Razgrad Province: Abritus and the Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari
Travel guide · editorialMost Bulgarians know Razgrad mainly for the soccer club Ludogorets, which has dominated the national championship since 2012. A trip to Razgrad reveals an area with much deeper roots, though: a Roman city near which an emperor fell in battle, and a Thracian royal tomb with unique caryatids.
Razgrad and Abritus
On the edge of town lies the Abritus Archaeological Park, the remains of a Roman fortress city with walls, gates, and residential buildings. Near Abritus, Emperor Decius fell in battle against the Goths in 251 – the first Roman emperor to die in combat against a foreign enemy. In the center of Razgrad stand the 17th-century Ibrahim Pasha Mosque, one of the largest in the country, and a clock tower. The town has a high proportion of Turkish-speaking residents and is home to a large pharmaceutical plant.
Sveshtari and Ludogorie
In the northeast of the province, near the village of Sveshtari close to Isperih, a Thracian tomb from the 3rd century B.C. was discovered in 1982. Inside its burial chamber, ten stone female figures with raised arms support the cornice – a depiction that is unique in Thracian art. The tomb is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and lies within the Sboryanovo Nature Reserve, which also contains the remains of the Getic city of Helis and a Muslim shrine, the tomb of Demir Baba. The surrounding landscape of Ludogorie is a heavily wooded region of hills, deciduous forests, and small villages. Away from the major sites, the Beli Lom Reservoir, with its forest and fishing spots, is a pleasant place to linger. Kubrat and Isperih are small towns with markets where farmers sell local honey, yogurt, and vegetables, and in many villages a church and a mosque stand just a few streets apart.
Cuisine, Getting There, and Best Time to Visit
The cuisine blends Bulgarian and Turkish traditions, with gözleme, pide, lamb dishes, and yogurt. Razgrad lies on the road between Ruse and Shumen, and Varna is about two hours away. The best time to visit is April to October; the Sveshtari tomb is partly closed in winter.