VALLEY OF ROSES AND THRACIAN KINGS

Location
Kazanlak, well known as the City of Roses and Thracian Kings, is located in the lovely Rose Valley, at the foot of Stara Planina mountain. Kazanlak region is characterized by soft winter and a few days with snow coverage, early spring, moderate and warm summer and cool fall.

Sport and tourism
In Kazanlak surroundings there are opportunities for hiking and bicycling, orientation, alpinism, scrambling, skiing. There are organized interesting excursions on high-mountain routes with guides. Airport, located 4 km south-east from the city, and the Club for Parachutism offer everything needed for training to fans of parachutism and to professional parachutists. Local company – delta-gliders maker, offers air rides above the valley.

Balneology
Pavel Banja resort is located 20 km west of Kazanlak at the Northern foot of Sredna Gora mountain. It has been well known for long years for its seven healing springs, used yet in ancient times. 5 km south-east of Kazanlak and 2 km away from Ovoshnik village are located Kazanlak Mineral Baths – a spa resort of local importance. Close to the Baths there are two pools with mineral water and a beach.

Nature has combined beauty and majesty of the Balkan with fertility of Tundja river valley. Warm mineral springs in Pavel Banja and in villages Ovoshnik and Jagoda make the region very attractive for year-round tourism.

Nature
In Kazanlak region there are various wood and plant species among which most common are the oak, the elm and the walnut. Next to Kran village there is saved a Walnut Forest and next to Tulovo village has survived centuries-old oak forest. Climatic conditions and soils here are appropriate for growing oil-bearing roses, mint, lavender, basil, and marigold.

“Leshnica” preserve saves various and special ecosystems in the low-mountain forest belt. Beech forests are 160 years old. Preserve is shelter for deers, royal slags, wild boars, martens, bears, day birds and night birds of prey.

“Kamenshtica” preserve saves ecosystems of mixed 60-170 years old broad-leaved forests. Preserve is home for bears, royal slags, wild boars, deers. Protected area “Eninsko Zdrelo” includes the slopes above the bed of Eninska river and combines forests with beautiful rock formations. “Bears” is a natural landmark, protecting an attractive rock formation in the land of Kran village.

For centuries Rose valley has been the region producing the priceless Bulgarian rose oil.

HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL SIGHTS

The most precious things in Kazanlak are the proofs of material culture of Ancient people and especially the Thracian heritage.
Kazanlak Vault is one of the nine objects in Bulgaria included in the UNESCO list of historical and architectural monuments of world importance. It is located in the north part of Kazanlak and is dated from IV-III centuries B.C.
In the SAINT MOUND, revealed on 19th of August 2004, was found a stone vault - sarcophagus with many golden objects from the rich Trhacian culture (V century B.C.). The vault is connected to the name of powerful king Theres – founder of the state of Odrisses. The most important finds in this vault are a unique masque with impressive weight, probably owned by king Theres, and a heavy golden ring with an image of athlete on it. The mound is part of a compound with many others which have turned the region into the Valley of Thracian Kings, a proof for the genius architectural skills of Thracians.

The Vault of the Thracian King Sevt III has been found in the mound Goliamata Kosmatka. Among the most precious finds there have been bronze head of a man with beard and eyes of semi-precious stones, many bronze and silver appliances, refined golden cup and golden wreath with oak leaves and acorns.
In the old part of Kazanlak – the Kulata district, where is situated the world known Kazanlak Thracian Vault, is also located the romantic cobblestone paved street “Mirska”. There can be found architectural monuments from the Renaissance which form the Ethnographic compound “Kulata” .
City Historical Museum “Iskra” was founded in 1901 and is one of the oldest in the country. It has more than 70 000 exponents.

City Gallery of Arts is situated in the building of museum and is one of the oldest and richest in the country.
The only one of its kind in Bulgaria is the Museum of Rose which follows the development of traditional and modern rose production in Bulgaria since its formation to present days.
In not so distant past Kazanlak has been famous craft city. Today, as an attraction, in the Historical and Ethnographic Complex tourists can watch demonstrations of coppersmith, making of traditional folklore instruments, primitive rose oil production as well as to visit Renaissance houses.

In immediate vicinity, north of Kazanlak are located the spots National Park–Museum Shipka – Buzludja and Monument of Freedom on the Shipka peak – a symbol of Bulgarian national independence.

15 km away from Kazanlak, close to Shipka town is located the unique Temple-Monument “Birth of Jesus” , built in the Russian church architectural style from 10th century. It is resounded with orthodox music.

Calendar of Events
Every year from 25th of March to 1st of April in Kazanlak take place Chudomirovi Celebrations of culture with concerts, exhibitions and performances of foreign participants.

A wonderful attraction for local people and for tourists is the spring custom Sirni Zagovezni with mummer’s games in Pavel Banja and in villages Dunavci, Turia, Tuza, Gabarevo and Tarnichene. Village Tarnichene attracts tourists also with its functioning rose oil factory.

Mysteries in the Valley is a unique performance based on an ancient Thracian ritual (IV-III centuries B.C.). Performance takes place after the sunset on a natural stage, north of the world known Thracian Vault, in the park “Tjulbeto”. The place is sacral and emits positive energy. The end of the ritual is marked by a feast to celebrate the new Thracian king.

Tourists – participants in the performance try wine and appetizers, prepared according to original Thracian recipes as well as fruits from the lands of Thracians.

'Bulgarka' /Bulgarian Woman/ Natural Park
Bulgarka Natural Park is located on the north slopes of Central Stara planina mountain, above the towns of Gabrovo and Tryavna. Its area is caracterized with diverse releif and ground forms: real mountains; river valleys; hills; saddles ridge rakenessnes. Its central position in Bulgaria and the specific of both releife and climate have been attracting peoples' attention since ancient times. The historical datum show that strategicly important roads had run trough these places and have connected North to South, and the ridge of Stara planina mountain was concidered as natural frontier. This determins the very rich historical heritage of the region.
The specific character of the mountain, the transition from the high central Balkan, more ductile round forms of Eastern Stara planina mountain and the related natural landscapes, diverse flora and fauna, rich cultural heritage were the reasons to be established Bulgarka Natural park.

Bulgarka Natural park was established on 09.08.2002 under order №WD-775, by Ministry of environment and water. Its aim is to protect beech-tree forest ecosystems, flora, fauna and cultural-historical heritage of the region. Tha park's territory includes the springs of Yantra river and its upstream tributaries. Park's total area is 21772,2 ha and includes portion of the areas of nine communities in both Tryavna and Gabrovo Municipalities. Natural park also includes: part of the National-park museum 'Shipka-Buzludja'; 'Etara' open air museum; protected areas Sokolsky Monastery, Mahchenitza-Yovovtzi.

Park's territory includes the ridge part of Shipka and Tryavna mountains. From Uzana and Osenikova polyana areas on west, to protected area 'Studen kladenetz' on east, ajoining north slopes and part of the corresponding Fore-Balkan. In the ground morphology there are five different parts: "Shipchensko-Buzludjanska" - this is the part with the highest avarage altitude /Karadjova kula peak - 1511m/, the ridge part of Tryavna's mountain /with highest part Bedek peak - 1488m/, Studen kladenetz; Konarskoto, the north part of Shipka mountain; north slope of Gabrovian Fore-Balkan; north slope of Tryavna mountain and part of Tryavna Fore-Balkan.