Plovdiv is becoming one of the most popular tourist destinations in Eastern Europe, and its popularity is only growing. Many people outside of Europe though, don’t know very much about this amazing Bulgarian city. As a matter of fact, many people IN Europe don’t know much about it. So I have decided to put together this quick list of some fun facts about Plovdiv that I learnt whilst spending a month in the city recently.
Plovdiv is around 8000 years old
One of the amazing facts about Plovdiv is that it is 8000 years old. Depending upon who you talk to of course!
Most experts sway between 6000 years and 8000 years, but it is generally agreed upon that 8000 years is closer to the mark. What is most significant is that during that period, Plovdiv has had a continual occupation. Even though it has changed hands dozens of times during conflicts, there has always been someone living in Plovdiv.
This makes it the longest continuously inhabited city in Europe! And one of the longest in the world!
You can see the layers of time in Old Town
There is a spot in Old Town where you can literally SEE the layers of construction from different time periods. You can find it in a little local park, just next to the famous Balabanov’s House.
Look closely at the wall here, and you can see quite clearly the different rocks and construction styles that have been used down through the ages. Each new civilization simply built on top of the last.
There is an Ancient Roman Stadium under the Main Street
This is one of the facts about Plovdiv that still amazes me.
You can walk down Main Street and not even realize that you are walking over the top of an incredible Ancient Roman Stadium. Until you reach the end of the street, and you can look down onto the only piece of the stadium visible to passersby.
The Main Street has been there for years, and after the Roman rule ended, the local populace were quite happy to cover any trace of their existence and rebuild. This is what happened in the main street, and no one gave it another thought for many hundreds of years.
In recent time, merchants and business owners would renovate and build anew, discovering wonderful marble seating and remains from the stadium in their basements. No one would dare tell the authorities however, as no one wanted to lose their valuable property to the State, who would claim it as an Archeological Site.
It wasn’t until only recently that the city decided to divert traffic by creating an entirely new thoroughfare, and turn the Main Street into a pedestrian zone, therefore allowing them to uncover some of the Ancient Stadium.
Other parts of the Stadium can be seen in the basement of the H&M building, viewable from the shop floor areas.
The Ancient Theatre was only discovered recently
Remember when I said that they diverted traffic from the Main Street?
Well, when they did, there was a big hill in the way. This hill was a part of Old Town, so they decided to dig a road tunnel underneath. Whilst digging, guess what they found?
That’s right, the footings for a hidden Roman Theatre!
Obviously, they decided to begin excavations up above, and what they uncovered is now the centerpiece for the entire city!
Things are STILL being discovered
Take a wander around the town, and you will find excavations going on in different places, ALL the time. There are just so many things still hiding under the current town, that they still have no idea about.
At the moment, at the time of writing, they are excavating a small area near Tsar Simeon Gardens that is an old Pottery Furnace. Near the Post Office and Roman Forum, they are still working on uncovering other ruins there. Even Nebet Tepe has turned once again into an Archeological Site.
Personally, I don’t think they will ever uncover it all, and we will probably have many more facts about Plovdiv to add to this list one day!
You can explore old Renaissance Houses in Old Town
In Old Town, there are half a dozen houses that you can enter and explore. These were all once owned by rich merchants from Plovdiv that lived and traded in the city in the late 18th and into the 19th century.
Merchants of that time competed with each other, and had to show off their wealth whenever and however they could. So they built the grandest of homes, much like large mansions, within the old town. They hired artists to paint lavish artwork within their houses, of places far and distant such as Venice and Istanbul. They brought furniture, vases and other collectable items from their travels around Europe.
One funny thing to note is that many of these houses have marble pillars painted on the outsides. This was because the wealthy merchants saw houses with marble pillars as only belonging to the most wealthy and noteworthy citizens. No one in this part of the world could actually GET marble pillars though, so instead they simply painted them on their houses.
The houses are able to be entered for a small fee and explored at your own leisure. They are fully restored and set up with furniture and decorations from the era, so are very authentic and give a good glimpse into life of the rich merchants of Plovdiv’s past.
The Main Street is the longest pedestrian zone in Europe
When they made the decision to move the main street, and uncover the Ancient Stadium of Philippopolous, they turned the area in a pedestrian zone.
That zone runs for over a kilometer, from the Tsar Simeon Gardens, up past the Stadium and down the other side. It now holds the distinction of being the longest pedestrian zone in Europe.
Which is quite incredible when you think about it!
Plovdiv was built on 7 hills, but only 6 still remain
This is one of the stranger facts about Plovdiv that tends to raise an eyebrow, but it’s true.
Plovdiv is widely known as the city of 7 hills. Located in a fertile valley, the city is almost completely ringed by mountains. Within the valley, there were 7 hills and the river along which the city was founded.
These days though, only 6 hills remain. Why?
Because in the 1930’s, the 7th hill, Markovo Tepe was mined for it’s rock material that was ideal to make paving stones for the city. So much rock was mined that the hill actually no longer exists, except under the feet of those that walk the city.
So next time you are in Plovdiv, and are looking for the 7th hill, just look down. You are walking on it!
Plovdiv has the oldest clock tower in Europe
The famous Clock Tower in Plovdiv sits atop Sahat Tepe, one of the 7 hills that Plovdiv was built on. It is the closest hill to the center of town, and can be reached in only about 5 minutes walk from the main street.
The Clock Tower dates back to 1623, and is believed to be the oldest clock tower in Europe. The clock itself came from Vienna, and was installed in 1883. It chimes on the hour, 12 times at midday.
Plovdiv is one of the cheapest cities in Europe
Eastern Europe has always been a lot cheaper than its Western counterparts. But even by those standards Plovdiv is still one of the cheapest.
Accommodation is cheap, food is cheap, and transport is cheap. There are many things you can do in Plovdiv that are completely FREE, and most other tourist attractions only cost 4 or 5 LEV to see. You can even get a combined Old Town pass to 5 attractions for only 15 LEV!
Now that’s some amazing budget savings! No wonder it is a favorite destination for backpackers and digital nomads!
I hope you have enjoyed my facts about Plovdiv. It is an amazing city, and well worth visiting, if you have never been. For more information, don’t forget to check out my Complete Guide which will give you all the information you need!
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