Yambol (province)

Yambol (province)

The Yambol province is the place where the ancient Thracians built their sun sanctuary. Your first stop is the **Kabile** Archaeological Reserve which was one of the most important cities of the ancient world. You can walk through the ruins of the Roman barracks and the massive public baths that once served thousands of soldiers. The site is located at the foot of a small hill with a rocky peak that was used for sun rituals long before the Romans arrived. You can climb to the top to see the stone carvings and look out over the entire Tundzha river valley. Drive into the city of **Yambol** to see the Bezisten which is a massive covered market from the fifteenth century. It is the only building of its kind in the country that is still used today as an art gallery and cultural center. The thick stone walls and high domes create a cool and quiet space where you can escape the heat of the plains. The city is also famous for its large city park which is built on an island in the middle of the river. You can cross the wooden bridges and walk through the gardens to find the local planetarium. The drive follows the **Tundzha** river where the landscape is flat and the fields are full of grain and sunflowers. This region is known for its energetic folk dances and the colorful costumes worn during the winter masquerade games. You can find many small monuments along the road that mark the sites of ancient battles and medieval settlements. The pace here is relaxed and the horizons are wide making it a perfect place for a steady drive through the heart of the southern plains. This province is a journey through the ancient military power and the vibrant market life of the east.

Yambol (province) highlights

Part of these road trips

Follow the routes that cross this destination

The Scenic Route
The Heritage Drive
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History of Yambol (province)

Yambol is the **City of the Sun**. The province is home to **Kabile**, one of the most significant Thracian and Roman cities in the Balkans. Founded atop a sacred hill where people worshiped the sun, it became the royal residence of the Thracian kings and later a major Roman military base. Today, you can walk through the ruins of the Roman barracks and the massive stone walls that once protected the fertile **Tundzha River** valley. The city of Yambol features the **Bezisten**, one of the only well preserved Ottoman covered markets in Bulgaria. Built in the 15th century with thick stone walls and fifteen domes, it was the center of the region trade for 500 years. The province is also the site of the **Bakadzhik Heights**, low mountains that have served as a lookout point and spiritual sanctuary since the time of the Thracians. A road trip through Yambol takes you through the **Upper Thracian Plain**. You can visit the **Kabile archaeological park**, explore the riverside **Ormana** forest, or see the folk costume museum in **Elhovo**, which holds the most colorful traditional art in the south. It is a province of wide horizons and ancient sun altars, where the history is as open and enduring as the landscape itself.
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