Stara Zagora: Culture, History and Spa Resort

Stara Zagora Municipality lies in the Srednogorie region, which includes the eastern part of the Upper Thracian Plain and mainly the basin of the Sazliyka River. The terrain slopes gently to the southeast and features flat, gently undulating river lowlands. Elevations range from 100 to 300 meters. Besides Stara Zagora, localities within the municipality include Bogomilovo and Starozagorski bani.

The permanent exhibition at the Regional Historical Museum of Stara Zagora spans from the 6th millennium BC to the recent past. It opened on March 3, 2009, covers three levels, and presents more than 1,700 artifacts. The museum’s collection is distinct from the exhibition: it comprises around 100,000 movable cultural artifacts, from prehistory to the present day.

The ancient forum complex of Augusta Traiana covers about 7 decares. Its features include a stone square with a statue pedestal, an amphitheater for more than 1,300 spectators, baths, fortification walls, the West Gate, and part of the ancient main commercial street, the decumanus maximus. The complex also serves as a venue for performances, concerts, and other events, and visitors can walk along the ancient street.

The Museum of Neolithic Dwellings preserves one of the best-preserved remains of a residential building in Europe, dating from the early 6th millennium BC. Its permanent exhibition displays ceramic vessels and figurines, jewelry, tools, and human figures made of marble. The Museum of Religions offers a different historical focus: it presents a multi-layered place of worship where temples to different deities were built one on top of another over thousands of years.

Starozagorski Mineral Baths is a balneological spa resort, 12 km northwest of Stara Zagora. It lies in the southern, forested foothills of the Sarnena Mountains, part of the Sredna Gora range. Its landscape and spa-resort character therefore differ from Stara Zagora’s urban historical and museum sites.

Roman history is also present here. A bath complex was built in the 2nd century, during the reign of Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, by Ulpius Hieronymus, high priest of Augusta Traiana and guardian of the imperial cult; it remained in use until the 12th century. A total of 2,500 square meters of the imperial-era bath complex have been excavated. It comprises 12 rooms, including three pools for lukewarm, hot, and cold water, two changing rooms, a vestibule, and a large hall, a nymphaeum.

Every August, the National Thracian Folklore Festival “Bogorodichna Stapka” takes place at the resort. More than 2,000 performers from all of Bulgaria’s folklore regions gather for the event. The program includes singing groups, dance ensembles, traditional customs groups, orchestras, and solo performers.

The “Bogorodichna Stapka” natural phenomenon in Starozagorski Mineral Baths is a rock formation shaped like a human footprint; the water there never dries up. In Stara Zagora, the zoo offers another point of interest: founded on April 26, 1957, it is home to 80 species of mammals, birds, and amphibians. A centuries-old plane tree also stands in Bedechka Park. Its seed is said to have been planted more than five centuries ago; local traditions and legends about the city’s history are associated with the tree.

For travel to the area, the Trakia Motorway, the I-5 national road between Ruse and Svilengrad, and the II-66 national road between Sofia and Burgas pass through the municipality. The Trakia runs 10 km south of Stara Zagora and has the European route designation E-80; the I-5 is classified as E-85. Stara Zagora railway station is an important railway junction where three main lines of the Bulgarian railway network intersect.

If you want to compare other destinations in the wider travel selection, you can also find Chirpan, Pavel Banya, Kazanlak, Radnevo, Gurkovo and Maglizh.

How large is the permanent exhibition at the Regional Historical Museum?

It covers three levels and presents more than 1,700 artifacts. It opened on March 3, 2009.

How far is Starozagorski Mineral Baths from Stara Zagora?

The balneological spa resort is 12 km northwest of Stara Zagora.

When does the “Bogorodichna Stapka” folklore festival take place?

The National Thracian Folklore Festival takes place every August in Starozagorski Mineral Baths.

To the wider travel overview: Stara Zagora Province.