The town of Pazardzhik is the centre of the Pazardzhik District. The town has a population of 77 000 inhabitants. It lies at a distance of 109 km from Sofia and 36 km from Plovdiv. The town is a municipal centre of 31 settlements.
Pazardzhik is located at the central part of the Gornotrakiyska nizina (Upper Thracian Valley) along the Maritza River. The town was known under the name of Tatar Pazardzhik until 1934. The region has been populated since ancient times. In the vicinity of the town there are remains of settlements and settlement mounds from the New Stone Age, the Stone-Copper and Bronze Age. Its favorable location turned it into one of the centres of the ancient culture. Fortresses of strategic military and administrative significance were built here during the Middle Ages. The present-day town was founded in the first half of XV c. as a trade settlement at the international road connecting Europe with Istanbul. During XVI c. many big public buildings were built such as mosques, inns and hammams so the town became an administrative centre. During the Revival period a lot of houses were built to the likeness of the ones in Plovdiv. There are more than 150 monuments of culture in the town. The town was liberated in 1878. Pazardzhik is the home town of Konstantin Velichkov, Nikola Furnadzhiev, the musician Maestro Georgi Atanasov, the artists Georgi Mishev, Georgi Gerasimov and Stoyan Vasilev.
The tourist sights of the town are the History Museum, the ethnographic exhibition, the museums of Konstantin Velichkov and Stanislav Dospevski, the churches " Sveta Bogorditza"/ Holy Virgin/ ( 1836-1837), "St. St. Cyril and Methodius" (1872), "St. Petka"(1852) and the Big Synagogue (1850).
Other cultural-historic sights of the district are: Besapara - a Thracian settlement and a Roman fortress near the village of Sinitovo, the Thracian tomb by the town of Streltcha from V-IV c. B.C., Tzepina - a medieval Bulgarian fortress from XI - XIII c. by the village of Dorkov, The Batkunski Monastery and the church "St. Dimiter" at the village of Patalenitza.
On the territory of Pazardzhik District are located: the "Rila" National Park, the reserves "Dupkata", "Mantaritza" and "Kupena"- all in Rhodope Mountains, as well as the lake "Kleptuza" which is a karst spring.
The most famous rocky phenomena are: "Pobit Kamak", "Zhabata"/The Frog/, "Turchinov kamak", "Garvanov Kamak" and "Kiselitzata"
The following wineries are situated on the territory of the district - Pamidovo, Peshtera, Kalugerovo and Radilovo.
Tourist sights
The History Museum has one of the richest museum collections. The first museum was established in 1911 and in 2000 it was transformed into a Regional History Museum for the Pazardzhik and Plovdiv districts. The exhibits are displayed at a specially-built building and represent the period from the Paleolith (100-400 millennia B.C.) until the middle of XX c. At the lapidarium of the museum are displayed findings which are not included in the internal collection such as statues, road columns, sacrificial altars, cult figures, chapiters, columns and others.
The Ethnographic Museum in Pazardzhik is situated in the biggest housing building from the Revival period. The house has 18 rooms and interesting painting decoration. It was owned by the rich merchant Nikolaki Hristovich.
The House of Stanislav Dospevski in Pazardzhik is the home where the artist lived and worked. The house represents the Revival period atmosphere with authentic furniture and the original works and mural paintings of the artist. Stanislav Dospevski is one of the originators of the refined painting in Bulgaria. He is the son of the talented Revival period artist Dimiter Zograph. Dospevski graduated from the Art Academy in Petersburg. He was a reporter of foreign newspapers in which he described the hard condition of the Bulgarian people under the Ottoman yoke. He died at a prison in Istanbul. His works can be seen at the Art Gallery of Pazardzhik where there is a specialized section for the works of the artist.
The House of Konstantin Velichkov in Pazardzhik is proclaimed for a cultural monument of national significance. The traditional Revival period atmosphere is represented in the house. Authentic materials and photographic exhibition tell about the life of Konstantin Velichkov. He took part in the battles for the national liberation. He was also a public figure and a statesman after the Liberation, a teacher, a poet, a translator and an artist.
The church "Sveta Bogoroditza" /Holy Virgin/ in Pazardzhik is a monument of culture. It is the biggest Revival period church in Bulgaria. Built in 1836 it is a thee-nave church with 3 apsides from the east and arcades from the south and north. It is a cultural-historic heritage with its architecture and magnificent wood carved iconostasis.
The church "St. Dimiter" in the village of Patalenitza is among the most significant medieval monuments. It is one of the few preserved dome churches. It was proclaimed for a monument of culture in 1978.
The prehistoric settlement mound at the village of Yunatzite is also known under the name of The Flat Mound. So far on the archaeological site have been studied the medieval necropolis, a Roman-times fortification, a Thracian settlement and two settlements from the Stone-Copper Age. The greatest significance of the mound and the uniqueness of the findings make the name "Culture Yunatzite" popular since 1939.
Besapara at the village of Sinitovo lies at a distance of 6 km southeast of the town of Pazardzhik. Besapara is an ancient Thracian settlement. It was the main town of the Bessi tribe. During the Roman times the settlement was a road station between Serdika and Philipopol and in I century becomes a Roman fortress. In VI c. the emperor Justinian I fortified the walls. In the region of Besapara were discovered archaeological monuments, ritual slabs, coins and other findings.
