The city of Plovdiv (340 638 inhabitants, 160 m above sea level.) is situated in the western part of the Gornotrakiiska (Upper Thracian) Lowland, along the two banks of Maritsa, the largest river, springing out in Bulgaria, and scattered upon six unique syenite hills (called “tepeta”- hillrocks). The town is located 150 km south-east of Sofia, 270 km west of Bourgas, 140 km north-west of Svilengrad, 58 km south of Karlovo, 19 km north-west of Assenovgrad, 102 km north of Smolyan, 37 km east of the town of Pazardzhik, 90 km south-west of Stara Zagora, 75 km north-west of Haskovo. It ranks as the second Bulgarian city in population, size and significance, after the capital Sofia. The city is an important cultural, historic and tourist centre. It is a regional administrative centre, as well.
History: Being a crosspoint of major roads from Western and Central Europe to the Middle East, from the Baltic to the Mediterranean region and from the Black Sea to the Adriatic, Plovdiv has ancient millennial history. The most ancient inhabitants of these areas date back to the New Stone, Stone-copper and Bronze Ages. Later, during the 1st millennium BC, nearby the three eastern hills (Dzhambaz Tepe, Taxim Tepe and Nebet Tepe) which were practically a natural defence fortress, the Thracians founded the ancient settlement of Eumolpias. In 342 BC the town was conquered by Philip II, the Macedonian, renamed Philipopole and turned into a fortress. Later on (3rd – 1st century BC, the town already being known as Poulpoudeva, was subject to on-going invasions of the Celts. Since 1th century it was under Roman rule and was quickly grew into a key economic, cultural and political centre of Thracia Province. The town rapidly developed and occupied the entire area around the Three-hills, as a result of which the Romans named the town Trimontsium.
After the year 395, when the Roman Empire had fallen apart, the town remained in its eastern part - Byzantine. During the next two centuries the town was many times ruined and set on fire by the Huns and the Gothic tribes. The Emperor Justinian (527-565) turned it into a strategic fortress along the northern Byzantine border. At the end of 6th century the Slavs populated the area and named the town Puldin (originating from the ancient name of Poulpoudeva).In 815 Khan Krum included the town within the borderlines of Bulgaria. From this moment on until it fell under Turkish rule, Plovdiv (already named so) was subject to numerous takeovers, frequently being under the rules of either the Bulgarians or the Byzantines. In 1364 the Ottomans conquered the town and called it Phillibe. Being left far in the back area of the Ottoman Empire, the town lost its strategic location and gradually declined. It was only during the Revival Period that Plovdiv regained its glorious name of a large economic and cultural centre. A new class of craftsmen and merchants was established, having a newly formed national spirit and material wellbeing. A large number of residential housings and public facilities preserved as cultural monuments, date back to that Revival Period. Prominent Revival enlighteners, cultural and political figures - Naiden Gerov (a writer, enlightener and Consul of Russia in Plovdiv), the icon-painters Zakhari Zograf, Dimitur Zograf, Stanislav Dospevski, the wood-carver Ivan Pashkula and many others worked in the town at that time. The residence and the inn of the Turpevi Brothers gave shelter to our national Apostle Levski several times, and in 1870 a local revolutionary committee was founded.
The troops of General Gurko liberated the town on January 17, 1878. At that time this was the biggest Bulgarian town. After the Berlin Congress (1878) Plovdiv was proclaimed capital of Eastern Roumelia. It promoted an intensively diversified public and cultural life. Ivan Vazov, Konstantin Velichkov, Zakhari Stoyanov and some other reputable Bulgarians lived and worked in the town for some time. A great number of refugees came to the town from the areas of White Sea Thrace, Aegian, Pirin and Vardar Macedonia. The town hosted the proclamation of the Reunification of the Kingdom of Bulgaria and Eastern Roumelia on September 6, 1885 - an extraordinary in its significance revolutionary act, proving the strong and irreconcilable Bulgarian spirit in pursue of its national ideal. It is by no chance that this date - September the 6th - is currently an official holiday of the Republic of Bulgaria.
