Stara Zagora is an ancient city in southern Bulgaria that has been continually inhabited for at least 8,000 years. It was originally established by the Thracians as Beroe in the 6th century BC and later rebuilt by the Romans as Augusta Trayana, reaching its peak under the Roman Empire. Throughout its long history, Stara Zagora has experienced development under various rulers and civilizations, taking on multiple names. Today it is a modern city with a population of about 150,000, a center of industry, and active cultural life.
3. 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.
5. Both the remains of Neolithic dwellings (6th centuryBoth the remains of Neolithic dwellings (6th century
B.C.), and the various archeological excavations fromB.C.), and the various archeological excavations from
Thracian and Roman times witness to its millennialThracian and Roman times witness to its millennial
history. It was established by the Thracians in VI centuryhistory. 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 Thracianthe city was rebuilt again, next to the ancient Thracian
settlement, experiencing its peak in development, whensettlement, experiencing its peak in development, when
it was named Avgusta Trayana (Ulia Augusta Trayaa) init was named Avgusta Trayana (Ulia Augusta Trayaa) in
honour of Emperor Marcus Trayan.honour of Emperor Marcus Trayan.
7. The excavation of the remains from the forum,The excavation of the remains from the forum,
thermal baths, and the city wall of the southern andthermal baths, and the city wall of the southern and
western gateways reveal the city’s importance, as thewestern gateways reveal the city’s importance, as the
second largest in the province. During the centuries, itsecond largest in the province. During the centuries, it
has also been named Vereya (VI-ХII c.) and Irinopolishas also been named Vereya (VI-ХII c.) and Irinopolis
(VIII c.) – after the Byzantine Empress Irina. During the(VIII c.) – after the Byzantine Empress Irina. During the
Middle Ages it was named Boruy (ХIII-ХIV c.), while afterMiddle Ages it was named Boruy (ХIII-ХIV c.), while after
their conquest the Turks called it Eski Zaara. During thetheir conquest the Turks called it Eski Zaara. During the
second half of the 19th century it was called, for a shortsecond half of the 19th century it was called, for a short
period,period, JJeleznik. It received its present name, Staraeleznik. It received its present name, Stara
Zagora, in 1871.Zagora, in 1871.
9. During the Russo-Turkish War, in 1877, some of theDuring the Russo-Turkish War, in 1877, some of the
most violent and intense battles took place near Staramost violent and intense battles took place near Stara
Zagora. That year the Turks burnt the city and razed it toZagora. That year the Turks burnt the city and razed it to
the ground, leaving Eski Mosque as the only untouchedthe ground, leaving Eski Mosque as the only untouched
building. The city received its freedom on January 23rdbuilding. The city received its freedom on January 23rd
1878, but according to the Berlin Treaty, it remained1878, but according to the Berlin Treaty, it remained
within the autonomous region of Eastern Rumelia.within the autonomous region of Eastern Rumelia.
Numerous monuments on the territory of the city remindNumerous monuments on the territory of the city remind
of these dramatic for all Bulgaria events and theof these dramatic for all Bulgaria events and the
memorial “The Defenders of Stara Zagora” was raised,memorial “The Defenders of Stara Zagora” was raised,
celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Liberation at thecelebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Liberation at the
place of the bloodiest battles.place of the bloodiest battles.
10. TheThe memorial “The Defenders of Stara Zagora”memorial “The Defenders of Stara Zagora”..
11. The rebuilding of the city was started by AlekoThe rebuilding of the city was started by Aleko
Bogoridi on October 5th 1879, in accordance with theBogoridi on October 5th 1879, in accordance with the
architectural plan developed by the Czech architectarchitectural plan developed by the Czech architect
Ljubomir Bayer, which made Stara Zagora into the firstLjubomir Bayer, which made Stara Zagora into the first
post-liberation city with novel and contemporary urbanpost-liberation city with novel and contemporary urban
planning. In 1895, the bishop of Stara Zagora, Methodiyplanning. In 1895, the bishop of Stara Zagora, Methodiy
Kussev, established, on the slopes of the mountain, theKussev, established, on the slopes of the mountain, the
magnificent “Ayazmoto” Park. At the expense ofmagnificent “Ayazmoto” Park. At the expense of
enormous hardship, and with determination, he turnedenormous hardship, and with determination, he turned
the bare, rocky, and arid hills into a marvelous park,the bare, rocky, and arid hills into a marvelous park,
containing species of trees unique for Bulgaria.containing species of trees unique for Bulgaria.