Pistiros at the village of Vetren was an important trade and manufacturing centre of the Bessi tribe. The Pazardzhik field has a key role in the life of that tribe. The significance of Pistiros is also predestined by the functioning of important roads connecting the middle European lands with Mala Asia, as well as the short road to the sanctuary of Dionysius and the road along the Topolnitza River where gold is obtained.
The Sanctuary of the three nymphs is situated in the Besapara hills at the foot of the Western Rhodope Mountains. The highest point is the Elena peak at 536 m. The sanctuary of the three nymphs is located along the banks of the karst spring "Trivoditzi" with a capacity of 900 litres per second. It dates back to II-III c. and is one of the two big sanctuaries on the territory of Pazardzhik District. The sanctuary is situated close to the ancient town of Besapara at a distance of 2 km from the settlement mound of Mal Tepe.
The sanctuary of Asclepius Zelmidrenski is the other big sanctuary in Pazardzhik District where the ancient healing practices of the Thracian people have been performed. The sanctuary was a square building of 19x19 m size situated close to the spring. There are archaeological findings of statues of Asclepius and Hygia, ritual slabs and others. The sanctuary dates back to I-IV c.
Tzepina at the village of Dorkovo lies at a distance of 14 km northeast of the town. The region of Dorkovo is proclaimed for an archaeological reserve. On the territory of the village are discovered remains of a Halcolithic building, settlements from the Roman and the early Byzantine epochs. The medieval fortress was established in XI c. During XIII c. it became the headquarters of the boyar Aleksii Slav from the king Asen's kin. After 1215 he united with the despot Teodor Komnin and moved his residence to Melnik. From Tzepina are preserved the fortified walls, churches, water reservoirs etc.
The Batkunski monastery "St. Peter and Pavel" lies at a distance of 6 km above the village of Patalenitza at the northern slopes of the Rhodope Mountains. In the region of the village lie the remains of the Batkunska fortress. The legends say that the monastery was founded in XI - XII c. In 1657 and 1774 it was burned by the Ottoman Turks. It was in the list of the 33 plundered monasteries during the period of forced conversion of the Bulgarian population to the Muslim religion described by the priest Metodi Draginov in XVII c.
The town of Velingrad has a population of 24 000 inhabitants. It is a municipal centre with 23 component settlements. The town lies at a distance of 49 km from the district centre Pazadzhik. It is located at the Chepino Valley at the Western Rhodope Mountains at an altitude of 750 m.
The region was populated by the Thracian tribes during V c. B.C. Many mounds, necropolis, walls and fortresses of that time were discovered. In the beginning of IX century it became part of the Bulgarian State. During the Ottoman yoke the population was forcefully converted to the Muslim religion. The present-day town was formed by the merging of three villages in 1948 - the villages of Kamenitza, Ladzhene and Chepino. Velingrad is a national spa and climate resort. There are more than 70 mineral springs in the region with different temperatures and capacity. The average capacity is between 130-140 liters per second and the temperatures vary from 22 to 91o C. They are used for treating diseases of the locomotory system, liver, gastric, skin and other diseases.
The lake of Kleptuza is a karst spring near Vlingrad. The lake gathers waters from a vast region of karst marbles. The average capacity of the lake spring is 400 litres per second with a temperature of 8 o C.
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Tourist sights for the town is the "Yundola" resort lying at a distance of 16 km from the town, the village of Dorkovo - archaeological reserve, remains from the medieval fortress "Tzepina".
The town of Panagyurishte has a population of 20 000 inhabitants. It is a municipal centre of 9 component settlements. The town lies at a distance of 42 km north of Pazardzhik. It is located along the Panagyurska Luda Yana River at an altitude of 530 m.
There are deposits of copper ore in the region.
The archaeological monuments in the vicinities of the town tell about its ancient past. There are dozens of tomb mounds from the time of the Thracian tribes. In the region of Panagyurishte was discovered one of the biggest Thracian treasures - The Panagyurishte treasure. 5 km south of the town lies Krasen fortress. Krasen was a military, administrative, economic and spiritual centre of the municipality during the period of late ancient and Middle ages. During excavations in 1987 was discovered a precious finding - the seal of the last ruler of the fortress - Rafail. The present-day town was established during the Ottoman yoke at the end of XV c. The town was mentioned in the Ottoman documents from 1576 under the name of Otluk Kyoi. The present-day name of the town comes from the small fair that has been held here. The word "panagyur" means "fair". At the beginning of XIX c. the town faced an economic and cultural boom. In 1839 a boys' school was established and in 1843 the building of the girls' school was erected. In 1876 the town took active part in the April Rebellion against the Ottoman yoke. After the failure of the rebellion the whole trade street of the town was burned down. More than 100 shops and 400 of the best buildings of the town were burned down. Hundreds of inhabitants were burned and found their death. The town was liberated in 1878.
