Plovdiv
Seal
Nickname: The city of the seven hills
Position of Plovdiv in Bulgaria
Coordinates: 42°9′N 24°45′E / 42.15, 24.75
Country	Bulgaria
Province	Plovdiv
Government
- Mayor	Slavcho Atanasov VMRO
Area
- City	101 km² (39 sq mi)
- Land	101 km² (39 sq mi)
- Water	0 km² (0 sq mi)
Elevation	164 m (538 ft)
Population (31.12.2005)
- City	378,107
- Density	3,352/km² (8,681.6/sq mi)
- Metro	575,297[5]
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
- Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)

Plovdiv (Bulgarian: Пловдив) is the second-largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia, with a population of 378,107.^[1] It is the administrative centre of Plovdiv Province in southern Bulgaria and three municipalities (Plovdiv, Maritsa and Rodopi), as well as the largest and most important city of the historical region of Upper (or Northern) Thrace. The city is an important economic, transport, cultural and educational centre.^[2] Image File history File links Plovdiv-coat-of-arms. ... // A nickname is a name of an entity or thing that is not its proper name. ... Image File history File links Plovdiv_location_in_Bulgaria. ... This is an alphabetical list of the sovereign states of the world, including both de jure and de facto independent states. ... This is a chronological list of mayors of Plovdiv, the second largest city of Bulgaria, since that post was established after the Liberation of Bulgaria in 1878. ... The Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (in Macedonian: Vnatrešna Makedonska Revolucionerna Organizacija, Внатрешна Македонска Револуционерна Организација, in Bulgarian: Vatreshna Makedonska Revolyucionna Organizaciya, Вътрешна Македонска Революционна Организация, VMRO), commonly known in English as IMRO, was the name of a revolutionary political organization in the Macedonia region of the Ottoman Empire, and later... This article is about the physical quantity. ... Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Elevation histogram of the surface of the Earth – approximately 71% of the Earths surface is covered with water. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ... Time zones of Europe: Light colours indicate countries not observing daylight saving Eastern European Time (EET) is one of the names of UTC+2 time zone, 2 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. ... Eastern European Time Central Africa Time Israel Standard Time South Africa Standard Time Central European Summer Time West Africa Summer Time Category: ... Although DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ... Eastern European Summer Time (EEST) is one of the names of UTC+3 time zone, 3 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. ... -12 | -11 | -10 | -9:30 | -9 | -8 | -7 | -6 | -5 | -4 | -3:30 | -3 | -2:30 | -2 | -1 | -0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... This article is about the capital of Bulgaria. ... Walls of the Hissarya fortress Plovdiv is an oblast, or province, of central Bulgaria, formerly part of Eastern Rumelia. ... The Maritsa municipality is located in the Plovdiv Province, southern Bulgaria on the northern bank of the Maritsa River. ... Rodopi municipality is situated in the Plovdiv Province, southern Bulgaria. ... Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak  Thrace (Bulgarian: , Greek: , Attic Greek: ThrāíkÄ“ or ThrēíkÄ“, Latin: , Turkish: ) is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. ...

Plovdiv is situated in the central part of the Upper Thracian Plain on the two banks of the Maritsa River. It is 10 km from the Rhodope mountains and 50 km from the Balkan mountains. The city is constructed on seven syenite hills, some of which are 250 m high. Because of these seven hills, Plovdiv is often referred to in Bulgaria as Градът на седемте тепета (the city of the seven hills). View of the city of Sliven and the eastern Upper Thracian Plain from southern Stara Planina The Upper Thracian Plain (Bulgarian: , Gornotrakiyska nizina) constitutes the northern part of the historical region of Thrace. ... The Maritsa or Evros (Bulgarian: Марица, Greek: Εβρος, Romanized as Hebrus, Turkish: Meriç) river is ca . ... Landscape of the Rhodopes near the village of Hvoyna View from the Belintash Rock towards the village of Vrata The Rhodopes (Bulgarian: , Rodopi, usually used with a definite article: Родопите, Rodopite, sometimes also called Родопа, Rodopa or Родопа планина, Rodopa planina; Greek: , Rodopi, red aspect) are a mountain range in Southeastern Europe, with over... Stara Planina, Rhodope, Rila and Pirin Mountains View from Ray Resthouse towards the Central Balkan Mountains. ... Syenite leucocratic variety of nepheline syenite from Sweden (särnaite). ...

