STARA ZAGORA - C ity of straight streets, lime trees and poet s

1. Location Stara Zagora is located in the central part of Southern Bulgaria. It is a municipality consisting of one town and fifty villages, with a total population of176 650: 152 752of them live in the city of Stara Zagora – the municipal centre which is the sixth largest city in Bulgaria. Major transportation roads pass through Stara Sagora: Eurocorridor 8:  Italy– Albania– Macedonia – Bulgaria; Eurocorridor 9: Finland – Russia – Ukraine – Moldova – Roumania – Bulgaria – Greece.  The city of Stara Zagora is only:  220 km from Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria;  90 km from Plovdiv, the second largest Bulgarian city andthe nearest international airport; 290 km from Varna, the largest city on the Black Sea Coast, international airport; 180 km from Bourgas, the second largest city on the BlackSea Coast, international airport; 235 km from Rousse, the largest Bulgarian city and port on the Danube  120 km from Veliko Tarnovo, the Medieval capital of Bulgaria; 36 km from Kazanlak, the centre of the Valley of the Roses and of the Thracian Kings STARA ZAGORA- City of straight streets, lime trees and poets

2. The municipality of Stara Zagora has an area of 1019,37 sq.m and covers the northern fields of the Upper Thracian Plain and the southern hills of Sarnena Sredna Gora Mountain. The plain lies 150-180 m above sea level, while the highest point of the mountains, the Moruley peak, reaches 895 m. The climate is temperate, continental with mild winters (the average temperature in January is- 1оС). The snow covers are short, lasting longer on the Sarnena Sredna Gora Mountain. Rain falls mainly in spring and summer. The rivers crossing the municipality are short and shallow. They are the Sazliyka river, which flows into the Maritsa, the Bedechka river, which runs through the Zmeyovo pass and Stara Zagora city, and the Banska Reka river, which crosses the Stara Zagora Mineral Spa. Sarnena Sredna Gora Mountain is included in the ecotourism area of the South Central Balkans. The mountain is attractive and easily accessible in all seasons due to its temperate climate and well-preserved nature. Nature

3. The Stara Zagora Mineral Spa Resort is situated 15 km northeast of the city of Stara Zagora, in a picturesque valley of Sredna Gora Mountain, at 370 m above sea level. It is an attractive resort offering excellent opportunities for relaxation and treatment with natural mineral waters and fresh mountain air in renovated rest houses and hotels. It is surrounded by clean broad-leaved forests and far away from industrial pollution. The natural thermal water springs from a depth of 1600 meters. The temperature on the surface is 40° C (c. 110°F), with a capacity of 12 l/sec. It is believed to have excellent curing and healing qualities.   Mineral water springs

4. Stara Zagora is a city with an eight thousand-year history. More than 100 prehistoric mounds from the 6th to 3rd millennium BC were found in the vicinity of Stara Zagora. Located at the cross-roads of multiple civilizations, Stara Zagora is an important piece in the European cultural routes mosaic. The city's current name, Stara Zagora, appeared for the first time in documents from the Church Council of Tsarigrad in 1875. Brief History During the War between Russia and Turkeyin 1877, the city was burned down and razed to the ground by the Turkish army in. The only public building surviving the fire was the mosque, Eski Dzhamiya.  October 5th, 1879. Stara Zagora's restoration from the destruction began immediately after the liberation of Bulgaria. The first symbolic foundation stone was laid on October 5th, 1879. The city was rebuilt on plans designed by the Czech architect Lyubor Bayer, and became the first modern-looking Bulgarian city after the Liberation with its large straight streets and spacious squares. Thus the date has become the Day of Stara Zagora

