Welcome to Asenovgrad

Among the flames of dozens of candles greeted by the evening gown who receives the waters of the Chaya River and lit by the wisdom of the Rhodope Mountains, welcomes us the Little Jerusalem. It is called, not because it is the Promised Land, interwoven into one another by three of the world religions, and because of the many elevated churches, the huge number of chapels and the four monasteries, among which is the second largest in Bulgaria.
In the past, the city was called the Stanikaka by the Greek Stenimachos. Today he is proudly named after the Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Asen II. The town of Assen, Assenovgrad is located in southern Bulgaria. It is located 167 km away from Sofia and 15 km south of the regional city of Plovdiv and is the largest unpopulated town in the country. On the territory of Asenovgrad municipality passes one of the most important transport corridors to Greece: Plovdiv-Smolyan-Xanthi. Because of the good territorial the climate in Asenovgrad is characterized by mild winters and cool summer. Exactly cool summer makes the city and its surroundings enticing for tourism. An interesting natural phenomenon is the so-called nightmare, the wind appearing at dusk and stopping in the morning. It is the reason why Asenovgrad is vineyard and a wine-growing center.
Above the city, the remains of Asen's Fortress, a fortress that was transformed into a military post under Ivan Asen II, to defend the boundaries of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. It stands 2 km from it and is enchanting not only during the day but also in the evening when it is lit. Next to it is the ancient village of Petrich, also called Vasilikis.
Among the many attractions in the vicinity of Asenovgrad are the Red Wall Reserve in the village of Bachkovo, the Topchika Cave, the Usoika near the village of Dobrostan. Tulle Bair, located southeast of the city. The interesting thing about Lale Bair is that it is one of the few places where the Rhodope tulip meets.
If you decide to leave the Saint Trifon Park, you will go through the Koroderes area, followed by several mountain shelters and the Momina Salsa Chalet, to reach the historic camp of Gonda water, Bezovo or Dobrostan. Another scenic route, picturesque and with many beautiful views, is the panoramic mountain road from the Parakolovo area leading to the mountain ridge. On the way you can see the chapel "St. Ilia" and the monastery "St. Petka", in which is located preserved until today the hideout of Vasil Levski. You should not miss the tourist routes to the monasteries of St. Kirik and the Arapovo Monastery. Along with the many churches, monasteries and chapels in Assenovgrad there are several museums - Historical, Ethnographic, Museum of Rock, Winery and Paleontology. The latter is a branch of the National Museum of Natural History and holds one of the richest paleontological collections in Bulgaria. Among the exhibits there are remnants of saber-toothed tiger, tiger metallurgy and detonatorium. The collection of mammals has more than 25,000 samples of over 40 species. For lovers of hunting and fishing near Asenovgrad there is a complex for sports hunting and fishing "40 springs", and 30 km from the town is also the rock phenomenon Belantash.
The city itself is thrilling with the passing Chaya River. Here you can see the monument of Tsar Ivan Asen II, the magnificent chapel "St. John the Baptist", the temple "Our Lady of the Annunciation", in which the church is the icon of the Virgin Mary, considered miraculous. On August 15th, she wanders to the Bachkovo Monastery then returns back. Bachkovo Monastery is the second largest monastery in Bulgaria after the Rila Mountain and is located about 10 km south of Asenovgrad.
If you have a history and chapels, you can aimlessly stroll along the picturesque streets, stop at the showcases of incredible bridal dresses and accessories, for which Asenovgrad number is called the city of the wedding dresses, to have a cup of coffee or to visit a restaurant to try local delicacies - balsam, balsam, sweet green figs, raccoons, white cherry jam, beef with chickpeas and finish the evening with a cup of asenovgrad malaga or mavrud on the terrace at one of the small hotels in the old town or in a guest house offering home-like coziness and casual service. Then you will feel the nightmare descending from the mountain, to whose wisdom you have touched during the day, and you can not but admit, after all that you have seen that Asenovgrad is rightly called "The Little Jerusalem."