Plovdiv is host to economic and cultural events such as the International Fair Plovdiv, the international theatrical festival "A scene on a crossroad", the TV festival "The golden chest". There are many remains preserved from Antiquity such as the Ancient amphitheatre, Roman odeon, Roman Stadium, the archaeological complex Eirene and others. In the 12th century BC the settlement on one of the hills grew to the Thracian city of Eumolpias which was among the first cities in Europe. International Fair Plovdiv (Международен панаир Пловдив), held in Plovdiv, is Bulgarias largest and oldest international trade fair. ... For other uses, see Festival (disambiguation). ... Antiquity means different things: Generally it means ancient history, and may be used of any period before the Middle Ages. ... Although commonly referred to an an amphitheatre, it is more correctly called a theatre. ... The Roman Stadium The Plovdiv Roman Stadium is among the largest Roman structures in the Balkans. ... Thracian peltast, fifth to fourth century BC. Thracian Roman era heros (Sabazius) stele. ...

Name

During its long history, Plovdiv was given various names: in Thracian: Pulpudeva, Eumolpias; Latin: Trimontium; Greek: Φιλιππούπολη, Φιλιππούπολις / Philippoupoli, Philippoupolis; Turkish: Filibe. In the Middle Ages the Bulgarians called the city Paldin (Пълдин) or Plavdiv (Плъвдив). The city was usually known as Philippopolis in English until the early 20th century. The Thracian language was the Indo-European language spoken in ancient times by the Thracians in South-Eastern Europe. ... Latin was the language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ...

The asteroid (minor planet) 3860 Plovdiv is named after the city. It was discovered by the Bulgarian astronomer Violeta G. Ivanova on 8 August 1986. Plovdiv Peak (1040 m) on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named after Plovdiv. For other uses, see Asteroid (disambiguation). ... Minor planets, or asteroids or planetoids, are minor celestial bodies of the Solar system orbiting the Sun (mostly Small solar system bodies) that are smaller than major planets, but larger than meteoroids (commonly defined as being 10 meters across or less[1]), and that are not comets. ... Violeta Ivanova (Виолета Иванова) is a Bulgarian astronomer. ... Plovdiv Peak (Vrah Plovdiv vr&h plov-div) is a peak rising to 1,040 m in the E extremity of Levski Ridge, Tangra Mountains, Livingston Island, Antarctica. ... Livingston Island (62°36′ S 060°30′ W) is 61 km (38 mi) long and from 3 to 32 km (2 to 20 mi) wide, lying between Greenwich and Snow Islands in the South Shetland Islands. ... Location of the South Shetlands The South Shetland Islands are a group of Antarctic islands, lying about 120 kilometres north of the Antarctic Peninsula. ...

Geography

A view over Plovdiv

Plovdiv is situated in the central parts of the Upper Thracian Plain. It is divided by southern Bulgaria's largest river Maritsa. Only one of the city's six districts is located to the north of the river and the main part of the city lies to the south. Image File history File linksMetadata Plovdiv-view-gruev. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Plovdiv-view-gruev. ... View of the city of Sliven and the eastern Upper Thracian Plain from southern Stara Planina The Upper Thracian Plain (Bulgarian: , Gornotrakiyska nizina) constitutes the northern part of the historical region of Thrace. ... For other uses, see Maritsa (disambiguation). ...

The plain of Plovdiv is an alluvial plain formed by the Maritsa and its tributaries. The heights of Sredna Gora rise to the north-west, to the east are the Chirpan Heights. To the south the plain is surrounded by the slopes of the Rhodope mountains^[3] which are steep and around 1300 meters high with the valleys of the rivers Vacha, Stara Reka, Yadenitsa, Chepinska and others cutting their way through the heavily forested mountain. In the city itself there are six syenite hills, called tepeta. In the beginning of the 20th century they used to be seven but one of them was destroyed. Traditionally the citizens call them Dzhendem tepe, Bunardzhik, Sahat tepe, Nebet tepe, Dzhambaz tepe and Taksim tepe. The last three form the area of the Three hills (Bulgarian: Трихълмие) in the central part of the city.^[4] An alluvial plain is a relatively flat and gently sloping landform found at the base of a range of hills. ... A view of Sredna Gora from the Thracian tomb near Starosel Sredna Gora (Средна Гора) is a mountain range in central Bulgaria, situated parallel with Stara Planina and extending to the river Iskar to the west and the elbow of Tundzha north of Yambol to the east. ... Landscape of the Rhodopes near the village of Hvoyna View from the Belintash Rock towards the village of Vrata The Rhodopes (Bulgarian: , Rodopi, usually used with a definite article: Родопите, Rodopite, sometimes also called Родопа, Rodopa or Родопа планина, Rodopa planina; Greek: , Rodopi, red aspect) are a mountain range in Southeastern Europe, with over...

