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World-famous artist Lou Bega will perform at the Rose Festival in Kazanlak the local administration said on Wednesday a remake of Perez Prado's 1949 instrumental piece 1 in many European countries and was nominated for a Grammy Award Lubega began his musical career as a teenager first as a part of hip-hop and Latin pop bands and later discovering his musical trademark combining musical elements from the 1940s and 1950s with contemporary rhythms His unique style has brought him international fame as he has given hundreds of concerts around the world and received numerous awards The festival begins on May 15 with a show leading to the selection of Queen Rose Contacts +359 2 9262 210 By accepting cookies you can enjoy a better experience while browsing pages HOT: » What kind of news would you like to see more of? Bulgarian Interior Minister Daniel Mitov has described the case of the man who died in police custody in Kazanlak as “a disgrace” to the Ministry of Interior when a 47-year-old man died while in police custody following a theft report Minister Mitov confirmed that an internal inspection of the Regional Directorate had been ordered two police officers are now facing charges of premeditated murder He stated that although the findings of the inspection are available the incident represents a serious failure that demands a reassessment of training and conduct within the ministry Mitov emphasized the need for all officers to act strictly within legal boundaries and to be properly instructed and prepared for their duties He firmly declared that abuse of power and police brutality will not be tolerated under any circumstances and disciplinary measures have already been taken by the head of the regional directorate Mitov also highlighted that with the recent increase in police salaries expectations for professional conduct and responsibility would rise accordingly He reiterated the ministry’s commitment to continuous training and legal compliance for all staff In response to questions about alleged chats on Telegram that reportedly document police violence Mitov said there is no evidence of such communications He acknowledged hearing rumors but stated that no such messages or channels were found during the inspection director of the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior in Stara Zagora confirmed the absence of any evidence related to the alleged Telegram chats stating that only rumors exist at this point Hristov noted that the search continues for the child who went missing from the village of Konare in the municipality of Gurkovo at the end of last year there is still no information on the child’s location We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria According to Bulgaria's Military Intelligence Service report for 2023 Russia remains the dominant destabilizing force in global security The United States and Ukraine announced today that they have signed an economic agreement concerning Ukraine’s natural resources following several weeks of pressure from U A deviation in the operation of a system on the F-16 Block 70 fighter has been identified during the aircraft acceptance process according to the Bulgarian Air Force Commander Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has called on the government to allocate the necessary funds to ensure the F-16 fighter jets remain operational has announced plans to propose urgent legislative changes aimed at the immediate extradition of refugees who do not meet the official criteria Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov has issued a firm ultimatum giving ministries and agencies 10 days to ensure the BG-Alert system is fully operational Google Street View Cars Return to Bulgaria for Major Mapping Update Housing Prices Soar in Bulgaria’s Major Cities as Demand and Supply Strain Increase TEHRAN – Iran’s Kashan and Bulgaria’s Kazanlak formalized their sister city relationship on Sunday highlighting their shared heritage in rose production The agreement was signed during a recent visit by Kashan’s mayor Kiumars Mohammadi to Bulgaria following an invitation from Kazanlak’s mayor Galina Stoyanova renowned for its rich history and cultural heritage and significant role in the production of carpets and textiles The city is also celebrated for its production of Damask roses a key ingredient in many traditional Persian perfumes and cosmetics is similarly famous for its extensive rose cultivation The city and its surrounding region are known globally for producing high-quality rose oil which is a crucial element in the perfume industry Kazanlak’s rich history and cultural significance are also marked by its ancient Thracian tombs which are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site The sister city agreement aims to strengthen the ties between these two cities through a variety of collaborative efforts The discussions during the visit covered a broad spectrum of potential partnerships Both cities share deep historical and cultural connections which has been a central theme in their mutual interest and cooperation This new relationship is expected to foster closer collaboration and enhance the cultural and economic ties between Kashan and Kazanlak ЗА УВРЕДЕНО ЗРЕНИЕ ОТКРИТО УПРАВЛЕНИЕ СИГНАЛИ ПО ЗЗЛПСПОИН КОНСУЛТАТИВЕН СЪВЕТ ЗА НАЦИОНАЛНА СИГУРНОСТ ПРЕЗИДЕНТ ВИЦЕПРЕЗИДЕНТ ИНСТИТУЦИЯТА АДМИНИСТРАЦИЯ ЗА МЕДИИТЕ ИНИЦИАТИВИ СЪВЕТИ 2025 www.president.bg Администрация на Президента на Република БългарияCopyright and Legal Policy, Privacy and Security Policy, Helpful Information "We will not tolerate police violence," stated the Minister of Interior categorically the Minister of Interior was a guest at the opening of the project "Innovation Days for Nature Protection from Fires" "This case is a disgrace," said the Minister of Interior Daniel Mitov in Kazanlak regarding the incident from February 26th of this year in which a 47-year-old man died during a police detention in the city after a reported robbery the minister ordered an investigation of the District Police Department and two police officers were charged with intentional murder." The results of the investigation are evident but what I can say is that this is a shameful case from which we can draw the conclusion that the Ministry of Interior should work a lot on the issue of its employees who are obligated to act in certain situations not to exceed their powers and to perform their duties in a way that is compatible with the law and rules He emphasized that there is no way that police violence and exceeding of powers will be tolerated and the director of the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior has taken disciplinary measures such phenomena will not be tolerated." "We are determined especially now with the increase in salaries for employees of the Ministry of Interior We are committed to ensuring that the structure of the Ministry of Interior is constantly trained and prepared to respond properly in situations in which any Ministry of Interior official may find themselves," stated Daniel Mitov  When asked if there are any chat groups on "Telegram" sharing data about police violence Mitov pointed out that there are no such elements in the investigation but I have not seen such chat groups nor do I know about the existence of communication channels like that If there is such data and if channels for such shameful phenomena are identified the director of the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior in Stara Zagora stated that the inspection did not find evidence of such channels  In connection with the child who went missing at the end of last year in the village of Konare Hristov pointed out that there is still no information about the child's whereabouts despite all the efforts made the Minister of Interior was a guest at the opening of the project "Innovation Days for Fire Protection of Nature" the Municipality of Kazanlak - under the project of the European Union within the program "Horizon 2020: Innovative technologies and socio-ecological-economic solutions for fire-resistant areas in Europe" - FIRE-RES we can rely on the solidarity of our neighbors and other member states of the European Union the most important thing for us is prevention," stated Mitov adding that the Main Directorate "Fire Safety and Population Protection" is prepared for the upcoming season. "Demonstrating readiness is mandatory there are discussions about deeper integration between European countries in terms of population safety and fighting fires as a whole especially in forests," the minister pointed out He emphasized that what needs to be done continuously is to warn people to handle flammable materials with great caution to be very cautious and to follow fire safety regulations  "Bulgarian forests are a value that we must protect," emphasized Mitov and I would like to see a prepared campaign in social media as soon as possible that will warn people about how to handle fire as well as everyone else's property," he added The state of our army and armed forces cannot be subject to political .. Със същата заповед в посочените райони е забранено и движението на велосипеди Името Георги е първенец сред десетте най-разпространени имена на момчета у нас .. Прокуратурата е започнала разследване по случая В събота семейството на детето потърсило медицинска помощ във Филиала за спешна .. но настоява за обединение с Молдова и казва: "Русия е най-голямата заплаха за нас като