Bulgaria Inside

Pazardzhik is one of the biggest towns in southern Bulgaria. It is situated in the western part of the Thracian valley, on the bank of Maritsa River. The distance from Pazardzhik to Sofia is 100 km and to Plovdiv – 35 km.

The area was populated in ancient times. Many mounds and necropolises were found there.

The settlement appeared in 15th century and acted as a merchant center on the road from Europe to Asia Minor. In the coming century, the town became an Ottoman administrative unit. Travelers often wrote about it and mentioned it as a hectic place with large markets.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, Pazardzhik was one of the main Maritsa harbors. The storehouses near the river held wheat, rice, tobacco and timber from the nearby Rhodope Mountain region.

Locals grew vegetables, tobacco and rice and practiced various crafts. Craftsmen and merchants comprised nearly 70 percent of the local population.

As every major town, during the Bulgarian revival, Pazardzhik turned into a cultural center. The first school appeared there in 1823 and the first modern school, featuring classrooms, opened doors in 1845.

After the liberation, the town’s population reached 15 000 people. Craftsmanship lost its power and factories appeared there. In the coming decades, the town developed as an industrial center.

One of Pazardzhik’s landmarks is the St. Bogoroditsa cathedral. It was constructed in 1836 and 1837. Its iconostasis and the woodcarvings are considered some of the most beautiful on the Balkans.

Konstantin Velichkov drama theater is among the oldest in the country. It merged with the town’s puppet theater.

Pazardzhik has various other landmarks. The history museum was created in 1911 and today is one of the oldest in the country. A separate building of 1200 sq m was constructed to host it. The museum has its restoration room and photo lab. An ethnographic collection can be seen alongside the other artifacts.

The town’s art gallery carries the name of the famous revival-period artist Stanislav Dospevski. The gallery has rich collection and its room host works representing all art styles.

Konstantin Velichkov, a poet and a politician was born in Pazardzhik. His house has been turned into a museum. Constructed in 1850, the house underwent restoration and opened doors for visitors in 1967.