The town of Plovdiv is the district centre with a population of 340 000 inhabitants. It lies 147 km southeast of Sofia. Plovdiv is the municipal centre of 18 settlements. The town is situated in the Upper Thracian Valley along both banks of the Maritza River. Plovdiv is one of the oldest towns in Europe. It dates back to the time of Troy and is older than Rome, Athens and Constantinople. In 1975 have been discovered the remains of a building from the period of the Cretan-Mycenaean culture measurable only to the finding on the Knosos Island.

The Thracians are the first to found a settlement in these lands which they call Evmolpia. Gradually the settlement develops and occupies the three hills and is known under the name of Pulpudeva. In 342 B.C. Philip II the Macedonian conquers the settlement and builds fortified walls around it and calls it Philipopolis (The town of Philip). After the death of Alexander the Macedonian the Thracian people gain their independence and Seutes III, king of the Odrysian tribe restores the Thracian kingdom. More than two centuries the Romans try to conquer the Thracian people and finally in 72 B.C. they conquer all the settlements along the Maritza River. The Romans call the town Trimontzium (The town of the three hills). Later the town becomes the centre of the Thrace Province. The town has had a water supply and sewage system, a huge stadium, an amphitheatre, public baths and a residence for the Empire governor of the province. The residence has been located on the Taksim Tepe/ one of the hills of Plovdiv/ and has been with the impressive size of 2 hectares. The Byzantine period of Plovdiv starts at the end of IV c. The Emperor Justinian the Great (527-565) completely renovates the town. The Slavs come to the town in the middle of VI c. and gradually change the ethnic outlook of the town. The settlement enters the limits of Bulgaria during khan Malamir (831-836). At the period of the First Bulgarian Kingdom Plovdiv has been a border town which has often changed its belonging from Bulgaria to Byzantine and vice versa. During the period of political bloom of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom Plovdiv remains in the limits of Bulgaria for a longer period. Four of the eight crusades cross the town and two of them leave it in flames. In 1364 the town is captured by the Turks and is given the name of Filibe. As an internal town Plovdiv loses its significance of an important fortress and develops as an economic centre. During the first half of 19 c. together with Istanbul, Thessalonica, and Odrin/ Edirne in Turkey/ the town becomes a big economic centre at the European part of Turkey. During the Unification of the Principalities of Bulgaria and East Roumelia in 1885 the town enters the limits of Bulgaria again.

The tourist sights of the town are: the old town with its Revival period houses of Georgiadi, Kuyumdzhioglu, Nedkovich, Hindliyan, Mavridi, Balabanov's, the churches " St. Marina (1853), "St. St. Konstantin and Elena" (1830), ‘St. Dimiter" (1830) and "St. Nedelya" (1832), the amphitheatre, the art gallery, the clock tower(158-1623).

On the territory of Plovdiv district are located the following historic landmarks: Diokletzianopol/ Hissarya/- an ancient Roman town, Starossel - a Thracian cult centre, Asen's fortress-a medieval Bulgarian fortress and the Bachkovo Monastery.

The most famous natural landmarks are: part of the "Central Balkan" National park, the reserves "Chervenata stena" (in Rhodope Mountains), "Chamdzha" (in the Stara Planina Mountains), "Izgoraloto gyune" (in Rhodope Mountains).

Within the administrative borders of the region are situated the following monasteries: Sopot Monastery, Bachkovo Monastery, Kuklen Monastery, Gornovoden Monastery and Arapovo Monastery.

Tourist sights

The architectural-historic reserve "The Ancient Plovdiv" has preserved remains of a prehistoric settlement, fortress ruins from the Thracian and Roman Epochs, Revival period churches and houses.

The Amphitheatre in Plovdiv has been built in II c. during the reign of the Roman Emperor Trayan. The theatre has had 28 seat-rows that could accommodate 6 000 spectators. The amphitheatre is well-preserved in its original way and has been partially restored for 3 500 spectators.

The ancient stadium is situated on the Dzhumaya square in Plovdiv. Some of the amphitheatre's seat-rows have been preserved as well as an underground corridor and a racing track. The stadium has had a length of 180 m and its marble seats have accommodated 30 000 inhabitants from Filipopol. The stadium dates back to II c.

The ancient forum is situated at the central square of Plovdiv. According to specialists it is the biggest in Bulgaria. In the ancient times the forum has had statues, alleys, sanctuaries, fountains and shops.

The ancient Odeon in Plovdiv dates back to II-V c. and is now situated west of the Central post office building. The building has been used for sessions of the town council of Philipopol and as a small theatre. The building has been restored and formed for the purposes of hosting chamber concerts.

The Georgiadi's House in Polvdiv is built during 1846-1848. It has a ground floor used as an internal yard and two symmetrical storeys with an oval saloon in the middle. The house is richly decorated. The walls are painted and the ceiling is wood carved.

The Kuyumdzhioglu's House in Plovdiv is built in 1847. It is a two-storey house symmetrically designed around a central saloon. The doors, the wall wardrobes and the ceilings are artistically decorated and the walls are pained.

The Nedkovich's House in Plovdiv is situated in the central part of the Old town. It is built in 1862 from the merchant Nedkovich. The house has an impressively rich decoration. The rooms on the first floor are of different colours related to their purpose. The women's room is in green, the parlour is in red, the dining room is in purple and the living room is in an orange colour. The house has wood carved ceilings, doors and chandeliers.

The Balabanov's house in Plovdiv is situated at a crossroads of two streets. It has been torn down and then reconstructed by original photos from 1980. The house has a huge saloon surrounded by well-equipped and decorated rooms.

The Hidliyan's House in Plovdiv is the most richly painted house. On the second floor of the house there are sceneries from Sank Petersburg, Lisbon, Venice and other towns.

The Mavridi's House/ also known as the Lamartin's House/ in Plovdiv is built during 1828-1830. The house has an interesting architectural style. It is located at a corner of three streets with big differences in the levels. In the house there is a room where the French poet Alfonse De Lamartine stayed while describing Plovdiv and the Bulgarian people in his book "Travelling East"

The Hristo Danov's House in Plovdiv is a Revival period house which houses the History Museum's exhibition "The book publishing in Plovdiv during the Revival Period". Hristo Danov is a famous Bulgarian public figure of the Revival period.

The Town's Art Gallery possesses unique works of Stanislav Dospevski, Zahari Zograf, Georgi Danchov, Ivan Markvichka, Vladimir Dimitrov, Zlatyo Boyadzhiev, Tzanko Lavrenov and other prominent Bulgarian artists.

The "St. Konstantin and Elena" Church is situated at the centre of the Old Plovdiv. The church has a remarkable iconostasis, a bishop's throne and icons from the Revival period. According to specialists the icons are made by Zahari Zograf.

The "St. Nedelya" Church in Plovdiv is built in 1578. The iconostasis of the chapel has been preserved since that period. In 1831-1832 a new church has been erected over the foundations of the old temple. The church has interesting icons from Dimiter Zograf, Stanislav Dospevski, Nikola Odrichanin. The wood carving in the church is made y representatives of the Debar's art school.

The "St. Marina" Church in Plovdiv dates back to 1576. The church has an interesting wood carving and a six-floor wooden bell-tower. "St. Marina" Church is a bishop's church.