народ" Лидерът на "Алианс за обединение на румънците" е смятан за тръмпист и .. MRF - NEW BEGINNING proposes strict requirements and strict control for the use of scooters България и САЩ държат на нещо много важно - технологичната неутралност при производство на електроенергия Битовите потребители остават на регулирана цена Bulgaria is for open dialogue and a stable transatlantic partnership The main topics on the agenda of the meeting will be security and defense but I wouldn't enter a trench with our politicians Russia does not have the military and economic capacity to engage in a real war against the Old Continent the instilled fear leads to irrational thinking Critical point for Europe was the decision for full and unconditional support .. The hundred days of the government of Rosen Zhelyazkov seem like a real detoxification We have reached a point where parties with single-digit results Television channels have long become brokers of the Distorted Truth People from television - the paradise - seem to be finally convinced that .. The TimesThe first time I went to Ostrusha I followed a path dotted with wild poppies swaying in the breeze — very fitting a city plum in the geographical centre of Bulgaria a valley unfurling between two mountain ranges Some call it the Rose Valley for the pink-blooming fields that have grown here since the 18th century; others call it the Valley of the Thracian Kings this was the place where the Thracians — an ancient tribe that fanned out west from the Black Sea — buried their leaders A thousand or so grassy barrows and tumuli rise from the ground turning the pancake-flat plain into Teletubbyland Ostrusha is my favourite (£3; muzei-kazanlak.org) It’s a huge burial mound: think Wiltshire’s Silbury Hill and the front of the hillock sliced neatly off to reveal the temple-tomb (they doubled as both You enter to see ruined chambers set around a central room To preserve the interiors (a coffered roof with painted mythological scenes and human faces) that sarcophagus-chamber has been wrapped in a glass box your reflection flashes a memento mori in the panes she’ll say: “Weren’t you here before?” That’s the wonderful thing about this valley: there’s no sign of overtourism The second time I went to Ostrusha — in November as a grey wall of snow drove over the Stara Planina (Balkan Mountains) painting the hillsides the colour of bone — I was in Kazanlak for a spa break at the city’s first five-star hotel The Kings’ Valley Medical and Spa Hotel opened for New Year 2023 four miles south of Kazanlak in Ovoshtnik known for its thermal springs (or as Bulgarians call them It’s the sister property to two of the capital’s swanky five stars: the Grand Hotel Sofia and the Millennium Sofia Grand Hotel Bulgaria has always been known for its waters domestically but it has yet to reach the international fame of Hungary A tomb in the Valley of the Thracian KingsALAMYEnter Kings’ Valley an indoor-outdoor thermal water complex of eight pools and a spa that combines traditional wellness with hardcore medical programmes It’s built around a spring which gushes out at 78C; the hotel has cleverly harnessed it to heat the lobby when I passed through Kazanlak on a Bulgaria road trip One step inside the vast lobby — Turkish stone polished to a marble gloss at my feet backlit and propped up by megalithic columns — and I decided to make it two nights its crystal-clear spring water mixed with regular to make it swimmable This was the kind of luxury that costs well into triple figures back home visiting tombs and smelling the roadside roses mid-harvest and those Ovoshtnik waters had cleared up an eczema patch I vowed to return — less history this time Though Kings’ Valley looks like the kind of colossal resort that’s as shiny as it is sterile it’s shot through with references to the local area The lobby’s ceiling mimics that of Ostrusha The fluted columns imitate those at Shushmanets whose half-columns were slathered in marble dust and beeswax to glow in the penumbra Geometric slashes on the bedroom carpets echo the sharp lines of the tombs while rooms pointing north look towards the valley through floor-to-ceiling windows There are 266 rooms across the resortALEKSANDAR NOVOSELSKIThe sprawling rooms are plush — think a good four-star in UK terms — with Acqua dell’Elba toiletries in the bathrooms though less great soundproofing (I had a yapping dog next door) But Kings’ Valley is really all about the 4,000 sq m spa The water at Ovoshtnik is rich in fluoride Here you can bubble away in a thermal hot tub but first and last thing I largely had them to myself as the other guests — 90 per cent of them Bulgarian — hit the buffet I don’t blame them: the breakfast counters from parsley meatballs to juicy pork ribs with homemade barbecue sauce (mains from £8) • More great wellness holidays the list straddles regular bodywork and relaxing woo-woo given a shiatsu massage and had my meridians (energy points in traditional Chinese medicine) “activated” — such heady relaxation that I drifted straight out and booked another these are five-star treatments on a three-star budget Fifty-minute massages start from £50 and body scrubs with local lavender and rose oils from £32 the delightful English-speaking Simona Simeonova It was she who’d delivered that May massage so good that I planned this return Balconies channel a sense of calm with plantlife and comfy sofasALEKSANDAR NOVOSELSKIFor those of us with chronic ailments the medical side offers everything from cryotherapy to electrostimulation The charming Dr Hristo Binev (he didn’t speak English but Nicole Ilieva from the spa reception translated) prescribed me magnet resonance therapy for my arthritic knee where a giant magnet was placed over the joint to stimulate cartilage renewal The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence says it’s little better than a placebo; either way four treatments left me pain-free till February Much use is made of the Ovoshtnik waters: galvanic baths (thermal water with a light electrical current run through them) Each day I slipped out to Kazanlak; it’s not pretty like the Bulgarian big-hitters Plovdiv or Veliko Tarnovo Keeping things contemporary is Art Gallery Kazanlak a scattered museum with Bulgarian art from the 1800s onwards in its main premises plus two house-museums of eminent local artists and a separate bungalow housing just one painting (£3 gallery Ahinora is an elusive portrait of a mythical Bulgarian woman by the Secession-influenced Ivan Milev — think the Mona Lisa as painted by Klimt and Tamara de Lempicka Bulgaria’s eponymous Rose ValleyALAMYThirty minutes away is the city of Stara Zagora home to mind-blowing remains of two 8,000-year-old neolithic houses complete with kitchens and fireplaces (£3; rimstz.eu) where Nikolay Dalakov brews everything from vermentino to Bulgarian mavrud often using Georgian qvevri clay vessels (tastings £42; facebook.com/betterhalfgaragewines) The Iskra Museum of History has artsy displays of neolithic tools troves of Thracian gold and inscriptions from Seuthopolis the capital of the 4th-century BC King Seuthes III now flooded by the nearby Koprinka reservoir (£3; muzei-kazanlak.org) you’re greeted by the heads of Medusa and Helios carved onto stone doors which open into a mysterious tholos (beehive-shaped) chamber (£3; muzei-kazanlak.org) • Europe’s best spa hotels was frescoed in the 4th century BC with (presumably) a funeral banquet in the central tholos it was closed to visitors in 2012 but there’s a full-scale replica beside it (£3; muzei-kazanlak.org) Art Gallery Kazanlak features Bulgarian art from the 1800s onwardsTSVETAN IGNATOVSKIIn the central chamber horses gallop around the domed roof in a race to eternity Below is the funerary procession: women tooting trumpets as more horses follow a woman offers pomegranates to a seated couple He’s at the table — perhaps his own funeral feast They reach out to hold hands across the void a depiction of eternal love nearly 2,400 years old and their culture was eventually extinguished by the Romans yet their sacred spaces ooze with their humanity Kings’ Valley is quietly growing visitor numbers to Kazanlak — it had 148,000 guests in 2024 — but it’s still way off anything you’ll see in Rome or Athens As other ancient European sites are squeezed to the overtouristed gills this peaceful Valley of the Kings is a respite from the rest Julia Buckley had a discounted stay at Kings’ Valley Medical & Spa Hotel which has B&B doubles from £107 (kingsvalleyhotel.bg) Whizz round the best bits of Georgia on a seven-night small-group itinerary with daily guided tours for no-hassle sightseeing The week starts with two nights in a hotel in the capital Tbilisi After wine tasting in Merebashvil’s Marani you’ll spend a night in a hotel in Kutaisi visiting the Unesco-listed Gelati monastery complex and the fascinating cave town of Vardzia folklore show and trip to Stalin’s birthplace are also included.Details Seven nights’ half-board from £1,395pp transfers and guided tours (best-of-caucasus.co.uk) world-class museums and centuries-old cobbled streets make eastern Europe capitals unbeatable in the city break stakes There’s plenty of free time for shopping and art galleries but a walking tour of each city is included Optional extras include excursions to the former East German city of Dresden and Schönbrunn Palace where Mozart once performed.Details Seven nights’ B&B from £1,373pp transfers and guided tours (newmarketholidays.co.uk) Focusing