Landmarks: The first ranking landmark is The Old Town of Plovdiv Architecture Reserve, attracting visitors from all over the world. It covers the Three-hill area, which is the original location of the town. Almost all of the most interesting history-related sights are within the old town area: cult, residential and public housings, archaeological monuments and museums, narrow cobble-paved streets. The Holy Virgin Church dating back to 1844. St. Constantine and Elena Church dating back in 1832, St. Marina Church (1856) with a very interesting wood-carved iconostatis. Ancient (Roman) Amphitheatre is situated close to the Southern entrance of the fortress, above the road tunnel. The marble amphitheatre, built up by Emperor Mark Aurelius during the 2nd century is the best-preserved monument of those times in our lands. It frequently hosts various performances.
Nebet Tepe Archaeological Complex - remains within the Northern part of the Three-hill area. Philipopolis fortress walls can be seen within the central part of the Ancient town. Hissar Kapiya (the eastern gate of the fortress, built more than 2000 years ago). The Yellow School built in 1868, the first building constructed to serve as an educational facility in Plovdiv. The House and cellar of Hadzhi Dragan from Kalofer - currently serves as a branch of the National Cultural Monuments Institute). The house of Andrei Georgiadi (The Hadzhikalchov’s House) dating back to 1831, currently houses the creative fund of the Union of Research Workers. The House of Argir Koyumdzhiouglu built in 1847 by the master Hadzhi Georgi, presently hosts the Ethnographical museum
Transport: Plovdiv is the second significant transport centre in the country after our capital city Sofia. Two types of transport - bus and railway - connect this city to the rest of the country. There is also an existing air transport infrastructure, but currently there are no flights to and from Plovdiv. Motorway connects the city with Sofia, while major motorways connect it with Pazardzhik, Assenovgrad, Stara Zagora, Bourgas, Haskovo, Kurdzhali, Karlovo, Smolyan. The city has 3 major bus stations: Bus Station Sever (North) (, close to Philipovo railway station, servicing the lines to the north of the city in the direction of Rousse, Pleven, Troyan, Koprivshtitsa, etc.). Bus Station Yug (South) (close to the east of the central railway station, servicing the lines and routes to the southern part of the country - Blagoevgrad, Batak, Peshtera, Sliven, Svilengrad, Pazardzhik, etc.). The Express Transport Private Association is next to this Bus station, specialised in express bus transport services between the cities of Plovdiv and Sofia, having only a few bus stops in the capital, the last bus stop being at the railway station). There are some other private companies, servicing the routes to Hissar and Karlovo. Rhodopes Bus Station, (across the central railway station - a tunnel connects the two stations) services the region of the Rhodope Mountains, namely: Assenovgrad, Bachkovo Monastery, Smolyan, Chepelare, Pamporovo, Devin, Kurdzhali, Haskovo, etc. Close to Tri-mon-tsi-um Hotel, in the foyer of the Plovdiv Phil-har-mony , one can buy tickets from the City Transportation Company for bus transport to Greece.
Surrounding areas: The powerful shapes of the Rhodopes rise 10-12 km south of Plovdiv. Its vicinity and accessibility turn the mountain into a favourite site for recreation and tourism for all the citizens of Plovdiv. The existence of two resorts (Students and Byala Cherkva (White Church)), numerous chalets (Zdravets, Ruen, Chernatitsa, Rhodopski Partizani and more distant ones) as well as hundreds of kilometres of roads into the Chernatitsa sub-part of the Western Rhodopes, the dozens of kilometres of marked alleys and tracks, catering facilities and other tourist infrastructure, promote the frequent visits to the wonderful mountain sights.
Public buses start from the Rhodopes Bus Station to the villages in the foot of the mountain (Kuk-len, Hrabrino, Galabovo, and some others) which serve as starting points for various hiking tours or trips by car (see the Rhodopes related section).