Climate

The climate is temperate with strong influence from the Mediterranean and is typical of southern Europe. Summers are generally extremely hot and dry. Winters tend to either have a very mild Mediterranean character, or a very cold Siberian character, and sometimes see elements of both. The average annual temperature is 12.4°С. The average maximum temperature is in July - 30.3°С and the absolute maximum was recorded during the same month in 2000 - 45.0°С. The average minimum temperature is 6.5°С and the absolute minimum was -31.5°С measured during an inversion. The average relative humidity is 73%, it is highest in December - 86% and lowest in July and August - 62%. The total precipitation is 540 mm - the wettest month of the year is May with an average precipitation of 66.2 mm, while the driest is August with an average of 31 mm. The average number of days with a snow blanket in Plovdiv is 23. The average depth of the blanket of snow is 2 to 4 cm and the maximum is normally 6 to 13 but in some winters it can reach 50 cm or more. Gentle winds (0 to 5 m/sec) are predominant in the city with wind speeds of up to 1 m/s representing 95% of all winds during the year. Mists are common in the cooler months especially along the banks of the Maritsa. On average there are 33 days with mist during the year.^[5] For the usage in virology, see temperate (virology). ... The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ... Smoke rising in Lochcarron is stopped by an overlying layer of warmer air. ... Dramatic morning mist Mist is a phenomenon of a liquid in small droplets floating through air. ...

Climate table:

History

Main article: History of Plovdiv

Antiquity

The Roman odeon.

Plovdiv is one of the oldest cities in Europe. It is a contemporary of Troy and Mycenae, and older than Rome, Carthage or Constantinople. Archaeologists have discovered fine pottery^[7] and other objects of everyday life from as early as the Neolithic Age, showing that in the end of the 7^th millennium B.C there already was an established settlement there.^[8][9] According to Ammianus Marcellinus, Plovdiv's written post-Bronze Age history lists it as a Thracian fortified settlement named Eumolpias. In 4th century BC the city was a centre of a trade fair (called panegyreis).^[10] In 342 BC, it was conquered by Philip II of Macedon^[11], the father of Alexander the Great, who renamed it "Φιλιππόπολις", Philippopolis or "the city of Philip" in his own honour. Later, it was reconquered by the Thracians who called it Pulpudeva (a translation of Philipopolis)^[12] The Odeon was a building used for musical performance in Athens built in the 5th century BC. Hence, any building in ancient Greece or the ancient Roman Empire was called an odeon. ... For other uses of Troy or Ilion, see Troy (disambiguation) and Ilion (disambiguation). ... A clay tablet with writing in Linear B from Mycenae. ... For other uses, see Rome (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Carthage (disambiguation). ... This article is about the city before the Fall of Constantinople (1453). ... Ammianus Marcellinus (325/330-after 391) was a fourth-century Greek historian [1][2]. His is the last major historical account of the late Roman empire which survives today: his work chronicled the history of Rome from 96 to 378, although only the sections covering the period 353 - 378 are... Thracian peltast, fifth to fourth century BC. Thracian Roman era heros (Sabazius) stele. ... Philip II of Macedon: victory medal (niketerion) struck in Tarsus, 2nd c. ... For the film of the same name, see Alexander the Great (1956 film). ... Thracian peltast, fifth to fourth century BC. Thracian Roman era heros (Sabazius) stele. ...

In 72 AD it was seized by the Roman general Terentius Varo Lukulus and was incorporated into the Roman Empire^[13], where it was called Trimontium (City of Three Hills) and served as metropolis (capital) of the province of Thrace. It gained a city status in late 1st century.^[14] Thrimontium was an important crossroad for the Roman Empire and was called "The largest and most beautiful of all cities" by Lucian. Although it was not the capital of the Province of Thrace, the city was the largest and most important centre in the province.^[15] In those times, the Via Militaris (or Via Diagonalis), the most important military road in the Balkans, passed through the city.^[16][17] For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak  Thrace (Bulgarian: , Greek: , Attic Greek: ThrāíkÄ“ or ThrēíkÄ“, Latin: , Turkish: ) is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. ... For other uses, see Lucian (disambiguation). ... Balkan redirects here. ...

The Roman times were a period of growth and cultural excellence.^[18] The ancient ruins tell a story of a vibrant, growing city with numerous public buildings, shrines, baths, and theatres. The city had advanced water system and sewerage. It was defended with a double wall. Many of those are still preserved and can be seen by the tourist. Today only a small part of the ancient city has been excavated.^[12] For other uses, see Lucian (disambiguation). ... The word sewerage means the provision of pipes etc to collect and dispose of sewage. ...

Middle Ages

The Slavs had fully settled in the area by the middle of the 6th century and changed the ethnic proportions of the region.^[19] With the establishment of Bulgaria in 681 Philipopolis became and important border fortress of the Byzantine Empire. It was captured by Khan Krum in 812 but the region was fully incorporated into the Bulgarian Empire in 834 during the reign of Khan Malamir.^[20] It remained in Bulgarian hands until it was conquered by the Byzantine Empire in 970 or 971. In 970 the Asian army of the Byzantine Empire under the eunuch Peter was destroyed by the Bulgarians near Plovdiv.^[21] The city again came to be known as Philippopolis and became Byzantine in character. Aime de Varennes in 1180 encountered the singing of Byzantine songs in the city that recounted the deeds of Alexander the great and his predecessors, over 1300 years before.^[22] Countries with dominating Slavic ethnicities  West Slavic  East Slavic  South Slavic Slav redirects here. ... Byzantine redirects here. ... Krum (Bulgarian: ) (died April 13, 814) was ruler of Bulgaria, from after 796/ before 803 to 814. ... Imperial Emblem Bulgarian Empire at its greatest extent c. ... Malamir (Bulgarian: ) was the ruler of Bulgaria 831–836. ... Byzantine redirects here. ...

Khan Krum was the first Bulgarian ruler to capture Plovdiv.

Byzantine rule was succeeded by that of the Latin Empire in 1204, and there were two short interregnum periods as the city was twice occupied by Kaloyan of Bulgaria before his death in 1207.^[12] In 1208 Kaloyan's successor Boril was defeated by the Latins in the battle of Plovdiv.^[23] Under Latin rule, Plovdiv was the capital of the Duchy of Philippopolis governed by Renier de Trit, and later on by Gerard de Strem. Bulgarian rule was reestablished during the reign of Ivan Asen II between 1225 and 1229. In 1263 Plovdiv was conquered by the restored Byzantine Empire and remained in Byzantine hands until it was re-conquered by George Terter II of Bulgaria in 1322.^[24] Byzantine rule was restored once again in 1323, but in 1344 the city and eight other towns were surrendered to Bulgaria by the regency for John V Palaiologos as the price for Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria's support in the Byzantine civil war.^[25] Image File history File links Size of this preview: 781 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1689 × 1296 pixel, file size: 465 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 781 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1689 × 1296 pixel, file size: 465 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Krum (Bulgarian: ) (died April 13, 814) was ruler of Bulgaria, from after 796/ before 803 to 814. ... Arms of the Latin Empire of Constantinople The Latin Empire with its vassals and the Greek successor states after the partition of the Byzantine Empire, c. ... Kaloyan Asen, Kalojan, Johannizza, John, The Romankiller (c. ... Boril (Bulgarian: ) reigned as emperor (tsar) of Bulgaria from 1207 to 1218. ... Renier of Trit was the first Frankish duke of Philippopolis from 1204 to 1205. ... Ivan Asen II (Bulgarian: , pronounced ; also Йоан Асен II, Yoan Asen II), in English sometimes known as John Asen II, ruled as Emperor (Tsar) of Bulgaria from 1218 to 1241, during the Second Bulgarian Empire. ... Byzantine redirects here. ... Tsar George II of Bulgaria was monarch of Bulgaria from 1322 to 1323. ... John V Palaiologos or Palaeologus (Greek: , Iōannēs V Palaiologos), (1332 – February 16, 1391) was the son of Emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos and Anna of Savoy. ... Ivan Alexander (Bulgarian: , transliterated Ivan Aleksandǎr;[1] IPA: ), also known as John Alexander,[2] ruled as Emperor (Tsar) of Bulgaria from 1331 to 1371,[3] during the Second Bulgarian Empire. ...

In 1364 the Ottoman Turks under Lala Shakhin Pasha seized Plovdiv.^[26][27] The Turks called the city Filibe. It was the capital of Rumelia until 1382 when the Ottomans captured Sofia which became the main city of the province. Plovdiv survived as one of the major cultural centers for Bulgarian culture and tradition. The name Plovdiv first appeared around that time and is derived from the city's Thracian name Pulpudeva (assumed to be a translation of Philippopolis, from Pulpu = Philippou and deva = city), which was rendered by the Slavs first as Pəldin (Пълдин) or Pləvdin. The Ottoman Turks were the ethnic subdivision of the Turkish people who dominated the ruling class of the Ottoman Empire. ... This article is about the capital of Bulgaria. ...

National revival

Main article: Bulgarian National Revival

The Virgin Mary Church.