on some of Eastern Europe’s lesser-visited destinations this 14-night small-group tour visits the mountains with its citadels and Ottoman architecture it includes ten nights in hotels and four in local guesthouses with stops in Albania’s Shkoder one of the oldest cities in Europe; the remote Valbona Valley in northern Albania; and Peja in Kosovo a visit to a 6th-century fortress in Prizren and a boat trip on the mountain-ringed Lake Koman in Albania.Details Fourteen nights’ B&B from £1,993pp including activities and some extra meals (trailfinders.com) Become a subscriber and along with unlimited digital access to The Times and The Sunday Times you can enjoy a collection of travel offers and competitions curated by our trusted travel partners Residents of the Bulgarian town of Kazanlak are planning a protest demanding justice for the brutal death of Daniel Kiskinov Concerns are growing that the charges against two police officers involved may not hold up in court potentially delaying or even silencing the case Protest organizers are not only calling for accountability for those charged but are also pushing for a deeper investigation into the circumstances leading up to Kiskinov’s death particularly his recent transfer of numerous properties to local officials The 47-year-old was detained on February 26 A forensic examination confirmed the extent of the injuries Kiskinov had recently sold farmland and spent the proceeds drinking with acquaintances he was unable to fit in their car and took a bicycle to get home an argument broke out when the bicycle’s owner came looking for it leading to a police report and the involvement of three officers—B.T. The police initially claimed Kiskinov resisted arrest and was behaving incoherently prompting them to call for psychiatric assistance medical records from the emergency room contradicted this confirming severe beatings as the cause of death The third officer present corroborated that they had responded to the scene for a routine police check The Stara Zagora District Prosecutor's Office has charged officers B.T with murder committed with extreme cruelty a crime punishable by 15 years to life in prison They used force to restrain and handcuff him," stated District Prosecutor Dicho Atanasov Over 20 witnesses have been interviewed in the case The Stara Zagora District Court ruled to keep both officers in custody citing a risk of flight or repeat offenses Their defense argues that they acted without intent and were simply performing their duties a Facebook group advocating for Kiskinov claims that a week before his death he transferred ownership of 17 properties to the husband of a village mayor in Stara Zagora This information was reported to prosecutors but was not mentioned in official briefings While no evidence currently links the property transfers to his death speculation remains as to why the donations were made—possibly as a way to avoid taxes Friends and acquaintances describe Kiskinov as a quiet A graduate of a mathematics high school with notable academic achievements he later struggled with personal difficulties he was not known to be violent and had sufficient financial means to support himself deeply shaken by his tragic and violent death the director of the Plovdiv Customs Office was arrested earlier today for allegedly facilitating a new smuggling route for cigarettes opened fire with a gas pistol near a kindergarten in Sofia's Lyulin district Nearly 80,000 drivers have been recorded speeding on the streets of Sofia by cameras installed by the Traffic Police according to Commissioner Nikolay Krusharski The identities of the two male bodies discovered near Sofia’s "Iliyantsi" district have been confirmed as 63-year-old twins Ivan and Toma Penkovi A serious criminal case has emerged in Sofia after the body of a man was discovered in a water-filled basement of a municipal apartment building An 18-year-old girl who had been reported missing in Haskovo has been found dead A 33-year-old man from the village of Semchinovo has been taken into custody by the police for physically assaulting a 10-year-old child A 12-year-old boy from Lukovit has been hospitalized with two broken arms and head injuries after reportedly being assaulted and thrown from a bridge The Sofia Police has launched a targeted operation against drivers of electric scooters and electric motorbikes who engage in reckless behavior in the city's central areas reflecting its archaeological heritage as well as its most famous product To some it's the Valley of the Thracian Kings Bettany Hughes joined the rose pickers at dawn to find out what makes the valley so special The voter turnout in a local referendum in Kazanlak central Bulgaria on the management of the Buzludzha monument was 18.95% Kazanlak Municipal Election Commission Chair Zdravko Balevski told BTA A successful referendum requires 40% voter turnout a former Memorial House of the Bulgarian Communist Party is a private state property and is managed by the district administration in Stara Zagora it was declared a cultural monument of national importance by the Ministry of Culture The reason for initiating the referendum was that the Municipality of Kazanlak prepared a project for the conservation of the monument part of the Integrated Territorial Investments A requirement for the implementation of the project is that the Kazanlak Municipality manages the monument which can be done at the request of the mayor and without other procedures Additional funding from the municipal budget will not be required explained Kazanlak Municipality Mayor Galina Stoyanova Access to the interior of the monument is currently prohibited after being declared dangerous in 2023 The project of the Municipality of Kazanlak envisages emergency repair works closing of the windows from the outer circle restoration of the electrical and plumbing installations The goal is to consolidate the monument and open it for visitors and then to continue the work of turning it into a profitable tourist site "Even if the local referendum in Kazanlak is unsuccessful we will continue to insist that the state find a solution for the future of the Buzludzha monument," said Stoyanova She argued that after the local referendum in Kazanlak a national poll should be held about Buzludzha because it is not just a monument of the past Even in the case of an unsuccessful referendum the Municipal Council in Kazanlak has the right to make its own decision to oblige the mayor to request the management of the monument from the regional governor Stoyanova also commented on this possibility saying that this is entirely up to the 37 municipal councilors.  A total of 62,000 people had the right to vote in Kazanlak on Sunday slightly less than 11,700 people cast their vote During the information campaign for the referendum the Mayor called on the residents of Kazanlak to exercise their right to vote and decide whether they want to tell their children how they became complicit in the monument's destruction or how they preserved it for future generations A two-day 11th National Meeting of Agricultural Producers will open in Kazanlak (Central Bulgaria) on Wednesday which is organized by the Association of Agricultural Producers in Bulgaria will be opened by Agriculture and Food Minister Georgi Tahov his Ministry said in a press release on Tuesday officials of the European Commission and of Bulgaria's Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels representatives of the World Farmers' Organization and business executives will discuss the future of agricultural policy in the EU the new opportunities and challenges facing agricultural producers in 2025 investment opportunities in the agrifood sector and State aids changes in direct payments and the new risk management tools The agricultural producers will be briefed on sustainable land-use and investments in renewable energy sources the impact of new EU regulations on agribusiness and current grain market trends and adjustment to climate change Kazanlak Municipality is organizing a blood donation campaign for the people injured in the tragic incident in Kocani in the Republic of North Macedonia the Municipality's press centre said on Tuesday "This is the most meaningful thing that can be done at this nightmarish moment to help in the most adequate way," said Kazanlak Mayor Galina Stoyanova adding that Kocani and Kazanlak are twin cities Residents wishing to donate blood can take part in the campaign on Wednesday at Hristo Stamboliyski Hospital in Kazanlak (8:30 to 10:30 am) or at the Regional Centre for Transfusion Haematology in Stara Zagora (7:30 am to 2 pm) The Stara Zagora Red Cross Blood Centre team will continue to welcome donors in the coming weeks Earlier on Tuesday, the Ministry of Health said the condition of those injured in the nightclub fire in North Macedonia and receiving treatment in Bulgaria remains critical A total of 14 victims from the nightclub fire in Kocani, North Macedonia, were transported to Bulgaria for treatment. The fire, which erupted during a concert, claimed 59 lives and left over 150 injured with some of the victims also sent to Greece The Kazanlak Municipality may receive European funds in the amount of BGN 7 million for the protection conservation and restoration of the Buzludzha Monument said Mayor Galina Stoyanova on Monday during a press conference at BTA's press club Stoyanova stated that the project is part of the concept for Integrated Territorial Investments