The Stara Zagora province is the centre of the Thracian valley where the history of farming began. First go to the Neolithic Dwellings museum which houses two prehistoric houses from the sixth millennium BC. You can see the actual kitchens and grain storage bins where the first farmers of Europe lived eight thousand years ago. It is incredible to see how well preserved these mud and wood structures are after so much time. It is the best place in the world to understand the very beginning of human civilization.
Drive through the city to find the massive Samara Flag monument which stands on a high hill like a giant stone banner. It honors the soldiers who fought for independence and offers a panoramic view of the wide plains below. You can walk up the long stairs and explore the various statues and memorial plaques. The city itself is built on a strict grid with wide streets and many green parks filled with lime trees. It is a pleasant and easy place to navigate with your car while exploring the local history.
The journey takes you to the Stara Zagora Spa where hot mineral water has been used for healing since the Roman times. You can park and walk through the ruins of the ancient baths or enjoy a soak in a modern thermal pool. The water is known for its high mineral content and its ability to relax the body after a long day on the road. The surrounding area is full of vineyards that produce some of the best wines in the south. This province is a blend of prehistoric secrets and modern relaxation in the heart of the sun valley.
Stara Zagora (province) highlights
- Neolithic Dwellings preserve two real houses from eight thousand years ago inside a museum. See old ovens and grain jars used by the very first farmers to live in Europe. Explore the best place to see how humans lived at the start of our civilization.
- Augusta Traiana displays a Roman forum and a stone street located right in the city center. Walk on the ancient rocks and see the seats of the old outdoor theater near the shops. Visit a quiet spot where the history of the city is open for everyone to see.
- Samara Flag stands on a hill as a giant monument that looks like a stone banner in the wind. Climb the stairs to the top for a panoramic view of the wide and flat southern plains. Honor a symbol of the fight for freedom while looking at this impressive stone work.
- Stara Zagora Spa offers a town with hot mineral water and ruins of ancient baths in a park. Relax in the warm pools and see the old stones used by the Romans many centuries ago. Visit this green and quiet area for a relaxing break during a road trip through the south.
- Ayazmoto Park covers a huge forest hill with a zoo and many quiet walking trails for the people. Explore the rare trees from all over the world planted by a local leader in the past. Visit the green lung of the city to enjoy a long walk in the sun and the fresh air.
- Buzludzha Peak features a famous circular monument that looks like a UFO on the mountain ridge. View this dramatic and strange site from many miles away while driving through the high hills. Follow the winding road to the top to see the scale of the stone and concrete work.
- Shipka Peak honors a big fight for national freedom with a stone monument high in the mountains. Climb the peak to see old cannons and a view of the rose valley stretching out below. Visit this place of great national pride to see one of the most famous views in the land.
- Kazanlak Tomb shows a replica of a Thracian tomb with world famous murals of a royal feast. View the vivid colors and faces of the people which have survived for over two thousand years. Learn about the ancient kings who lived in this golden valley long before the modern world.
- Damascena Garden provides a park where roses are grown to make the world's best oil and water. Walk through the flowers and see how the oil is made in the large pots during the spring. Breathe the air which smells of roses and enjoy the beautiful statues and the springs.
- Koprinka Dam creates a large blue lake where an ancient city is hidden under the calm water. Park by the shore to enjoy the view of the mountains and the wide space of the reservoir. Visit this popular spot for fishing and camping during the warm summer months of the year.
The local Four
History of Stara Zagora (province)
Stara Zagora is the City of 8,000 Years. It holds the Neolithic Dwellings Museum, which contains two of the best preserved early human houses in Europe, complete with ceramic vessels and grain stores. The city was later a major Roman center called Augusta Traiana, featuring a grand forum and an amphitheater that are still part of the city urban fabric today. It is a province of ancient agricultural fertility and constant rebuilding.
The province is the heart of the Valley of the Roses and the Valley of the Thracian Kings. Near Kazanlak, the Thracian Tomb features a world famous mural of a royal banquet, providing the most detailed look at Thracian life 2,300 years ago. The region is also a site of modern myth making: the Buzludzha Monument, a massive UFO shaped brutalist ruin on a mountain peak, has become a global icon of Cold War architecture.
Driving through Stara Zagora, you find the Samara Flag Monument, a giant concrete sculpture on a hill commemorating the 1877 battle for the city. The Damascena complex nearby shows the history of rose oil production, a trade that once made this valley the wealthiest in the Balkans. From the prehistoric huts to the socialist ruins and the scent of millions of roses, Stara Zagora is a province of cycles and rebirth.