Since the distant years of its coming into being until these days, the city of Haskovo has been wending its way led by the persistence, diligence and creative ambitions of its citizens.
Inheriting the rich traditions of the past, the city nowadays is successfully building its new, modern and dynamic image.
    To all those who are willing to feel the unique atmosphere of Haskovo – calm and vigorous, traditional and progressive, ancient and youthful at the same time, our heartfelt

 

    Haskovo, the city which has inherited the thousand-year-long history of this land, is still amazing today with its sturdiness to live constructively in the present and look daringly into the future. With its ambition to compare itself with other cities of the world. It is a record-holder not only with the Holy Virgin and Child Monument, but also with the faith and hope that it will live long. With the love its inhabitants build it with.

    The Holy Virgin and Child Monument erected in honour of the Mother of God, protectress of the city, has been entered in the Guinness Book of Records. It is made of polymer concrete and weighs 80 tons, its total height is 32.8 m and the statue is 14 m tall. Unveiled on September 8, 2003

    In 2004, at the monument foundation was built the Nativity of the Holy Virgin Chapel Situated on the road connecting the West and the East, Haskovo reflects the entire history of Europe. The road is the reason for both the flourishing and the downfalls that befell this land. Here the Thracians left a strong imprint of the heyday of their highly advanced civilization, testimony to which bears the famous Alexandrovo Tomb. Here the proto-Bulgarians built unique fortresses to protect the borders of the Bulgarian state against attacks from the south, but also suffered the first blows of the Byzantine and Ottoman invasions. Here emerged the largest marketplace in the Bulgarian lands in the 18th century – the Uzundjovo Fair, which enlivened the area. Here, in the city on the road, the spiritual fire of the National Revival in the south has been kindled and is kept up to this day.

    Researchers of its history jocularly say Haskovo is further south than Blagoevgrad, Ahtopol and even the mouth of Rezovo River – the southernmost point of Bulgaria on the Black Sea coast. On a larger scale and in European dimensions it is at approximately the same latitude as Rome, Barcelona and Tbilisi. The population of the city totals 96,256 and that of the municipality – 116,705.

    The southern geographical location of Haskovo and its proximity to the Aegean Sea, separated from it by the relatively low Eastern Rhodope Mountains, as well as the easy access of warmer air via the Maritsa River valley determine a transitional climate between the continental influence from the north and the Mediterranean from the south. The average annual temperature in the Eastern Rhodope foothills is 12.6 С. The winter is mild and short, the summer long and hot. Farmers do not like the breeze in February as the early warm spell entices the almond-, apricot- and cherry-trees to bloom, but the first breath of spring cheers up the souls.

    The territory surrounding Haskovo has a typical hilly relief. Being a northern extension of the Eastern Rhodopes, geographers justly call it Eastern Rhodope foothills or Haskovo hilly district. Its western border is the Mechkovets elevation (860 m a.s.l.). Its Turkish name Aidaa (Bear’s Mountain) makes the locals smile. Because it reminds them of the better known name of Aida, but has nothing to do with Verdi’s opera. However, the elevation is important to the citizens of Haskovo because it is a spring area. The rivers Banska, Haskovska and Harmanliiska take their source from here. Hot mineral springs gave rise to the famous Haskovo spas. Volcanic activity during the Tertiary produced lead, zinc and other non-ferrous metal deposits in the district.

    The south-western border of Haskovo hilly district is on the northern mountainside of the Eastern Rhodopes: the Chukata ridge, where Biserna River rises, and the Gorata ridge as the southern borderline. The territory bounded by these ridges, Mechkovets and the Maritsa Valley is an undulated area, crossed by rivers, where the eminences Huhla, Gradishte, Uzundjovo Hill, Haskovo Hill and Chala rise. To the north, along the Maritsa Valley the land is typically hilly. The lowest part is the valley of Svilengrad, 52 m a.s.l. This relief is favourable to soil-formation processes, transport and building. The roads are constructed along the river valleys, where the settlements are situated too.

    The water of the Maritsa River and its tributaries is used mainly for irrigation. The subterranean water is of great importance. The soil wealth is great. The alluvial-meadow soils predominate in the river valleys. Easy to till and rich in composition, they provide the ground for growing many cultures. Humus and diluvial-meadow soils are also widely spread. The vegetation is quite diverse.

    Today Haskovo and Haskovo region are headed to their European future with trust and dignity. The Haskovo people know how to achieve it. They have learned from their historical experience of life on the road. More than 130 years ago foreigners noted that “the local Bulgarians are somewhat peculiar. They are extraordinarily lively, active, different from anywhere else”. They still are. Even today they boldly create traditions and symbols. The quality, which bridges the past and the future is their optimism.

The Uzundjovo Fair, the largest in the 18th century;
The first chitalishte in Southern Bulgaria and fourth in the country;