with leading partner Kazanlak Municipality and has been approved for financing She noted that a requirement for the implementation of the project is that the Kazanlak Municipality manages the monument Stoyanova said that additional funding from the municipal budget will not be required as European funding will be sufficient and reminded that Kazanlak Municipality has significant experience in the conservation and socialization of national cultural heritage as for more than 15 years the administration has been managing and socializing the Thracian sanctuaries with European funds The press conference was part of an information campaign in connection with the upcoming local referendum on November 17 where residents of Kazanlak will decide whether the local administration should take over the management of the monument for a period of 10 years a voter turnout of 40% of voters from the municipality is needed "The process of socialization will be long and is beyond the mandate of a mayor I decided to refer the matter to the residents who must decide whether this monument will continue to fall apart or whether it will be restored and preserved for generations," Stoyanova commented The Mayor said that the ultimate idea is to turn the Buzludzha Monument into an international congress and cultural centre She stressed that the Municipality has no intention of restoring the monument ideologically and instead focus on its cultural value "The referendum will not solve the State's task Buzludzha would have been reconstructed a long time ago," Stoyanova said adding that it is important that the monument does continue to fall into disrepair as future generations will want to know why the monument was not protected She called on the residents to come out and cast their vote on November 17 The festivities in the Valley of the Thracian Kings were established 19 years ago with the aim to promote the Thracian culture and all the cultural and historical finds made over the years on the territory of the Kazanlak Municipality Kaznlak Deputy Mayor Serbra Kaseva said in an BTA interview They continue to be organized annually to this day and their idea is for residents and guests of the town to learn more about the rich heritage that the ancient Thracians have left in the region the programme of the festivities includes both established events and new ones the new archaeological complex "The Valley of the Thracian Kings" was inaugurated which will welcome tourists during the festive days with its special programme for young and old Part of the festivities in the Valley of the Thracian Kings for another year are performances by the State Opera in Stara Zagora The official opening of the festivities will be on August 31 near the Thracian tomb in Tyulbe Park with the performance "Mysteries of the Thracians - Orpheus" by the local Municipal Theatre Another traditional event in the programme is the Jazz Festival which starts on the 5th and continues until the 7th of September on the stage next to the Thracian Tomb Two other interesting events will take place in Tyulbe Park one of which is being organised for the first time in the Valley of the Thracian Kings - the culinary exhibition of bakery products titled "The Mystical Power of Bread" which will be attended by actors from the municipal community centres The programme also includes evenings of Thracian wine and wine culture The boutique exhibition will feature wines from different regions of the country as well as delicacies and drinks from the Thracian lowlands The programme of the festivities includes a total of 12 exhibitions which will take place at various locations in the municipality craft bazaars and many other initiatives to pique the interest of the public among which is the cycling and running race for the Kazanlak Municipality Cup organised by the cycling club "Lyastovitsa - 1905" Another sporting initiative entitled "Thracian Games of Challenges" has been organised jointly with the local Eagle's Nest Tourist Society This is an interesting new event in which anyone who wishes can participate The Deputy Mayor also said that a memorandum of cooperation will be signed between Kazanlak and the Iranian city of Kashan during the festivities Special guests will be the Mayor of Kashan representatives of the municipal council of Kashan as well as the Iranian Ambassador to Bulgaria the scientific conference "Problems and Studies of Thracian Culture" which annually gathers prominent scientists and thracologists from all over the country will take place.This year it will once again be attended by famous names in the field More than 30 movable cultural objects from the rich burial of Thracian ruler Seuthes III from the tomb in the Golyama Kosmatka mound near Kazanlak will be presented by the local Iskra History Museum within the "Ancient Thrace and the Classical World Romania and Greece" at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles archaeologist and Chief Curator at the Antiquities Department of the cultural institute told BTA.  The tomb in Golyama Kosmatka mound was studied in 2004 by a team led by Assoc Georgi Kitov and is among the most impressive monuments of Thracian funerary architecture The most remarkable artefacts from the tomb in the Golyamata Kosmatka mound will be exhibited at the Getty Museum.  which is part of the collection of the National Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences will be displayed for the second time after the exhibition entitled "The Epopee of Thracian Kings: Archaeological Finds in Bulgaria" together with the exhibits stored in the museum in Kazanlak That means visitors to the exhibit at the Los Angeles museum will be able to see the full set of artefacts from the tomb in one place which is the only oak wreath found on the territory of Bulgaria Also on display will be a golden wine goblet (kylix) as well as an amphora for transporting wine which are typical vessels from the banquet set of the Thracians Exhibits from the full set of the ruler's armament will include the Chalcidian-type bronze helmet and the exquisite bronze greaves with the image of Athena Palada The exhibits also include a sword with a parade scabbard decorated with gold inlays as well as gold appliques that adorned the parade composite armour probably made as a special commission for the ruler Among the masterpieces of Thracian toreutics that visitors to the John Paul Getty Museum will have the opportunity to see is the complete set of gold appliques from the horse trappings the Iskra Museum is also presenting some of Seuthes' personal belongings including a pair of strigils and alabastrons (containers for storing incense oils) a silver pyxis (clamshell container) and a game set of glass pools and bronze dice The tomb at Golyama Kosmatka Mound proves a rare opportunity to be linked to a specific historical personality The tomb in the Golyamata Kosmatka was discovered and studied in the autumn of 2004 by a team led by Assoc followed by a cantilevered rectangular chamber a circular chamber covered with a dome and a rectangular monolithic sarcophagus-like chamber A dromos (corridor) was later added to these in front of which a second monumental façade was built In the last chamber a symbolic burial (cenotaph) was made with a rich inventory The data collected from some of the objects provided the rare opportunity to link the tomb to a specific historical person Three of the finds - the two silver vessels (the phiale and the jug) and the helmet bear the inscription ΣΕΥΘΟΥ (of Seuthes) Four Bronze coins struck with the face of this Thracian ruler were found on the floor at the beginning of the corridor and the bronze head found in front of the tomb bears striking similarities in detail to the images from the same coins.  He is assumed to have died between 300 and 295 BC The circumstances surrounding the place and date of his death remain unknown complicating the chronology of his symbolic burial in the Golyamata Kosmatka mound It was probably carried out either at the death of Seuthes or at least two decades afterwards at the end of the first quarter - beginning of the second quarter of the 3rd century BC Iskra History Museum in Kazanlak keeps more than 80,000 artefacts In addition to the those that will be displayed in Los Angeles the Iskra Museum also preserves a number of artefacts characterizing the material and spiritual culture of the region from the early Neolithic to the present day The museum was founded in 1901 by Petar Topuzov and Ivan Enchev- Vidyu as a museum of ancient arts with the principle of "Whatever antiquities and arts exist or are found in the town and the surrounding area the museum's collections and expositions contain more than 80,000 exhibits The museum manages several accessible sites - the permanent exposition in the main building which is one of the Bulgarian monuments under the auspices of UNESCO and another five accessible to the public  tombs in Valley of the Thracian Kings The permanent exposition of the museum is arranged on several levels presenting the most attractive exhibits of high academic and artistic value from the nine departments Highlights include the collection of prehistoric bone sickles finds from the Thracian city of Seutopolis and Thracian tombs and exhibits related to the struggles for an independent Bulgarian church and the New Bulgarian education of the National Revival period temporary exhibitions are organized in the multimedia hall of the museum with exhibits from the collections that are not on display or those visiting from other museums in the country The museum also organizes a number of events A case in point and a great contribution to the development of Thracology as a science is the annual scientific forum "Problems and Studies of Thracian Culture" which is part of the Festive Days in the Valley of the Thracian Kings the ten volumes published under the same title are the result of the promotion of scientific research.  