The tourist sights of the town are: the Tutev's house, The Dudekov's house (with its ethnographic exhibition), the churches "Vavedenie Bogorodichno" /The Annunciation/ (1818), "St. Georgi" (1856), the History Museum and the house of Raina Knyaginya.
11 km from the town of Panagyurishte is situated the village of Banya well-known for its mineral springs.
The town of Peshtera has a population of 19 000 inhabitants. It is a municipal centre of 2 component settlements. The town lies at a distance of 20 km south of Pazardzhik at the foot of the Western Rhodope Mountains. Through the town of Peshtera passes the road which connects it with the towns of Batak, Velingrad, Dospat and the dam-lakes "Batak", "Beglika", "Shiroka polyana" and "Dospat".
For millennia this region was populated by the Thracian tribe of Bessi which were influenced by Macedonians, Romans and Byzantines.
The earliest written document for the existence of the settlement under the name of Peshtera is from 1479. During the Revival period great construction work takes place - a lot of churches, bridges, fountains, houses and schools are built at that time.
The tourist sights of the town are: the clock tower from 1710, the churches "St. Dimiter" (1831), "St. Petka" (1700), the cave "Snezhanka" and the "St. Konstantin" resort.
The town of Septemvri has a population of 9 000 inhabitants. It is an administrative centre of 14 settlements. The town lies at a distance of 21 km west of Pazardzhik. It was known under the name of Gara Saranbei until 1934.
In the vicinities of Septemvri there are Thracian mounds, ruins from an ancient and a medieval settlement.
There is a winery in Septemvri. The region is specialized in the fruit, vegetables and vine growing.
The town of Strelcha lies at a distance of 40 km north of Pazardzhik and 60 km from Plovdiv. It has a population of 5 000 inhabitants and is a municipal centre of 4 component settlements. The town is located at the southern foot of Sredna Gora at a picturesque valley at an altitude of 475 m. Strelcha is well-known for its healing mineral waters used for treatment of diseases of the locomotory system, the peripheral nervous system, gynecological and skin diseases. The mineral waters have a capacity of 0,25-2,20 litres per second and a temperature of 22-42oC. Strelcha is a national spa centre.
The archaeological findings in the region of Strelcha date back to the time of the Eneolith and the Bronze Age. The town is mentioned in the Ottoman documents in 1548.
The tourist sights of the town are: the Thracian tomb and the rocky formations which are proclaimed for a natural landmark.
The town of Rakitovo has a population of 8 000 inhabitants. It is the municipal centre of 2 settlements. The town lies at a distance of 36 km southwest of the district centre. There are mineral waters in the region of Rakitovo. The town is a mountainous resort.
In the region of the municipality were discovered the remains of a prehistoric settlement, ancient and medieval fortresses. The settlement is mentioned in the Ottoman documents from XVI c.
The town of Belovo has a population of 4 500 inhabitants. It is a municipal centre with 7 component settlements. The town lies at a distance of 27 km west of Pazardzhik. In the region of Belovo there is a mineral spring. The town is the starting point for the Yundola and the Rhodope Mountains.
The town of Bratzigovo has a population of 5 000 inhabitants. It is an administrative municipal centre of 6 settlements. The town lies at a distance of 21 km south of Pazardzhik. The town is located amphitheatrically at the northern foot of the Batak Part of the Rhodopes at an altitude of 420 m. The municipality is specialized in the fruit and vine growing.
The region was populated from the Thracian tribes, later on by the Roman, Byzantine and Bulgarian people. Bratzigovo is the successor of the burned-down medieval settlement of Prevren. In XVI c. the settlement is known under the name of Birachigovo and in XVIII c. and XIX c. it becomes a craftsman's and educational centre. The population of the town takes active part in the April Rebellion from 1876. About 80 architectural monuments from the Revival period have been preserved in the town. In the region of Bratzigovo there is a mineral spring with a temperature of 18-26oC and a capacity of 120 litres per second. The mineral water is used for treatment of diseases of the nervous system, kidney, skin and other diseases.
The tourist sights of the town are: the museum of Vasil Petleshkov, the Revival period houses and the church "St. Yoan Predtecha" (1833).
The town of Batak has a population of 4 000 inhabitants. It is an administrative centre of 2 settlements. The town lies at a distance of 36 km south of Pazardzhik along the Batashka River at an altitude of 1 036 m.
The region has been populated since ancient times. In 1592 the town was mentioned for the first time under the same name at an inscription on the fountain at the Krichim Monastery. During the April Rebellion (1876) the town was burned down and more than 3 000 people were slaughtered. Against the mass slaughters in Batak protested Victor Hugo, William Gladstone, Makgahan, Dostoevski and Lev Tolstoy. The town was liberated in 1878.
The tourist sights of the town are: The History Museum, the church "St. Nedelya" (1813), the dam-lake "Batak", the "Tzigov Chark" resort and other natural landmarks.
The village of Lesichevo has a population of 1 100 inhabitants. It is a municipal centre with 6 component settlements. The village lies at a distance of 27 km northwest of Pazardzhik.
In the region of the village there are remains of Thracian settlements and tomb mounds, findings of Roman coins and gold jewels. The village is specialized in the fruit and vine growing and the production of grains.