13. 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.
17. The house – museum of Geo Milev – one of the
famous poets in Bulgaria.
18. Many of the city’s cultural institutions have sprungMany of the city’s cultural institutions have sprung
from amateur community clubs. As a result, as early asfrom amateur community clubs. As a result, as early as
1897, the “Kaval” music society was established, which1897, the “Kaval” music society was established, which
in 1925 progressed into the first opera house in Bulgariain 1925 progressed into the first opera house in Bulgaria
outside of the capital, Sofia. In 1905 the “Theatre”outside of the capital, Sofia. In 1905 the “Theatre”
association was established, which began organizing theassociation was established, which began organizing the
theatrical life of the city and built the city’s Dramatictheatrical life of the city and built the city’s Dramatic
Theatre house. Two years later the “Avgusta Trayana”Theatre house. Two years later the “Avgusta Trayana”
archeological society was founded, being the ancestor ofarcheological society was founded, being the ancestor of
the Historical Museum. With private funding, severalthe Historical Museum. With private funding, several
cinemas opened their doors in the beginning of the lastcinemas opened their doors in the beginning of the last
century. The citizens of Stara Zagora are also proud ofcentury. The citizens of Stara Zagora are also proud of
the first regional radio station in Bulgaria, which beganthe first regional radio station in Bulgaria, which began
transmission in February 1936. During that period, abouttransmission in February 1936. During that period, about
145 periodicals and over a thousand Bulgarian and145 periodicals and over a thousand Bulgarian and
foreign books were printed in the city.foreign books were printed in the city.
21. During the second half of XX century, new culturalDuring the second half of XX century, new cultural
and science institutions were founded – the Puppetand science institutions were founded – the Puppet
Theatre, the “Zachary Knyazhevsky” library, theTheatre, the “Zachary Knyazhevsky” library, the
“Literaturna Stara Zagora” house, the Art Gallery, the“Literaturna Stara Zagora” house, the Art Gallery, the
Astronomical Observatory, the Trakia University, asAstronomical Observatory, the Trakia University, as
well as many other specialized educational institutions.well as many other specialized educational institutions.
The Stara Zagora region has a cultural tradition with anThe Stara Zagora region has a cultural tradition with an
impressive number of talented poets, writers, artists,impressive number of talented poets, writers, artists,
musicians, and actors.musicians, and actors.
23. Contemporary Stara Zagora is a city with aContemporary Stara Zagora is a city with a
developed economy and intense cultural life. Keydeveloped economy and intense cultural life. Key
economic sectors are metal processing, machine-economic sectors are metal processing, machine-
building, hydraulics, food industry, tobacco, beer andbuilding, hydraulics, food industry, tobacco, beer and
wine production, wood processing and furniturewine production, wood processing and furniture
manufacturing, textile, clothing, cosmetics, andmanufacturing, textile, clothing, cosmetics, and
perfumes.perfumes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stara_Zagorahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stara_Zagora
26. Our school is situated in a residential district calledOur school is situated in a residential district called
“Zheleznik”. The name of our school is the same.“Zheleznik”. The name of our school is the same.
“Zheleznik” is in the Western part of the town and it is“Zheleznik” is in the Western part of the town and it is
one of the districts of Stara Zagora built recently. Thereone of the districts of Stara Zagora built recently. There
are mainly blocks of flats in it. The homes are nearly, soare mainly blocks of flats in it. The homes are nearly, so
the children walk to school because it is very close. Ourthe children walk to school because it is very close. Our
school is very big and beautiful! It is the most modernschool is very big and beautiful! It is the most modern
and newest school in Stara Zagora.and newest school in Stara Zagora.