The exhibition Ancient Thrace and the Classical World: Treasures from Bulgaria and Greece at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles will open on November 3 and run until March 3 The objects from Bulgaria represent over 90% of all exhibits included in the exhibition as the core of the ancient Thracian lands overlap with the territory of present-day Bulgaria Artefacts from Greece and Romania are also included for the first time in such an exposition Velichie (Grandeur) Party ideologue Ivelin Mihaylov said in Kazanlak on Friday that the town earns a lot of money for the country by producing firearms which will become an even more lucrative business in the next 30 years "It should be ensured that the future of military materiel is always created in Kazanlak," Mihaylov told supporters "There should be research and development centres here to upgrade the armament The town should have a university and laboratories to test new armament." Ha called for preserving the coal-fired power plants in Stara Zagora Region as they are important for Bulgaria's energy stability Velichie puts priority on Bulgaria's development in an all-around manner rather than piecemeal Mihaylov said: "People everywhere say the same things Business owners complain of being racketeered and having no choice but to move abroad Ordinary people complain of a lack of quality healthcare and education He accused the power-holders of trying to keep voter turnout low during the upcoming elections in order to give more weight to votes that have been bought He hopes that Velichie will double its result of the previous parliamentary elections in June when the fledgling party won 4.65% of the vote enough to overstep the 4% Parliament entry threshold Looking to access paid articles across multiple policy topics Interested in policy insights for EU professional organisations With its huge munitions factories and endless rose fields Kazanlak in central Bulgaria has been really living up to its “Guns and Roses” nickname since Moscow invaded Ukraine The 'Arsenal' arms and munitions factory in the city of Kazanlak While Bulgaria and Hungary are the only NATO and EU countries that officially refuse to send military aid to Ukraine Bulgaria was revealed to be one of the biggest indirect suppliers to the war-torn country EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton's visit to Bulgaria on Wednesday (15 March) unleashed speculation that the country is being pressured to send ammunition supplies to Ukraine a particularly sensitive subject just two weeks before a snap election This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page "Rose Queens" celebrate during the Rose Festival in Kazanlak The annual Rose Festival was held on Sunday in Kazanlak Located some 200 kilometers of Bulgaria's capital Sofia Kazanlak is a prestigious rose planting and rose oil extraction center of the country Rice paddy art picture shown at Luohong Village in China's Guangdong View of Ar Horqin grassland in China's Inner Mongolia Farm work in summer across China Scenery of two rivers meeting in Liujiaxia Reservoir in China's Gansu In pics: baby giant pandas at "Giant Panda Kindergarten" in Wolong, SW China In pics: lotus flowers at wetland park in east China's Anhui Scenery of Wulingyuan Scenic Area in Zhangjiajie Fork-tailed sunbird flies among flowers in Chongqing A woman poses with picked roses during the rose picking rituals in Kazanlak The culmination of the 2021 Rose Festival was witnessed in Kazanlak this weekend which has been organized annually since 1903 The festival celebrates local residents' deep connection to the Rosa Damascena -- the Bulgarian oil-bearing rose -- for centuries.(Photo: Xinhua) Children participate in the Rose Festival parade in Kazanlak People perform during the rose picking rituals in Kazanlak Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev has left for Washington where he will participate in the Munich Leaders Meeting (May 5-7 The forum is organised by the Munich Security Conference The foundation Unity- Kočani has sent an open letter to key Bulgarian institutions expressing gratitude for the support and humanitarian assistance provided by Bulgaria after the tragedy of the fire at a nightclub in Kočani The foreign ministers of Bulgaria and Greece Georg Georgiev and Giorgos Gerapetritis signed a joint declaration on the use of the waters of the river Arda on 2 May the BNR reports citing an announcement published by the Greek Foreign Ministry.. people will be able to withdraw money  from ATMs only in the new currency according to the website of the Bulgarian. helicopters of the Bulgarian Air Force will fly at low altitude over Sofia in preparation for a military parade marking the Day. The Bulgarian student teams that participated in the European Olympiad of Experimental Sciences EOES 2025 in Zagreb have returned with. english@bnr.bg Thousands of guests from Bulgaria and abroad watched a rose picking ritual near Kazanlak on Sunday Among them were Tourism Minister Evtim Miloshev Education and Science Minister Galin Tsokov Deputy Agriculture and Food Minister Deyan Stratev heads of central and local government institutions Foreign diplomats and representatives of Kazanlak sister towns were also there The annual ritual was held for the 121st time "The rose is one of Bulgaria's national symbols and Bulgarian rose oil is well-known worldwide for its quality," Stratev said He vowed that rose farmers can count on strong support from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Fields planted with oil-bearing rose have expanded since last year despite the difficulties adding that Bulgaria has 51 rose flower producing and processing businesses Folklore music and dance performances were held Tourism Minister Miloshev said: "This is extraordinary We see the emotion and the energy of the Rose Festival Kazanlak Mayor Galina Stoyanova expects a growing number of tourists to visit the area She asked Education Minister Tsokov whether he would consider having school students help with the manual rose harvesting process to offset the shortage of labour People in folk costumes participate in the Rose Festival parade in Kazanlak A parade took place here on Sunday during the 2023 Rose Festival Students participate in the Rose Festival parade in Kazanlak People in folk costumes toss rose petals in Kazanlak Children are pictured during the Rose Festival parade in Kazanlak Children in folk costumes are pictured during the Rose Festival parade in Kazanlak A devastating incident unfolded in the Bulgarian town of Kazanlak as a fourth-grade student tragically lost his life in the schoolyard The heart-wrenching event occurred following a routine physical education class leaving the entire community in shock and mourning the young boy inexplicably began to remove his clothing tragedy struck as the child collapsed and suffered a fatal head injury Despite the swift arrival of emergency services their efforts were in vain as the child had already passed away The sudden and unexpected nature of the incident has left the school community reeling in disbelief As investigating officers delve into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy initial speculation suggests that the child may have inadvertently swallowed his tongue precise details are yet to be confirmed as authorities meticulously examine the scene The untimely demise of the young student has cast a somber shadow over the entire town of Kazanlak prompting an outpouring of condolences and support for the grieving family Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to intensify efforts to expand military-patriotic education programmes for youth in Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories The search for 13-year-old Nikolay Iliev from the village of Konare A 13-year-old boy is in critical condition after being struck by an electric arc while attempting to take a selfie on a train in Stamboliyski A family from Varna is blaming the medical team from the Emergency Medical Care Center for the death of their one-year-old child Eleven individuals have been arrested in connection with the tragic incident at the train station in Novi Sad Israel has turned to Bulgaria for assistance in battling the rapidly advancing wildfires in areas near Jerusalem The Bulgarian mobile operator A1 has confirmed that it is experiencing technical difficulties affecting both calls and text messages across its network A series of minor earthquakes were recorded in the Nessebar area with the strongest tremor measuring 3.3 on the Richter scale A woman sustained serious injuries after being attacked with pepper spray and an electroshock device and subsequently set on fire inside a hospital in the Bulgarian town of Botevgrad A 25-year-old man is in critical condition following an accident at the amusement park in Yambol A serious traffic accident in the Bulgarian town of Harmanli has left a 13-year-old child in critical condition after he was struck by a car while riding an electric scooter 2018."