Stara Zagora

Stara Zagora (Стара Загора) is a city in Northern Thrace, Bulgaria. Understand Stara Zagora is the center of Stara Zagora province. With more than 8000 years of history, it is one of the oldest continuously populated places in Europe. Center of booming industry, remarkable cultural life and numerous tourist attractions, the beauty of the city of linden continue to be an appealing destination for travelers. Don't miss the Roman Villa Mosaics, the Neolithic Dwellings, the Regional Art Gallery, the countless coffee-shops and art-galleries, which give the city the feeling of a small Paris. Geography and climate Situated almost in the geographical center of Bulgaria, Stara Zagora is linked with major roads and railroads to the rest of the country and the neighboring Turkey, Greece and Romania. In less than 4 hours drive, you can be in all these three countries by very decent roads. Sheltered from the north winds by the mountains of Sredna Gora and the Balkans, Stara Zagora enjoys very mild winters, long springs and falls. Thanks to the big amount of trees, the summers in the city are sufferable and not very hot, with specific micro-climate. The rich soils and its geographical situation were the main reason behind the 8000 years History of Stara Zagora In the city limits of today Stara Zagora, the place was continuously inhabited since the Neolithic (8000 + years ago) through the times of the Thracians, to achieve its glory in the past during the Roman times. Then the city was called Augusta Traiana and it was one of the most prominent cities in the Roman Province of Thrace. Huge avenues, covered with marble slabs, lined with statues, and a large amount of archaeological artifacts remain from this period, including the Roman Walls and Gate of the city, mosaics and the Roman Forum. During the centuries to follow, the city was called Beroe, Irinopolis, Eski Zagra and finally – Stara Zagora (old city behind the mountain). Just before the liberation from the Ottoman Empire, the city was burned 3 times in the late 1800s and there is not too much left to see from the medieval or Bulgarian National Revival buildings. The exceptions are the few churches and monasteries within the city limits, as well as a 15th century Ottoman mosque with amazing frescoes, declared now a National Monument of Culture. Modern life After its rebuilding in the end of the 19 and beginning of the 20th century, Stara Zagora became one of the few Bulgarian cities build on grid. This was also the time that the large boulevards and small streets were lined up with linden trees, giving the city the aroma of late spring perfume so enchanting in the beginning of June. Stara Zagora was also called the city of “poets” since many Bulgarian poets were born, spend their lives and created amazing poetry here, in the inspiring surroundings of one of the most prominent cultural centers in Bulgaria. Stara Zagora also has the first Opera House built outside of Sofia, one of the oldest telephone communication systems and the first robotics plant in Bulgaria. Now it continues to be the center for prosperous cultural life, and important industrial and agricultural center. Get in Situated almost in the geographical center of Bulgaria, Stara Zagora is linked with major roads and railroads to the rest of the country and the neighboring Turkey, Greece, and Romania. In less than 4 hours drive, you can be in all these three countries by very decent roads. By plane Local airport accessible for small private planes. By train Stara Zagora is a major railroad hub, linking all Danube countries and North Europe (Romania, Russia, Moldova, Ukraine) to the Mediterranean with the line Rousse - Svilengrad - Istanbul. Additionally, the city is on the crossroads between east - west railroad line Burgas - Sofia. By car From Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, take the Trakia expressway. From Burgas, on the Black Sea Coast, take the Trakia expressway. (Karnobat - Stara Zagora section to be finished in 2011, now it is a two lane asphalted road.) From Istanbul, Turkey, take the highway via Edirne, and Svilengrad, which is a good highway. From Rousse, in northern Bulgaria, take the highways crossing Shipka or Haimboise Passes. By bus Busline lik Stara Zagora with all cities in Bulgaria and almost all towns and some of the villages. Regular lines every hour or half an hour from/to Sofia, Plovdiv, Haskovo (frequent), Bourgas, Sliven, Veliko Turnovo /Rousse, Varna, Svilengrad (once per day), Harmanli etc. Get around See Most of the sights (except the Neolithic Dwellings) are situated in the city center. Regional Museum of History, Stara Zagora 42 Ruski, Blvd., Stara Zagora (next to the Tourist Information Office and a city map) 5 BGN, no photos The Stara Zagora Regional Museum of History is one of the richest museums in the Balkans, when it comes to number and significance of its artifacts. The largest and the most preserved Neolithic art collection, the collection of Roman glass, the collection of Thracian chariots, the antique bronze collection and the artifacts of the Roman city of Augusta Trajana give to the museum one of the most significant places among the European museums. With a history of more than eight millennia, the region of Stara Zagora continues to give to scientists and lovers of history the pleasure of new archaeological and historical finds. Unearthed almost on a daily basis, these artifacts are making the headlines around the world. Stara Zagora Regional Museum of History continues to be a scientific center for research and preservation of 130,000 precious objects from all periods of the human history in South Eastern Europe. The museum is also a center for enlightenment, entertainment , and enjoyment of the region’s rich cultural heritage for more than 100 years. Website: http://museum.starazagora.net/ Actually not much of the Neolithic art is on display, but you can see a lot of Roman artifacts and even mastodon and mammoth bones. In basement you can see some Roman ruins. Antique Forum with couple of columns next to the National Opera (Mitropolit Metodiy Kusev Blvd) underground Mosaics of a Slaveowner's house next to the forum (Gen. Stoletov Blvd) Church of St. Dimityr has very nice woodcarvings and paintings (Georgi Kyumorev street). The adjacent small monastery is turned into a museum. Museum of 19.c city life near the central post office (Sv. Knyaz Boris street) , which also displays ancient ruins Eski Dzhamiya previous mosque near the Province Government (Tsar Simeon Veliki Bivd) includes two prehistoric sanctuaries. Shooting photoes is prohibited. Neolithic Dwellings Armeyska Street, 20, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, 6000, Phone: +359.(0)42.622.109 Opening times: Tues - Sat: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm 12:30 pm - 5:00 pm Created in 1979, the museum "Neolithic Dwellings" of Stara Zagora hosts one of the most important prehistoric art exhibitions in Europe. It was built around 2 Neolithic houses (dwellings) dating back to the 6th Millennia B.C. During the excavation of the Neolithic houses, 1826 artifacts were found. The houses are the best-preserved in Europe from this period. Kitchens, fireplaces, hand grain mills, and ceramic vessels comprise the richest inventory of VI Millennia prehistoric house life in Europe. The Prehistoric Art Exhibition hosts 333 of the most important finds from the Neolithic, Eneolithic, and Chalcolitic periods (VI Millennia B.C. – III Millennia B.C.). Do Learn Work Buy Eat Budget fresh fruits on numerous marketplaces. Mid-range Splurge Drink Sleep Budget Mid-range Hotel Zheleznik, (facing the bus station), ☎ 042 / 622 158. 44 BGN for a single / double room as of March 2010.  edit Hotel Деэин Тегра Тор (Desintegrator), (behind the Стаза petrol station. Take to your left for some 200 hundred meters when exiting from the bus station). 36 BGN for a single / double room as of March 2010.  edit Splurge Contact Stay safe Cope Get out This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!