Since Kazanlak was on our route from Varna to Plovdiv, we wanted to stop by. It's a small town of 80 thousand people. Let's admit we didn't stop just because it was on the route. I added it to the route as a source of happiness for Berna's love of flowers. (Berna was over the moon here!..)
The country's largest and best preserved Thracian tombs are here. These tombs lie between the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the Museum of Roses. The city is protected for both its nature and its greenery.
Rosa Damascena, known as the Damask or Castile rose, is the Kazanlak region's greatest treasure. The rose was brought to Bulgaria centuries ago and has now become almost a symbol of the country. Over time, with the fertile Thracian soil, the roses turned into what's known as the Bulgarian rose.
That's why, in the early 19th century, thanks to the Kazanlak Damask Rose, the valley in the middle of the Balkans was named the Valley of Roses. Without doubt the most important factor in the region's economic development was the rose trade. Being so famous for roses, naturally the Rose Museum was opened in 1984.
In the museum, how rose oil is obtained from a rose and all the processes are shown concretely with the necessary equipment. When we went it had just closed, so we were able to wander the parks around it.
Kazanlak Rose Festival
The Rose Festival in Kazanlak is visited by many foreign tourists from all over the world. About 70% of the world's rose oil is produced in Bulgaria, and most of the production facilities are in this area called the Valley of Roses. In this lovely region in the centre of Bulgaria you'll find the most famous rose festival.
This year the festival was apparently being held between 31 May and 6 June. We're going home empty-handed on this one. Let's say another time.. You go and see it and send us lots of photos, okay:)
The best thing to do in the town is to give yourself over to the Valley of Roses and experience the peace. Bulgarian hotels usually don't meet our expectations, but we were very pleased with the service of the hotels in and around central Kazanlak, the warmth of their family atmosphere, and the modest hospitality of the guesthouses in the neighbouring villages. If you like, you can also stay in mountain houses in the villages very close to the town.
Food-wise, you can do a little Bulgarian gourmet tour at local restaurants. The restaurants serve home-made dishes from the fruit and vegetables they grow in their own gardens.
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