> World Subscribers only Rapper Diddy's trial for sex trafficking begins World Subscribers only Far right clinches overwhelming victory in first round of Romanian presidential election World Subscribers only Kenneth Roth: 'Human rights can be defended without the US' World Subscribers only Founder of Sant'Egidio community fears next pope could undo Francis's legacy Opinion Subscribers only 'Russian gas and Europe is an old story that ended badly Economy Subscribers only Europe's steel industry flattened by crisis World Subscribers only How European countries plan to fund defense efforts France French rail strikes: Traffic will be 'strongly disrupted' in Paris region commuter trains on Monday France Subscribers only 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Magazine Subscribers only Tracking down the pianos taken from French Jews during the Nazi Occupation Magazine Subscribers only Eve Rodsky the American helping couples balance the mental load Magazine Subscribers only Desecration or more glory Joan Didion's private diaries are revealed Magazine Subscribers only For Jewish cartoonist Joann Sfar 2025."> Pixels Subscribers only Golden Owl solution is revealed but leaves players of 31-year hunt disappointed Pixels Subscribers only Secrets of decades-long Golden Owl treasure hunt to be revealed Lifestyle Inside Chanel's French leather workshops Culture Subscribers only The marvelous bronzes of Angkor on display at the Musée Guimet in Paris FeatureIn a country where the pro-Russian movement is strong but are discreet about their deliveries to Kyiv the Rose Valley likes to present itself as a hotspot for the production of fragrant essences the reality of the local economy has earned it a completely different nickname inspired by the American hard rock band: Guns N' Roses the "capital" of this valley and a typical post-communist city it doesn't take long to realize that the 50,000 inhabitants make their living much more from "guns," the weapons produced at Arsenal the gigantic factory that occupies dozens of hectares on the outskirts than from "roses," which had not yet budded this early spring In front of the gigantic Soviet-style gantry of Arsenal the parking lot is overflowing with the cars of workers from all over the region The factory is running like never before since the end of communism Hundreds of job offers are posted on its website "Roses don't employ 10,000 people like weapons do especially since you have to start picking them at 3 am," said Dobromir Totev a former national arms director and retired colonel who's a native of this city with a rich military-industrial history The reasons for this sudden resurgence of activity are a sensitive secret: Arsenal which is located a little further upstream in the town of Sopot works on a massive scale for the Ukrainian army which is in urgent need of Soviet-standard ammunition Bulgaria is the only country in the European Union (EU) that continues to produce them But discretion is still required: Although it is a member of NATO Bulgaria has a strong pro-Russian movement: 20% of Bulgarians say that they are supporting Moscow in the conflict even though an air bridge was set up in the first weeks of the war to supply ammunition to Ukraine the leaders of this country of 6.9 million inhabitants have never officially admitted it You have 79.37% of this article left to read Lecture du Monde en cours sur un autre appareil Vous pouvez lire Le Monde sur un seul appareil à la fois Ce message s’affichera sur l’autre appareil Parce qu’une autre personne (ou vous) est en train de lire Le Monde avec ce compte sur un autre appareil Vous ne pouvez lire Le Monde que sur un seul appareil à la fois (ordinateur En cliquant sur « Continuer à lire ici » et en vous assurant que vous êtes la seule personne à consulter Le Monde avec ce compte Que se passera-t-il si vous continuez à lire ici Ce dernier restera connecté avec ce compte Vous pouvez vous connecter avec votre compte sur autant d’appareils que vous le souhaitez mais en les utilisant à des moments différents Nous vous conseillons de modifier votre mot de passe Votre abonnement n’autorise pas la lecture de cet article merci de contacter notre service commercial Almost 100 exhibits from the Museum of History Iskra in Kazanlak will be put on display at the J Kazanlak municipality has announced on Facebook The exposition in the US has been in the making for 4 years and will show the world the art of the ancient Thracians Iskra is the wealthiest regional museum in Bulgaria The treasure hall exhibits the latest gold silver and bronze finds from the Thracian places of worship and tombs in the region They include the gold wreath that once belonged to the Thracian ruler Seuthes III as well as a rare collection of coins and other items of the Thracian era The bronze head of Seuthes III was on display at the J "You must have strong faith and pray - then the saint will help you and carry your prayer to God," says Father Georgi Markov of the Church of St Athanasius the Great in Gorni Lozen near Sofia He adds that he has often witnessed the miracles of St. marks 1160 years since the baptism of our Bulgarian people into the Orthodox faith and 1170 years since the creation of the Bulgarian alphabet and Slavic literature the Varna and Veliki Preslav Bishopric Metropolis. Bulgaria celebrates 149 years since the April Uprising – an event that led to the liberation of Bulgaria after almost five centuries of Ottoman rule we must not forget that every participant in the April. the city of Shipka proudly unveiled the archaeological complex "Valley of the Thracian Kings," marking a significant achievement in the preservation and presentation of Thracian culture and art stands as a testament to the rich legacy of the Thracian civilization offering visitors a captivating journey into the ancient past the complex boasts proximity to renowned Thracian tombs such as Gryphoni forming part of the ambitious project "The World of the Thracians" initiated by the Kazanlak Municipality Central to the complex is a striking building housing meticulously crafted wax figures depicting the Thracian king fashioned after the captivating wall paintings found in the Kazanlak Thracian tomb invite visitors to immerse themselves in the regal ambiance of the ancient throne room the ancient city is vividly brought to life through intricate models and interactive displays Mayor Galina Stoyanova expressed her enthusiasm for the project highlighting its innovative use of modern technologies to offer visitors a comprehensive and immersive experience From 3D visualizations to interactive exhibits showcasing Thracian attire and customs the complex promises to captivate audiences of all ages The esteemed presence of archaeologist Prof Nikolay Ovcharov added further prestige to the event as he unveiled the model of the ancient city of Seutopolis Ovcharov emphasized the significance of the complex in bridging the gap between history and modernity breathing new life into the region's ancient heritage Funded under the Operational Program "Regions in Growth 2014-2020," the project encompasses conservation efforts and the establishment of a tourist-friendly infrastructure From the preservation of the Thracian tomb and cult complex "Ostrusha" to the construction of a scenic bicycle path from Kren to Shipka the project epitomizes a holistic approach to heritage conservation and tourism development the Valley of the Thracian Kings transcends the realm of historical artifacts offering visitors a dynamic and immersive encounter with the ancient past As the complex opens its gates to eager visitors it heralds a new era in the appreciation and celebration of Thracian heritage ensuring that the legacy of the Thracian kings endures for generations to come The Bulgarian government has allocated 2.2 million leva for archaeological research and conservation of historical sites as part of the state budget implementation for 2025 Snowfall was reported Monday morning over Shipka Pass Bulgarian archaeologists at Perperikon have uncovered new evidence of ancient life including a system of blood sacrifice altars used for divination Bulgaria is marking the 147th anniversary of the Shipka epic commemorating the historic battle at Shipka Pass The Varna District Prosecutor's Office has filed requests to dissolve the Bulgarian National Movement "Shipka" and the Bulgarian Military Union "Vasil Levski" based on the Law on Legal Entities Archaeologists have unearthed a remarkable piece of ancient history in Pompeii revealing a hidden gem that transports us back to the era of Emperor Augustus Bulgaria is steadily establishing itself as a leading destination for digital nomads from across Europe and beyond the Orthodox Church marks Bright Wednesday a day dedicated to honoring the Holy Virgin Mary regarded as the most significant Christian holiday is celebrated annually in Bulgarian homes with great joy Holy Saturday marks the final day of Holy Week positioned between the sadness of Christ’s entombment and the joy of His anticipated resurrection The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays The cross pinnacle on the Tower of Jesus Christ will be ready to receive visitors in 2026 on the centennial of Gaudi’s death Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin That’s because the state has to spend money on updating the railway infrastructure rather than subsidizing the cost of the popular pass Steffen Romstöck said that he would respect the