5. Stara Zagora is a modern and dynamic city with well-developed economy that includes: textile and food processing industry, machine-building,metallurgy,timber and wood processing industries, construction, wine and brewing industries. On February 8th, 2008 Standard & Poor`s Ratings Agency confirmed the long-term issuer credit rating on the city of Stara Zagora at “ВВ+”, owing to its stable growth and good economic prospects. Stara Zagora is famous also for the Trakia University and the numerous schools and kindergartens. There are 7 secondary schools, 4 humanitarian and 11 vocational training schools, which train specialists in the following fields: civil engineering, architecture and building, mechanical engineering and transport, bio and chemical engineering electronics electrical engineering commerce and business management catering and clothes veterinary medicine construction architecture and woodworking Education in Trakia University Stara Zagora is in the following: Faculty of Agriculture (incl. economy) Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Faculty of Medicine Faculty of Pedagogy Bulgarian-German Agricultural College Medical College Stara Zagora Technical College Yambol Today

6. For its natural resources, naturaladvantages, skilled workforce and municipality’s efforts for improving business environment, the city is attracting companies to set up their investments and operations in it. Some of the biggest national and foreign investments in Stara Zagora are: Zagorka ( a company of Heineken) – 420 employees - Brewery Gradus - 300 employees - The biggest factory for chicken meat production on the Balkan peninsula Biser Oliva – 280 employees - Production of refined and unrefined sunflower oil Sredna Gora(a company of IKEA, Sweden)– 400 employees - Production of massive wood furniture Domain Menada (a company of Belvedere, France)– 350 employees - Winery Hraninvest - Hranmashcomplect – 650 employees - Production of machines and lines for the food industry Metalik – 290 employees - Production of metal construction and parts Oskar Rüegg, Switzerland - 200 employees- Molded parts andassemblies for the automotive industry ALCOA, the USA -100 employees- Foil and packaging LINDEGAS, Germany- Industrial gases Standard Profil, Turkey 90 employees - Sealing profiles for automotive industry Mr Bricolage 75 employees- Hypermarket METRO Cash & Carry – 80 employees - Hypermarket Baumax, Austria -Hypermarket Praktiker, Germany - Hypermarket Foreign investments

7. Geo Milev Drama Theater The Theatre House, built in 1914, has become the city’s cultural and educational heart.   Stara Zagora State Opera The State Opera Theatre, founded in 1925, was the first provincial opera theatre in Bulgaria. Puppet Theatre Established in 1957, the State Puppet Theatre has toured Europe and the Middle East with Museums Regional Historical Museum The Historical Museum has one of the world richest collections of prehistoric art Antique Forum of Augusta Trayana including the forum of the antique city with the remains of an amphitheatre, thermal baths, city walls, the western gate and part of the main trading street  Southern Gate of Augusta Trayana antique city This was a solid structure in the fortified city walls, which included a 2-story building above the gate. Late Antique Public Building with Mosaics Museum of Nineteenth Century Town Life The Museum of Nineteenth Century Town Life is a house that exhibits a rich collection of household belongings from this period. Stara Zagora crafts (End of 19th and beginning of 20th c.) Samara Banner Memorial to the Defenders of Stara Zagora in 1877 Eski Dzhamiya (Eski Mosque) This is the only building which survived the city fire during the Russian-Turkish Liberation War. Culture

8. Located on the foot of Sredna Gora Mountain, Stara Zagora boasts beautiful parks, gardens and a lot of green spaces right in the heart of the city. There are 7 parks in the city area, and the biggest one is Ayazmoto Park (Metropolitan Metodi Kussev Park). It isestablished in 1895. Then Metropolitan Metodi Kussev initiated and organized the first planting campaigns on the bare hill north of the city. As a result, it was transformed into a magnificent park, featuring unique tree species imported from Lebanon, Turkey, Greece, Spain, Italy. The City Park (5th October Park) Located in the city centre on an area of 20 decares, the park was created in 1891.  This is a favourite place of Stara Zagora citizens, where in nice weather, people like to sit for a chat around the fountain and mothers bring their children to play. Stara Zagora Zoo is created in 1957, Stara Zagora Zoo is situated in a picturesque site within the Ayazmoto Park, on an area of 240 000 sq. m. The Zoo is the home of more than 450 animals of 80 species - mammals, birds and amphibious. The visitors have the opportunity to see animals from all continents, except the Antarctic. Parks

