Bulgaria Guide
The Sredna Gora and the Valley of the Roses
The most direct route between Sofia and the Black Sea coast cuts straight across central Bulgaria, between the mountains of the Balkan Range to the north, and the Sredna Gora to the south. Lining the valleys of the latter are some of Bulgaria's most historic villages, renowned for their folkloric and revolutionary traditions.
Between the Sredna Gora and Balkan ranges lies the Valley of the Roses (really two valleys: the upper reaches of the Stryama and the upper reaches of the Tundzha), named after the rose plantations to which the area owes its wealth. Though the valley is at its best when the rose crop is harvested in May, interest is provided throughout the year by the historic settlements lining the valley floor.
Highlights
1 Koprivshtitsa A beautifully preserved museum town, famous as the site of the April Rising of 1876, and home to the finest National Revival architecture in Bulgaria.
2 Starosel Enigmatic burial mounds from the fifth century BC, excavated in 2000 and now one of the most-visited archeological sites in the country.
3 Vasil Levski's Birthplace, Karlovo This modest dwelling was once home to Bulgaria's great national hero – don't miss the little chapel outside, a virtual shrine to the "Apostle of Freedom".
4 The Thracian Tomb, Kazanlak A reproduction of the nearby burial chamber, with its colourful and detailed murals illustratinga Thracian funeral feast.
5 The Shipka Pass Famous as the scene of truly heroic resistance by Bulgarian and Russian forces against a much larger Turkish army in 1877.
6 The Neolithic Dwellings, Stara Zagora Dating from 5500 BC, these domestic remains are among the most important archeological treasures in Bulgaria.
7 Zheravna A restful highland village of cobbled alleys and wooden houses.