Stara Zagora, Bulgaria The Stara Zagora Region The Stara Zagora region has one of the best climates in Bulgaria because of the southern location and because the Balkan Mountains serve as barrier for the winds from North, although snow still covers the mountains. Vegetation in the Stara Zagora region tends to be around one month ahead of flowers and vegetables on the northern side of the mountains. The economy for the region is very developed which is an important consideration given that many rural areas of Bulgaria are still very poor. So you have a combination of large cities within easy reach with all the amenities you would expect and rural properties in the mountains. One of the main motorways in Bulgaria runs directly to this region from Sofia to Stara Zagora which is about 200 km. The Burgas airport (on the coast) is 180 km away from Stara Zagora and Plovdiv airport is only around an hour away. Several Pan European Transport Corridors run through Stara Zagora and because of this there is an active and strong business market in the area and much EU funding. Various international firms have opened multi million euro facilities and developments in the area. New technology parks are being built as well as superstores, housing complexes and so on. This sustainable economic growth gives the region good opportunity for long term investments. Stara Zagora is the 5th largest city in Bulgaria and the main city in the region and has a medical university with university clinics so there is a high level of health service. There is also a veterinary university. It has a lovely pedestrianised centre with many street cafes and restaurants, an opera theatre, Roman ruins, neolithic remains and more. It is a nice small city and on summer evenings the streets are lined with chairs and tables for outside dining. There are some lovely restaurants and bars, large supermarkets, a fantastic park with a small zoo, football stadium, tennis courts and lots of walks. Many of the residents of Stara Zagora, especially in the summer, head for the park to meet friends, sit and eat and drink or take the children to play. Below are a number of pictures showing different aspects of the city - the typical high rise blocks on the outskirts, the modern shopping centres, tree lined streets, Roman ruins..... The city is one of the oldest in Europe with two dwellings dating back to the 6th century B.C. The town itself was founded in the 2nd century A.D. Much Roman architecture still remains, including the amphitheatre, large mosiacs and other ruins.  In 1364 the city was conquered by the Ottomans, and during the fighting for liberation from the Turks it was the scene of a major battle which resulted in the entire city being burnt to the ground and thousands killed. The city was then rebuilt on a grid structure and so practically every street except one is in a straight line which makes finding your way around fairly easy. A massive new business park is currently being built, due to be finished in 2009. This is the largest business park in the Balkans and 300 million BGN are being invested into the project. Apart from a huge Technopolis store and a Mr Bricolage DIY store (both already open) the first project phase involves the construction of a cinema and various shops (now open). A storage facility, office and corporate buildings will be constructed, as well. The development is being built in the eastern part of the city, close to the Bourgas highway. The city itself has a large Billa and a huge Metro, several big DIY stores and a number of technical stores selling every electrical appliance you will ever need (and many you don't). There are plenty of smaller bathroom shops, supermarkets, car show rooms and so on.... The Stara Zagora region lies in what is known as the Valley of the Roses as it is the main rose growing region of Bulgaria. It is very good agricultural land and lies between the Balkan Mountain range and the smaller ‘Middle Forest’ mountain range. The mountains are a delight for hill walkers and there are climbing cycling and hunting clubs close by to ensure all year round excitement and adventure for those who enjoy the great outdoors. The paragliding club in Kazanlak is very strong as is the parachuting club and other extreme sports. For those that prefer less dangerous pursuits you can go fishing and swimming in the large lakes, bath in the mineral spas or wander around lovely rural villages or the Thracian tombs and related museums. There are all kinds of sport facilities, tourist destinations, spa-resorts, museums, and a small ski area. Buzludja is a small ski area, about 20 minutes drive from Kazanlak. There are two decent length poma drag lifts with runs down of about 500m and a couple of smaller beginner runs. There is one 2 star renovated hotel and an older hotel plus a small basic hostel. It is a great place to go for a day's skiing and a short stay in the mountains. Ski hire (reasonable up-to-date equipment) is 10 levs a day and a lift pass is 12 levs a day. The altitude of the ski run is only around 1350 metres but usually has snow for at least a couple of months a year. Nearby is Pavel Banya, a spa resort with many balneology centres and a lot of private hotels and guesthouses. Many foreigners come here to treat their diseases especially orthopaedic complaints. There are also mineral spas just outside the city, and this area is undergoing a huge resurgence with new four-star hotels offering massage and health treatments (full body massage lasting an hour for just 40 BGN or around £20 - definitely to be recommended) and sports complexes. A golf complex is now planned for this area. There is a lake and park with old spa baths and a large outdoor pool complex. In time the spa baths will be renovated and put back into use and the lake cleaned out. The area is very pretty with lots of trails. There are also a number of Thracian tombs in the area and these have recently been opened up and explored, yielding many treasures including murials, although you cannot get into the original tomb, but only a full size replica (3 levs entrance fee).   Rural tourism is now developing and guesthouses are springing up, mainly catering for foreigners. A small guesthouse or holiday home in this area should rent out for around £100 to £250 a week depending on the facilities and size of the property. So you could combine, spa with walking, skiing in the winter, rural tourism, culture, history and so on. The area between the Balkans and Sredna Gora mountains has been compared to Tuscany, and there are many lakes & forests. The area to the east and south of Stara Zagora has a more gentle landscape with rolling hills, fields that stretch as far as the eye can see, and wooded areas. To the west lies the spa resort and many very pretty quiet mountain villages nestling among the hills. It is an incredibly beautiful area. A brand new motorway runs directly to this region from Sofia to just south of Stara Zagora and the final phases of this will be completed shortly, allowing quick and easy access to the area. There are talks of more flights into Plovdiv and cheap airlines coming. The region has an excellent central location and the sea, Greece, Turkey, and Sofia are all within travelling distance. There are all kinds of sports facilities (walking, fishing, hunting, cycling, skiing, paragliding, water sports...), tourist places (Kazanlak & the Festival of the Roses, Thracian Tombs and Museums, Roman Ruins and Neolithic Dwellings), spa-resorts, a small ski slope.....all in one region. Back to the Top >

John Clare 2009