Stara Zagora is one of the most ancient towns in Bulgaria, situated under the southern slopes of Sredna Gora Mountain, 197 m above the sea level. The town is located 231 km east of Sofia, 90 km northeast of Plovdiv and 70 km southwest of Sliven.
Mostly due to its central position this town has a rich and interesting history. During the 6th century B.C., it was a major Thracian settlement called Beroe. In the 2nd century B.C. not far from Beroe the Romans set up the town Ulpia Augusta Trayana. At the beginning of the 6th century AD the town was destroyed later on to be populated by incoming Slavic tribes, who named it Vereya. During the 9th century AD, the town became an important military, strategic and cultural centre of a vast district under the name of Borui.
After conquering it, the Turks name it Eski Hisar (The Old Castle), and sometime later gave it another name Eski Zagra (The Fertile Place).
At the end of 50’s of XIX century the Bulgarian name Jeleznik was given. In 1871 the name of Stara Zagora was officially recognized.
During the National Revival Stara Zagora is an important business centre. The town was put to the torch and ruined during the Liberation war.
After the Liberation the town was yet built once again. A rapid economic and cultural progress followed. The first provincial opera opened in Stara Zagora and the first radio programme was also broadcasted in this town.
Stara Zagora is commonly known as the “town of lime-trees and poets”. It is the birthplace of the writers Georgi Bakalov, Kiril Hristov, Dimitar Podvarzachov, Nikolai Liliev, Veselin Hanchev, the famous opera singer Hristina Morfova, the painters Anton and Georgi Mitovi, Vasil Kostakiev, Mario Zekov, Atanas Mihov, Dimitar Gudjenov.

Landmarks
The whole central part of the town is proclaimed archeological reserve.
The Bereket hill is the biggest prehistoric settlement excavated in Bulgaria. Scientists have found the remains of 2 dwellings dated to the early neolith – the middle of the 6th millennium B.C. and they are the best preserved such finds in Europe to date.
The antique forum Augusta Trayana is one of the most monumental facilities built in the Roman city of Augusta Trayana.
Late antiquity floorage mosaic of the guest room of a rich house from 4th century is situated in the centre of Augusta Trayana.
Late antiquity municipal building with mosaics (4th – 6th century) can be seen in the cash hall of the Central Post Office.
The “Hilendar cloister” is situated in the yard of the “St. Dimitar” church.
The memorial complex “The defenders of Stara Zagora 1877” is 50-meters tall monument erected in 1977.
The “Metodi Kusev” park (the Ayazmo) is a big, artificial green park arranged over the slopes of the Sredna Gora in the northern part of the town.
Astronomic observatory and the planetarium “Youri Gagarin” is located on the top floor of high school of foreign languages “R. Rolane”.

Museums
The Municipal Museum of History;
The house-museum “City life in the 19th century” is located in the Hadzhiangelov house, built in 1883]
The house-museum "Geo Milev" is a rich, modern, and well-arranged museum to visit.

Surrounding areas
The Stara Zagora mineral baths spa resort is situated 15 km northwest of the town. It offers numerous opportunities for recreation and rest, boarding and entertainment.
In the area of “Mechi kladenetz” there are old copper mines dating back to the 4th millennium B.C.
The resort village of ‘Yagoda’ is located 20 km north of Stara Zagora.
Northeast of the town is the village of Karanovo. A place of interest there is the Karanevo mould.