Plovdiv

History and archaeology

Ancient Theatre — Plovdiv

Plovdiv

Marble seats form concentric rows around ancient Philippopolis’s stage. Alongside performances, the theatre hosted public assemblies and gladiatorial contests; its contemporary stage continues the city’s musical and theatrical life.

History and archaeology

Archaeological Museum — Hisarya

Hisarya

Pottery and coins demonstrate Thracian trading contacts with Aegean cities. A substantial part of the exhibition covers Roman Diocletianopolis, which flourished beside the mineral springs during the fourth–sixth centuries.

History and archaeology

Asen's Fortress — Asenovgrad

Asenovgrad

An inscription records the fortress's expansion under Tsar Ivan Asen II. Its best-preserved building is the Holy Mother of God Petrichka church, while pottery, weapons and coins illuminate medieval life here.

Monasteries and places of worship

Bachkovo Monastery

Bachkovo

Artistic treasures include the refectory frescoes and Saint Nicholas Church, painted by Zahari Zograf. The monastery ossuary preserves an earlier architectural layer, illustrating the community's long development as a cultural centre.

History and archaeology

Belintash

Vrata

The plateau consists of volcanic tuffs whose weathering created distinctive rock forms. Carved basins and channels add to the natural relief, while the cliffs provide nesting places for swifts and kestrels.

History and archaeology

Bishop's Basilica of Philippopolis — Plovdiv

Plovdiv

Two layers of colourful floor mosaics illuminate the development of late antique mosaic art. The basilica rose over earlier monumental buildings, and its ruins later became a medieval Christian cemetery.

Nature and mountains

Botev Peak — Stara planina

Stara planina

The Northern and Southern Dzhendem surround the massif with sheer cliffs and deep ravines. Snow on its slopes feeds streams and waterfalls, while the mountain observatory adds a history of meteorological research.

Nature and mountains

Central Balkan National Park

Stara planina

The park includes the highest parts of the central Balkan Mountains and nine strict reserves. Their representative old beech forests belong to UNESCO’s international heritage property protecting Europe’s ancient beech forests.

Nature and mountains

Chervenata Stena Reserve

Asenovgrad

The combination of rocks, soils and elevations creates varied habitats with endemic and relict species. Black pine and ravine forests, together with springs forming limestone tufa, contribute to the area's conservation value.

Museums and galleries

Colonel Vladimir Serafimov House Museum — Svezhen

Svezhen

Colonel Serafimov’s birthplace belongs to Svezhen’s National Revival architectural ensembles. It preserves a hiding place associated with Vasil Levski, while the neighbouring church is linked to the Adzhar manuscript school.

Monasteries and places of worship

Convent of the Presentation of the Virgin — Sopot

Sopot

The single-aisled church is partly sunk into the ground. A preserved cell associated with Hadzhi Rovoama and Rada Gospozhina recalls characters from Under the Yoke and Sopot’s literary heritage.

Nature and mountains

Dzhendema Reserve

Kalofer

Granite and limestone shape steep slopes, narrow gorges and large waterfalls. Beech and fir forests give way to subalpine meadows whose plant communities include rare and endemic species adapted to this mountain environment.

Architecture and settlements

Eirene Late Antique Building — Plovdiv

Plovdiv

Mosaics in the reception rooms feature greeting inscriptions, plant motifs and a female figure named Eirene. The colonnaded courtyard and connection with the Bishop’s Basilica suggest the resident’s elevated position.

Architecture and settlements

Hindliyan House — Plovdiv

Plovdiv

Merchant Stepan Hindliyan’s house was built in 1834–1835. Its symmetrical architecture carries rich painted decoration on walls and ceilings, while the owner’s surname recalls his commercial journeys to India in the nineteenth century.

Museums and galleries

Historical Museum — Asenovgrad

Asenovgrad

Neolithic pottery from Muldava, prehistoric idols and ancient votive plaques reveal the region’s long history. Finds from Asen’s Fortress and ecclesiastical objects trace its development as a centre of worship.

Museums and galleries

Historical Museum — Karlovo

Karlovo

The exhibition traces archaeology in the Stryama valley and local crafts. Braided-cord making and rose cultivation receive particular attention, while kukeri costumes connect seasonal ritual games with the culture of Karlovo.

Museums and galleries

Historical Museum — Klisura

Klisura

The museum occupies a community-centre memorial built through donations to commemorate the April Uprising's participants. Documents and paintings recount events, while the fundraising story reveals Klisura's enduring collective remembrance.

Museums and galleries

Historical Museum — Perushtitsa

Perushtitsa

Finds from Duhova Mound include ancient sculptures, votive tablets and coins minted in Philippopolis. They reveal the district's Thracian and Roman past, complementing the museum's account of later liberation struggles.

Museums and galleries

Hristo Botev National Museum — Kalofer

Kalofer

Exhibit from Hristo Botev National Museum — Kalofer

Botev’s personal possessions include a pocket watch and writing implements. His mother Ivanka’s spinning wheel and sewing machine illuminate the family story, while a printing press connects the exhibition with his journalism.

Museums and galleries

Ivan Vazov House Museum — Sopot

Sopot

Manuscripts and museum materials trace Vazov’s literary path from his early poetry collections in Romania to his productive Plovdiv period. They also recall his stay in Odesa, where he began Under the Yoke.

Nature and mountains

Kadrafil Peak and Hadzhi Dimitar Memorial — Svezhen

Svezhen

Local tradition connects Kadrafil with the wounded Hadzhi Dimitar's final days after the Buzludzha battle. The memorial and commemorative hike preserve this account, whose historical details remain open to discussion.

Monasteries and places of worship

Krastova Gora

Krastova gora

Chapels dedicated to the twelve apostles connect the main church with a cross donated by Tsar Boris III. The overnight vigil for the Exaltation of the Cross shapes the site's pilgrimage tradition.

Museums and galleries

Museum of Aviation

Krumovo

Exhibit from Museum of Aviation

Pilots' belongings and documents trace Bulgarian aviation and aircraft manufacturing. The Soyuz 33 descent capsule adds Georgi Ivanov's spaceflight to this account of the country's technological achievements and aerospace heritage.

Architecture and settlements

Old Karlovo Architectural Complex — Karlovo

Karlovo

Buhalov Han links former merchants' hospitality with workshops for weaving, woodcarving and Kalofer lace. At Patev House, herbs and a small distillery add another dimension to the local culture of rose production.