Under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, Plovdiv was a focal point for the Bulgarian national movement in the Eastern Rumelia province of the Empire. During that period Plovdiv was a major economic center along with Istanbul, Odrin and Solun. The richer citizens constructed beautiful houses many of which can still be seen in the Architectural reserve Old Plovdiv. Plovdiv was a sanjak centre of Rumelia Province between 1364-1864 and was the sanjak centre of Edirne Vilayet between 1864-1878 during Ottoman Rule. The Bulgarian national revival (Vazrazdane) was a period of socio-economic development and national integration among Bulgarian people in the Ottoman Empire. ... Motto دولت ابد مدت Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (The Eternal State) Anthem Ottoman imperial anthem Borders in 1683, see: list of territories Capital Söğüt (1299–1326) Bursa (1326–1365) Edirne (1365–1453) Ä°stanbul (1453–1922) Government Monarchy Sultans  - 1281–1326 (first) Osman I  - 1918–22 (last) Mehmed VI Grand Viziers  - 1320... Proposed flag of Eastern Rumelia. ... Location of Istanbul on the Bosphorus Strait, Turkey Coordinates: , Country Turkey Region Province Istanbul Founded 667 BC as Byzantium Roman/Byzantine period AD 330 as Constantinople Ottoman period 1453 as Constantinople (internationally) and various other names in local languages Turkish Republic period 1923 as Constantinople, officially renamed as Istanbul in... Selimiye Mosque, built by Sinan in 1575 Edirne is a city in Thrace, the westernmost part of Turkey, close to the borders with Greece and Bulgaria. ... Thessaloníki (Θεσσαλονίκη) is the second-largest city of Greece and is the principal, the largest city and the capital of the Greek region of Macedonia. ... Map of Rumelia as of 1801 Rumelia (turkish: Rum: Roman El: Land Rumeli: Lands of Rome), the area that was the East Roman or Byzantine Empire, a name commonly used, from the 15th century onwards, to denote the part of the Balkan Peninsula subject to the Ottoman Empire. ... Adrianople redirects here. ...

Plovdiv had an important role in the struggle for Church independence which was according to some historians a peaceful bourgeois revolution. Plovdiv became the center of that struggle with leaders such as Nayden Gerov, Dr Valkovich, Joakim Gruev and whole families. In 1836 the first Bulgarian school was inaugurated and in 1850 modern secular education began when the "St Cyrill and Metodius" school was opened. On 11 May 1858 the day of Saints Cyril and Methodius was celebrated for the first time, this later became a National holiday which is still celebrated today. In 1858 in the Church of Virgin Mary the Christmas liturgy was served for the first time in the Bulgarian language since the beginning of the Ottoman occupation. In 1868 the school expanded into the first grammar school. Some of the intellectuals, politicians and spiritual leaders of the nation graduated that school.^[12] Nayden Gerov (Bulgarian: ), born Nayden Gerov Hadzhidobrevich (Bulgarian: ) February 23, 1823, Koprivshtitsa–October 9, 1900, Plovdiv) was a Bulgarian linguist, folklorist, writer and public figure during the Bulgarian National Revival. ... is the 131st day of the year (132nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For details about each of the saints, see Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius. ... Bulgarian or chuvashi language is spoken by around 80. ...

The city was liberated from the Ottomans during the Battle of Plovdiv in 1878.^[27] Following the crushing Russian victory at the last battle of Shipka Pass, Russian commander Joseph Vladimirovich Gourko began to move southeast towards Constantinople. ...

Eastern Rumelia

Main article: Bulgarian unification

According to the Treaty of San Stefano on 3 March 1878 the Principality of Bulgaria included the lands with predominantly Bulgarian population. Plovdiv which was the biggest and most vibrant Bulgarian city was selected as a capital of the restored country and for a seat of the Temporary Russian Government.^[28] Great Britain and Austria-Hungary, however, did not approve that treaty and the final result of the war was concluded in the Congress of Berlin which divided the newly liberated country into several parts. It separated the autonomous region of Eastern Rumelia from Bulgaria and Plovdiv became its capital. The Ottoman Empire created a constitution and appointed a governor.^[29] At the time, it had a population of about 33,500, of which 45% were Bulgarians, 25% Greeks, 21% Turks, 6% Jews and 3% Armenians. A map of the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia before the Unification. ... Borders of Bulgaria according to the Treaty of San Stefano of March 3rd, 1878 The Treaty of San Stefano was a treaty between Russia and the Ottoman Empire at the conclusion of the Russo-Turkish War, 1877-78. ... is the 62nd day of the year (63rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1878 (MDCCCLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Austria-Hungary, also known as the Dual monarchy (or: the k. ... The Congress of Berlin (June 13 - July 13, 1878) was a meeting of the European Great Powers and the Ottoman Empires leading statesmen in Berlin in 1878. ... Proposed flag of Eastern Rumelia. ...

