The Rose Valley

A centre of life since Thracian times.

The centre of the Rose Valley – the town of Kazanlak – is home not only to one of Bulgaria’s symbols – the rose – but also to numerous creatives - artists, writers and musicians. The valley of roses and Thracian kings – this is how we call the region south of the Balkan Mountains and north of Sarnena Sredna Gora.

 

A centre of life since Thracian times, today the valley makes us lucky to be able to glimpse into this age at the Kazanlak Thracian Tomb. It keeps secrets from long gone days – it is dated at the end of the fourth and the beginning of the third century before Christ. Murals of exceptional art value have been preserved here. The tomb is included in the 100 National Tourist Sites list and is protected by UNESCO.

 

The history museum keeps material evidence for the affluent lifestyle in the region, having over 70 000 exhibits. The Tower (Kulata) Ethnographic Complex displays the old crafts of the local people, the most popular among them being rose distilling. Its home are two 19th-century houses in the oldest district of the town – Kulata.

 

The most attractive site for anyone who visits Kazanlak is undoubtedly the world’s only Rose Museum. Bulgaria has been “feeding” the world with rose oil for years – 70% of the world’s production is concentrated in this very area. It is exactly in the region of Kazanlak where the production is highest. Naturally, the building of the Museum is also here. It preserves tens of thousands of objects related to rose gathering and rose production from all over Bulgaria. It’s a festival of senses for history lovers to touch a rose oil vessel which was last used more than 50 years ago but still gives out a strong scent. The most important events in Kazanlak are related to the rose. During its blossoming the town attracts thousands of tourists. Every year, the Festival of Roses – one of the country’s most attractive festivals – is held here.

 

Other sites we’d recommend the curious tourist are the homes, now museums, of artists Dechko Uzunov and Prof. Nenko Balkanski as well as the Chudomir Literature and Art Museum Complex.

 

Air sports fans associate the Rose Valley with great adventure opportunities while spa tourism enthusiasts cannot possibly stay unimpressed by the healing mineral springs and the all-year-round holiday opportunities. This region will also satisfy the searches of Bulgarian traditions and folklore lovers with its well-preserved authentic environment. 

View the Sites

  • sopot-muzej-ivan-vazov3_230x161_crop_8be7c76ec9

    House-museum "Ivan Vazov"

    The birthplace of Ivan Vazov in the town of Sopot is rebuilt into a museum telling the story of the life and work of the "the Patriarch of Bulgarian literature".

  • koprivshtitsa_230x161_crop_d52f5b7038

    The Town of Koprivshtitsa - Architectural and Historical Reserve

    The buzz of animated conversations filling the air, the soft clatter of shoes against the cobblestone streets and arched wooden bridges, the constant sight of people bending over to get a drink at the fountains scattered around town, or casting dreamy glances at the neat vivid blue houses…..

  • roden-dom-vasil-levski-1_230x161_crop_ca756169fb

    Vasil Levski House-Museum

    The setting which national hero Vasil Levski inhabited, his belongings, documents, family photographs, his life and heroic deeds are all available for every Bulgarian patriot in the Apostle’s house-museum in Karlovo.

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    Златишки манастир "Вознесение Господне"

    Сгушен в подножието на Златишко-Тетевенската планина, част от Средна Стара планина, вече второ столетие Златишкият манастир „Вознесение Господне“ е духовно средище и стълб на христовата вяра за местните хора.

  • hram-sveta-bogoroditsa-karlovo_230x161_crop_727ab2aa59

    Храм "Света Богородица" - Карлово

    Дори при мрачно време небесносинята камбанария на църквата "Света Богородица" в Карлово вдъхва надежда за светли дни.

  • carkva-sv-nikolay-karlovo_230x161_crop_67f15e8660

    Църква "Св. Николай" - Карлово

    Църквата "Св. Николай" е не просто място с наситена духовна енергия, но и паметник на възрожденската архитектура.

  • buhaloviat-han_230x161_crop_3b66d2bc98

    Бухаловият хан

    Бухаловият хан е една от най-красивите и емблематични възрожденски къщи в стария град на Карлово.

  • logo-short_230x161_crop_92faeb721b

    Диоклецианопол

    Античен Римски град в Хисаря

  • muzei-karlovo_230x161_crop_50430afae3

    Общински исторически музей - Карлово

    Преминавайки през много превратности, музеят винаги е бил духовен център, пазител на историческата памет и гордост на региона.