The Haskovo province has the world’s tallest statue of the Virgin Mary which holds a Guinness World Record. The monument towers over the city of Haskovo from the Yamacha hill and features a small chapel built into its base. You can climb to the observation deck for a view that covers the entire southern valley and the distant mountains of Turkey and Greece. It is a modern symbol of the city and a landmark that you can see from miles away as you approach. The park around the statue is a great place for a morning walk.
Drive a short distance to the village of Alexandrovo to see one of the most important Thracian tombs ever found. You can visit the museum center which holds an exact replica of the tomb so you can see the incredibly detailed frescoes of hunters and horses. The original drawings are over two thousand years old and show the colorful clothes and weapons used by the ancient warriors. It is a rare and vivid look into a culture that left no written records but left behind amazing art in the earth. The site is easy to reach and offers plenty of parking for visitors.
The journey continues toward the town of Dimitrovgrad which was built as a model industrial city in the middle of the last century. You can see the wide boulevards and the massive grand architecture that was designed to show the power of the workers. The city park is one of the largest in the country and features a small zoo and many quiet lakes. It is a very different kind of history compared to the ancient tombs but it is just as fascinating to explore by car. This province is a land of massive monuments and colorful ancient secrets.
Haskovo (province) highlights
- Virgin Mary Statue earns a place as the tallest statue of its kind in the world on a city hill. Climb to the top of the base for a view of the southern valley and the streets below. See a modern symbol of the city that serves as a landmark from many miles away.
- Alexandrovo Tomb reveals a Thracian burial site with vivid murals of hunters and wild dogs. Visit the museum replica to see the bright colors and the ancient art of the warriors. Learn how the people of the golden valley lived and dressed many centuries ago.
- Haskovo Bell Tower reaches high next to the statue offering a view of the city and the plains. Climb to the top to feel the wind while looking over the whole of the southern valley. Listen to the bells which ring through the hills and define the spirit of the town.
- Uzundzhovo Church exists as a unique building that was once a mosque and is now a church. See the mix of styles in the stone work and the very beautiful wooden altar inside. Learn how history has changed and how cultures have met in this southern crossroads town.
- Kenana Park covers a huge oak forest on the edge of town with a zoo and many quiet cafes. Walk under the shade of the very old trees along the paths of the large city park. Enjoy a road trip break in the green woods which offer fresh air and a peaceful rest.
- Mezek Fortress survives as a perfectly kept medieval castle with round stone towers and walls. Walk the ramparts to see the border land of the south from the top of the stone. Visit one of the best kept castles in the country located near the southern hills.
- Mezek Tomb offers a long stone tunnel leading to a burial room from the time of the kings. Walk all the way to the central stone chamber to see how the ancient people built with rock. View the amazing skill of the builders who created this tomb thousands of years ago.
- Dimitrovgrad Park provides a large green space with lakes and wide paths for families to enjoy. Relax in a model of a planned city park which offers many spots for a road trip rest. See the rare birds in the lakes and enjoy a walk through the quiet garden paths.
- Villa Armira displays a luxurious Roman villa with beautiful white marble floors and mosaics. See how a rich family lived two thousand years ago in the sunny southern river valley. Visit one of the finest Roman sites in the country which is very well preserved today.
- Yamacha Hill serves as the site of large monuments and offers the best view of the sunset. Park at the top to enjoy the breeze and the city lights sparkling below the high hill. Visit the heart of the city's green area for a quiet evening walk in the fresh air.
The local Four
History of Haskovo (province)
Haskovo is the Southern Gate. It is home to the Alexandrovo Tomb, a 4th century BC masterpiece of Thracian art. Its murals depict incredibly detailed hunting scenes, showing the clothing, weapons, and even the dogs of the Thracian nobility. The province has always been a crossroads between the Balkans and the East, a fact reflected in the city Old Mosque, the oldest in the country, built immediately after the Ottoman arrival in the 14th century.
The city holds the world record for the Tallest Statue of the Virgin Mary, which towers 32 meters over the city on Yamacha Hill. The province history also includes the Battle of Klokotnitsa in 1230, where the Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Asen II defeated the Despotate of Epirus, a victory that made the Bulgarian Empire the dominant power in Southeast Europe for a century.
Driving through Haskovo, you find the Mezek Fortress, one of the best preserved medieval castles in the country, with nine round towers still standing. Nearby, the Villa Armira reveals a luxurious Roman mansion with thousands of square meters of white marble floors and mosaics. From the ancient murals of Alexandrovo to the border grit of the southern hills, Haskovo is a province of warriors, merchants, and monumental faith.