In the spring of 1885 Zahari Stoyanov formed the Secret Bulgarian Central Revolutionary Committee in the city which actively conducted propaganda for the unification of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia. On 5 September several hundred armed rebels from Golyamo Konare (now Saedinenie) marched to Plovdiv. In the night of 5-6 September these men led by Danail Nikolaev took control of the city and removed from office the General-Governor Gavril Krastevich. A provisional government was formed led by Georgi Stranski and universal mobilization was announced.^[30] After the Serbs were defeated in the Serbo-Bulgarian War, Bulgaria and Turkey reached an agreement according to which the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia had a common government, Parliament, administration and army. Today 6 September is celebrated as the Unification Day and the Day of Plovdiv. Zahariy Stoyanov (Bulgarian: ) (1850 – September 2, 1889), born Dzhendo Stoyanov Dzhendov (Bulgarian: ), was a Bulgarian revolutionary, writer, and historian. ... is the 248th day of the year (249th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Saedinenie (Bulgaria: Община Съединение) is a town in the Plovdiv Province, central Bulgaria. ... Combatants Principality of Bulgaria Kingdom of Serbia Strength >35,000 facing the Serbs at the beggining of the battle of Slivnitsa: 60,000+ towards the end of the war 60,000 Casualties 5000 killed, wounded and missing 7000 killed, wounded and missing The Serbo-Bulgarian War (Bulgarian: , Srabsko-balgarska voyna... is the 249th day of the year (250th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Recent history

After the unification Plovdiv remained second city in population and significance after the capital Sofia. The first railway in the city was built in 1874 and in 1888 it was linked with Sofia. In 1892 Plovdiv became host of the First Bulgarian Fair with international participation which was succeeded by the International Fair Plovdiv. After the liberation the first brewery was inaugurated in the city. This article is about the capital of Bulgaria. ... This is the top-level page of WikiProject trains Rail tracks Rail transport refers to the land transport of passengers and goods along railways or railroads. ... International Fair Plovdiv (Международен панаир Пловдив), held in Plovdiv, is Bulgarias largest and oldest international trade fair. ...

The St Loius Catholic Cathedral.

In the beginning of the 20th century Plovdiv grew as a significant industrial and commercial center with well developed light and food industry. German, French and Belgian capital was invested in the city in development of modern trade, banking and industry. In 1939 there were 16,000 craftsmen and 17,000 workers in manufacturing factories, mainly for food and tobacco processing. During the Second World War the tobacco industry expanded as well as the export of fruit and vegetables. In 1943 1,500 Jews were saved from deportation in concentration camps by the archbishop of Plovdiv Cyril who later became Bulgarian Patriarch. Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... Languages Historical Jewish languages Hebrew, Yiddish, Ladino, others Liturgical languages: Hebrew and Aramaic Predominant spoken languages: The vernacular language of the home nation in the Diaspora, significantly including English, Hebrew, Yiddish, and Russian Religions Judaism Related ethnic groups Arabs and other Semitic groups For the Jewish religion, see Judaism. ... It has been suggested that Internment be merged into this article or section. ... Patriarch Cyril (Bulgarian: ) (January 3, 1901 - March 7, 1971), born Konstantin Markov (Bulgarian: ), was the first Patriarch of the restored Bulgarian Patriarchy. ...

On 6 April 1956 the first trolleybus line was opened and in the 1950s the Trimontsium Hotel was constructed. In the 1960s and 1970s there was a construction boom and many of the modern neighborhoods took shape. In the 1970s and 1980s antique remains were excavated and the Old Town was fully restored. In 1990 the Sports complex "Plovdiv" was finished, it included the largest stadium and rowing canal in the country. In that period Plovdiv became the birthplace of Bulgaria's movement for democratic reform, which by 1989 had garnered enough support to enter government. is the 96th day of the year (97th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... A car from 1956 Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Plovdiv has hosted specialized exhibitions of the World's Fair in 1981, 1985, and 1991. Worlds Fair is any of various large expositions held since the mid-19th century. ...

Demographics

Population

The population (including those who live somewhere else in Bulgaria or outside the country but possess Bulgarian passports) for the municipality of Plovdiv for 2007 is 375,137 which makes it second in population in the nation. According to the data of NSI (National Institute of Statistics) the people who actually live in Plovdiv are 346,790.^[31] Bulgarian passport cover The Bulgarian passport is a legal document that a Bulgarian citizen needs in order to travel outside the country. ...

Just before the Liberation of Bulgaria Plovdiv was the second largest Bulgarian city after Stara Zagora. According to the data from 1880 it had 24,053 inhabitants.^[32] Before it was burned down by the Turks in 1877 Stara Zagora had a population of 25,480 ^[33] while the capital Sofia had 20,501 inhabitants according to the first census in the Principality of Bulgaria in 1880. After the Unification Plovdiv was the largest city in the country for several years with 33,032 inhabitants compared to 30,428 for Sofia. According to the 1946 census Plovdiv was the second largest city with 117,563 inhabitants compared to 487,000 for the capital.^[28] In Bulgarian historiography, the term Liberation of Bulgaria is used to denote the events of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78 that led to the establishment of a Bulgarian state with the Treaty of San Stefano of 3 March 1878. ... Stara Zagora (Bulgarian: ) is a city in the cental part of Southern Bulgaria, and represents an important economic center. ... This article is about the capital of Bulgaria. ... The Treaty of San Stefano of March 3, 1878 provided for an independent Bulgarian state, which spanned over the geographical regions of Moesia, Thrace and Macedonia. ...

