Stara Stara ZagoraZagora

City of straight streets, liCity of straight streets, lindennden trees trees and poets and poets

Remains of the ancient Roman Theatre.

Stara Zagora is an old city, situated at the foot of the Sredna Gora mountains in southern Bulgaria. The historians believe that it is one of the most ancient settlements in Europe. It has been inhabited for at least 8000 years. Its long existence was marked with many names - Beroe, Augusta Trayana, Vereya, Irinopolis, Borouy, Eski Zagra, Zheleznik, Stara Zagora, and also with many variants of those names.

At the same place.

Both the remains of Neolithic dwellings (6th Both the remains of Neolithic dwellings (6th century B.C.), and the various archeological excavations century B.C.), and the various archeological excavations from Thracian and Roman times witness to its millennial from Thracian and Roman times witness to its millennial history. It was established by the Thracians in VI century history. It was established by the Thracians in VI century B.C. under the name of Beroe. Later (II-IV century A.D.) B.C. under the name of Beroe. Later (II-IV century A.D.) when Thrace had been included in the Roman Empire, when Thrace had been included in the Roman Empire, the city was rebuilt again, next to the ancient Thracian the city was rebuilt again, next to the ancient Thracian settlement, experiencing its peak in development, when settlement, experiencing its peak in development, when it was named Avgusta Trayana (Ulia Augusta Trayaa) in it was named Avgusta Trayana (Ulia Augusta Trayaa) in honour of Emperor Marcus Trayan. honour of Emperor Marcus Trayan.

The memories of the Roman ages.

The excavation of the remains from the The excavation of the remains from the forum, thermal baths, and the city wall of the forum, thermal baths, and the city wall of the southern and western gateways reveal the city’s southern and western gateways reveal the city’s importance, as the second largest in the importance, as the second largest in the province. During the centuries, it has also been province. During the centuries, it has also been named Vereya (VI-ХII c.) and Irinopolis (VIII c.) – named Vereya (VI-ХII c.) and Irinopolis (VIII c.) – after the Byzantine Empress Irina. During the after the Byzantine Empress Irina. During the Middle Ages it was named Boruy (ХIII-ХIV c.), Middle Ages it was named Boruy (ХIII-ХIV c.), while after their conquest the Turks called it Eski while after their conquest the Turks called it Eski Zaara. During the second half of the 19th century Zaara. During the second half of the 19th century it was called, for a short period, it was called, for a short period, JJeleznik. It eleznik. It received its present name, Stara Zagora, in 1871.received its present name, Stara Zagora, in 1871.

An another look.

During the Russo-Turkish War, in 1877, some During the Russo-Turkish War, in 1877, some of the most violent and intense battles took place of the most violent and intense battles took place near Stara Zagora. That year the Turks burnt the near Stara Zagora. That year the Turks burnt the city and razed it to the ground, leaving Eski Mosque city and razed it to the ground, leaving Eski Mosque as the only untouched building. The city received as the only untouched building. The city received its freedom on January 23rd 1878, but according to its freedom on January 23rd 1878, but according to the Berlin Treaty, it remained within the the Berlin Treaty, it remained within the autonomous region of Eastern Rumelia. Numerous autonomous region of Eastern Rumelia. Numerous monuments on the territory of the city remind of monuments on the territory of the city remind of these dramatic for all Bulgaria events and the these dramatic for all Bulgaria events and the memorial “The Defenders of Stara Zagora” was memorial “The Defenders of Stara Zagora” was raised, celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the raised, celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Liberation at the place of the bloodiest battles. Liberation at the place of the bloodiest battles.

The The memorial “The Defenders of Stara Zagora”memorial “The Defenders of Stara Zagora”..

The rebuilding of the city was started by The rebuilding of the city was started by Aleko Bogoridi on October 5th 1879, in accordance Aleko Bogoridi on October 5th 1879, in accordance with the architectural plan developed by the Czech with the architectural plan developed by the Czech architect Ljubomir Bayer, which made Stara Zagora architect Ljubomir Bayer, which made Stara Zagora into the first post-liberation city with novel and into the first post-liberation city with novel and contemporary urban planning. In 1895, the bishop contemporary urban planning. In 1895, the bishop of Stara Zagora, Methodiy Kussev, established, on of Stara Zagora, Methodiy Kussev, established, on the slopes of the mountain, the magnificent the slopes of the mountain, the magnificent “Ayazmoto” Park. At the expense of enormous “Ayazmoto” Park. At the expense of enormous hardship, and with determination, he turned the hardship, and with determination, he turned the bare, rocky, and arid hills into a marvelous park, bare, rocky, and arid hills into a marvelous park, containing species of trees unique for Bulgaria.containing species of trees unique for Bulgaria.

