Exploring Plovdiv

Article by John Lindley , BulgarianProperties - Plovdiv Office , 21st , December 2005

Plovdiv is not just a place with a relaxed cosmopolitan atmosphere. It is also a great starting point for exploring the surrounding area : The Stara Planina, Rodopi mountain ranges and the Bachkovo monastery, to name but a few.There are also places that should definitely not be missed like Karlovo and Hissar.For single people, couples and those with families there is plenty to see and do whether staying for just a week or much longer. Property prices in this region are remarkably low and with Bulgaria’s ascension into Europe in 2007 the value of properties in this region are almost certain to rise.

Plovdiv is an excellent base to travel to other areas of interest. There is the Rodopi mountain dotted with picturesque villages and there is the Bachkovo monastery , here there are church plates , plenty of icons and a sword from a crusader ,dated 1452–and only 29 km from Plovdiv.
Then there is the Stara Planina where each year many people trek along the central ridge of the Stara Planina – length approximately 650 km. It usually takes them about in average 25 days and along this route are numerous museums. The most interesting and perhaps appealing is the Troyan monastery – a bastion of Bulgarian spirit – housed within is a room where Vassil Levski used to hide whilst engaged in his revolutionary activities.

Levski is Bulgaria’s greatest hero who dedicated his life to freeing Bulgarians from the Ottoman empire was born in 1837, and hanged in 1873 . See his restored house in Karlovo. There are plenty of materials here displaying the story of his life and revolutionary activities. Not to be missed in Karlovo is the “Once upon a time “ restaurant which has a reputation for good food – very atmospheric with lots of photographs and maps depicting stories of people and places.

Why not visit Hissar? A modern health resort with 22 mineral springs which are used to treat the prevention of many ailments like disorders of the liver , pancreas and gall bladder. It was a healing centre in Roman times and is only 42 km from Plovdiv. It also has an archeological museum and a district called Mariman banya which makes unique bead belts which can take three months to make.
David Kingston from England has a home in Hissar. He enjoys Hissar’s outdoor swimming pools and cycling around town.
He says that he has noticed changes in Plovdiv and Hissar and comments on the renovation of buildings, new paving ,

tyding up of park areas and the feeling of being safe whilst wandering around the streets at night.
Plovdiv and the surrounding areas have a lot to offer . Bulgaria is fast becoming a huge attraction and not just in the realm of tourism but as a place to live . Properties are cheaper than other European destinations . A small house in a rural area in need of modernization can cost as 6000 Euros, a decent house or villa 30 000 Euros and a good apartment 40 000 Euros. So maybe now is the right time to buy property here because come 2007 things are certain to change.

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