Ethnicity and religion

In its ethnic character Plovdiv is a cosmopolitan city inhabited by Bulgarians, Turks, Armenians, Jews, Greeks and Gypsies. According to the 1884 census the Bulgarians were 50,09%, followed by Turks (21,36%), Greeks (16,44%), Jews (6,48%) and Armenians (2,93%). After the Wars for National Union (Balkan Wars and World War I) the city became home for thousands of refugees from the occupied Bulgarian lands in Macedonia, Western Thrace and Eastern Thrace. Many of the old neighbourhoods are still referred to as Belomorski, Vardarski. Most of the Jews left the city after the foundation of Israel in 1948. The Bulgarians are a majority followed by Gypsies and Turks.^[34] // Turks and Turkish may refer to: Ethnic Turks Citizens or residents of Turkey in historical contexts, all Turkic peoples collectively Turk one of any of the peoples speaking any of the Turkic languages Turkic peoples A native or inhabitant of Turkey, or a member of Turkic speaking minorities in neighboring... Languages Historical Jewish languages Hebrew, Yiddish, Ladino, others Liturgical languages: Hebrew and Aramaic Predominant spoken languages: The vernacular language of the home nation in the Diaspora, significantly including English, Hebrew, Yiddish, and Russian Religions Judaism Related ethnic groups Arabs and other Semitic groups For the Jewish religion, see Judaism. ... The Rroma people (pronounced rahma, singular Rrom) along with the closely related Sinti people are commonly known as Gypsies. ... Combatants  Ottoman Empire Balkan League: Bulgaria Greece Serbia Montenegro Commanders Ottoman Empire: Nizam PaÅŸa, Zeki PaÅŸa, Esat PaÅŸa, Abdullah PaÅŸa, Ali Rıza PaÅŸa Bulgaria: Vladimir Vazov, Vasil Kutinchev, Nikola Ivanov, Radko Dimitriev Greece:Crown Prince Constantine, Panagiotis Danglis, Pavlos Kountouriotis Serbia:Radomir Putnik, Petar... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... Thrace or Greek Thrace or West Thrace or Western Thrace (Greek Θράκη or Ελληνική Θράκη or Δυτική Θράκη, Thrákı or Ellınıki Thrákı or Dıtıki Thrákı; Turkish Trakya or Yunan Trakyası or Batı Trakya) is the part of Thrace located between the rivers Nestos and Evros in northeastern Greece. ... Prominent issues in Greek foreign policy include a dispute over the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the enduring Cyprus problem, Greek-Turkish differences over the Aegean, and relations with the USA. The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Greek refusal to recognize the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia...

From left to right: A view from the central square; the City hall; a fountain in the City garden; a church near the Post Office.

The vast majority of the inhabitants are Christians - mostly Eastern Orthodox but there are also Catholics, Eastern Catholics and Protestant trends (Adventists, Baptists and others). There are also some Muslims and Jews. In Plovdiv there are many churches, two mosques and a synagogue. This article is about the religous people known as Christians. ... Eastern Orthodoxy (also called Greek Orthodoxy and Russian Orthodoxy) is a Christian tradition which represents the majority of Eastern Christianity. ... The Roman Catholic Church is the largest religious denomination of Christianity with over one billion members. ... The term Eastern Rites may refer to the liturgical rites used by many ancient Christian Churches of Eastern Europe and the Middle East that, while being part of the Roman Catholic Church, are distinct from the Latin Rite or Western Church. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... The Seventh-day Adventist (abbreviated Adventist[3]) Church is a Protestant Christian denomination which is distinguished mainly by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath. ... Baptist churches are part of a Christian movement often regarded as an Evangelical, Protestant denomination. ... A Muslim is a believer in or follower of Islam. ...

City government

Plovdiv is the administrative center of Plovdiv Province, Municipality of Plovdiv, Maritsa municipality and Rodopi municipality. The Mayor of the Municipality of Plovdiv Slavcho Atanasov ^[35], together with the six district mayors represent the local executive authorities. The Municipal Council which consists of 51 municipal counselors, represents the legislative power and is elected according to the proportional system by parties’ lists.^[36] The executive government of the Municipality of Plovdiv consists of a mayor who is elected by majority representation, five deputy mayors and one administrative secretary. All the deputy mayors and the secretary control their administrative structured units. Walls of the Hissarya fortress Plovdiv is an oblast, or province, of central Bulgaria, formerly part of Eastern Rumelia. ... The Maritsa municipality is located in the Plovdiv Province, southern Bulgaria on the northern bank of the Maritsa River. ... Rodopi municipality is situated in the Plovdiv Province, southern Bulgaria. ... A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning larger, greater) is the modern title of the highest ranking municipal officer. ...

