South Central Bulgaria
Art, History & Archaeology Sites & Museums

Constructed in 1981 by the Bulgarian communist regime to commemorate the founding of the Bulgarian Social Democratic Party, the Buzludzha Monument is no longer maintained. As the roof of the dome has been heavily damaged and is unsafe it is now closed to visitors. The peak itself has a significant history. On 18 July 1868 Hadzhi Dimitar, a prominent revolutionary for the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman Empire, was defeated here by the Ottomans.

Dyavolski most, literally Devil’s Bridge, is an arch bridge over the Arda River in the Rhodope Mountains. Often said to be a Roman bridge, the current structure was built between 1515 and 1518 CE. The bridge is 3.5 m wide, 56 m long with three arches, the main arch being 11.5 m high. Although there was almost certainly an earlier bridge, as this is part of an ancient road that linked the Thracian plains in Bulgaria with the Aegean Sea. Today the bridge is on the Sultans Path, a long-distance hiking trail.

The natural springs in Hisarya have been attracting people for thousands of years. Although evidence of prehistoric and Thracian occupation has been found around the town, Hisarya is best known for its impressive Roman remains. These include the military barracks, public baths, a small amphitheatre and defensive walls that still stand to near original height in many places. Hisarya was one of the three most important towns in the Roman province of Thrace, then called Diocletianopolis or Augusta.

Lucian of Samosata described Plovdiv as “the largest and most beautiful of all cities.” Although not the capital of the Roman Province of Thrace, it was the most important and largest city in the region. Hence the large-scale construction of buildings by the Romans. Some of these survive today making this a great city to visit for archaeology. These include a forum, a stadium, two basilicas and a theatre that has spectacular views over the city onto mountains to the south.

Although the city was founded by Phillip II of Macedon in 342 BCE, Thracians had a settlement here as early as the 5th century BCE. Under the Romans the city was named Ulpia Augusta Traiana after Trajan, and it became the capital of the Roman province of Thrace. By the end of the 2nd century CE the city had the right to mint its own coins, a sign of its importance. At the centre of the city today are the remains of the Roman forum complex, about 7 acres of which are exposed. Various architectural features can be seen.

Given the church’s position on the side of a mountain above the town of Shipka, the bright, gold domes can be seen from afar. Although built at the turn of the 19th century, it has the design of a 17th century Muscovite church. The monastery is dedicated to the Russian, Ukrainian and Bulgarian soldiers who fell fighting for the liberation of Bulgaria during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78. The 53 metre high bell tower has bells that were cast from cartridges collected from the battlefields.

Dating to the end of the 4th century BCE and discovered in 1944, this Thracian tomb on the outskirts of the town of Kazanlak is considered the finest example of Thracian creative expression in Bulgaria. Consequently, visitors today visit a replica, not the original tomb. An inner, circular burial chamber is accessed by a narrow corridor, both of which have exquisite frescoes depicting Thracian rituals. The site was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites in 1979.

The Thracian tomb within this mound was excavated relatively recently, 1996. A large corridor leads to an antechamber, which in turn leads into a circular burial chamber with a domed ceiling. A variety of styles was used for the columns, an Ionic column in the antechamber and Doric columns in the chamber. Unfortunately the tomb has been robbed, but remains of a funerary bed were recovered. As with other tombs in the Valley of the Thracian Kings, this one is also dated to the 4th century BCE.