residents’ choice and would take over the helm of the municipality which will come into force from 1 January 2025 Rethinking renewable energy sources for the urban landscape But operating them is still illegal under the country’s legislation can inform and inspire communities and entrepreneurs that still feel trepidation at the prospect of energy transition it has a unique modular design that allows it to be shortened and lengthened like a train that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris the district has long been known as the hangout spot for the artsy crowds Hostal de Pinós is located in the geographical centre of the autonomous region the ranking considers several distinct but essential factors these quiet areas will now be available on all main routes in the country The academic institution shows a deeper understanding of the well-being of its students It’s the first of its kind in the country and it’s quite unique even in a global context This is the creative and philosophical concept behind a new museum that opened its doors on 24 May in the Bulgarian town of Kazanlak known as the informal capital of the Rose Valley region The permanent collection of the museum will only exhibit the painting ‘Ahinora’ by Bulgarian artist Ivan Milev (1897-1927) The enigmatic portrait of a woman was painted in 1925 and donated to the municipality not long before the artist’s death from influenza at the age of 29 This makes the museum quite unique as it is the first of its kind in Bulgaria – to be only dedicated to a single artwork it might be fairly unique in the world as well only managed to find one other example of a similar museum changes its single exhibit on display and is thus not dedicated to a particular artwork The subject of ‘Ahinora’ is expressive with vividly sad green eyes and a half-veiled face but it remains a mystery who exactly the woman is and if anyone stood in as a muse for the portrait Some have even likened it to Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa in terms of mystique Some suggestions have proposed that the woman in the painting is one Anna Orozova who was the wife of a local rose oil merchant There were rumours in Kazanlak that she and Ivan Milev were having a love affair But there is also a version that Milev portrayed his own wife - the opera singer Katya Naumova The title of the painting itself refers to the semi-mythical wife of the first Bulgarian ruler – Khan Asparukh who is credited with founding the first Bulgarian state in 681 visitors will get the chance to listen on their phones to the story The Tale of Achinora by writer Nikolay Rainov which is the basis for Milev's inspiration This is where the concept behind the project reveals itself best as it gives the viewers the chance to trace the transfer of ideas from one art form to another which will be dedicated to temporary exhibitions There the town administration will show other paintings by Milev and other artists The 10th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns (ESCT) sets the stage for stronger cooperation between the EU national and local level to fast track Europe's transition to climate neutrality Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces An interview with the Mayor of a Polish city that seeks to reinvent itself An interview with the newly elected ICLEI President and Mayor of Malmö A conversation with the Mayor of Lisbon about the spirit and dimensions of innovation present in the Portuguese capital The Regional Office for Fire Safety and Population Protection reports on an incident at the "Arsenal" plant in Kazanlak Two fire trucks from Kazanlak were sent to the scene including departmental fire brigades and ambulances and eyewitnesses report that there was an extremely loud explosion and a dark cloud over the area 3 injured people are transported to the hospital in Kazanlak The Labor Inspectorate confirmed the information about the incident they also reported on an injured woman who was transported to the hospital in Stara Zagora Follow Novinite.com on Twitter and Facebook Write to us at editors@novinite.com Информирайте се на Български - Novinite.bg alongside European Council President Antonio Costa visited the Arsenal military plant in Kazanlak A major fire destroyed the roof of the National High School of Applied Arts "Trevnenska Shkola" in the Bulgarian town of Tryavna on April 4 A significant fire broke out on Wednesday night in Sofia's Lozenets district London's Heathrow Airport has been forced to shut down completely due to a major power outage caused by a fire at an electrical substation but we can't find the page you were looking for It's probably some thing we've done wrong but now we know about it and we'll try to fix it Spring has so far been cool this year which will push back rose picking – in the Valley or Roses around the towns of Kazanluk and Karlovo it only started a week ago and its start is celebrated with exuberance in the Valley of Roses The traditional massive street parades and parties dedicated to Damask roses go far back to the time when they were first brought to Bulgaria the festival has a history spanning 120 years A rose festival was first held in Kazanluk in 1903 It was a fund-raising event to help orphans the socially disadvantaged and people with tuberculosis – a deadly disease at the time Rose exhibitions were organized in Kazanluk picture postcards from the Valley of Roses were made and sold at the festival Now that the pandemic years and the Covid-19 restrictions are behind us Kazanluk is getting ready to welcome a record number of tourists for the jubilee edition of the Rose Festival Some of them will travel thousands of kilometres to join the street procession on Saturday The magical show "Rose princesses" at the Arsenal house of culture in KazanlukThe festive programme begins on 2 June with concerts The festivities will reach their high point on Saturday when a carnival procession with thousands of guests from the country and abroad will pass through the town “Every year the number of tourists coming to the festival goes up and before the pandemic had reached more than 100,000 This year we shall have more than 4,000 guests from different formations taking part in the parade and the carnival There will be a new element in the procession with the costumes from all folklore regions from Kazanluk’s sister cities,” says Kazanluk mayor Galina Stoyanova: this is actually the first year in which we have delegations coming from all twin towns This year we shall add three more sister cities in Poland Interest has always hinged on the production of and trade in rose oil and there are festivals of roses and flowers in all of these towns We are publishing an album “Old Kazanluk” this year selected out of the photographs given us by 276 locals who handed us more than 5,000 photos tracing the history of the town The festival in Kazanluk also features performances by world famous musicians like Boney M The procession on Saturday will be joined by Pambos from Cyprus famous in this country with his dance school; he was also on the jury of the Queen Rose contest which took place a week before the festival.” Rose picking is an essential element of the celebrations in Kazanluk with guests going to the rose plantations to pick the flower petals themselves “There are families who make a living out of roses There are 5,500 hectares of rose plantations in the Valley of Roses; 70% of them are around the towns Kazanluk and Karlovo There are close to 30 functioning distilleries on the territory of the entire region,” Galina Stoyanova says the pandemic caused some people to give up rose growing some replaced roses with other essential oil crops we are seeing a revival of rose production One of the difficulties in the campaign this year is finding seasonal workers it seems everyone has been fending for themselves The government should also be helping rose production because it is more than a tradition it is one of few sectors developing entirely thanks to manual labour Rose growers say that this year the yield is 4 tons per kilogram of rose extract that is to say the campaign will once again be difficult The price has soared to 8-9,000 euro per kilogram of essential rose oil giving us the hope of seeing people going back to the kind of rose growing and rose oil production we used to have during the better years.” Because it is celebrating the 120th anniversary of its Rose Festival Kazanluk was chosen as the venue for this year’s annual World Meeting of the Bulgarian Media organized by ‎the Bulgarian news agency BTA since 2005 Translated from the Bulgarian and posted by Milena Daynova Only on the Day of Bravery and Holiday of the Bulgarian Army (May 6) we will provide our visitors with the opportunity to enter three of perhaps the most interesting machines from our outdoor exhibition Dozens of enthusiasts and nature lovers will kick off the 44th edition of the Move and Win campaign with a spring hike to Bozhur Hut The meeting point will be the Vladishki Bridge in Veliko Tarnovo The third edition of the Samardala Festival will be held on 3 May in the central square of Nova Zagora is used as a spice and is harvested at the peak of its flowering in May we will provide our visitors with the opportunity to enter three. This year the chairman was Brigadier General Margarit Mihailov commander of the 61st Stryam Mechanized Brigade the chairman of the Kazanlak Regional Court the head of the local Regional Administration the