9. JanuaryEpiphany Traditional Exhibition of Young Artists FebruaryExhibition at the Art Gallery Exhibition of wax figures from Saint-Petersburg Wax Museum MarchMartenitsa Holiday Festival of Masquerade Games National Holiday (Bulgaria's Day of Liberation from the OttomanRule) AprilChildren’s and Teen’s Folklore Festival: “Let’s not allow the spring to run dry” St. Lazar's celebrations Festival of the Opera and Ballet Arts Easter Holidays MayFestival of the Opera and Ballet Arts St. George's Day - Day of the Bulgarian Army Aleko's Days in Stara Zagora Bulgarian Education and Culture, and Slavonic Literature Day JuneInternational Children's Day, Day of Botev and of Bulgarian National Liberation Heroes, International Plein Air Painting Competition Festival of the Opera and Ballet Arts Days of the Linden Trees - exhibition, concerts, street entertainment July170th anniversary of the birth of Vassil Levski Anniversary of the Battles in defense of Stara Zagora in 1877 AugustNational Thracian Folklore Convention National Festival of Gypsy Music and Songs Karajan’s Films Evenings Holidays & Festivalsin Stara Zagora

10. SeptemberEuropean Heritage Days "Sredna Gora Echo"Song Festival International piano competition "Classics and contemporaneity" Bulgaria Unification Day Bulgaria Independence Day PIERROT International Puppet Theatre Festival for Adults Geo Milev Days - Festival of Literature and Arts Stara Zagora’s open night for galleries and museums OctoberDay of Stara Zagora Autumn Exhibition of Stara Zagora Artists Armenian DanceFestival NovemberNational Revival Day National Competition for Youth Poetry Days of St. Kliment Ohridski Days of the Japanese culture in Stara Zagora DecemberChristmas Folk Songs Festival Christmas Folklore Festivities in the neighbouring villages Holidays & Festivalsin Stara Zagora

11. Beroe Stadium Located in the northwestern part of the city in the vicinity of Ayazmoto Park, Beroe Stadium seats 12,000 and has gymnastics, acrobatics, boxing, and table tennis facilities. Locomotive Stadium Locomotive Stadium is located in the northeastern part . Municipal Tennis Courts This facility is located north of Beroe Stadium.  It features 10 tennis courts, a sauna, and a fitness centre. Tennis Courts There are two tennis courts located in the Ayazmoto Park. Indoor swimming pool The Stara Zagora indoor swimming pool is located in the city centre. City Sports Hall The City Sports Hall, with seating for 500. Stara Zagora Sports Hall The Stara Zagora Sports Hall features two basketball courts and provides seating for 2000 Cycle-racing track This track is situated in the Railway Station Garden for cycle-racing competitions and training . Sports

12. Medical services are highly qualified professionals and advanced health system at all levels. To July 2007 law on an individual contract with the health fund work 263 physicians and 245 family dentistry. In functioning 20 hospitals, 24 medical and 14 consultative diagnostic center and 4 clinics: in oncology, pulmonary, psychiatric, venereal and skin diseases. Hospital for Active Treatment "Prof. Dr. Stoyan Kirkovich”-largest health facility in the area now is the status of the district Hospital for active treatment, which serves as the population of Stara Zagora and difficult to diagnose and treat cases of all municipalities in the area. University Hospital for Active Treatment "Stara Zagora". It combines the curative and diagnostic activities for people in the field of Republican urgency . Specialized Surgical Hospital for Active Treatment “Ritam” in Stara Zagora is first private hospital in the city The first private Hospital for Active Treatment “NiaMed”with four separate Maternity, Neonatal, surgical and anesthesia and reanimation . Publichealth services

13. STATE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL Dr. George Kisyov "Radnevo is the largest psychiatric hospital in Bulgaria. It was founded in 1956. It is located in area 680 acres. There are nine wards, 520 beds, a spacious park with forests, parks with paths, a total of 31 buildings. SPH-Radnevo has clearly structured internal rules, which benefit has been established by long practice, with an information system based on computer equipment, prepared to facilitate the work of staff. Hospital periodically undergo accreditation procedures, which ensures service quality in it. In three of the nine wards of the hospital to treat people with addictions. Such ill settle in sheltered homes, after discharge from their wards. STATE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL “Dr. George Kisyova” - Radnevo