Tourist Attractions Around Stara Zagora Region

In Stara Zagora.....

Neolithic Dwellings

During the construction of the large hospital in Stara Zagora in 1969, several Neolithic Houses were excavated. These date back to 5500 BC and two dwellings remain preserved as they were found. The houses have been covered by a building to house the small museum and preserve the findings, such as pottery and household implements. English language tours can be arranged by appointment and the museum is open most days.

Roman Ruins

There are a number of Roman Ruins around the city but the most impressive are probably the old Roman Theatre next to the court building and the large and well preserved mosaic inside the Post Office on the ground floor.

Opera House

Close to the City Garden is the newly restored Opera house, rebuilt after fire burnt down the old Opera. The Stara Zagora Opera is the oldest and most prestigious opera company in Bulgaria.

Museum Houses

There are a couple of museum houses, open by appointment to the public and showing how people lived during the National Revival period. There is the Museum of Nineteenth-Century Town Life very close to the centre and the Geo Milev House-Museum about the poet who was killed for his poem about the 1923 Uprising.

Art Gallery

The Art Gallery in the centre of the city shows art work by local artists and is open most days of the week.

Stara Zagora Mineral Baths

The small mineral spa resort of Stara Zagora is located around 15km to the west of the city in the forested hills. The spa area was first developed by the Romans in the 2nd Century AD and during communist times was a popular place for companies to have rest homes for their workers. A number of these have now been renovated and converted into hotels, including two 3 and 4 star hotels with pool complexes and massage facilities.

The area is a great place to relax and enjoy walks in the hills. A few kilometres up from the spa area, a dirt track (just about accessible by car) leads to a pilgrimage site know as the 'Madonna's footprint'. This is a large rock protruding from the earth and it is said that if you squeeze through the crack in the rock and climb out the top, your wish will come true. The area is supposed to be a central point for the earth's magnetism and is a place of worship. A tiny church has been erected by the rock. However, more impressive is the ancient Sarcophagus lying to the right of the rock. 

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