Sliven

When the sun goes down, the rocks above Sliven glow a bluish hue – hence their name, Sinite Kamani, the Blue Stones. A trip to Sliven leads to the city of a hundred voivodes on the southern slope of the Eastern Balkans, to Kotel with its carpet weaving workshops, and to the vineyards of the Thracian Plain.

Sliven and the Blue Stones

In the 19th century, the city was a center of textile manufacturing and of the hajduks, who fought against Ottoman rule in the mountains – hence the nickname. In the center stands the Old Elm, a tree said to be several centuries old. Sinite Kamani Nature Park begins right at the edge of town. A chairlift takes visitors up to the heights, where hiking trails lead to rock formations such as the Halka, a natural stone ring. Paragliders make use of the slopes, and the wind, which often blows fiercely here, is proverbial. Down in the city, the House of Hadji Dimitar and the Textile Museum are worth a visit.

Kotel, Zheravna, and Nova Zagora

Kotel in the Balkans preserves wooden houses from the Bulgarian National Revival period and a carpet tradition with bold red and black patterns, which are on display in the museum. The neighboring village of Zheravna is an open-air museum with hundreds of old wooden houses, and the village of Medven lies nearby. In the south of the province, near Nova Zagora, the plain begins with vineyards and sunflower fields. If you are looking for nature, the mountains north of Sliven also hold the Karandila plateau with huts, hiking trails, and viewpoints over the Thracian Plain, and in winter a small ski slope. The mineral baths of Sliven-Bani on the western edge of the city have been known since Roman times.

Cuisine, Getting There, and Best Time to Visit

Typical dishes include stuffed peppers, lamb, and red wine from the area between Sliven and Nova Zagora, where several wineries offer tastings. Sliven lies on the Sofia–Burgas railway line via Karlovo and on the Trakia Motorway via Nova Zagora. The best time to visit is April through October; the hiking trails are especially pleasant in spring. For hikes in the Eastern Balkans, you should always carry a jacket in case of wind or a change in the weather, since it cools down quickly at higher elevations.