It is only recently that the town of Haskovo (Southeastern Bulgaria) became a site on Bulgaria’s tourist map. The southern Bulgarian town and the nearby villages scattered at the foot of the Rhodope Mountains are full of surprises, starting with their millennial history which is the backbone of a series of tourist routes that take visitors along the traces of the ancient Thracians and all through to the Middle Ages, when these hilly lands were part of the First Bulgarian Kingdom. Moreover, these tourist routes enchant visitors with the original atmosphere of the beautiful local settlements.

The town of Haskovo itself is a starting point for cognitive tourist routes in the region. It is also known as the town of Virgin Mary. A giant statue of the Mother of God stands in protection of the town, just like the sculpture of Jesus in Rio de Janeiro. The thirty-three-meter high figure of Virgin Mary which holds the holy infant in her arms was placed on top of Yamacha hill back in 2003. The local people are not only proud of the exquisitely shaped statue, which can be seen from all corners of the town, but also of the fact that it is the tallest monument of Virgin Mary worldwide. Let us mention the fact that the statue entered the Guinness Book of Records ten years ago. A chapel dedicated to Virgin Mary was built at its feet. People believe that all prayers made on that place are heard which is proved by the multiple gratitude written in the temple book. “The symbol was not a random choice”, Director of the local tourist and information center Krasimir Pilev explains.

“The cult of the Holy Mother has always been strong in Haskovo and the region, which is unambiguously proved by a series of artifacts displayed at the Regional Historical Museum. Besides, the Birth of Virgin Mary (Nativity of Mary) has been regarded as one of the biggest feasts here for many centuries. That is why September 8 was officially declared the Day of Haskovo. This is also the reason why this great monument was built in the town.”

Two years ago the citizens of Haskovo raised donations worth over half a million Leva (EUR 250,000), in order to build a bell tower near the imposing monument of Virgin Mary. The impressive construction is 30 meters tall and contains eight bells with a total weight of 1 ton. Their crystal sound echoes across the whole town every day at noon and reaches even the most distant quarters of Haskovo. The bell tower is among the tallest ones in the Balkans. When climbing to its top one could enjoy a breathtaking view over the town and its surroundings.

Apparently the citizens of the southern Bulgarian town are fans of records. They definitely like to be the best in the construction field. That is why they built the tallest pylon which hoists the Bulgarian national flag nearby the tallest monument of Virgin Mary and in close proximity to one of the tallest bell towers in the Balkans. The size of the flag hoisted on its top is impressive - it is 6x9 meters wide and the iron pylon itself is 32 meters high. Thus, the Bulgarian tricolor banner could be seen from kilometers, turning into a symbol of national pride and self-confidence.

“Haskovo is a lovely town. I love saying that people who visited this place are its best promoters. The sociability of its inhabitants and their southern warmth impress all visitors who decide to come here. Besides, the town is famous with its greenery and neatness. No wonder it was declared Bulgaria’s greenest town in 2011”, Mr Pilev says, adding that Yamacha Park which is the biggest park in this part of the country has contributed a lot to this recognition.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov