Asenovgrad is a town in central southern Bulgaria, part of Plovdiv Province. It is the largest town in Bulgaria that is not a province center. Previously known as Stanimaka (Станимака; Greek: Στενήμαχος), it was renamed in 1934 after the 13th-century tsar Ivan Asen II.
Asenovgrad also includes the districts of Gorni Voden and Dolni Voden, which until 1986 were separate villages. According to NSI data, as of December 31, 2015 the population of the city is 49 510 people, which puts Asenovgrad on the 19th largest place in the country.
Above the town are the remains of the Assen Fortress, an old fortress that was strengthened under Tsar Ivan Assen II and turned into an important military post in the defense of the southern borders of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom.
The city is known for its many churches, monasteries and chapels and is often called Little Jerusalem. It is also known as the “City of Bridal Gowns” because of the large number of ateliers and shops for wedding dresses and accessories.
The majority of Asenovgrad residents are Bulgarians, with representatives of the Turkish and Gypsy ethnic groups in the city.
Cultural and natural sights
The city is a destination for religious and cultural tourism. Its main attractions are the monasteries St. Petka (Bulgarian: Света Петка) and Arapov’s monastery (Bulgarian: Араповски манастир) and St. Kirik (Bulgarian: Свети Кирик). Around the city there are 5 monasteries, 15 churches and 58 chapels (for which the city earned the nickname “The Little Jerusalem”), also there are historical, ethnographic and paleontological museums and 2 kilometers from the town is Asen’s Fortress (Bulgarian: Асеновата крепост).
Outside of the town is the 40 Springs (Bulgarian: 40-те извора) hunting and fishing resort. The climate is very pleasant during the winter and cool in the summer, which made the city and its surroundings very attractive for tourism. The southeast portions of the city are noted for tourist destinations and their urban development, including Parakolovo (Bulgarian: Параколово) and the 40 Springs complex.
In the late twentieth century the town was known for one of the first Bulgarian discos, Jumbare (Bulgarian: Джумбаре), with 600 seats and a round dancing floor, it was completed in 1977 and was located in the Asenovec (Bulgarian: Асеновец) hotel complex, which is full recovering, but the disco no longer exists.
Asen’s Fortress
Asen’s Fortress (Bulgarian: Асеновата крепост) is located 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the town proper, in Rhodope mountains. The fortress has existed since the time of the Thracians, and during the Middle Ages was a main strategic point. The fortress is named after king Ivan Asen II. The church St Bogoroditsa Petrichka (Bulgarian: Света Богородица Петричка) is the only wholly preserved building in the complex. In 1991 after a full restoration of the church, it begin to function as an orthodox temple.
The fortress is among the top 100 National tourist sights of Bulgaria and it is open during the entire year to visitors. Thousands of people and tourist walk to the top daily to take photographs, to relax and to see the beautiful view.
Paleontological museum
The paleontological museum in the city is affiliated with the National Museum of Natural History in Bulgaria. It was founded in 1990 and has one of the largest paleontological collections in country. Among the exhibits there are saber-toothed tiger, tiger metailurus, deinotherium, bear – indarctos and others.
Culture
The southern part of the town is known for its distilleries. Asenovgrad’s wines are appreciated all over the country.
The town is famous for its numerous shops for wedding dresses and many Bulgarians come here in order to prepare for their wedding ceremonies.
Due to its specific geographical location the residents of the town enjoy a breeze called вечерник (literally “night wind”).
