Stara Zagora city (140 meters above sea level) is situated in the eastern part of the Upper Thracian Lowland, among the Bedechka River. It is the sixth largest city in Bulgaria with population of about 164 000 people. The city is located 230 km to the east of Sofia, 90 km to the northeast of Plovdiv and 70 km to the southwest of Sliven.

A settlement called Beroe was founded by the Thracians in the 6th – 5th century BC. Romans named it Augusta Trajana after the Roman emperor Trajan. Later Byzantines gave a new name to the place- Irinopolis but in 717, after being annexed to the young Bulgarian State, it was renamed Borouy. After the occupation of the settlement by the ottomans it accepted a new name– Eski Zagra. In the XIX century it had a Bulgarian name– Zheleznik and its present name Stara Zagora it accepted in 1870.

In the Revival period Stara Zagora was an important economic and trading center. Unfortunately during the Liberation war it was burnt down several times and lost a third part of its population. After the Liberation the city was rebuilt in chess board order after the design of an Austrian-Hungarian architect.

Today Stara Zagora is known as the city of the lime-trees and it is the third biggest industry center in Bulgaria. There are lots of parks and the most popular is the Ayazmo. Other places of interest are the ancient forum of “Augusta Trayana”, the antique mosaic floors from the end of the VI century, the Chilendar Covent, the memorial complex of “Defenders of Stara Zagora”, the temples of “St. Virgin Mary”, “St. Dimitar”, “St. Trinity”, the antique theatre,etc.

At a distance of 15 km is located the “Ladjite” balneological resort with its preserved Roman thermal springs.

In the place of Mechi kladenets (Airbunar) there are copper mines. In the area of the Ayazmoto park is situated the largest Bulgarian zoo.

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