According to the Law for the territorial subdivision of the Capital municipality and the large cities^[37] the territory of Plovdiv Municipality is subdivided into six district administrations, their mayors being appointed following approval by the Municipal Council.

Trimontsium Hotel.

In 1969 the villages of Proslav and Komatevo were incorporated into the city. In 1987 the municipalities of Maritsa and Rodopi were separated from Plovdiv which remained their administrative center. In the last several years the inhabitants from those villages had taken steps to rejoin the "urban" municipality.^[38]

Landmarks

Plovdiv is a major cultural center. The city has more than 200 archaeological sites^[39], 30 of which are of national importance. There are many remains from antiquity - Plovdiv is among the few cities with two ancient theatres; remains of the medieval walls and towers; Ottoman baths and mosques; a well-preserved old quarter from the National Revival period with beautiful houses, churches and narrow paved streets. There are numerous museums, art galleries and cultural institutions. Plovdiv is host to musical, theatrical and film events.

The city is a starting point for trips to places in the region, such as the Bachkovo Monastery at 30 km to the south, the ski-resort Pamporovo at 90 km to the south or the spa resorts to the north Hisarya, Banya, Krasnovo, Strelcha.^[40] There are more that 50 hotels with 7,000 beds as well as hostels and other forms of accommodation.^[41] Bachkovo Monastery in Bulgaria is one of the largest and oldest Orthodox Christian monasteries in Eastern Europe. ... The five-star Hotel Pamporovo and the new church in the resort Pamporovo (Bulgarian: Пампорово) is a popular mountain resort in Smolyan Province, southern Bulgaria, one of the best-known in Southeastern Europe. ... A destination spa is a business establishment which people visit for personal health, life enhancement, fitness, personal care treatments such as massages, facials, in a resort setting. ... Hisarya (also spelled Hisar or Hissarya) is a small resort town in Bulgaria, in Plovdiv Region. ... Banya refers to. ... Strelcha (Bulgarian: ) is a small Bulgarian town with a population of 4,858 as of September 2005. ...

Antique city

The Antique theatre of Plovdiv.

The Antique theatre which is wrongly referred to as the Amphitheatre is one of the most famous monuments from the Antiquity in Bulgaria.^[42] It was built in the beginning of the 2nd century during the reign of the Roman Emperor Trajan. It is situated in the natural saddle between the Dzhambaz Tepe and Taksim Tepe hills. It is divided into two parts with 14 rows each divided with a horizontal lane. The theatre could accommodate 3,500 people.^[43] The three-storey scene is located on the southern part and is decorated with friezes, cornices and statues. The theatre was studied, conserved and restored between 1968 and 1984. Many events are still held on the scene^[44] including the Verdi festival and the International Folklore festival. The Roman Odeon was restored in 2004.^[45] It was built in 2-5th century and is the second (and smaller) antique theatre of Philipopolis with 350 seats. It was initially built as a bulevterion - edifice of the city counsel and was later reconstructed as a theatre. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1280x960, 439 KB) Description: The Roman Theatre in Plovdiv in Bulgaria Creator: CdaMVvWgS Date of creation: May 1, 2005 License: GNU-FDL File links The following pages link to this file: Plovdiv Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1280x960, 439 KB) Description: The Roman Theatre in Plovdiv in Bulgaria Creator: CdaMVvWgS Date of creation: May 1, 2005 License: GNU-FDL File links The following pages link to this file: Plovdiv Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from... Although commonly referred to an an amphitheatre, it is more correctly called a theatre. ... Antiquity means different things: Generally it means ancient history, and may be used of any period before the Middle Ages. ... For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... This article is about the Roman Emperor. ... Frieze of the Tower of the Winds. ... VERDI is an acronym for the Italian unification movement, named after the composer Giuseppe Verdi (ardent supporter of the movement) VERDI stands for Vittorio Emmanuelle, Re D Italia (Victor Emmanuel, King of Italy) Categories: Historical stubs ...

The Roman forum dates from the reign of Vespasian in 1st century and was finished in the 2nd century. It is located near the modern post office next to the Odeon. It has an area of 11 hectares and was surrounded by shops and public buildings. The forum was a focal point of the streets of the ancient city.^[46] Imperator Caesar Vespasianus Augustus (born November 17, 9, died June 23, 79), known originally as Titus Flavius Vespasianus and usually referred to in English as Vespasian, was emperor of Rome from 69 to 79. ...