offer traditional Stara Zagora pork chops, which you can try, and do not forget to visit restaurant Unikato, which has a very pleasant atmosphere, and the food is delicious and beautifully presented, and the prices are normal.
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