Stara Zagora Province: Thracians, Roses and Mineral Springs

In Stara Zagora Province, the southern slopes of the Balkan Mountains, the wooded Kazanlak Basin and Sarnena Gora meet the Stara Zagora Plain. The region’s history includes evidence from the Neolithic period, antiquity and Thracian culture, alongside rose-growing traditions and mineral water resorts. When planning your trip, you can weigh these different attractions against one another.

Landscape and trails

The region has a temperate climate, fertile soils, comparatively good water resources and accessible terrain. Forests cover 32.4 percent of the area and are associated with opportunities for tourism, hunting and fishing. In Stara Zagora Municipality, low mountain terrain and an extensive road network support hiking and cycling routes of varying duration and difficulty throughout the year. Conditions on individual routes may change; check them before setting out on a particular excursion.

Individual natural landmarks also give the landscape its distinctive character: near Kolena are a rock formation and a golden eagle nesting site. At Kazanka, by a road and a river about two kilometres from the village, there is a rock formation with an information board. A cave system lies above the quarry near Zmeyovo.

Archaeology and history

In Stara Zagora, the Neolithic Dwellings Museum preserves a two-storey house from the early Neolithic period at its original site. It is considered one of the best-preserved houses of its kind in Europe. The Museum of Religions displays remains from different periods: from a cult pit dating to the early Iron Age, to a sanctuary of the Thracian Horseman, a medieval Christian cemetery church and a Muslim temple.

The forum of Augusta Traiana includes the West Gate, two construction phases of the fortification walls, a stone square with an amphitheatre, and Roman baths with hypocaust heating. Visitors can walk along an authentic ancient street; spectacles and concerts are also held in the forum. The programme may change, so check for current events in advance.

In Kazanlak, the Thracian tomb and its wall paintings date to the Hellenistic period. The paintings depict Thracian burial rituals and culture and are considered Bulgaria’s best-preserved artistic masterpieces from the Hellenistic period. The Iskra Historical Museum in Kazanlak preserves almost 100,000 original artefacts relating to the area’s material and spiritual culture. About 1,500 Thracian burial mounds have been recorded in the Kazanlak Valley; around 150 have been excavated, and about 15 well-preserved underground tomb temples have been identified.

Rose-growing traditions and regional culture

The Rose Museum in Kazanlak is dedicated to the oil-bearing rose and is considered the world’s only museum on this subject. More than 15,000 exhibits relate to rose harvesting and rose production in Bulgaria. The museum shop offers, among other things, rose jam, rose liqueur and aromatic oils; check what is currently available before your visit.

The Rose Festival programme includes rose-harvesting and distillation rituals, a parade and an international folklore festival; individual editions may vary. The cultural route “Valley of Roses and Thracian Kings” also links rose gardens and rose oil production with Thracian heritage and archaeological sites. In this way, rose-growing traditions and history are not separate attractions in the region, but together form a distinctive focus.

Mineral water and getting around

Pavel Banya lies between the Balkan Mountains and Sredna Gora, near the Koprinka Reservoir and the Tundzha River. Its mineral water is 61°C and contains fluoride, hydrogen carbonate and sodium ions, as well as colloidal silica, radon and hydrogen sulphide. The town’s tourism profile includes balneotherapy and rural, historical, ecological and aroma tourism. The thermal deposit at Pavel Banya is the westernmost of three similar deposits in the Kazanlak Basin. If using the mineral water for medical purposes, seek professional advice.

In Yagoda, at the foot of Sarnena Gora, there are numerous hot therapeutic mineral springs suitable for treatment or relaxation. Here, too, medical applications should be supervised by a professional.

Three major Bulgarian railway lines meet in Stara Zagora. They serve routes from Sofia towards Burgas and Varna, as well as from Ruse to the borders with Greece and Turkey; timetables and connections may change. Stara Zagora Province is also described as a meeting point of three European transport corridors linking the Adriatic and Black Seas, Finland and Greece, and Germany and Turkey. Check current infrastructure conditions for your specific journey. The Tourist Information Centre in Stara Zagora provides information about museums, natural landmarks, cultural institutions, accommodation, dining, entertainment and transport to, from and within the city. Contact details and opening hours may change.

Discover more destinations: Stara Zagora, Kazanlak, Shipka, Stara Zagora, Pavel Banya, Kazanlak, Radnevo, Gurkovo, Galabovo, Maglizh, Chirpan, Chirpan, Pavel Banya, Radnevo.

Go to the main travel overview: Bulgaria.