Rodina Library

Bulgaria

Folklore Calendar

Bulgarian Library sistem

Stara Zagora

Chitalishte Rodina

Stara Zagora Economic Annual Yearbook - 2008

Stara Zagora Economic Development Agency

Regional association of municipalities "Trakia"

Trakia University Stara Zagora

Children Parlament
Stara Zagora

Territory – 1,019.4 sq. km
Population – 167,357 citizens
Mayor mandate 2008 – prof. Svetlin Tanchev

The municipality of Stara Zagora is situated in the Central Southern part of Bulgaria. It covers an area of 1019,37 sq.km, which is about 1% of the country and 18,08% of the district territory. The municipality comprises 1 city and 50 villages.

Historical review

Stara Zagora is one of the most ancient settlements in Europe. It has been inhabited for at least 8 000 years. Both the remains of Neolithic dwellings (VI century B.C.) and the various archeological excavations from Thracian and Roman times witness to its millennial history. It is established by the Thracians in VI century B.C. under the name of Beroe. Later (II-IV century A.D.), when Thrace had been included in the Roman Empire, the city was rebuilt again, experiencing its peak in development, when it was named Augusta Trayana (Ulpia Augusta Trayana) in honor of Emperor Marcus Trayan. The excavations of the remains from the forum, the thermal baths, the city walls, and the southern and western gateways reveal the city’s importance, as the second largest in the province. During the centuries, it has also been named Vereya (VI-XII c.) and Irinopolis (VIII c.) – after the Byzantine Empress Irina. During the Middle Ages it was named Boruy (XIII-XIV c.), while after their conquest the Turks called it Eski Zaara. During the second half of the 19th century it was called for a short period, Zheleznik. The town received its present name, Stara Zagora, in 1871.

During the Russian Turkish War in 1877 some of the most violent and intensive battles took place near Stara Zagora. After the retreat of the Russian army, the Turks burnt the city and razed it to the ground. Numerous monuments on the territory of the city remind of these dramatic for all Bulgaria events and the memorial “The Defenders of Stara Zagora” was raised, celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Liberation at the place of the bloodiest battles. The rebuilding of the city was started by Aleko Bogoridi on October 5th 1879 (23 Sept. according to the old calendar), in accordance with the architectural plan, developed by the Czech architect Ljubor Bayer, which turns Stara Zagora into the first post liberation city with novel and contemporary urban planning.

In 1895 the bishop of Stara Zagora Metodii Kusev established the magnificent “Ayazmoto” park on the slopes of the mountain. At the expense of enormous hardship and with determination, overcoming hatred and ill-will, he turned the bare, rocky and arid hills into a marvelous dendrarium, containing unique for Bulgaria species of trees, many of which he bought from abroad at his own expense. Today on its territory hundreds of forest, decorative and fruit tree species grow, many of which are acclimatized exotic plants, imported from Lebanon, Turkey, Greece, Spain, Italy, etc. The various areas for sport and recreation, sunny lawns amidst the shady woods, as well as the established zoo, turn it into a favourite place for recreation of the city inhabitants and its visitors.

Cultural life

After the Liberation and during the first decades of the XX century the rich cultural traditions of the city flourished, dating back from the times of the National Revival. The already existing schools were rebuilt, progressing into high schools, while many new educational and cultural institutions were established, like the Economic College, pedagogical school. The community centers “Rodina” and “Kliment Ohridski” were rebuilt with their libraries. Many of the city's cultural institutes have sprung from amateur community clubs. As a result, as early as 1897, the “Kaval” music society was established, which in 1925 progressed into the first provincial opera house in Bulgaria. In 1905 the “Theatre” association was established, which began organizing the theatrical life of the city and built the city's Dramatic Theatre house. Two years later the “Avgusta Trajana” archaeological society was founded, being the ancestor of the History Museum. The citizens of Stara Zagora are also proud of the first regional radio station in Bulgaria, which began transmission in February 1936.

It is not by coincidence that Stara Zagora , is not only known as the “city of lime trees”, but also as the “city of poets and painters”. During the second half of XX century, new cultural and science institutes were founded the Muppet Theatre, the “Zachari Knjazhevski” library, the “Literaturna Stara Zagora” house, the Art Gallery, the Astronomical Observatory, the Thracian University, as well as many others specialized educational institutions.

The Stara Zagora Region has a cultural tradition with an impressive number of talented poets, writers, artists, musicians, and actors. Stara Zagora's State Opera Theatre, founded in 1928, is the first provincial opera in Bulgaria and continues to provide world class operas. In late summer they are performed at the antique Roman Forum. The Geo Milev Drama Theatre presents outstanding theatrical productions. The State Puppet Theater has toured Europe and the Middle East, performing with excellence.

Numerous cultural events take place throughout the year - the Festivals of the Opera and Ballet Arts, of the Old City Song, the Thrace Sings and Dance Festival, the International Festival of Gypsy Music and Songs, the International Puppet Show Festival “Pierrot” and many others. The Regional Art Gallery, established in 1908, houses 4,600 works of art. Many art galleries showcase the talents of local artists offering traditional and contemporary paintings, sculptures, ceramics, jewellery, leather goods and woven cloths.

Contemporary Stara Zagora

Nowadays Stara Zagora is a city with a modern town-planning, developed economy and intense cultural life. Key economic sectors in the Municipality are: metallurgy, machine building, hydraulics, food and tobacco industry, beer and wine, wood processing and furniture, textile and sewing industry. Due to the thermo-mineral waters located in the Stara Zagora mineral Baths and Sulitza village, the municipality is a balneological center of natural importance. 5223 companies have performed sufficient economic activity in the municipality of Stara Zagora in 2002.

Municipal budget is built on own funds and direct state subsidy. As of the end of 2003, 95% of the municipal administrative services have been computerized. Services to citizens are provided at “one-stop-shop”. The established Services and Information Center has external offices in the remote city quarters.

Over 60 non-government organizations and foundations registered in Stara Zagora perform their activities in 2003. Some of them have applied successfully to international donor programs and received financing for implementing their priority activities. In the summer of 2003, the Stara Zagora Community Donation Fund was founded with the goal to joint the efforts of public leaders, businesses and institutions and to support financial initiatives of local significance.

Stara Zagora is a twinning town of the Russian Samara, the Northern Irish Down, the Polish Radom, the Serbian Krushevac, and also of with the Greek Larissa, and the Portugal Barreiro. The city has signed a collaboration memorandum with Durham town in North Carolina, USA. Stara Zagora was among the co-founders of the European Cities Mayors’ Club of Strasburg. It maintains close relations with other cities from Great Britain, France, Italy and other countries.

Stara Zagora is a pattern of ethnic tolerance and solving minorities’ problems. There are 11,000 citizens in the municipality, who declare themselves as Roma. Other ethnic groups differing from Bulgarian are represented by another 4,800 people.

Stara Zagora Municipality has proper production facilities and a very skilled work force – over 20% of the labor force have university degree, which is very attractive for foreign investors. Foreign investments in Stara Zagora for 2003 are EUR 70 Million.

The city is a university centre. Trakia University is specializing in the agrarian sciences, human and veterinary medicine, and environment. There are a number of vocational schools in the municipality, where are educated and trained specialists for the machine building industry, electrical engineering, construction, veterinary medicine, and business management.

Contemporary Stara Zagora is a city with developed economy and intensive cultural life, in which the city's glorious past and dynamic future successfully coexist. The future of the region focuses the coherent efforts of the regional and local government and the business support organizations for achieving sustainable economic growth, recruitment of investors and enhancing of the living standard.