head of the Regional Office for Fire Safety and Protection of the Population ch as well as the owner of the contest “Miss Bulgaria” and winner of the Supermodel of Bulgaria title in 1993 the jury includes the ambassador of Japan in Bulgaria who this year was represented by the cultural attaché at the Embassy of Japan More news from Curious A police operation began this morning in Kazanlak The news was reported by the Bulgarian National Television The operation is against usury and the distribution of drugs The national television also reports that one of the addresses at which the police are present belongs to a person close to Zlatko Baretata The unit against organized crime and the gendarmerie are participating in the specialized operation Official information about the held action is expected later in the day On 10 May the Rose Festival in Kazanlak will be officially opened The  celebrations of the flowers from which  is produced one of the most expensive essential oils in the world will continue until 9 June On May 10 at the Rose Museum you will be able to learn more about the history and traditions of the Bulgarian rose oil Then begins the planetary bicycle and marathon On May 17 will be chosen the most beautiful girl of Kazanlak which will be the Queen of Rose until the next year A dance competition will take place on May 18 and 19 the traditional street of crafts is opened There will be sold traditional; goods until June 2 the first one will be held near the village of Rozovo May 25 is the ritual near the village of Ruzhena June 2 near Kazanlak and on 8 and 9 June near the village of Yasenovo On May 24th in Kazanlak there are also festive parades and processions a cheerful festival and a festive concert of “Five Seasons” A national competition for individual performers started on May 25th An open athletics tournament and an exhibition of photos from previous editions of the festival will be held at the Ethnographic Complex From 11 am in the Ethnographic Complex you can also follow the ritual of making rose oil An exhibition dedicated to the rose in the Iskra library will be opened on May 27th From May 28th to June 2th you will be able to buy flowers from the bazaar at the Rosarium of Kazanlak the Balkan Culture and Culinary Festival “Kazanlak-mesi” will be held You can fly with a balloon over the Rose Valley on May 31 For the pleasure you need a pre-recording and it will be scheduled you will be able to attend an exhibition of perfumes and essential oils and take part in a scientific conference devoted to the topic international folk ensembles will be depicted which will then perform traditional music and dancing There will be also a fashion show and an international zumba marathon From 08.30 pm on the Sevtopolis Square officially a wine exhibition will take place in Kazanlak On the occasion of the children’s day an open chess tournament for children and a festive show will take place you can also make your own fragrance perfume awarding the winners of the regional children’s drawing contest continuation of the international folklore festival exhibition of competitive Bulgarian traditional bread and other dishes and festive concert the Rose Festival will be officially closed but events are scheduled for the next weekend Undoubtedly there are a lot of amazing places around the world worth visiting at least once in life Bulgaria is such a place where you will wish to come back again and again In every season and every region of this small country Wax figures of ancient mythical rulers will welcome tourists in the Valley of Thracian Kings near Kazanlak The design and installation of these is part of a project for the socialization of the Ostrusha cult complex With funding from OP “Regions in Growth” the Municipality of Kazanlak will restore and preserve the unique veneer with facet drawings and build a cycle lane between the cities of Kran and Shipka It is also planned to build a tourist complex It is in his throne room-museum that tourists will be able to take a photo with the wax figures of the Thracian kings The Information Center will have a multifunctional room with 3D virtual reality A total of BGN 31 million from the European program will be implemented by projects of the municipalities of Sofia The funding will allow the construction of the North Wing of the Kremikovsky Monastery An information center will be set up and a museum exhibit can be viewed The project of the metropolitan municipality also includes the erection of a bell tower the opening of monastery workshops for the production of sweets and syrups visitors will also be able to study in the making of religious souvenirs George’s Medieval Church will be restored The Perperikon Visitor Center will also be upgraded with euro money and the southern gate of Diocletianopolis the Thermae and the northeast corner tower in Hisarya will be restored Municipalities may apply for tourism projects for a total of BGN 59 million by the end of 2021 to smell the air of the past times and to feel the legends in the air And I'm lucky to have been born in a country with a glorious past and a lot of stories to tell Bulgaria was founded more than 1,300 years ago and has never changed its name their music and their art have changed over the centuries I invite you to take a walk through the different ages of Bulgaria and to get to know it better The 118th Rose Festival in Kazanlak has ended with a colorful parade led by Alexandra Hadzhihristova who received the title “Queen Rose” After a year-long pause because of the epidemic the Bulgarian city was once again full of tourists and foreign delegations More than 3,000 guests took part in the festival and Mayor Galina Stoyanova wished them to keep the energy of the Rose Valley with them Official guests of the celebration were EU Commissioner Mariya Gabriel as well as delegations from Kazanlak’s sister cities In the morning they were present at a rose harvest ritual in the rose plantations near the city Six people were injured in a mass fight in Kazanlak One woman has a fractured arm and two men are in critical condition They were taken to the emergency center in Kazanlak The incident happened this afternoon at the market in the town A group of men were fighting with axes and hoes about 30 Roma people fought in the parking lot behind the cooperative market Two groups from the villages of Tazha and Manolovo Bulgaria commemorates one of its most significant national holidays – the Day of Saint George the Victorious and the official Day of the Bulgarian Army all retailers in Bulgaria will be required to display prices in both leva and euros Employers in Bulgaria are legally required to implement all necessary measures to prevent and minimize workplace accidents a major British tour operator specializing in holidays to Bulgaria has halted all its operations effective April 24 Wage growth in Bulgaria is projected at 9.3 percent for 2025 a 15.4 percent rise in the minimum wage since January The World Bank has revised down its forecast for Bulgaria’s economic growth in 2025 The fifty-fifth edition of the pageant "Queen of Roses '2023" will be held on 19 May in the town of Kazanlak The organizers have prepared a surprise pre-presentation of the contenders for the tiara The show will be broadcast on large video walls she will be presented to the citizens and guests of the central Bulgarian town the Queen of Roses and the runners-up will take part in the celebrations for the 120th edition of the Rose Festival in Kazanlak The beauty queens will be dressed in designer gowns by Zheni Zhivkova (Bulgarian designer and granddaughter of the late communist dictator Todor Zhivkov - ed.) Carnival procession that passes through the whole city is the culmination of the Rose Festival the clubs of local Community Centres will parade in original costumes typical of the folklore of Kazanlak's twin towns from abroad Text version Standard version   edoc@tourism.government.bg The Minister of Tourism Nikolina Angelkova bestowed the „Mayor of the Month“ recognition on the subject matter of Holidays and Festivals in the “>50 000 Municipalities” category which is part of the monthly campaign of the кмета.bg website was held today (12 July) in the Peroto literary club at NPC (National Palace of Culture)  Holidays and festivals are exceptionally important to us not only as heritage we need to preserve but as a way to develop year-round tourism“ She emphasized Kazanlak proved this year again that it is one of the country’s festival centres having attracted thousands of tourists during the Rose Festival the Ministry will set up a registry of festivals which will be part of the online registry of tourist attractions“ Minister Angelkova advised that the in some 10 months the Ministry-created Registry of Online Attractions has registered nearly 4 mil A peak in the visits was registered during the Easter holidays - 300 000 and around 24 May – 350 000 visit incidence also increased substantially registering a circa 40% growth of visitors during the past two months 40% Two other mayors were rewarded during the media’s June campaign who won in the “Municipalities with 20 000 – 50 000 residents" category and the Tutrakan mayor Dimitar Stefanov winner in the „Municipalities with 20 000 residents.“ The awards were handed by the Deputy Minister of Culture        Contacts:   Sofia 1000, 1 Saborna St.   phone.: +359 2 904 6809,   edoc@tourism.government.bg 2016 © Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Bulgaria