Haskovo

Where the Maritsa River leaves Bulgaria on its way to the Aegean, three countries come together. A trip to Haskovo takes you through a province in the southeast where the Thracian Plain gives way to the hills of the Eastern Rhodopes, and where Thracian tombs, Ottoman bridges, and vineyards shape the landscape.

Haskovo and Dimitrovgrad

The provincial capital, Haskovo, is dominated by a 32-meter-tall statue of the Virgin Mary, built on Yamatch Hill in 2003 and counted among the tallest Marian statues in the world. In the city center stands the 14th-century Eski Mosque, one of the oldest in the Balkans. Dimitrovgrad was founded after 1947 as a planned socialist city and remains an interesting example of the architecture of that era.

Sights in Haskovo Province

Near the village of Alexandrovo, a Thracian tomb with hunting scenes from the 4th century B.C. was discovered in 2000; a visitor center displays a replica of the frescoes. In Harmanli, a 16th-century stone bridge spans the river of the same name. Svilengrad, on the border, is known for Mustafa Pasha Bridge over the Maritsa, which is almost 300 meters long. To the south lie the foothills of the Rhodopes, with the mineral spa town of Mineralni Bani and rock sanctuaries where vultures and black storks nest; the Eastern Rhodopes are one of the most important areas for birds of prey in Europe. The provincial capital also has a regional museum with Thracian finds and a small, pleasant pedestrian zone with cafés. Near Madzharovo, a conservation organization runs a visitor center from which you can watch griffon vultures and Egyptian vultures. The village of Kenana on the edge of the city is a recreational park with forest and playgrounds.

Cuisine, Getting There, and Best Time to Visit

Wine is grown around Svilengrad and Lyubimets, mainly Mavrud, Merlot, and Cabernet. On the table you'll find vegetables from the plain, lamb dishes, and yogurt. The Maritsa Motorway connects Haskovo with Plovdiv and the Kapitan Andreevo border crossing to Turkey, which many trucks use on their way to Istanbul. The best times to visit are spring and fall; summers on the plain are hot and dry.