Haskovo Location:
The Municipality of Haskovo is situated in the hilly planes of South-East Bulgaria on the crossroad between Europe and the Middle East. The area is a Northern extension of the Eastern part of the Rhodope Mountains. Haskovo Municipality's territory -740 sq. km includes Haskovo and 35 villages with total population of almost 120 000 people. It comprises parts of the Thracian valley along the river Maritsa. It is 170 km away from the Black Sea and 140 km from the Aegean Sea. Climate:
The unique geographic location and climate determine the town as an important international trade and cultural exchange point. Haskovo is a passing point of the International road Vienna-Belgrade-Sofia-Istanbul-Southern Asia. The excellent bus and railway connections through the Haskovo Municipality to the border check-points of Bulgaria facilitate the successful trade with Greece and Turkey. The climate is temperate and is influenced by the continent from the North and the Mediterranean from the South. The penetration of warmer air currents along the Maritsa valley are good conditions for growing traditional agricultural crops - oriental tobacco, cotton, peanuts, vineyards, variety of vegetables. History:
Like all old towns, Haskovo had different names through the centuries - "The Clean Town" or "White Spring" , "Marsa" , Haskoy. The Turkish name Haskoy, used during the Turkish rule, can be translated as "Ruler's Village" .This name was met for the first time in Ottoman documents of the time of Sultan Mehmed II - The Conqueror, i.e. the second half of the 15thc. It is assumed that the Turks had renamed the town immediately after its conquering at the end of the 14th c. In the next centuries, the name Haskoy can be seen in different versions: Haskiuy, Haskeni, Haskivi until forming the present version of the name - Haskovo. In its present form the name was first used in the literature of the Bulgarian National Revival from the mid 19th c. With its 7 thousand year history Haskovo is one of the oldest settlements in Bulgaria. The Thracian tribe Asti had once lived in the area of Haskovo. The area was called Astika. Nowadays this is the name of the famous beer produced in Haskovo. Landmarks: - The Bulgarian National Revival Houses
The beautiful houses of the Bulgarian national revival period, built in Haskovo in the mid 19th century are a lovely add-on to the grey town scenery. Property of wealthy traders and craftsmen represent the welfare of the Bulgarian society as well as the new art trends of that time. One can see unique decorated ceilings with handmade woodwork, a great number of windows, columns, cornices and oriels. - The Theatre
The first performance was in 1879. A starring actor in Haskovo, who was among the founders of the National Theatre, presented a play of Konstantin Velichkov "Nevyanka and Svetoslav". With this performance he laid the foundations of the theatre art in Haskovo. And some years later in 1919 the Haskovo Drama Theatre was founded. - The Unknown Soldier Memorial in Haskovo
The Unknown Soldier Memorial was placed in memoriam of all the soldiers killed in the Balkan Wars of 1912 - 1918 from the region of Haskovo. It has been in the central city square for almost 80 years. - The Nymph sanctuary by the village of Kasnakovo
This is the best preserved Thracian sanctuary and the only Nymphaeum in Bulgaria. In 1968 it was declared a National Cultural Site. The Nymph sanctuary is situated in a picturesque area at about a kilometer and a half to the South-East of Kasnakovo village, lying on the border between Haskovo and Dimitrovgrad Municipalities. This Thracian tomb dates back to the second half of the 4th century BC. The walls are covered with paintings displaying hunting scenes with 7 riders, 4 people on foot, 2 deers, 2 wild bears and 9 hunting dogs. The scenes are of unique artistic value, true, expressive, and unparalleled in the Thracian art up to now. One more monument- Izvora na Belonogata Tourist Complex is 37 km east of Haskovo. - Virgin Mary's statue
The biggest statue in the world of Virgin Mary holding the child Jesus in her hands stands on the hill of Yamacha in Haskovo. It is one of the symbols of the city. The Statue is 14 m high and is placed on 17 m foundation for which reason it was included in Guinness World Records. The statue was designed by group of sculptors leaded by Petyo Aleksandrov and Nikola Stoyanov. - The Haskovo Mineral Baths
The Haskovo Mineral Baths is a balneological resort of national importance, located 15 kilometres west of the town. The 12 mineral water springs have a temperature of 48.5°C and an output rate of 35 liters per second. The water is excellent for joint and other bone-structure (spinal) disorders. There is an open mineral pool. The resort is a starting point for hiking tours along marked tracks through the Eastern Rhodopes. - From the Baths one can reach the Sharapanite in about an hour walk.
The Sharapani are unique Thracian wineries. You will see huge vessels carved out in plain rock and connected with channels for transporting wine.
- The fortress of Tsar Ivan Assen II
7 kilometres to the north-west of the town and 2 kilometres from the village of Klokotnitsa are the remains of the fortress of Tsar Ivan Assen II as well as the memorial that commemorates the battle of 1230, when Tsar Ivan Asen II captured the Despot of Epir - Theodor Komnin. You can visit the complex using the regular bus-lines from and to Haskovo.
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