The town of Svilengrad has a population of 19 000 inhabitants and is located at the Turkish-Greek border. Svilengrad is a municipal centre with 23 component settlements. It lies at a distance of 67 km southeast of Haskovo along both banks of the Maritza River. The old name of the town is Mustafa Pasha which is used until 1934.

The favourable natural resources and the geographical location of the region have contributed to the development of the region and its population since ancient times. There are remains of ancient Thracian settlements, sanctuaries and tomb mounds. The region has been the arena of military confrontations between Byzantine and Bulgarian troops. The present-day town develops in XV c. close to the remains of the Thracian-Roman settlement of Burdenis. Today only a few ruins of this settlement have been preserved. During the Ottoman yoke the town is known under the name Mustafa Pasha. The symbol of the town is a stone bridge built in 1529 during the reign of Mustafa Pasha.

The tourist sights of the town are: the stone bridge, the Thracian tomb "Mezek", remains of a medieval fortress near Mezek, rocky churches near the villages of Mihalich and Matochina.

Tourist sights

The Thracian tomb "Mezek" at the village of Mezek has been discovered in 1931. It is situated in the Maltepe hill. The Thracian tomb dates back to IV c. B.C. and is preserved in its original way. The tomb has a 20,65 m long corridor two different-size rectangular rooms and a round chamber. The round chamber has a hive-shaped roof starting from its base. At the bottom of the chamber there is a stone bed. Unique objects of gold, bronze, iron, glass and ceramics have been found in the tomb. They are of high artistic value. Through the village of Mezek has passed the road connecting Kabile /Yambol town/ with Adrianopol/ Edirne town in Turkey/.

The medieval fortress at the village of Mezek dates back to XI-XII c. The fortress is comparatively well preserved. The medieval fortress of Neuzetikon has had a significant defense meaning.

The rocky churches on the territories of the villages of Mihalich and Matochina lie at a distance of 40 km east of the town. The churches date back to X c. and are among the most well-preserved churches in Bulgaria.

The Stone Bridge in Svilengrad is built in 1529. It is 300 m long, 6 m wide and has 2 vault openings. The bridge is proclaimed for a monument of culture.