A panoramic view from east to west.

Nowadays, Stara Zagora is one of the biggest towns in Bulgaria, with a population of about 150 000 inhabitants. The climate of the town is temperate continental with average annual temperature +13° C. Stara Zagora region is rich in fertile land. It is a strategic crossroad between the East and the West, the North and the South.

Stara Zagora is the only town in Bulgaria with straight perpendicular streets.

And … another look – from south to north.

The parks are the most favorite places for walk.

A view from park “Ayazmoto”.

The house – museum of Geo Milev – one of the famous poets in Bulgaria.

Many of the city’s cultural institutions have Many of the city’s cultural institutions have sprung from amateur community clubs. As a result, sprung from amateur community clubs. As a result, as early as 1897, the “Kaval” music society was as early as 1897, the “Kaval” music society was established, which in 1925 progressed into the first established, which in 1925 progressed into the first opera house in Bulgaria outside of the capital, Sofia. opera house in Bulgaria outside of the capital, Sofia. In 1905 the “Theatre” association was established, In 1905 the “Theatre” association was established, which began organizing the theatrical life of the city which began organizing the theatrical life of the city and built the city’s Dramatic Theatre house. Two and built the city’s Dramatic Theatre house. Two years later the “Avgusta Trayana” archeological years later the “Avgusta Trayana” archeological society was founded, being the ancestor of the society was founded, being the ancestor of the Historical Museum. With private funding, several Historical Museum. With private funding, several cinemas opened their doors in the beginning of the cinemas opened their doors in the beginning of the last century. The citizens of Stara Zagora are also last century. The citizens of Stara Zagora are also proud of the first regional radio station in Bulgaria, proud of the first regional radio station in Bulgaria, which began transmission in February 1936. During which began transmission in February 1936. During that period, about 145 periodicals and over a that period, about 145 periodicals and over a thousand Bulgarian and foreign books were printed thousand Bulgarian and foreign books were printed in the city. in the city.

The Theatre of Stara Zagora.

…in the snow.

During the second half of XX century, new During the second half of XX century, new cultural and science institutions were founded – the cultural and science institutions were founded – the Puppet Theatre, the “Zachary Knyazhevsky” library, Puppet Theatre, the “Zachary Knyazhevsky” library, the “Literaturna Stara Zagora” house, the Art the “Literaturna Stara Zagora” house, the Art Gallery, the Astronomical Observatory, the Trakia Gallery, the Astronomical Observatory, the Trakia University, as well as many other specialized University, as well as many other specialized educational institutions. The Stara Zagora region educational institutions. The Stara Zagora region has a cultural tradition with an impressive number has a cultural tradition with an impressive number of talented poets, writers, artists, musicians, and of talented poets, writers, artists, musicians, and actors. actors.

The building of opera in the snow.

Contemporary Stara Zagora is a city with Contemporary Stara Zagora is a city with a developed economy and intense cultural life. a developed economy and intense cultural life. Key economic sectors are metal processing, Key economic sectors are metal processing, machine-building, hydraulics, food industry, machine-building, hydraulics, food industry, tobacco, beer and wine production, wood tobacco, beer and wine production, wood processing and furniture manufacturing, textile, processing and furniture manufacturing, textile, clothing, cosmetics, and perfumes.clothing, cosmetics, and perfumes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stara_Zagora

The school “Zheleznik”.

Our school is situated in a residential Our school is situated in a residential district called “Zheleznik”. The name of our district called “Zheleznik”. The name of our school is the same. school is the same. “Zheleznik” is in the “Zheleznik” is in the Western part of the town and it is one of the Western part of the town and it is one of the districts of Stara Zagora built recently. There are districts of Stara Zagora built recently. There are mainly blocks of flats in it. The homes are nearly, mainly blocks of flats in it. The homes are nearly, so the children walk to school because it is very so the children walk to school because it is very close. Our school is very big and beautiful! It is close. Our school is very big and beautiful! It is the most modern and newest school in Stara the most modern and newest school in Stara Zagora. Zagora.

The students have made these stained glasses

And these wall-paintings, too.

A view from one of our classrooms. You can see the map and the flag of Bulgaria in

this photo.

The endThe end